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Letter to the Editor: Time for an educator to run our schools


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Time for an educator to run our schools

It’s time for Clay County to demand more from our School Superintendent than just being a nice guy.

Imagine that you are a stockholder in a $100 million corporation that is located here in Clay County whose fundamental role is educating the counties children. It affects our children’s futures, our property values, crime rates, and community pride. The chief executive officer, who is responsible for the day-to-day workings of this company, has limited expertise on this subject, but is a nice guy that is good at pulling at your heart strings. He has limited experience and supervisory abilities, mostly political skills. But he is a “nice guy.”

Fast-forward to today and the company has grown to being the county’s largest employer, the budget has increased to more than $300 million with 35,000 students and 41 schools. The demands on the “CEO” – the Superintendent – are now greater than ever because of the sheer numbers, the regulations for running a school district are more complicated, and now has a staff of more than 5,000 employees. But the school district leadership has not changed, the county still has the same superintendent who lacks the required expertise.

The Clay County School System is no longer an “A” rated district. In the last four years we have dropped in state ratings from 13th to 20th, we have dipped below the required 3 percent minimum fund balance, and our credit worthiness has been downgraded twice in the last four years. http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/reports/ Clay County is in need of a qualified superintendent that can help our county grow and once again become an efficient and innovative “A” school system. Don’t you feel it is time for Clay County to elect a qualified and knowledgeable superintendent?

We have a choice for a qualified, knowledgeable, nice, and passionate, superintendent of Clay County Schools. He has lived in Clay for more than a decade, bringing up his children here. But more importantly, he isn’t a politician – he is an experienced and gifted school administrator. Please read his qualifications. http://www.addisongraydavis.com

Let’s get back to having an academically high performing district – for our children and for our community.

Please help by voting Aug. 18-27 or Aug. 30.

Virginia Collins

Fleming Island