News
By Michael Hernandez, 6-27-24
FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA—The Nassau County School Board approved financial reports as part of the consent calendar at its June 27 meeting. Nassau County schools received revenues of $182 million (local revenues of almost $116 million; state revenues of almost $49 million; and federal revenues of over $17 million). Expenditures account for over: $104 million (instruction) and over $90 million for facilities acquisition and construction. Total expenditures add up to over $266 million with an additional $21 million for transfers out, fund balances, reserves and net assets—which totals $287 million.
A budget workshop is scheduled at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 11.
Superintendent Spotlight:
Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns introduced:
- Yulee track state champion Tristen Evatt:
https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/7748289/Yulee/Tristen_Evatt
who competed in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A track and field championships at Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus—winning the long jump with a wind-aided jump of 19 feet, 11.5 inches—a personal best of more than a foot in her final jump of the event. The Yulee senior set eight records and made the podium at state for three straight years. She started track and field in sixth grade. Evatt will be headed to USF where she will compete in long jump, triple jump and the relay team. She was also class president and will be studying psychology.
- Highlighted West Nassau High School & University of Florida graduate James Evans:
who will be pursuing a graduate degree in business analytics at Carnegie Mellon.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-evans-cmu
- Also feted Poe Pinson, 19, the Fernandina Beach skateboarder qualified for the 2024
Olympics and will be competing on July 28 from noon to 5 p.m. as part of the U.S. women’s Olympic skateboard team (aired on NBC). Pinson stepped on a skateboard at age 2. She started competing at age 6 at the Fernandina Skate Park at Main Beach.
https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/poe-pinson
https://olympics.com/en/news/usa-skateboarder-poe-pinson-paris-2024
Coast One Tours LLC shares Black Historical Interactive Guided Tours in American Beach
Avis Miller of Coast One Tours LLC shared with the Nassau School Board about the legacy of American Beach. Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island is a documented location of the Middle Passage. Tours are done by Avis husband, Ron Miller, who grew up in American Beach. Tours include: Old Town tour and a Kingsley Plantation tour.
K-12 Reading and English Language Acquisition Plan Approved
The Title I – Part A Project Application for the Nassau County Reading Plan (submitted by Rhonda Devereaux, Pre-5 Director) was approved. Students will be exposed to career options and financial literacy. Title III English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement Act 2024-25 was also approved.
Creekside Lakes Request for Approval of Proportionate State Mitigation
Nassau County School District, Nassau Count and the municipalities within Nassau County have entered into an “Amended Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning” dated as of August, 2008. The proportionate share mitigation agreement is entered with Creekside Lakes, LLC whose address is 8130 Baymeadows Way W. #306, Jacksonville, Florida. Applicants must submit a School Impact Analysis that identifies the proposed location of the residential development, the number of dwelling units they want to be created, a phasing schedule and age restriction for occupancy (if any). Payment is $235,000 dollars or $2,974 per dwelling unit.
Superintendent Comments:
Superintendent Burns told board members, “We’ve been preparing for the 2024-2025 school year onboarding new teachers and new employees. We lost 141 employees (129 resignations, 6 retirees, 6 were short-term). Our retention rate is 86 percent which is better than last year’s 80 percent retention rate. Employees are coming from surrounding counties.”
Board Attendees:
Gail Cook, Vice-Chair (District 2)
Curtis Gaus (District 3)
Dr. Cynthia Grooms, Chair (District 4)
Lissa Braddock (District 5)
* Shannon Hogue (District 1) did not attend.
Next Meeting: July 11 (6:30 pm.)/Budget Workshop scheduled at 4 p.m.
The next Nassau School Board is scheduled for Thursday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. with a budget workshop scheduled at 4 p.m. prior to the board meeting.
Agenda: (37 minutes)
Watch: (37 minutes)
https://nassaucountysd.new.swagit.com/views/569/live
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,” “Nov. 5 Election Day Countdown,” and “Revive America.”
