Jefferson County Schools are Broken
The Florida School Accountability Grades were released and Jefferson County’s schools are in trouble. Jefferson County Elementary School went from a “C” to a “D” while Jefferson County Middle/High School earned an incomplete. The school earned an incomplete grade as a result of cheating allegations by students and teachers during the FCAT.
I have not lived in Jefferson County for very long but have heard that at one time the schools used to be good. The county population is 63.3% white and 35.7% black but the county schools are 73% (for the elementary) and 79% (JCMS/HS) black respectively. Where are all the white kids going to school? I am not sure, but I think that the majority of them go to Aucilla Christian Academy while others finagle a way to attend Thomas County Georgia schools.
Our schools need to be improved as quality public schools are a key factor in attracting young families to move to the county. However, a main tool for finding information about the county’s schools, the Jefferson County School District web site, is an absolute disgrace. There is limited information on the site and the information that is there is outdated. For instance, the school page is unable to be viewed, the school administration page has not been updated since August 18, 2000 and the main web site has not been updated since August 7, 2001! The site makes a horrible first impression about our county schools and makes a statement that community outreach is not a priority.
The frustrating part is how to go about this improvement. The principal for the JCMS/HS contract was not renewed and the current superintendent, Phil Barker, is facing stiff competition in his reelection bid. I am not sure that I will vote for him in light of the recent school grades, the cheating controversy and the overall malaise that seems to pervade our school system. Maybe a change at the top is needed to get things moving in the right direction.
I am even more concerned with the school system now that we have a baby on the way. Becks and I are opposed to sending our child to a private school since we both are products of public education and believe it should be supported. However, at the same time we are unwilling to place our child in a school system that is obviously broken. We have some time to come up with a plan, but in the best interest of our child we eventually we may be forced to move from Monticello.
You’ve mentioned in a previous entry details of the planned developments within the city limits of Monticello.
There is no way that people who are expressly concerned about their children’s education will move to Jefferson County knowing the facts about the state of public education there.
When you have children, you’ll realize how important it is to work with your children. Reading with them at a young age and exercising their minds is so important. It’s rather heartbreaking to know that many of the children growing up in Jefferson County are not getting the early intervention that they need!
Being illiterate is an unfortunate hole in which most people never get out of.
I would stick my neck out to say that some of the problem might lie with the homelife of the students attending the public schools there. This needs to be addressed as well.
I attended my eldest Daughter’s Kindergarten Open House a few years ago and was surprised that out of 35 students, she was the only one who could read. We provided an environment that was condusive to her learning early. Some homes- That is not the case. Parents find the TV is an excellent babysitter and absolves them of the duty of spending quality time with your children. We strictly limit our children’s TV time and try to overbalance this with learning time.
I’ve never been able to understand how single parents can balance the responsibility of raising a child with work and other competeing activities.
That is great how you spent time with your kids and got them ready for school! I plan on spending a lot of time with ours when he/she gets here reading to them and hopefully will have him/her reading at an early age.
I agree with your observation regarding people moving into the county. I really think that young people with familes will want to move to the area if they are aware of the problems associated with our schools.
Sorry to always double post, but I remembered something else.
In case your wife didn’t attend public school in Florida, be aware that many classes still have 30-35 students in them.
The advantage of Private School might be the limited class size.
Our oldest child’s Kindergarten class had 60+ students in it. There were two teachers, but I know from personal experience that this is way to distracting for many kids.
Growing up our classes size was always around 30 and it worked out well. Committment of the children to learning and promotion of education as a valuable tool by the parents are more important than the number of kids in a classroom in my opinion. Regardless, 60 kids (even if there are two teachers) is a bit ridiculous! Was that in South Florida or Jefferson County?
This was in Miami.
There was a curtain that could be pulled across the middle of the classroom if needed.
My wife was a Teacher here in Miami until our oldest was born.
I personally removed 2 truckloads of personally owned storybooks and teaching aids that she had acquired from garage sales and other places.
As our youngest daughter gets to the point that we don’t need the beginners books, we’ve discussed donating them to the Jefferson County Library. We’ll probably end up doing that.
That would be nice of y’all. The public library is actually pretty nice since they moved it to the old High School Media Center.
Clarification*** the books were removed from her classroom when she left her teaching job.
Clarification appreciated!
“That is great how you spent time with your kids and got them ready for school!”
I just taught them to spit & fart!
My wife is the one …Oh who am I kidding? The wheels on the bus go round and …….ieeeeeeee!
One more Raffi Song and I’m gonna throw the disc out the window!
Oh, and I got five scienkoptics up there in the post window now. I’m sure this violates all kinds of blog Etiquette
I have to say being subjected to little kid music/songs is not something I am looking forward too. I think the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthew’s Band and some bluegrass would aid them in their development just as much.
One more for good measure!
Why not! At one point you filled up my comments section on the side bar. Good work!
When I’m driving, Raffi is not allowed.
I did read that ‘Wheels on the Bus’ to my oldest daughter about 60,000 times though.
I know who gave us that book, and some day I’ll get my revenge!!!
I think we’ve checked out all the children’s books that the Monticello Library has!
I understand that it is a nice library though.
We’ll be heading up in a week.
I need a wireless internet card for my Laptop. No DSL down at Shady Thicket! I seem to get a very strong Sprint/Nextel signal so I plan on picking up a Wireless card to experiment with.
I understand there is an Alltel tower going up down the road from us.
That is one advantage that we have living in the “city”, we can get DSL. I am not sure that the cable company for the county even offers broadband. My friend who lives in the county get his internet through his sat tv provider. Hope the broadband card works out for you!
Not anything offered by wire out my way.
I just hear that satellite sucks.
What service does your friend have. What is the Quality of Service?
Monthly cost?
I am not sure he still has it. (He may). If you’re ever downtown stop in and ask him about it, he’s the Clerk of Court and I sure he’d be happy to discuss it with you.
Back on topic:
My wife was wondering why it is that when you do a search of properties in the 32344 zip code, for schools it show the following for all properties:
# Elementary School: OTHER COUNTY
# Middle School: OTHER COUNTY
# High School: OTHER COUNTY
This cannot help matters.
Who is behind this?
That is sad. I have no idea who is responsible for listing the schools. Maybe the description serves as a warning telling people to send their kids to another school in a different county! Ha.
Every single Monticello property listed on Realtor.com has this same Trifecta in the property listing.
“Maybe the description serves as a warning telling people to send their kids to another school in a different county!”
This is something that needs to be changed!
I can only guess that the whole public school issue is very deep rooted in desegregation.
When the white folks realized the schools would be desegregated, they opened up a private school and kept things from changing.
Of course this is purely speculation
I am not sure why our public schools have such problems but would be curious to see when the started to go down hill. I do not think they will turn around by the time our baby in waiting is ready for school and we are already contemplating a move.
Be Buffered and aware.
Help is coming to JC Middle and Senior. Give it this year. Watch the turnaround.
Dinonychus 1
I hope a turn around is coming to JCMS/HS as without a solid public education system our county will continue to have trouble attracting young families and industry.