DCPS Superintendent Meets With NAACP to Hear Community Concerns

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Just a week after taking office as Duval County superintendent of schools, Dr. Chris Bernier was in the community Monday to meet with the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP.

NAACP President Isaiah Rumlin spoke of his hopes to work with Bernier.

“I think the first thing he’s going to have to address is school closures, which will be discussed, or is being discussed right now, and that will be an uphill battle, and then building the new schools,” Rumlin said.

Joanna Delphonse, a senior at Jean Ribault High School, sang the black national anthem at the meeting.

“We often hear about the collaboration between the education committee and many decisions made in our schools,” Delphonse said. “It’s great to meet the superintendent. I’m very excited. I’m very proud and I don’t take this moment for granted.”

Bernier said he has heard a lot of feedback from community members about declining enrollment and the proposed facilities master plan.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, he addressed the plan, noting that consultants would be asked to review what was released in March.

“I don’t have the exact date of the release of the revised version, but staff is meeting right now to review the community prioritization criteria that will be forwarded to the consultant,” Bernier said. “And we think within two to three weeks we will have a new report. This is again a community engagement. We need to make sure that the community can appreciate and understand that their voice has been heard.”

Bernier’s predecessor, Dr. Dana Kriznar, released an eight-page plan to ensure student safety following multiple misconduct issues with teachers at the Douglas Anderson School of Arts.

MORE | Newly sworn-in DCPS superintendent says safety is ‘paramount’ as school board approves $1.4 million misconduct settlement

Bernier said the school board still has work to do on the policy to prepare it for a vote.

“What we’re talking about here is the professional and ethical behaviour of educators, staff, directors and others. We have a responsibility to make sure that our educators and the people who work with our children behave in a positive and professional manner every day,” Bernier said.

Terrance Brisbane is a parent and executive director of the Beaver Street Enterprise Center, where the meeting was held.

“We need to make sure our teachers and our administration are treating our kids the right way,” Brisbane said. “They’re learning the right way, this environment is good. It’s very important to know that someone is going to hold them accountable and make sure things are going the way they’re supposed to.”

During the meeting, Bernier also spoke about the fact that all students deserve a quality education, regardless of their background.

Rumlin hopes the community can come together to help Bernier and the school board overcome the issues facing the district.

“If he can continue to take care of one child at a time, maybe we can continue to do a better job with prisons and student jails,” Rumlin said. “He can’t do it alone. It’s going to take the whole community getting involved. It’s going to take the city of Jacksonville working with him to address the challenges that we’re facing,” Rumlin said.

Delphonse said she plans to become more involved with the school board in the future.

Bernier said the council plans to hold a workshop on the security plan on July 16.