Highlights from Tuesday School Board meeting

RECOGNITION OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ESSAY CONTEST SCHOOL WINNERS
St. Johns County students participated in a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. poster and essay contest sponsored by the St. Johns Education Association. Individual students were recognized for their achievements in a ceremony last month. Durbin Creek Elementary, Landrum Middle and Pedro Menendez High schools were each presented with a plaque from the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee.

RECOGNITION OF THE DEPARMENT OF FLORIDA VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS CITIZENSHIP AWARDS
Jessica Lane, a second-grade teacher at Timberlin Creek Elementary School and Chief Master Sergeant Iben Phillips, AFJROTC instructor at Bartram Trail High School, were recognized as the winners of the Department of Florida’s VFW Citizenship Teacher Award. Both will be entered for the national competition.

FEBRUARY PROCLAIMED CAREER /TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH
The School Board proclaimed February as Career and Technical Education Month. This observance recognizes the importance of the district’s 15 career academies and partnerships with area businesses and other educational institutions.

FEBRUARY PROCLAIMED TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH
The School Board proclaimed February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This observance recognizes the work of the Betty Griffin House and its community efforts to empower teens to develop healthier relationships.

RETIREES HONORED FOR MORE THAN 580 YEARS OF SERVICE
Thirty employees were recognized for contributing more than 580 years of service to the St. Johns County School District. During the recognition and awards agenda, each retiree was introduced by a School District employee and received a print of the St. Augustine lighthouse drawn by the late Judy Springfield, a retired SJCSD art teacher.

APPROVAL OF CONTRACT BETWEEN ST. JOHNS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
The School Board approved a contract between the St. Johns County School Board and the Saint Augustine Montessori Community, Inc. to operate a charter school. The School Board also approved a contract between the St. Johns County School Board and St. Paul’s School of Excellence to operate a charter school. These schools will provide alternative educational opportunities to those offered in traditional public education.

The February School Board meeting will be aired at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, 7 p.m. on Fridays and noon on Saturdays on Comcast Channel 99 and can be viewed on the district website at http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/depts/media/sbm

Next School Board Meeting – Tuesday, March 13 at 9 a.m

Photo credits: © 2012 Historic City News staff photographer