ONE by ONE Community Meeting: Recap and photos
7/1/2014
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund hosted a ONE by ONE Community Meeting on Thursday, June 26 that focused on the role of the Duval County School Board, the crucial decisions that are set before it and the importance of voting during the school board elections.
More than 60 participants were in the audience as Duval County School Board members Martha Barrett, Betty Burney and Nancy Broner took part in a panel discussion on the role of the school board, answering questions posed by the audience. Click here to view photos of the event and be sure to check out the photos on Facebook to tag yourself and others!
After hearing from the panel, participants discussed in groups three key questions presented by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. From the notes submitted by each table, it appears that there was a consensus in many of the questions.
The common answers given by participants were:
What would be the key qualities a school board member should have?
- Ability to engage the community at large
- Having a strong knowledge of the school district infrastructure
- Having a connection to the schools
- Integrity, courage and commitment
What are some of the questions you will like to ask current school board candidates?
- How will you ensure equal/fair distribution of resources across schools?
- What is the biggest issue the district is facing? How would you address it?
- What are your views on charter schools?
- How would you work with the Superintendent to ensure the Board's policies are implemented with fidelity in each school?
Have you been involved with previous school board elections? If not, why? And if so, what suggestions do you have to get more people interested and actually voting? Will you be more likely to participate this time?
- Most participants responded no. Their reasoning to not being involved was because of lack of information about the role and individual candidates, lack of information and not being informed of the importance of the school board.
- Suggestions to increase involvement were: Involving the corporate, non-profit, and faith-based communities in the mobilization of voters; Creating candidate bios to better inform the constituents; and canvassing via voter registration drives with information about all the candidates.
We would like to thank all of the ONE by ONE delegates and community members who attended the community meeting, your feedback and participation is always greatly appreciated!
With the upcoming school board elections we would like to keep all education advocates informed on our upcoming events and important dates to remember involving the school board elections
July 28 - Voter Registration Deadline for August 26 Primary (learn more at www.duvalelections.com)
August 7- District 2 Candidate Forum at Fletcher High School
August 12- District 4 Candidate Forum at Ribault High School
August 15-23- Early Voting
August 26- Primary Election Day
November 4- General Election (If needed)
Please see the Jacksonville Public Education Fund at www.jaxpef.org for more info about upcoming events or visit schoolboard2014.org to view information about the coalition of nonpartisan organizations that are dedicated to promoting the importance of voting in the school board elections and educating voters about their choices.
- Ciara Walton