McGraw praises school board successes during Alachua Chamber address 

Diyonne McGraw, chair of the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC), reiterated her support for the superintendent and said the school district is on track for improvement during an appearance at the Alachua Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. 

McGraw told about 50 chamber members that Superintendent Shane Andrew is bringing stability and great changes to the district. She said she wants to make sure the school board pays attention to every school in Alachua County, not just those in Gainesville. 

Since McGraw took her place as chair of the school board in November 2023, she said she has leaned into the importance of a leader who makes all employees “feel good about coming to work.” She said she has done this by visiting schools to talk with the people who work there. 

“Many of us know, for 30 years a lot of things have been the same in Alachua County Public Schools, but we can’t dwell on the past,” she said. “We have to learn to move forward. So I decided I’m going to come in with… the attitude of, ‘What solutions can I bring to make a difference?’” 

McGraw, who has long championed behavior as a top priority, told the chamber that Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs such as those at Santa Fe High School are important to improving behavior. She said those programs keep students busy with work they care about, and that keeps them out of trouble. 

“When we provide all the opportunities, and make sure everybody’s on board when it comes to the academics, the student achievement gap will close,” McGraw said. “And I can tell you, it’s beginning to close.” 

Alachua Elementary School pulled its grade up from a “D” to a “C” last year, though the new grades cannot be compared to the old, as they are based on a new grading system. Santa Fe High School earned a “B,” a typical grade for the school, though it had slipped to a “C” in 2022. 

McGraw also noted, in response to a chamber member’s question, that ACPS’s recruitment will send teachers first to schools in the state’s School Improvement (SI) category, and that those schools get additional funding. For a school like Alachua Elementary, which has just risen from the SI category, McGraw said the district has not previously focused on maintaining that higher grade—a priority she said ACPS is now changing. 

McGraw said even in a highly-rated school, there are sub-groups of students who are struggling, which is why the superintendent meets with principals and teachers to find out what they need. 

McGraw said the district is considering having the Florida School Boards Insurance Trust (FSBIT) look for where it could be more effective with its finances. She noted also that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding sunsets in September, taking with it 113 positions. 

McGraw was unable to attend the city of Alachua’s joint meeting with the school board in January, where the city commissioners voiced support for ACPS, asking where the city could help. Andrew asked the commission to help spread word of the importance of attendance, support for students and strong preschool education.