News
By Michael Hernandez, 7-11-24
FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA—Rich Lamken, a former California Assistant Superintendent, has questioned Nassau County School Board members about spending and budget amendments approved without discussion in June under adoption of Consent Agenda items last month.
“Never have I seen a budget, profit and loss, or even a bookkeeping record, where salaries are reduced by over 10 percent and benefits increase by over 60 percent,” wrote Lamken in an email sent to Nassau County School Board members. In another line item he states: “salaries are flat and benefits go up by 19 percent.” The budget shows “5 line items with increases of 256, 257, 464, 481, and 488 percent. Have any of you asked why and what was the answer?”
According to Lamken, one line item states: “$0 budgeted, over 37K expended. What’s the history of this line item and why were there no dollars budgeted?” Other line items show “increases of between 53.4 and 97 percent. Where is the line where the Board asks for an explanation?”
“I have been through the entire Budget process during the 2022-2023 year and have previously expressed my concern that the Board accepted incredibly inadequate responses to their and my questions, like: ‘Why did the Budget increase on that line item from $7,000 to $75,000?’ Answer: ‘It’s just a placeholder” and “Why did the Budget increase on that line item from $4,000 to $85,000?” Answer: “We spent $80,000 last year.” And “Why did this line item go up over 10 percent and over $50,000?” Answer. “Well, you know, everything has gone up!
“This does not require real fiscal analytical chops. Any citizen who looks at this and, especially, who remembers their tax increase to support the Nassau County School District will be concerned and insist on answers. Do you have any answers to my questions and concerns? What does it take to get Board members to ask questions and demand answers from staff? I was disappointed that not one Board member was willing to have any of my questions answered,” said Lamken.
“I have done real financial analysis in the private sector, reviewing the financials of acquisition targets and recommending whether to go forward. I led the acquisition team and, often, completely reshaped the acquired division. I know when there are issues and when to dig in and get answers. I have years and years of experience with K-12 budgets in multiple school districts, mostly as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools. I’ve seen districts intentionally overstate line items as a cushion or to show less money for negotiations, ‘as a placeholder.’ I’ve seen districts understate line items to avoid scrutiny and, then, pretend when more money is spent, that the expenses were unanticipated.
“I have never ever seen a School Board just accept the kind of increases I’m pointing out. We have a chance to really reshape our School Board.
“(Curtis) Gaus has resigned to run for Nassau County Superintendent and the Governor will appoint his replacement to the School Board. Hopefully, a true fiscal conservative. (Dr. Cynthia) Grooms and (Gail) Cook are looking to extend their time on the Board and both have a strong challenger. Cook is the poster child for School Board term limits. She’s in her 32nd year. It’s time to take a new direction and vote out the incumbents who have sat on their hands and are unwilling and/or unable to ask the questions and express the concerns of the voters and taxpayers.”
Nassau County School Board Elections Aug. 20
Nassau County School Board Elections are scheduled for Aug. 20. See link to candidates from Janet H. Adkins, Nassau County Supervisor of Elections: https://www.votenassaufl.gov/announced-candidates-and-committees.
(Editor’s Note: To see George Miller story of Federated Republican Women of Nassau Candidate Forum for School Board and Commission Candidates on June 14 see link:
To see George Miller story of We The People Nassau School Superintendent Forum held June 17 at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Fernandina Beach see link: https://www.citizensjournal.net/nassau-school-superintendent-forum-puts-candidates-on-record/.)
Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns Spotlight
Supt. Dr. Kathy Burns presented how Nassau County did compared to St. Johns County as both counties led the state in English and Math by grade at the July 11 Nassau County School Board meeting.
Additional $270,000 Allocated For IDEA Part B and PreK Application
The School Board approved a $270,00 roll forward to the $3.7 million funds already allocated for the IDEA Part B and to the Florida Department of Education Office of Grant Management. An additional $20,000 will be rolled forward to the $86,000 allocated to the PreK Application.
Additional $129,000 Budgeted For Callahan Elementary School Parent Pickup
The Nassau School Board allocates an additional $129,000 to Thomas May Construction Company of Orange Park, Florida (Engineer Mittauer & Associates, Inc.) for the Callahan Elementary School Parent Pickup Lane and Warrior Drive Sidewalk. The original contract price was $2.9 million and the expected project completion date is November, 2024 with final payment to be made in December.
School Safety Requirements and Progressive Discipline Policy Adopted
The Nassau County School Board approved the advertising of the School Safety Requirements and Progressive Discipline Policy at the July 11 meeting. Final adoption is scheduled for the Aug. 8 Nassau County School Board meeting
Pursuant to the Florida Statues, the School Board of Nassau County recommends compliance with the following:
- All school campus gates shall remain closed and locked when students are on campus.
- All school classrooms are to be locked when occupied by students.
- All school classrooms must clearly mark the safest areas in each classroom where students must shelter in place during an emergency.
- Violations to this policy must be reported to the Principal.
- Instructional or administrative personnel violating school safety requirements shall be subject to progressive discipline.
District Health Moved to Florida Blue/Employee Basic and Optional Life to Urum
The Nassau County School Board moved the district health to Florida Blue and employee basic and optional life to Urum which both have lower premiums. Dental and vision plans will remain with Humana with dental rates remaining flat with three year rate hold and vision plans were cut by six percent with three year rate hold.
FIT Program Donation Accepted Mollie Cressey, FIT Program Director accepted a $516 donation made by Jay McLaughlin.
Other Action Items
- Proportionate Share Mitigation Agreement for Creekside Lakes
- Job description for a professional development specialist was approved. The job description was developed by Tia Brown, Director of Professional Development.
- Shannon Hogue was selected as the board member to attend the Florida School Board Association with Dr. Grooms selected as alternate.
School Board Members District 1: Shannon Hogue Email: [email protected] District 2: Gail Cook (Vice Chairman) Incumbent* District 3: Curtis Gaus (Resigned, Running for Nassau County Superintendent)*** District 4: Dr. Cynthia Grooms (Chairman) Incumbent** District 5: Lissa Braddock Phone: (904) 507-9522 / Email: [email protected]
*2: Cook Phone (904) 261-9127 / Email: [email protected] / No Website vs. Roody Joinville Phone (904) 556-0771 / Email: [email protected] / Website: www.roodyjoinville.com
**4: Dr. Grooms Phone (904) 845-8105 / Email: [email protected] / Website: http://cindygroomsfornassaucountyschoolboard.com vs. Kristi Loyd Simkins Phone (904) 568-4064 / Email: [email protected] / No Web (Kristi Simkins Candidate Press Release: https://www.citizensjournal.net/kristi-loyd-simpkins-for-nassau-county-school-board-district-4/).
***Supt Kathy Burns Phone (904) 545-4756 / Email: [email protected] / No Web vs. Curtis Gaus Phone (904) 887-9071 / Email: [email protected] / No Web
School Board Members Comments
- Hogue (District 1): “Congratulations to everyone. Finished up most of the summer learning program.”
- Cook (District 2): “Outstanding job for the scores we got. It takes students, teachers, parents and para-educators to achieve what they have achieved. Outstanding work on all parts.”
- Gaus (District 3): “Congratulations to teachers and staff. Hope they are enjoying summer.”
- Dr. Grooms (District 4): None
- Braddock (District 5): Absent
July 11 School Board Agenda
Watch July 11 School Board Meeting (Meeting Time: 17 minutes)
https://nassaucountysd.new.swagit.com/views/569/live
Next School Board Meeting: July 25 (4-5:30 p.m. Executive Session: Bargaining), Capital Workshop (5:30-6:30 p.m.) and Regular School Board Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Editor’s note: We asked the author to address some unanswered questions in this and may add to it soon.
Michael Hernandez, from California is co-founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted at
[email protected] and is editor of the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes” and “Nov. 5 Election Day Countdown,” and writes a column on “Revive America.”
