News
By Mike Hernandez, 7-25-24
FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA—Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns reported “Nassau County schools were ranked in the top three out of 67 Florida school districts. We have a phenomenal school district.”
Nassau County School Board Vice Chair Gail Cook said: “We need to recognize our hard-working students, supportive parents, and the dedication of our teachers, para (workers) and also our volunteers that come into our different schools to work 1:1 with struggling students and give them extra help. This is a community ‘A’.”
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz., Jr. announced on July 24 that “nearly 1,300 schools (of 3317 state “traditional ” public schools) earned an ‘A’ grade, a 6-percentage point increase over 2023.” Schools are graded “A, B, C, D, or F.” The Florida School Grades Overview has four learning gains components for each of the core subjects as well as graduation rate. Participating schools must test a least 95 percent of their students. (To see a one-page summary go to: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/18534/urlt/SchoolGradesOverview24.pdf).
In other Superintendent comments, Dr. Burns stated: “Nassau County Schools have an 86 percent retention rate (for employees) with 13 positions still open.”
During a June 17 Candidate Forum, Nassau County Board Member Curtis Gaus (running against Supt. Burns) spoke on teacher retention (claiming that 200 teachers left last year and 100 this year) and stated he could make improvements on more effective spending, discipline and morale. (See story:
https://www.citizensjournal.net/nassau-school-superintendent-forum-puts-candidates-on-record/.)
Some perspective info
Keep in mind that Nassau County School District has a far lower percentage of economically disadvantaged and racial “minority” students than the state as a whole, which would make it more likely/easier to score higher. However, the other metrics (check out https://edudata.fldoe.org/ ) show that they stack up quite well in the state even considering that.
Number of teachers
NCSD: 864 Florida: 173,722
Student Count
NCSD: 12,746 Florida: 2,872,309
Nassau County School District 2024-25 Mental Health Assistance Allocation Plan For Over $2 Million Dollars Approved
The Nassau County School District approved (4-0) a 2024-25 Mental Health Assistance Allocation Plan (Action Item 1) that allocates over $1 million (Section 1) and almost $1 million for Section 2 expenditures. Motion: Shannon Hogue. Second: Gail Cook.
(To read Mental Health Application submitted to the Florida Department of Education:
Nassau County Schools has gone from two school social workers, seven school psychologists and 28 school counselors to 14 school social workers, eight school psychologists and 30.5 school counselors.
Nassau County Schools also contract with Starting Point Behavioral Health Care, Flagler Health B.R.A.V.E. Care Connect, the Florida Psychological Associates, and D’Arienzo Psychology.
Meanwhile, Citizens Defending Freedom is engaged in a 68-page lawsuit with Nassau County School District for refusing to disclose the behavioral health school curriculum and lessons upon demand focusing on Starting Point Behavioral Health and their supplier/materials. (Read:
https://www.citizensjournal.net/in-court-cdf-v-nassau-county-school-district-withholding-curriculum-materials/ and https://www.citizensjournal.net/local-activist-sues-nassau-school-district-over-curriculum-content-failure-to-disclose/.)
Yulee High School Track Refurbishment Approved For $724,000
The Nassau County School Board voted 4-0 to approve the Yulee High School Track Refurbishment (Agenda Item 2). Motion: Gail Cook. Second: Shannon Hogue. The contract for $724,000 was a cooperative purchase (no official bidding process) made with Field Turf USA of Calhoun, Georgia. Prices are based on OMNIA Partners pricing, a buying co-op plan that public entities can use to purchase goods and services. Individual schools do not have to do the regular bidding process. The project will be completed in time for the 2025 track season.
Nassau County resident Richard Lamken, a former California Assistant Superintendent, spoke out against Nassau County making a cooperative purchase: “Pricing goes down 10-30 percent when you use a bidding process over a cooperative purchase.” (Read contract at:
School Board Member ( and Superintendent candidate) Curtis Gaus said, “Each year, we should take some capital money and do both track and field at the same time (to save money).”
Nassau County School Board Members
District 1: Shannon Hogue (Fernandina Beach): houguesh1nassau.k12.fl.us
District 2: Gail Cook (Fernandina Beach): cookganassau.k12.fl.us (904) 261-9127
District 3: Curtis Gaus (Yulee): gauscunassau.k12.fl.us
District 4: Cynthia Grooms (Hilliard): groomscy1nassau.k12.fl.us (904) 845-8105
District 5: Lissa Braddock (Callahan): [email protected] (904) 507-9522/Absent
July 25 School Board Meeting Agenda
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/nassau/Board.nsf/Public#
July 25 School Board Meeting Agenda (30 Minutes)
https://nassaucountysd.new.swagit.com/views/569/live
Watch July 22 Special School Board Budget Meeting (6 minutes)
Nassaucountysd.nw.swagit.com/videos/31075
Next Nassau County Schools Public Budget Hearing and Special School Board Meeting July 29
Nassau County School District has set a Public Budget Hearing from 5-6:30 p.m. on July 29 with a Special School Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom of the School Board Offices, 1201 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.
August Nassau County Schools Board Meetings Scheduled
Nassau County School Board meetings have been scheduled for Aug. 8 and Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
at School Board Offices, 1201 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.
Nassau County Schools Start For 2024-25 School Year On Monday, August 12
Nassau County Teacher Planning will run from Aug. 2-8 with Staff Development on Aug. 9th. The first day of school is scheduled Monday, Aug. 12th.
(Note: To read the July 11 Nassau County School Board meeting story go to: https://www.citizensjournal.net/local-citizen-questions-nassau-county-school-board-spending-budget-amendments-richard-lamken-time-to-vote-out-the-incumbents-unwilling-to-ask-questions/.)
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 two weekly columns: “Stories Speak Volumes” and “Nov. 5 Election Day Countdown,” and writer of “Revive America.”
