Public school advocates: City's allocation to Jacksonville charter school is irresponsible
I am writing on behalf of Public School Defenders, a local organization committed to the belief that public education serves the public good, where all students are protected, all families are respected and where all children can learn and thrive. We are deeply concerned about the City Council’s appropriation of $1.4 million for the construction of a gymnasium at Jacksonville Classical Academy charter school.
While we fully appreciate the importance of providing students with a well-rounded education and access to adequate facilities, this particular allocation is a fiscally irresponsible use of our tax dollars, especially considering the local half-penny sales tax for schools in Duval County.
Jax Classical, like all public schools, faces budgetary constraints and competing priorities, but this allocation is irresponsible and inequitable for several reasons:
Where are our priorities? Many public schools in Duval are struggling with essential resources and allocating such a significant amount for a gymnasium at a single charter school is simply not the best use of taxpayer funds. We must ensure that our education system is fair and equitable; this appropriation could exacerbate existing disparities and lead to an unequal distribution of educational opportunities. If we have a $1.4 million surplus available to provide additional financial support for public schools, we should prioritize investments that directly impact the quality of education for all students.
What happened to the local half-penny sales tax? Duval voters approved the tax specifically designated to address critical infrastructure needs and improve the overall educational environment of our public schools. After much debate, a lawsuit and new legislation, it was determined that charter schools would receive this revenue based on per-pupil enrollment. This year Jax Classical is expected to receive somewhere around $500,000 in sales tax revenue and that money should be used for construction projects like every other school. City tax dollars should be used to invest in neighborhoods and the best interest of the broader community, instead of one charter school that already receives massive private donations.
In addition to the local half-penny sales tax, Public Education Capital Outlay funds play a vital role in supporting the construction, maintenance and renovation of public education facilities in Florida. Currently this money is dedicated solely to charter schools. For the 2022-23 school year the state appropriated $195,768,743 to charter schools; $493,626 has already been designated for Jax Classical this year, a school that opened just three years ago.
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Finally, it is disappointing (but perhaps not surprising) that this money was earmarked for Jax Classical, which is owned by John Rood, CEO of Vestcor. According to campaign reports from the city’s supervisor of elections, Rood and his affiliated companies have donated more than $40,000 to sitting council members in recent years.
We are discouraged that the City Council would appear to prioritize cronyism over appropriately allocating municipal funds to the Mixon Town neighborhood. Our tax dollars should be used judiciously and for the benefit of all children across our diverse communities. The City Council has no business double dipping into taxpayer pockets to offer handouts to political donors. We call on Mayor Donna Deegan to veto this irresponsible use of our tax dollars.
Brittany Beimourtrusting, Public School Defenders of Duval County
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: $1.4 million for charter school gym not best use of Duval tax money
