Two School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) members voiced opposition to a campaign in Newberry to turn the town’s three schools into charter schools.
The comments came from board members Tina Certain and Sarah Rockwell during the SBAC’s regular meeting Tuesday evening.
During the board’s superintendent request time, Rockwell requested that staff create a FAQ and side-by-side display of similarities and differences between a traditional public school and a charter school.
Certain added a request for staff to begin accumulating documentation to support a denial of the schools’ transition, if their individual votes succeed.
“I don’t know where my colleagues stand on this, with our support of what’s happening there,” Certain said. “But to take three public assets and put them under the control of a few people and not serve all of the 2,000 or so students that are currently zoned to that school, and those that would come in the past, I think is not right.”
Rockwell spoke earlier in the meeting on potential negative impacts that could result if the three schools successfully transition. She said the schools would lose district transportation, could choose any curriculum they want without state approval, and would not be bound by the entirety of the Parental Rights in Education Act.
Rockwell said the charter schools would not be required to take students who live outside the city limits, and that they could reasonably decline students with disabilities if they did not have the resources those students need. She also noted that the magnet programs at Newberry High School and Oak View Middle School belong to the district.
Newberry Education First, the 501(c)4 that is running the campaign, has an extensive list of frequently asked questions on its website and asserts that the level of Exceptional Student Education will remain the same. The group hopes for the schools to keep the magnet programs, but those programs would be subject to negotiation with the district.
“We currently have three schools looking to cede from this district,” Rockwell said. “And I just want to point out that that’s not stability. That’s a failure of this district, and we need to do better, but this is not the solution.”
Barring a change of position from Rockwell and Certain, the opposition would leave the Newberry effort with a narrow path to success with three remaining SBAC members.
Board Member Kay Abbitt said Tuesday that charter schools have a place in the district, while members Leanetta McNealy and Diyonne McGraw remained silent on the issue.
Wait a second! Isn’t it Tina who has been crying about “local rule” for years now? Why aren’t the parents of Newberry entitled to exercise “local rule” in how they want their kids educated? Hilarious.
She and Sarah and Leanetta just don’t get the fact that this is a movement in response to their failed, regressive ideology where they believe they govern the people rather than serve them. The people in Newberry are rejecting that. Don’t be surprised if Alachua/High Springs is next. Followed by Waldo/Hawthorne.
Instead of wasting your time forcing inappropriate books in the schools so that you can signal your virtues to your left-wing pals, you should listen to McGraw and Abbitt about how to make this system work. Because it’s now crumbling around you, and it’s your fault.
And to think, the quote attributed to Tina Certain came from someone that is in charge of teaching the children of Alachua County. To quote the article she said, “But to take three public assets and put them under the control of a few people and not serve all of the of the 2,000 or so students that are currently zoned to that school, and those that would come in the past, I think is not right.” I wonder who is going to rise from the grave and “come in the past”. How ignorant! Apparently, she is not informed enough to know that the people leading this change have already said that anyone who lives in the area the current schools service will be included in the area the charter schools would cover. No wonder the Alachua County school district is failing in properly educating the students who live here. It looks as though there are a number of people who want to create a better learning situation for their children, and it’s not the school board! This school board needs to wake up and realize that a lot of people are not happy with the way things are currently run by the Board.
Let the crazies secede and do their thing out there. Repossess all district property and assets and let them pay for the “schooling” of their children themselves. Good riddance.
They aren’t crazies
The Alachua County School Board has failed miserably for a long time.
Obviously the current board is just a continuation of this long standing disaster.
If the woke Gainesville citizens choose to keep them in power those with a choice should depart as fast as they can
The long-awaited moment has finally arrived, and it is time to address this matter. Newberry is well aware of what is in the best interest of its residents. The ineffective left progressive educational methods employed in Gainesville Schools have proven to be a complete failure, resulting in low test scores and disciplinary issues that are widely recognized. Newberry is determined to break free from this downward spiral before any further harm is inflicted upon its students. It is worth noting that all the neighboring cities in this county are experiencing rapid growth. Although some parents may work in Gainesville, they have consciously chosen not to reside there or send their children to school in that area.
By placing a strong emphasis on learning and implementing a strict discipline policy, we can expect to witness a significant improvement in test scores, positioning Newberry at the pinnacle of educational achievement.
#SayNO
This is a pathetic attempt by the right to bring their backwards, racist policies into a school and provide our children with education that is lacking in fact, critical thinking, and relevant information. Smart parents will leave the district and leave behind uneducated, backwards hillbillies who unfortunately will continue to uphold racism and backwards thinking.
Coming from someone who lives in Newberry and actively participates in what the city of Newberry is doing on multiple levels I can absolutely state that there is most certainly not a bunch of racism. I have never witnessed such a supportive community for ALL that live there. There is a regular attempt to educate our community on it’s history specifically including some of the injustices against the African American community, there is consistent encouragement for the community to be involved and have a voice including the development of a historic society to make sure we never forget. You can disagree with charter schools, but that’s a very inaccurate accusation as to why they’re being implemented and what is driving this decision. Also, you’re saying the education will take away teaching facts and critical thinking, but they plan on using the same curriculum as they have, which is what all of alachua county uses….so is Alachua county curriculum not teaching those things either? Attend an event out there and pay attention to how the community members treat each other, then try that statement again, because it’s completely inaccurate and just downright untrue.
Well said, this about escaping dysfunction that goes on endlessly
Certain, McNealy and Rockwell’s decisions are the reason Newberry is making this move and hopefully High Springs, where I live, will follow, as well as other outlying cities. ACPS and BOCC are concerned with the city of Gainesville. We’ve been ignored and are making changes for the benefit of our smaller cities.
ACPS and BOCC aren’t capable to create and operate a good public school system
Charter schools by their nature lend themselves to systemic furtherance of racism, classism and a host of other “isms.” They use public monies to further private concerns. Whatever the stated good intentions, this proposal has potential repercussions that are not in the best interest of democratic governance.
No they focus on better education which begins with mandatory order and civil behavior in schools rather than destructive ideology and undisciplined kids running wild and destroying the environment of those kids who want to learn