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Community Meetings Polled on Choice of Next Schools Chief Turnout Low for First in Series of Forums Throughout the County.

Posted on: Monday, 25 July 2005, 15:01 CDT

Turnout was low in the first of a series of meetings being held throughout Duval County to allow the public to say what kind of person the next superintendent of schools should be.

A meeting Wednesday night at Sandalwood High School attracted about 15 people, including four school systems officials. Simultaneous meetings at Lee and Wolfson high schools had similar turnouts.

The first community input meeting, held Wednesday afternoon, was largely attended by school system employees. Four other meetings are scheduled for today and Friday.

School Board Chairwoman Nancy Broner, whose district includes Sandalwood, said the board's goal was to give the public an opportunity to contribute their ideas about selecting a superintendent, but she would not worry about turnout.

"What I'm concerned about is the community had eight opportunities to attend meetings, and they have the opportunity still to fill out surveys and make their opinions known," Broner said.

During the Sandalwood session, Gary Ray, president of search firm Ray and Associates, polled the audience on the positive and negative aspects of the superintendent job. As a staff member took notes, Ray asked them about the characteristics they were looking for in the next schools leader.

Several people in the audience said the next superintendent should be focused on maintaining progress put in motion by Superintendent John Fryer, who resigned in May.

"I personally think we need to have someone from Duval County," said Don Bartle, president of the Sandalwood PTSA and father of two. "That person is going to understand where we're at, where our challenges are and can hit the ground running real fast."

Kathleen Poe, a veteran teacher of 34 years, said she is looking for someone who brings stability by supporting the standards-based programs Fryer introduced. But she also thinks the new superintendent should bring the energy needed to continue growth.

"Give me a leader that's going to make me wake up in the morning and say, 'I can't wait to start my 35th year of teaching,' " Poe said.

Several times during the meeting, Ray was forced to call on audience members when no one volunteered to answer his questions. State Rep. Stan Jordan, R-Jacksonville, who sat in the front row, often ended up breaking the silence.

The next school leader will have to be able to communicate effectively with various constituent groups, said Jordan, a former School Board chairman who once worked in the school system.

"In this county, you have to be able to cross cultural, racial, economic and political lines with ease," he said.

The School Board sent out letters to several dozen elected officials, community leaders and various organizations asking them to attend or send a representative to one of the meetings. Representatives from the NAACP and Interchurch Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment in Jacksonville attended the first meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Ray said the small number of people attending the sessions are an indication people have few complaints.

"If this auditorium was packed, I would know that you have a lot of problems," he said at the end of the Sandalwood meeting.

The remaining sessions are today -- at 2 p.m. at the School Board building and at 7 p.m. at Ribault and Ed White high schools -- and Friday, at 10 a.m. at the School Board building.

Surveys are due by noon Wednesday and can be turned in at any of the locations where the community input meetings were held. tia.mitchell@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4425

Source: Florida Times Union

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