Duval County Public Schools, Florida

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Duval County School District is a school district in Florida. The school system has a total attendance of 123,341 students project for the 2009-2010 school year. The Florida Department of Education provides a list of past, current, and future school enrollment totals for each district.

[edit] Website evaluation

Main article: Evaluation of Florida school district websites

[edit] The good

  • Budget is published.[1]
  • School board members are listed with contact information.[2] Meeting notices, minutes, and agendas posted.[3]
  • Administrative officials are listed with contact information.[4]
  • Curriculum details and student progression plan are posted.[5]

[edit] The bad

  • Information is not provided on taxes, contracts, audits, background checks, and how to make public record requests.
Working for accountable government now


[edit] School board

The school board controls school property, establishes, organizes, and operates the schools of the district, including: establishing schools, adopting enrollment plans, providing for school elimination and consolidation, cooperating with school boards of adjoining districts in maintaining schools, maintaining the school year schedule and other more specific duties as outlined in the Florida statute. [6]

It operates, controls and supervises the district's public schools as well as determines the rate of school district taxes, with the option of two or more school districts operating and financing educational programs together.

Among the general powers of the school board are the power to assign students to school and act as the contracting agent for the district school system. [7] The duties of the school board include the control of property and keeping all necessary records.[8]

The school board is also responsible for the employment and review of a superintendent. The superintendent is reviewed annually on the performance of board-approved goals and objectives.[9] The Superintendent also serves as the secretary to the School Board.[10] Ed Pratt-Dannals currently fills this post.[11]

Below are the school district board members:[12]

Member District Term Term expires
Stan Jordan District 1 1st 2012
Nancy Broner District 2 2nd 2010
W.C. Gentry District 3 1st 2012
Brenda A. Priestly Jackson, Vice Chair District 4 2nd 2010
Betty Burney District 5 2nd 2012
Vicky Drake District 6 2nd 2010
Tommy Hazouri, Chair District 7 2nd 2012

[edit] Teacher contracts

In August 2008, a tentative agreement was reached between Duval Teachers United (DTU) and the school board including salary "enhancements" for the top level and a $300 increase to the beginning teacher salary schedule, costing $9 million to the entire district in salary increases. The average teacher salary now reaches $47,740.[13]

[edit] School budget

For the 2009/2010 academic year DCPS estimates $875,500,000 in revenue; however the estimated needed revenue is $1,004,930,902.[14] $340,470,000 is spent on teachers' salaries.[15] Elementary Art, Music, and Physical Education programs enjoy a $16.4 million budget.[16]

Salaries and benefits account for 73.0% and 62.6% of the General Fund and the Special Revenue Fund – Federal budgets respectively.[17] Local sources are the largest contributers to the consolidated revenues, amounting to 32.80% of the available funds.[18]

[edit] Mill revenue

In 2008-09, the School District reduced millage rates by 0.194 mills or 2.5% from 7.755 mills to 7.561 mills. However the average taxpayer saw a tax increase of 3.02% because of the 3.02% roll-back rate increase.[19] In July 2009, the School Board decided again to raise the mill tax to 7.61, aiming to generate another $18 million in extra revenue. The mill tax increase will technically lasts only for this upcoming year, however Superintendent Pratt-Dannals admits the state has advised the school board to approve yet another one-year tax hike next year as well.[20] The superintendant said that this money will take care of supposed one time issues the district is facing, despite the more than $43 million in Federal Stimulus money the school district has already received. Voters will decide whether to keep the tax increase during the November 2010 election.[21]

[edit] Academic performance

Schools in Florida are evaluated by students' results on a series of standardized tests called the FCAT. On the writing test, a score of 3 is sconsidered "at grade level" work. In 2008, 70% of fourth graders received a 3.5, compared to 73% the year before. The number of tenth graders receiving a 3.5 also went down 3 points, registering at 76%.[22]

In 2009, the scores for reading, math and science show Duval County students in grades four through ten maintained or improved in the areas of math and science.[23]

However, the Florida Department of Education has found what it calls “template writing” in some of work from Duval County's fourth graders."Template writing" is not considered cheating, but the use of these similar phrases in what is supposed to be original writing is highly discouraged. This phenomenon at Abess, Richard L. Brown and S.A. Hull Schools has prompted the state to start considering whether there should be consequences in the future for schools where students use template writing.[24]

[edit] 2007-2010

Below is a chart of the school's grade based on the student's performance of the statewide test called the FCAT.[25] To see results, click "show".

[edit] Corporal punishment

In 2004, it was reported that Duval County leads the state for corporal punishment.[26] Of the 184,000 spankings records by the Florida Department of Education since 1981, 15,000 were recorded for Duval.[26] The Duval County PTA has spoken out against corporate punishment.

[edit] Unions

Duval Teachers United (DTU) is the teacher's union for this school district.[27]

Duval County School Board delayed a vote on a schedule change proposal until April 27, 2009 in order to allow the teachers' union to have their vote first. [28] The proposed change entailed shortening the school day by 45 minutes which would save around $13 million to the school budget because 200 fewer teachers would be needed.[29] However, School Board Chairman Tommy Hazouri expected eliminated teaching positions to be absorbed elsewhere throughout the district.[30]

Duval Teachers United overwhelming voted in favor of the new schedule proposal. Changes to the high school schedule received 81 percent support from teachers; 73 percent supported changes to the middle school schedule.[31] The measure passed before the school board.[32]

[edit] School choice

Charter schools are publicly funded, nonsectarian schools that operate under a contract (charter) with the Duval County School Board. They are open to all students, but the majority of the 8 Duval County Public Charter Schools target at-risk students.[33] The Department of Education requires charter school applicants to undergo a 9-hour training session prior to filing an application.[34]

Charters schools are designed to improve student learning and academic achievement, increase learning opportunities for all students, and encourage the use of innovative learning methods. Each charter school has its own transportation plan. Transportation is provided by the charter schools.[35]

In 2004, charter schools in Duval County fared worse than those in any other county in the state of Florida. Unlike 58% of Florida charter schools that serve general populations of students, all Duval County charter schools specifically target poor or minority children or students with learning disabilities, according to the The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Superintendent at the time John Fryer also pointed to the lack of administration experience in former-teachers who had set out to create charter schools. [36] Approved in February 2009, Tiger Academy is a new charter school that will highly emphasize family involvement and try to catch at-risk children before they become at-risk.[37]

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying
Reported lobbying expenditures, 2000-2009 [38]
Year Amount spent on lobbying
2009 Less than $10,000
2008 $10,000
2007 $80,000

Duval County Schools has been active in lobbying for the 2009 year, although both quarters have seen less than $5,000 spent. It has reported more than $90,000 spent on lobbying since 2007.

Firm Year start Year end Amount
Miller Consulting Group20092010$86,473
Miller Consulting Group20082009$108,091.28
Miller Consulting Group20072008$159,374.96
Miller Consulting Group20062007$111,857.90
Miller Consulting Group20052006$118,014
Miller Consulting Group20042005$37,080
Tidewater Consulting20092010$18,000
Tidewater Consulting20082009$48,000
Tidewater Consulting20072008$72,000
Tidewater Consulting20062007$35,960
Tidewater Consulting20052006$24,040
Southern Strategy Group20062007$36,000
Southern Strategy Group20052006$36,000
Southern Strategy Group20042005$36,000
Mark Maxwell20042006$32,500

Taxpayer-funded lobbying, public entities using funds to lobby for special interests, happens in cities, counties, and other entities. These activities are hard to track. The issues lobbied for may be diverse, but school lobbying typically deals with issues close to the school district or school board.

In July 2009, Sunshine Review submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to the 27 Florida school districts with lobbyists registered for 2009 with the Florida legislature. [39] The results are included in Florida school districts lobbying totals. (For information on the project or to start your own, see the project page.) Duval County Schools sent a confusing response. According to the school district's first response to Sunshine Review's FOIA, it has not engaged in any relationships with lobbyists within the time since 2004. [40] There is some lobbying information available on Duval's lobbying activity within that time frame.

The firm is currently represented by Tidewater Consulting and Miller Consulting Group.[41] [42] It has also used the services of Southern Strategy Group and Mark Maxwell.[41] [42]The firm has spent more than $620,891 on lobbying contracts with Miller Consulting Group since 2004.[41] It has spent more than $198,000 on contracts with Tidewater Consulting since 2005.[41]

For federal lobbying, it seems the school district is represented by Alcalde & Fay, although Sunshine Review did not receive documents referring to this relationship from the FOIA we sent.[43] [44] These lobbyists receive less than $10,000 for compensation from Duval County schools. This means that out of the contract amount, less than $10,000 was used on advocacy before elected bodies.

Year Lobbyist compensation
2009 Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
2008 $10,000.00
Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
2007 $40,000.00
$40,000.00

The school district pays membership dues to the Florida School Boards Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.[45]

[edit] Issues

The issues the school district paid to lobby for include federal support for the School Districts Instructional Technology Initiative in the FY 2009.[46] This initiative was supported by Congresswoman Corrine Brown. [47] It also lobbied for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill funds, and for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money.[46]

In 2008, the school district was also focused on seeking federal support for the School Districts Instructional Technology Initiative.[48]

In 2007, the school district lobbied for the following:[49]

  • Re-authorization of No Child Left Behind Act
  • Workforce Investment Act, which provides job training fund
  • Higher Education Act which gives federal money to universities, creates scholarships, and gives low-interest loans for students
  • The FY 2008 Labor, HHS, Education appropriation bill
  • The FY08 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill
  • Education Rate, The program provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access
  • School construction legislation
  • SCHIP provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children.

[edit] Most recent

Duval schools has spent $104,473 on lobbying in 2009 on contracts with Tidewater Consulting and Miller Consulting Group.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Budget
  2. ↑ School Board contact
  3. ↑ Meetings
  4. ↑ Leadership
  5. ↑ Academic Program
  6. ↑ School board powers and duties, Florida statute
  7. ↑ General Powers of District School Board
  8. ↑ Powers and duties of district school board
  9. ↑ School Board Governance and Organization
  10. ↑ School Administration
  11. ↑ Superintendent
  12. ↑ School board members
  13. ↑ Teachers and Duval schools reach tentative agreement
  14. ↑ Education Budget Presentation
  15. ↑ National Relocation - Duval County
  16. ↑ Major Budgetary Allocations
  17. ↑ Budget Brief (All Funds)
  18. ↑ Budgeted Revenue
  19. ↑ Duval County School Tax Increase
  20. ↑ Duval schools to decide Tuesday on property tax increase
  21. ↑ Jacksonville School Board votes a tax increase
  22. ↑ FCAT Writing Scores for Duval County Show Mixed Performance, May 8, 2008
  23. ↑ FCAT Scores Show Math, Science Gains, May 5 2009
  24. ↑ State concerned that 3 Duval schools used similar phrases on FCAT essays, July 22,2009
  25. ↑ Florida School Accountability Reports
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Associated Press, Records reveal Duval County leads state in school corporal punishment, January 12, 2004
  27. ↑ Duval Teachers United
  28. ↑ Schedule changes up for vote, April 26, 2009
  29. ↑ Duval Teachers Voting on Proposed School Schedule Changes, April 21, 2009
  30. ↑ Schedule changes up for vote, April 26, 2009
  31. ↑ Schedule changes up for vote, April 26, 2009
  32. ↑ April 27, 2009, Special Board Meeting
  33. ↑ Duval County Charter Schools
  34. ↑ Duval County Public Schools Choice
  35. ↑ Duval County Public Schools Choice
  36. ↑ Charter Schools Fail, July 16, 2004
  37. ↑ Tiger Academy will be school with family focus, February 7, 2009
  38. ↑ Open Secrets
  39. ↑ Online Sunshine - Lobbying Information
  40. ↑ Duval County Schools - FOIA reponse, August 5, 2009
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 [1]
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Duval lobbying contracts
  43. ↑ Open Secrets lobbying reports
  44. ↑ Duval response letter
  45. ↑ Florida School Boards Association members list
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Lobbying Activity Report Q1 2009 - Duval
  47. ↑ "Congresswoman Corrine Brown Strongly Supports Omnibus Bill", February 25, 2009
  48. ↑ Lobbying Activity Report Q4 2008 - Duval
  49. ↑ Lobbying Activity Report Q4 2007 - Duval


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