Noticed Meeting: CM Carlucci on 2026-0387 School Board Referendum

Noticed Meeting: CM Carlucci on 2026-0387 School Board Referendum — Jun 5, 2026

Okay. I want to thank everybody for coming to our meeting today. And I like to. Start out by. I think introduce one another starting down on that in and we'll come all the way around here. But Different over here. Anthony Ricardo School Board district one. Now the table, Duke School District, 7. >> I think Pearson School board district 3. >> And good afternoon Matt carlucci City Council member at large group for. Good afternoon run the climbers City Council district 9. Ok, thank you very much. Today's I called in his last minute. But I I would try to have called it a little earlier. But State Farm. Have strangle just I've got this pesky other job had to work on. So but I felt this was important to call this meeting today. And I was glad that councilmember areas called a beating because that means Council members that they have questions still about the resolution that were looking at this coming Tuesday. Hopefully. Will have 2 chances to have any questions that they have. I also believe that it's a chance is that COUNCILMAN Jones down. There's COUNCILMAN A school board member Come on. Come on up here, please, sir. It would. It would warm my heart. It would warm my heart to to have a my good friend Warren Jones. Up here. For those of you who don't know, Warren is the longest serving councilmember since consolidation. 29 years. More income over a here's that next to Tyrone. I want you to close. He got a hug. Everybody on the way over to a assignment. Got to I don't think so. Ok? We have a councilmember Warren Jones. Was just introduce yourselves, say low and then we'll get back to where we were seeing Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be here. >> when COUNCILMAN Matt Carlucci calls, I have to so thank you for the invite in Megan. Thank you for being a few, but I thank you for the invite. Thank you. I would be. >> We need you get a little older. I got to tell you, it almost brings a tear to my See, my friend appear and I down get too much like that. My boy starts cracking or by says he's getting old mold. But I love being. Like a All y'all. Okay. So were called order. And we're going to do is clarify the city council's role on this. So I asked Michael Factor, our general counsel, the head lawyer, this to come and explain that and then we'll have the Duval County Public School superintendent speak to the importance of this issue. And I would like to hear from our school board members as well. I asked anything that they want to speak to. Any questions that by have or any other councilmember who bite the wandering in this way for to ask and then we'll take public comment. So I want to thank you know, our general counsel Michael Factor for being here. So what you Kind of laid out for for everybody, including the media that might be here in the gentleman over here. That simple truth what you know, what our role is happy I think importantly, this is not the shower a controversy that we had in 2019. >> In this case, the shough has been interpreted conclusively by the second district court in 2024. In the case out of Hillsborough County, they're the court said that in this case shall and the statue left the in that case, the county commissioners no discretion to put the measure on the ballot. It was purely ministerial act and therefore, the county commissioners have to do it. Appellate court affirmed the trial court's issuance of a writ of mandamus, which was essentially the court ordering the county commissioners to put the referendum on the ballot. This is a different statute in child in 2019 it is our opinion as well as the binding on the state of Florida. The act by the city council is purely discretionary. I'm happy to take any questions you And many questions by But I have question I'd like to ask, but >> anybody have question. My my question would be this. MR. Packer, what? What would happen because we do have a red button and people, I suppose could. But they wanted to. I don't. That's me echo here out of the left here. But anyway, what what if people, what, what we had 10 no votes just hypothetically because we MAY get some no votes because some people just. You know, want to vote no. And that's their right up. Would not take anybody's right vote away from them. But what would happen? If that's a fascinating question that I don't know that we fully explored. I mentioned the Hillsborough County case. >> And that appellate court affirmed the trial court's issuance of a writ of mandamus Jones, court ordering at that is a possibility. I I guess I would have to talk to my client and that case that would be the school board regarding what their options are and how best to get on the ballot. To answer the question. There might be some options out there. But you are correct. I in my role I cannot force somebody push a green button or red button. There are options potentially available for the school board to get. Their referendum consistent with the statute on the ballot in NOVEMBER. >> I would you could, to the best of your ability with the time frame that we have. Hopefully we'll get a vote on it this Tuesday. And I would like between you and the Plus to share with us what our time frame is an event. Somehow we were not to vote on this Tuesday. I would like to the what would happen if this council were too. Not meet timeframe are to vote. No on this. And what those consequences would be. And I understand is it's a little strange to have to vote. Yes, I get that completely. But I also understand that, you know, there's a public body as a public body. We are just a channel here for the school board, which is an elected body and they're working on behalf of their constituents and need us to channel this the, you the ballot. So you could supply me. I suppose the rest of the council members of it, that's appropriate. And the answer to that question I would like that. And then if if we don't want voting on this Tuesday. What kind of time frame does that put us in in terms of getting in on the board are getting in on the ballot and what kind of pinch does that Dr Pudieron are steamed school members, school board members in. Thank you for the question. >> And I know MISS The populace is in the back and I've learned this from her and her her excellent work and due diligence and compiling this information. So if I get it and correct, I know I'll be corrected shortly. But the work with the supervisor of elections know what the absolute drop dead date is to get on the ballot. Not is AUGUST 18th. So that is day that I personally on behalf of my client, the school board do not want to get anywhere but that is the absolute day if it is not brought up on the 9th, then it will go through the normal cycle again and go through finance again the following week, which would be the 16 believe and then they potentially be on the ballot. Again, the 23rd. There's also something to keep in mind. There is a bill on the governor's desk which would potentially open an ear out for the school board to get its referendum on the ballot without having to go through council. It would be several hoops that we would have to go through and we are prepared to work with the school board. If that door opens to make sure that we have all our I's dotted and t's crossed to make sure we go through the batter. Again, going back to your question of what what could happen. I would have to work with my client, the school board to see what their next steps and whether that is I I have looked at this and have 100 in my head. I have some ability issue, binding opinions about the role and the interplay of the charter. I don't think I have the authority to issue a writ of mandamus. I cannot order one of my clients to do something. I don't know if I want that power, but I definitely don't have that power. So I think got the power you you ought to use it. I do what is the last council meeting, though, that we have vote on this to make sure it gets on the ballot. That's I guess what I'm trying to find out. And then I'm going and we're going to turn to this the populace or maybe the council auditors and the back. I don't know the last meeting before then I know we have the 3 week Council break coming up in JULY. And I knew that ms the populace. But after come in and correct me and keep me on track. To councilmember currency into the remainder of the members on the dias. >> So the Mr Packer indicated if the matter doesn't come up for a vote on on Tuesday, the 9th, it'll be in finance for consideration the following week and then has the opportunity to voted out of finance that week to come back to City Council for consideration on JUNE 23rd if for whatever reason there's an additional deferral or delay, the council will have one cycle in JULY where the Finance Committee could take it up on JULY, 21st and then it would be voted on a council on JULY. 28. And that's the last opportunity for this matter to be reported out of committee and to come to council for action that would allow the school board in the school system to meet their deadline with the supervisor of elections. >> Now. The before I go any further is anybody have any questions are there? Before I go any further? Got one more extension on that. Question. What possibly could the council? Do? To this legislation that might take us to JULY 18th, the news or any amendment that we could consider that might improve or of mold such a way that it might be more collaborative between the 2 bodies or is it is what it is and we have to vote on it as it is one way or the other. >> For the chair to councilmember current through to Councilmember College. You I apologize. So the legislation is essentially asic. It came to us via resolution from the Duval County School board. And what's in the legislation is simply a directive to the supervisor of elections to place it on the ballot for NOVEMBER 3rd. So what what the the way it's written now essentially tracks with the resolution stated from the school board as well as the statutory language. With respect to how it gets placed on the ballot. So there's really nothing to amend. It outlines the dates for the election. It also establishes the ballot question and the way the ballot question is written is provided by the school board through their resolution. So that cannot be changed either. And otherwise adjusting includes some whereas clauses that address the statute and the process by which it comes to the city council to have it then put put on the ballot by the supervisor of elections. Different. >> wouldn't be deferring to build in order to make some kind of a change. >> Unless there is a council member of one of the things that came up during the Finance committee meeting was whether there could be any substantive changes in my answer at that point was not that now you can't change the date of the election. The statute sets which type of election that has to go on. You can alter the ballot language. You can't alter the the substantive information as it was provided by the school board. So I there could be a minor modification that councilmember would want to discuss or could discuss. But I in this moment could not think of what would change in that legislation. That would be such that, you know, it wouldn't really affect the nature of the bill, which is simply. Asking the supervisor of elections to place it on the ballot. >> Ok, thank you. And if I could clarify apart from a scrivener's error, there are no chain okay. Just one last that observation I'm going to make is the quicker this makes it through the council, the quicker those who are volunteering to run the campaign volunteer for the campaign because it's going to be a campaign for those who want. To pass this, there might be a campaign for those who want to fight it. I mean, of it's a free democracy. You can find anything before. But there are people that want to campaign forward. And the sooner the day. Have got this piece behind them. The sooner that they have the certainty they need in order to take this initiative and start talking about it with the voters Jacksonville. So that's kind of another piece of the puzzle that I think is important that we get out this So so I'm done with that. And again, I'll ask for anything else before we move to our school board, friends, thing else? MR. Packer, thank you for coming. You've got a meeting at. You've got a run to appreciate you being here. Mary, thank you for your contribution. So we're through on that one. Dr money. I'd like to turn this over to you and you talk to us about why this is so important explain maybe the history where we've come from since we pass this some 4 years ago or so. And whatever else that you have in your presentation. Portfolio. Thank you, I don't have a presentation portfolio spoke this morning. I'll try to do. >> The same thing that I've tried to do when I came here. Instead, MR. Fact, we're just was. We have a lot to be proud of in great city of Jacksonville. We have an amazing city that's growing developing. You can see the beginning of breath and more life coming into downtown and its surrounding. Amazing neighborhoods, right? It's been 2 started actually kind of figure this place out a little bit. And I know I still have a lot to learn and somebody will quiz mean the end. And you'll know that I still still have a lot to learn. But you can feel the energy in Jacksonville. And I believe that the school district last year contributed to energy. I believe that by coming. In his an a grade school system for the first time in history with the leadership of these amazing board members of the others that could not be here today. Is a step in the right direction towards what our city is working towards through its Civic Council, which is that concept of world class. If you're going to be a world-class city, you need a world-class education system. So when we talk about what our systems dot. We've historically received an a grade for the first time in its history. The pm 3 data is in. It's not final yet, but we have the possibility of being close enough to be a read it again. We have learned in 97.6% graduation rate amongst our high school seniors or graduate. Both college and career ready under circumstances that when you and I went to high school, we didn't have those same standards. I have to pass out through one. They have to have a passing grade regarding their English language arts. If they can't get it on the state tests, they have to pass the a c t or a ct to certain level they have to have 24 credits. They must have a c average. Those are not things in the past and that graduation rate not too long ago hovered at about 60%. It's now at 97.6 and the demographic breakdown breaks down between whites, blacks, Hispanics, free reduced lunch is the students. Most of those gaps are less than one percent. So not only have we moved it overall for the overall rate, but we moved every one of our other groups of young people. In those as well. And they're graduating both college and career ready. And that leads me to one of the great things. A public school system can to for community. We produce. Excellent graduates. They're ready to go to college step into careers. Do both whatever time they choose and they come back and they enrich our community by making it a safer place, a better place. Being gainfully employed, really driving the economic engine of this community, but also driving the social aspect of it as being better fathers, mothers, husbands, aunts, and uncles. It's just really an amazing opportunity. As an educator to have a legacy of knowing that we've helped improve the climate in culture of the city. Jacksonville, under the leadership of the board. And then we living in a better place. Additionally for this body and for the rest of the city and our chambers of commerce. When you're out recruiting businesses and Iowa in FEBRUARY. And it's-4 degrees as the wind blows across the plane. The first thing that ceo is probably going to ask you about is what the beaches and the weather is like. But right after that, the next question out of their mouth is what is the public school system look like? And for the first time in our history, we've been able to take that message across the ocean and to other places and say we have an a rated school district. We have a district that has risen in every single tested level. We had 20 schools last year at least 2 grade levels. We had another and that went up. At least I'm sorry. 35 the win one grade level and contend that went out we were on the precipice of getting to the point where we will continue to install confidence in the system. But the bottom line to all of this is the most impactful person. In all of those statistics that I just read. As a classroom teacher. And the other educators that support our parents. Our. School psychologist, our school counselors, are sl Peas. Pick any one that interacts with the child. Along with the teacher statistically research proven they are the number one factor in increasing student achievement. And this millage provides them evidence that their purpose and their impact and their value is recognized by this community. What this body has to do on behalf of our school board passed a resolution. Is the need to pass it through The Office of Elections. I stood at that podium and said I'm not asking you to continue attacks. This is not a new tax. It's a continuation of what that already exists. What I'm asking you to do is do what is? I think the best part of living in the state of Florida. We would move this item on to the people Vo and somebody said it beautifully this morning. That's the great part of living in a representative democracy as representatives we we challenged. And created a resolution that we brought to you. Your step in this process is to pass it through to the supervisor of elections. And then in NOVEMBER, the people get to decide if they want to continue this. Sense of income to our teachers, supporting them and supporting our school resource officers and our safety officers to make sure that we know I continue to drive student achievement, but that we make our schools safe as possible. I think our borders. Want a great public school system. But it will be up to them to make the decision of whether this is something they're willing to pay for. Not. So let's let the voters decide what the future of dcps and this funding is. We will figure out no matter how that vote goes, we will figure out a way to move forward and to create a situation where teachers are appreciated. But right now we've got to get it to the ballot so that people can have that opportunity in this wonderful state where that's how our Constitution as written to have their choice. I'm open to any questions that MAY come from you or other members of the committee. Anybody have any questions. Could have been in. You better and More well stated dr Money and I thank you for that very much. I need recognize MR. School board member Reginal lot. Thank you for coming today, sir. Appreciated the good work you do. So I would like to now. Ask and I would like to include. School board, former school board member Warren Jones in this as well. But any of the school board members that would like to speak as to their views on this as well. I think it's important. School board, representative your school board representative. That's right. Near my city Council large. >> Thank you so much for calling this meeting and thank you. >> 4. >> Being supportive of Duval County Public Schools as a city council member, but also as a parent going all the way back to starting friends of Hendrix, which I had the privilege of being PRESIDENT Of and running fundraisers at Hendricks as well. As a school board member as an elected person. I have 2 opportunities to interact with the one mill. My first opportunity was to vote on whether to send the resolution to City Council. And I took that vote and I voted and the affirmative to send the resolution to City Council. And now City Council has the opportunity to do there. What we have heard is the ministerial duty to send the resolution on to the supervisor of elections to be placed on the ballot, said that the people can vote. I would make a plea that while you could extended all the way into AUGUST 2, please. Someone consider pulling this on Tuesday if the city Council PRESIDENT Doesn't reverse. To pull it and second it and vote on it because the sooner this item is settled and it is moved on and it frees up the staff and school board members to do the important work that we do over the summer school is out for students. It is not out for administrators. It is not out for school board members. We are still working. And and so the time that we spend. Continuing to try to convince people to do something they should do anyway. It's time that we're not spending doing other things. The second chance I get to interact with this is as a private citizen and I have said publicly that I am voting for the red voting for the renewal renewal of the one mill. And I'm bringing for their votes from my household with me. So 5 votes from the person household for this, a few things to know about this. I find compelling first of all by state statute, the when the tax money comes in to us, it is split. 80 per cent goes to Duval County public schools, 20% by statute goes to charter schools for them to use in similar ways. And then as outlined the money is spent and 3 different ways salary stipends or enhancements for teachers. >> For Peres, for security, for school resource officers for maintenance, for the employees and Duval County Public Schools. And that is significant because we heard from dozens of teachers and the previous meeting that this is a difference maker for them. It is a difference maker for them having the peace of mind to know that they can. Afford to say for home. That they can pay medical bills that they can pay for prescription drugs, that they can be freed up to help elderly parents that they can help their children achieve a college education. These these are not luxuries. These are real-life issues that teachers are having to work second and 3rd jobs to pay for. That. If you have a degree and you have been or profession you should not have to work a second or 3rd job in order to afford. Basic life necessities. And that is across the board for our employees. The second part of the money goes into arts and athletics enhancements. And that's just 12.5% of the budget. But so so important. Arts and athletics enhancements happen on the elementary level. On the middle school level and on the high school level that could look like refurbished playground. It could look like musical instruments for an elementary school. It's scoreboards its refurbished tracks on the middle school level. It is converting. Fields playing fields that have too much pressure on them that actually are not safe to play on to turf fields. It can look like new band uniforms. It can look like new audio and visual and an auditorium. It can look like improve sound in a football stadium which is actually a safety issue. So those are the kinds of things that go into that. And I just want to point out that within Duval County this year and athletics, we've had 3 state champions. Rains holds 2 of those state champion in football state champion in track. And then Fletcher girls, volleyball state champion in volleyball and also ranked number one in the nation in beach volleyball. We have a lot to be proud of. And our student athletes deserve. They don't have to be private school level facilities, but they need good working facilities. And that is not something that's covered in the state budget. Moving on to arts. We have numerous schools art young musicians, an artist who have been recognized on the state and national level. And just this past weekend, Douglas Anderson, School of the Arts students participated. And the applause Awards. And i