Cash-Strapped Duval, Other Counties Eliminate Summer School (FL)

http://www.news4jax.com ^ | 5-28-03 | News4Jax

[OXENinFLA]

Cash-Strapped Duval, Other Counties Eliminate Summer School Posted: 4:08 p.m. EDT May 27, 2003

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Traditionally, students who didn't pass a class or two could go to summer school and make them up. But budget cuts forced Duval and other counties to suspend summer school, leaving thousands of students looking for other ways to pass classes.

Chasity Burton's summer will be spent on the computer, taking an online history course. She told Channel 4's Jim Piggott that she would prefer to spend three weeks cramming with other students at summer school.

Still, she wasn't sorry about the change.

"I am glad there is no summer school because it motivates more kids to do better in school," Burton said.

Some seniors who were set to graduate found out the hard way that summer courses were no longer an alternative.

"We kept reminding our students when report cards came out that you need to look carefully at your report card ... because there will not be any summer school," Sandalwood High School principal Bill Gesdorf said.

Duval schools district's Beverly Strickland said students needing to make up a class still have a few options.

"They can go online and take a course through the Department of Education. They can apply at a private school and take a course at a private school. High school students that are 18, they can go to FCCJ and it's a free course," Strickland told Channel 4's Jim Piggott.

Elementary schools will be offering is a reading camp next week. It will focus on third-graders and help with reading for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. But for younger students, that's the only option other than paying -- or repeating a grade.

Of other northeast Florida counties, Clay County is the only one still offering traditional summer school. Ironically, they are the county in the most financial trouble after voters turned down a half-cent sales tax earlier this year that to help fund schools.

[OXENinFLA]

So where is the MONEY GOING?????????????

Not only are they cutting Summer School but I'm hearing that many electives like band or sports are getting cut too.

[doodad]

Bet you don't hear about any beaurocrats or counselors being cut.

[glorgau]

So where is the MONEY GOING?????????????

For instance, the specs they had for their student information system insisted on the ability to generate letters to parents in 26 languages!

[athenarose]

Duval county has set aside money for a new court house in which they might need if we do not give our children the right learning tools and education they need.We should be focusing on helping our future siblings to achieve and accomplish the talents that they have instead of taking it away from them!

[athenarose]

Duval county has set aside money for a new court house in which they might need if we do not give our children the right learning tools and education they need.We should be focusing on helping our future siblings to achieve and accomplish the talents that they have instead of taking it away from them!