Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 10, 2018

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Sebring Sen. Denise Grimsley expanded her list of backers in her statewide bid for Agriculture Commissioner on Friday with a bulk endorsement from three dozen local elected officials from all corners of the state. The additions came in from mayors across the I-4 corridor, from Temple Terrace to Melbourne; school superintendents stretching from Gulf to […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 28, 2017

A rainy Monday morning saw the often fractious Duval County School Board move forward in suing the state of Florida. At issue: HB 7069, the “Schools of Hope” bill, which would divert capital dollars to charter schools from local schools. Multiple urban districts — Broward, Miami-Dade, Orange, and Palm Beach — are already in the […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2017

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The Duval County School Board moved Friday toward transition from the superintendency of Nikolai Vitti, who is moving on to Detroit. In a special board meeting Friday morning in a mostly empty chambers, the board discussed next steps … even as reliable sources say that Gov. Rick Scott would like to see Clay County Superintendent Addison Davis (Vitti’s […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2017

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Before Wednesday’s meeting of the Duval County School Board, Chair Paula Wright cautioned that “no news” would come out of the conclave. However, with the real possibility that Superintendent Nikolai Vitti may leave Jacksonville for Detroit, a city “in his DNA,” the board needed to have a sunshine discussion to discuss next steps. Notable: Vitti was absent, […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 23, 2016

For the Duval County School Board, the slogan might be “wake me when September ends.” Earlier in the month, the board evaluated Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, deeming him “effective,” even though below the surface questions loomed about widening achievement gaps inside demographic categories of the student population. From there, board chair Ashley Smith-Juarez, according to Vitti, scheduled a meeting […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 12, 2016

Eric Smith, a Jacksonville Democrat and City Council mainstay of the 20th century, told the Florida Times-Union he would run in Congressional District 4. Smith, a three-term state legislator, told the Times-Union Thursday that “no party should own a congressional district and nobody should be sent to Washington because of their party affiliation.” Smith, who last served […]

Julie DelegalDecember 9, 2015

First the lobbyist from the Florida Charter School Alliance wanted to meet with a sitting Duval School Board member — privately. But when former Duval School Board Chairwoman Becki Couch suggested they “notice” the meeting and invite her fellow school board members to join them, lobbyist Ralph Arza said no. He asked her again to […]

Julie DelegalDecember 8, 2015

First the lobbyist from the Florida Charter School Alliance wanted to meet with a sitting Duval School Board member – privately. But when former Duval School Board Chairwoman Becki Couch suggested they “notice” the meeting and invite her fellow school board members to join them, lobbyist Ralph Arza said no. He asked her again to […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2015

Mia Jones was picked Monday as chairwoman of the Duval County Legislative Delegation during its meeting at Jacksonville’s City Hall. Jay Fant was chosen vice chairman. The delegation also decided that members could “attend” a subcommittee meeting via conferencing technology. A quorum can now be reached with a minimum of two members being present, with the […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 13, 2015

Decades back, kids in elementary school had recourse to McGuffey’s Readers. Crafted originally by a conservative theologian, those primers allowed youngsters to learn vocabulary and language, among other things, in the context of works of literature that McGuffey and those who took over after his demise found to be relevant. Literature imparts cultural mores, teaches valuable […]

Tag: Becki Couch

Denise Grimsley adds dozens of local endorsements for Ag. Commish bid

Duval Schools move toward litigation on ‘unconstitutional’ Schools of Hope bill

Duval School Board mulls post-Nikolai Vitti era

Duval County School Board mulls post-Nikolai Vitti era

‘Broken’ Duval County School Board castigates media, each other in contentious conclave

Jax Democrat Eric Smith will run in Congressional District 4

Julie Delegal: 3 Duval School Board members should get ready for hardball

Julie Delegal: 3 Duval School Board members should get ready for hardball

Duval delegation chooses Mia Jones as chair, hears 60-plus speakers

Duval County schools instructional material scrutinized for Islamocentrism