Education First for Newberry announces passage of Newberry Elementary School charter conversion vote
Press release from Education First for Newberry
NEWBERRY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Education confirmed today that per state statutes, a 50% vote threshold is the requirement for the teacher vote for passage of a charter conversion. Having already achieved the 50% threshold for the parent vote, Newberry Elementary School has thus passed the conversion vote and will begin its charter application for submission to the state Charter Review Commission.
A governing board will be named and the legal process begun for preparing the in-depth application for a charter conversion. Education First for Newberry looks forward to its role in facilitating a smooth, orderly, community-focused transition over the coming year.
In reflecting on the news, Education First for Newberry board member and Newberry Elementary School parent Chelsea Leming said, “We are thrilled with this news and are incredibly excited to work closely with administrators, teachers, parents, and the district as we prepare our charter application. We wish to thank Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton for her service in conducting the election and counting the votes. And we thank the Department of Education for clarifying the law in this important matter.”
For additional background: On Wednesday, April 17, votes were counted and the results of the Newberry Elementary School vote were as follows:
Parent Votes Eligible: 520
Total Yes Votes: 149
Total No Votes: 125
PARENT VOTE PASSES
Teacher Votes Eligible: 44
Teacher Yes Votes: 23 (by audible count)
Teacher No Votes: 17 (by audible count)
Teacher Abstentions: 4 (counted as no)
One “yes” ballot was deemed ineligible due to use of the “parent” ballot
Final Announced Teacher vote by Arbitrator Barton: 22 Yes, 21 No
Importantly, the controlling statute, Section 1002.33(3)(b), Florida Statutes, states, “An application submitted proposing to convert an existing public school to a charter school shall demonstrate the support of at least 50 percent of the teachers employed at the school and 50 percent of the parents voting whose children are enrolled at the school.” The statute does not require a majority. It requires only 50%. Even with the invalidated ballot, there were 22 votes in favor of conversion, which is exactly 50% of the total number of teachers. According to the statute, the vote should have passed on the first reading. The state Department of Education has now confirmed this interpretation.
Florida Department of Education Senior Chancellor Adam Miller said in an email,
“Section 1002.33(3)(b), Florida Statutes, is the statute that authorizes the charter school conversion process and sets the threshold that must be met in terms of parent and teacher voting. The statute provides that in order to submit an application the applicant must demonstrate at least 50% of the teachers employed at the school voted in favor of converting the school to a public charter school. If a conversion charter school application is submitted to either the Alachua County School Board or the Charter School Review Commission, and the application can successfully demonstrate that at least half of the teachers voted for conversion, then the applicant has met that threshold requirement. The applicant must also demonstrate that a sufficient percentage of parents voted in favor of conversion.”
It’s about time some good news came out of Alachua County!
As the back-Ward mayor of Gainesville if the commoners that I rule over try these shenanigans within my kingdom, I will pressure them and squeeze them, harder than I squeeze a jelly donut into my mouth.
As a supporter of this idea, I am thrilled. Our community has a lot of work ahead of it but as long as we focus on the one and only goal of serving our students’ educational needs first. We can not fail.
Communities should be the primary operators of their schools, not the dysfunctional county school board. Didn’t one get removed for lying about residency and then have the nerve to re-run? What has the current board done for the city of Archer or Newberry…. Absolutely nothing. I see kids waiting for the bus past 8:10 or having to walk a mile or more. When was the last time the school board met with Newberry / Archer teachers, parents, or students to make improvements? Didn’t Certain claim she didn’t know anyone at Newberry? The current county board only focuses on the east side and downtown. Agitators for teacher unions have been lying and now they are out of options.
ALL THE ” NO WHINERS”, will keep Whining No Matter What!
Especially Travis Adair! 😁🤣😁
The people of Newberry have spoken. Now, let the weeding out of the students, that don’t fit the “Newberry” norm begin. Parents, do not cry now, if or when, you are informed that because your child has missed too many days of school or have not conformed to the behavior standard fast enough, that your child may no longer attend. Teachers, you have received a lot of lip service and promises from your so called progressive leaders. This will not last and will only be sustainable until the next leader steps in. Teachers will be weeded out. The new Charter School has just taken a step back. The community will now spout that our Charter School will be an “A” school. That will only be due to a school that only works with the students whom they feel are worthy. The people have spoken and our community has shown that they do not value all students, but only those that meet a certain demographic or intellectual standard.
Are having societal norms and minimal standards good or bad in your view?
Thats right Newberry spoke. It’s up to them to make it work. Better luck next time.
I think folks against this are afraid it’s going to be successful and more cities in the county will follow Newberry’s lead.
If you are referring to the racists agenda and appearance that “we only teach the students that we want to teach in Newberry”, then the “folks” have succeeded.
Interesting. An abstention is counted as a NO.
Ever seen a school stolen in broad day light?
Just like the election denying, election rigging conservatives.
Just because they put out a press release doesn’t mean it’s true.
Now the head of the Alachua County Teachers Union is coming out and saying teachers may lose their benefits teaching at a Charter School. I don’t recall that union screaming it before the Vote. Maybe I missed but it could be a ploy from the play book of Randi Weingarten.