Question Number 1
Please provide 3 strategies in which you will work with the School Board and School Police Chief to combat increasing acts of misconduct by students and teachers in our schools and school events. This includes gun violence, fights, and inappropriate contact with students and/or teachers.
All Duval County Public School students and staff deserve learning environments that are safe, inclusive, supportive, and fair.
The Board, Superintendent, and School Police Chief must take an integrated, systemic approach that focuses on prevention, which will lead to increased safety through a collaborative response that supports students and staff. The strategies begin with district policies and procedures that support staff and students that are then incorporated into comprehensive school safety plans, and community collaboration.
First , we begin a comprehensive review of Board policy. Policies that contribute to harsh or unfair exclusionary discipline contribute to students feeling unwelcome, unsafe, and unsupported should be revised. New policies should reflect an inclusive and collaborative approach that supports student discipline fairly, and provides a safe, positive, and nondiscriminatory educational environment for all students and educators. New policies should reflect the social, emotional, physical, academic, and mental health support needed to thrive and succeed. Recommendations approved by the Board are communicated in writing to first line stakeholders.
Secondly, the team needs to focus on ensuring that each campus has a current, comprehensive safety plan. Each school, department and partner organization should develop a plan that is aligned to Board policy. Safety plans should include input from students, families, and the community. They should provide evidence of an inclusive process, driven by data, that builds consensus and leads to shared responsibility and individual accountability. Each plan must be approved by both a site committee and district entity that includes first responders and community members.
Finally, a Board Safety Committee which includes first responders, district personnel and community representatives and a Youth Commission composed of representatives from each high school should meet monthly. The Youth Commission is a tremendous opportunity to make schools safer by including student voice in decision making. Therefore, the meetings are an inclusive method of gathering information about exceptional practices, emerging trends, resources available or needed that support the physical, social and emotional well being of the entire school community.
Question Number 2
The Duval County Public Schools' annual budget exceeds two billion dollars. Please describe the work experiences you have had that show your ability to manage a budget of this size. Additionally, please describe your approach to budget forecasts, i.e., factors to be considered, appropriate timelines, etc.
I understand that building the DCPS budget is the fundamental task upon which all district operations depend and is a reflection of the communities shared values and priorities that ensure equitable resources and an equal opportunity for a great education for all students.
My work experiences have provided me with over 10 years of direct involvement in the development, implementation and evaluation of district budgets in excess of $350 million. While this is a small amount in relation to DCPS the process and determining factors used to generate equity focused budgets is the same. Developing the strategic financial plan as a long-term road map for implementing the district’s instructional priorities and creating a plan of action describes how the strategic financial plan will be translated into coherent actionable steps.
Budgeting discussions begin with detailed planning and preparation in early Fall and include a review of existing programs, previous and current budget expenditures and district priorities. In November we begin preliminary budget development, which includes anticipated costs of new initiative, reductions to existing programs and salary and benefit estimates based on state and federal allocations. In January, a recommended budget is presented at a regular business meeting. The Recommended budget is based on input by Department Heads, Principals and Administrators, and Faculty. It incorporates budget guidelines, collective bargaining requirements, Federal and State mandates such as the provision for Special Education, and elements of the District’s Strategic Plan. It also updates planning information such as the latest estimates in enrollment, utility and special education costs. In February, the Board deliberates on the recommended budget and develops a final budget that is approved in mid-March, to ensure sustainability and be replicable in the future in order to ensure the district remains focused and plans accordingly for reaching its strategic goals.
DCPS must make difficult and challenging budget decisions using an inclusive and transparent process that supports equity that puts students first.
Question Number 3
Given significant declines in student enrollment in recent years and escalating construction costs, our district is facing school closures to address district budget shortfalls and will also need to revise the “15 Year Facility Plan” funded by our half penny referendum. If selected as our new superintendent, what steps would you take to bring our current district budget into alignment and prioritize projects within the 15-year facility plan? Additionally, how would you incorporate community feedback into your decision-making process?
As Superintendent I will work to increase engagement with students, staff, families, and community members to ensure the alignment of the 15 Year Facility Plan with the DCPS budget. This engagement is not simply to create the budget goals but to increase literacy, foster a friendly inclusive environment to accelerate learning, provide access and entry points for participating. Guiding this work means facilitating the development of a collaborative community authentically contributing to preparing all students for college and career.
As Superintendent I would begin with independent audits of the budget and facilities. It is critical that an independent audit of the fiscal solvency of the district and the condition and need of facilities to provide accurate and up to date information. This information allows for actions that align the district budget and prioritize projects in the 15 Year Facility Plan. The resulting actions can mitigate declines in student enrollment and actually lead to increases, by providing state of the art facilities to promote safety and inclusion resulting in equitable outcomes for students.
As Superintendent current costs for rehabilitation, maintenance and new construction are vital to guiding the work. This information allows me to prioritize maintenance over further erosion, because maintenance is much cheaper than rehab or new construction. As superintendent this is critically important in developing a new Facility Master Plan by partnering with the Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. In addition to the ICOC it’s important to gather information from students, teachers and staff and members of the community in order to incorporate their priorities into the budget and facility plans.
As Superintendent I recognize that the budget is an indication of our values and our facilities are a reflection for the public. My work as Superintendent focusing on student learning requires engaging the district in a rigorous and robust budget process that is inclusive and transparent. A process which aligns our facilities, personnel and community resources creating a great school district and ensures the public continues to trust and invest in the DCPS.
Video Submissions
Videos cannot exceed 13 minutes total (approximately 3 minutes per question). Candidates could submit one video with all answers or videos, one per question, or any combination desired.
How will you approach the integration of innovative schooling models and emerging technologies like OpenAI and ChatGPT to enhance in Duval, and what strategies do you envision to adapt to the changing educational landscape while ensuring equitable access for all students?
Describe a time you recognized a systematic problem within an organization. What was it and how did you create scalable systems and reorganize the department to improve the flawed process?
What is your detailed plan to eliminate all D and F graded schools?
Florida is wide open for school choice. What are you going to do to lead DCPS to compete for students