Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Jefferson County School Board last week finally got the nod that it has long been awaiting from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) relative to the district’s take back of the schools next year, even if the nod was conditional.
On Monday evening, Aug. 9, a high-level team from the FDOE visited the Jefferson County School Board at the invitation of School Superintendent Eydie Tricquet.
The FDOE team consisted of Jacob Oliva, Chancellor of the Division of Public Schools; Melissa Ramsey, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Improvement; and Suzanne Pridgeon, Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Operations.
The FDOE team brought positive news: yes, the transition was expected to proceed forward and in fact some components were already being put in place, i.e., the hiring of a transition principal. The district’s finances and fund balance were also in good shape, Pridgeon reported. And Somerset was aware of the transition and on-board with working to help facilitate it, Oliva reported.
But under the good news was also a warning: The team’s message was that the school board and administration still had much to do in the interim to make the transition a reality. Meaning that a vision plan would have to be developed, a budget established, policies set or updated, and a great many other details accomplished in order for the state board to approve the changeover.
If these things failed to take place, it could well be that Somerset or another like entity would continue to operate the schools, Oliva said. And if even if the transition were to proceed next fall, it would likely entail a gradual process that might take from one to three years to complete, with an external consultant overseeing the district in the interim, he said.
Oliva promised both to keep the board informed on the progress of the situation going forward and to be brutally honest in conveying the state of affairs. He stressed that the district, charter school and FDOE would have to work together to ensure the success of the transition.
And one of the first objectives, he said, was the creation of a plan for how the transition would proceed and to what end.
“We have to come up with a plan of where this district needs to go so that we can take it before our state board,” Oliva said.
He compared the transition of the schools from Somerset to the district to the passing of the baton in the sprint races at the Olympics, which he said he had been closely watching. The smooth passing of the baton, he said, not only determined the outcome of the race, but it required timing and collaboration. And likewise, he said, the district, Somerset and FDOE would have to coordinate their efforts and work cooperatively to achieve a smooth and successful transition.
Ramsey echoed the Chancellor’s point, saying that now was the time for the development of the transition plan that the team could share with the state board.
“We are the liaison to make sure that you have a plan that is successful,” Ramsey said. “We will steer you straight.”
Oliva expressed optimism that if the various groups worked collaboratively, they could well design a plan that would be acceptable to the state board. At the same time, however, he introduced the possibility of a gradual handover.
“We need to work on a plan for a gradual release model,” he said, mentioning the possibility of an external overseeing entity. “The process may take one to three years, but the ultimate goal would be for the district to run the schools on its own.”
Oliva didn’t pull punches in stating the need for collaboration and honest discussions among the various parties if a viable and unified plan were to be created.
“We’ve got to come up with a plan that we believe will be successful,” he said. “If we can’t get such a plan, I’m not taking it to the state board, because I’m not putting my reputation on the line.”
“If this board isn’t comfortable with the plan that the FDOE, Somerset and the district leadership comes up with, you need to tell us,” Oliva continued. “If this board doesn’t buy into the vision, I won’t take it to the state board. We need to be arm-in-arm and in total fidelity on this.”
The district, he said, had much work to do ahead, including setting up a budget, updating its policies and sundry other decision-making.
He underscored that if the district were unable to accomplish these task in the allotted time, it was possible that the contract would have to be renegotiated with Somerset for an extension. Or if Somerset were unwilling or unable to extend its time, the contract might be offered to another charter school.
The other option, he said, was for the appointment of an external regulator to work as a consultant for the district, allowing the district gradually to take back the schools over time.
All options were on the table, Oliva said, promising that he and his team would continue to come back before the board and give updates on the progress of the transition.
“But we need to be strategically moving forward,” Oliva said.
To a member, the school board expressed appreciation to the FDOE for its presentation and the positive news it brought.