Sweeping budget cuts could begin to bleed out some of St. Johns County’s most prestigious public school programs, officials are warning.
Both chambers of the Legislature on Wednesday passed a measure that would drop key funding schools receive for student achievement in advanced academic programs by half.
If enacted, the cuts could drain an eye-watering $7 million from St. Johns County’s already strained coffers.
“If people here think our reputation will just sustain itself without more parents getting involved, they’re kind of lost,” a St. Johns school administrator told The Citizen bluntly. “The writing is on the wall, and it’s not good.”
Wednesday’s vote prompted an emergency email from St. Johns School officials urging parents to rally against the reductions.
A Change.org petition called on parents to make themselves heard.
“Such a move undermines our commitment to providing robust educational opportunities for our children and leaves them ill-prepared for the future,” the campaign asserted. “We ask you to stand with us, safeguard the pathways that nurture the intellect and potential of our children.”
Schools receive bonuses for each student who earns high marks on assessments in programs like International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and Cambridge.
The district released a graphic showing the extent of the potential cuts.
AP funding would plunge from $7,383,879 to 3,691,939, while IB’s support would fall from $702,147 to $351,073.
Career and Technical Education coffers would shrink drastically from $4,739,472 to $1,561,831, the district projected.
Superintendent Tim Forson told Jacksonville Today that the measure would likely force the district to scale back the very programs that have helped to forge its reputation as one of the best in the state.
The county’s breakneck growth, he said, has spurred demand for accelerated education programs, making the proposed cuts especially ominous.
In its plea for parental action, the district noted that the endangered funds support required teacher training for advanced programs, instructional supplies, and student participation in statewide competitions.
Officials urged St. Johns parents to mobilize against the cuts by contacting Representatives Kim Kendall, Judson Sapp and Sam Greco, along with Senator Tom Leek.
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2 Responses
Just a reminder SJC school district will be collecting taxes worth $60,000,000 this July. That’s from county not state. Of which 15% will be used for school based “activities”. The teachers union wanted county to cut down to 8-10%. Charter schools are making impact on public school budgets since they run more efficiently.
Didn’t the county voters just vote to give the schools more money? Maybe find some ways to make that money work.
How much do they keep spending on those ugly portables outside the new schools that they built too small?