School board bids farewell to longtime members

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Jefferson County School Board Members Shirley Washington, Charles Boland and Sandra Saunders had their last board meeting as district representatives on Monday, Oct. 10, as their terms as elected officials came to an end. Superintendent Eydie Tricquet presented plaques to each and thanked them for their service to Jefferson County Schools.
Among their last acts as board members were casting votes in favor of
* accepting $40,614.15 in federal funding awarded for Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction)
* accepting $41,521 in federal funding awarded for Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment)
* accepting $536,981 in federal funding awarded for Title I, PartA (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged)
* approving the 2022-23 Parent and Family Engagement Plan
* approving the 2022-23 Schoolwide Improvement Plan
* approving a Staffing Agreement with Lyneer Staffing for temporary staffing needs
* approving a quote from Howard Technology to replace the phone system
* adopting the district's new policies
* approving the PAEC Skyward Software Proposal
* approving a roof replacement proposal for the Turning Point and Adult Education Building
All agenda items were passed unanimously by the board. Then the meeting proceeded to Closing Comments.
Washington said in her final comments, “I want to thank District 3 for allowing me to be a strong advocate for the children and representative parents of District 3 for 28 years. I realize that I have not satisfied everybody... When I was sworn in and laid my hands on the Bible and took that oath, I said that I would be truthful and honest, not only before you but before God, that I would carry out the duty of my responsibility by being truthful and honest with this constituency.”
She recalled many hard truths that had been brought before the board during her long tenure, including low school grades, the takeover of the district by the Florida Department of Education, the hiring of non-certified teachers, lack of balance in the curriculum, student suspensions, declines in enrollment and questions about the reappointment of staff.
“These are the things that were carried out in the community that were blamed on the board,” she said. As Washington looks to her future, she plans to stay active in supporting education in the Jefferson district.
“I will continue to be an advocate for children and represent the parents when needed,” she said.
She plans to continue giving an annual educational scholarship, expanding eligibility beyond District 3, and to remain a financial supporter of Jefferson's JROTC unit, which she was instrumental in establishing.
What Washington said she would remember the most was the time a student came before the board to say that without her “I don't know what we would do.”
Washington concluded, “I'm here to stay. I am not giving up. As long as it is the grace of God, I am not leaving my career, and my career is dealing with children and parents.”
Member Saunders, who served on the board for 14 years, spoke next, commenting that she had done the best that she could for the community as far as education was concerned.
“I just want to give thanks out to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing me to sit here these many years and to you, District 2, to vote for me to help you with your children and with your parents. God has commissioned me now to go just a little bit further and do something that this community needs.”
Saunders explained that she will be seeking to establish two advocacy groups: POP (Parents on Point) and SOP (Students on Point). She envisions these groups meeting regularly to discuss local educational issues that they can then bring to the school board and even to the Capitol.
“I've learned a lot here,” she added, “and I will be using the things that I have learned. I am grateful. I will be here to support the superintendent and the board members and the county until I leave this world.”
Boland, who has represented District 5 on the board for 24 years, noted in his final comments that he was the third Boland elected to serve the community at the district level.
“It's been a pleasure for me to serve as a school board member, and I wish the school the best,” he said. “I found out that we were limited in the power that we have as school board members. We have three jobs: policy, budget and millage. And we can't dictate what goes on in the schools.”
He reflected on having served under six different superintendents during his tenure on the board and observed that too much change in school leadership inhibits the district from having a really good school system.
In closing, he hinted, “I'm not saying that the Boland name won't be back in this board at some point. It's on the horizon.”
Before the meeting adjourned, the newly elected board members were introduced: Willie Ann Dickey for District 2, Brenda Bentley Wirick for District 3 and Mags Flynt for District 5. They will be sworn in on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 5:45 p.m. at the district office, located at 1490 W. Washington St. They will then immediately begin to serve their terms at the 2022 Reorganizational School Board Meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. Following that, the Regular Board Meeting will commence at 6:15 p.m.