Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 18, 2016

Former Jacksonville City Councilman Warren Jones, who served 28 years on the council, will run for the Duval County School Board in Group 5, he told FloridaPolitics.com Wednesday. “I finally came to the conclusion yesterday,” Jones said, “after I found out [the incumbent] Connie Hall would not run.” Jones, who hasn’t been on a ballot since his […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 17, 2016

In a message to supporters, Duval County School Board member Connie Hall said she won’t run for re-election — and who she is backing. “While the past four years have been more fulfilling than I could have imagined, the time has come to pass the mantle of leadership to the next generation,” Hall wrote, saying she has “decided […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

In a lengthy statement released Wednesday night, Duval County School Board member Connie Hall did not address calls to resign over pejorative texts about Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Instead, she reinforced the criticisms made within, even as she apologized for one “offensive” reference. These texts included a call to “fire him now” and a reference to Vitti, whose path to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

The simmering tensions between Duval County School Board member Connie Hall and Superintendent Nikolai Vitti boiled over last week, after months of deterioration. As Melissa Ross wrote last week: Records of emails and texts of Hall and two other Duval School Board members were first requested by a Miami law firm. WJCT obtained a copy of those documents and […]

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. GancarskiJuly 15, 2015

Perhaps the most misunderstood figure in public life in Jacksonville: Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. The question you hear around town more than any other: why is it that Duval County schools aren’t on the same level as those in St. Johns County and Nassau County? There are loads of reasons for this, of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2015

On Monday evening, The Rev. Clifford Johnson held a discussion at northwest Jacksonville’s Zion Hope Baptist Church called “Strengthening the Community: A Shared Responsibility.” It brought together school board members Connie Hall and Becki Couch, community organizer C. Mickee Brown, gang investigator for DCPS Jeff Shouse and, except for media, a crowd of about 150 […]

Tag: Connie Hall

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

Former Jax Councilman Warren Jones will run for Duval County School Board

Connie Hall won’t run for re-election to Duval County School Board

Connie Hall not backing down from critiques of Nikolai Vitti

Jason Fischer says Connie Hall should “immediately” resign Duval School Board seat

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

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

“No Excuses” for Nikolai Vitti in year 3

NW Jax discussion on “gang awareness” yields more questions than answers