Alachua County leaders join together for better public education

The Alachua County School District has been a “C” district for the past two years. Yesterday, Alachua County community leaders, educators and elected officials signed an agreement committing to work together to improve educational outcomes for every student in their county.

The Alachua County Education Compact will facilitate the achievement of all students graduating from high school by:

* having access to and being prepared for college and/or career success;

* having access to pathways to sustainable jobs and careers; and

* developing healthy lifestyle habits, an appreciation for the arts and a sense of social responsibility.

“The Alachua County Education Compact signals our community’s commitment to outcomes now and over the long term that will measurably benefit our kids,” said Gainesville Area Chamber President/CEO Tim Giuliani. “Those outcomes would reflect improved school readiness, increased high school graduation rates, and students prepared to be the aligned, talented workforce our region needs to both create and seize opportunity.”

Compact Signers include:

• John Carlson, Chair, Gainesville Chamber and CEO, Charles Perry Partners, Inc.
• Tim Giuliani, President/CEO, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Rick Staab, President/CEO, Intermed Biomedical and Chair, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
• Jackson Sasser, President, Santa Fe College
• W. Kent Fuchs, President, University of Florida
• Owen Roberts, Superintendent, Alachua County Public Schools
• Leanetta McNealy, Chair, Alachua County Public Schools
• Sadie Darnell, Sheriff, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
• Tony Jones, Chief, Gainesville Police Department
• Deborah Bowie, President/CEO, United Way of North Central Florida
• Diane Smith, Executive Director, Junior Achievement Alachua
• Evelyn Foxx, President, Alachua County Branch NAACP
• Judy Boles, Executive Director, Education Foundation of Alachua County
• Karen McCann, President, Alachua County Education Association
• Rose Fagler, Manager, Community Relations, Plum Creek
• Kevin Monroe, Executive Director of Operations, Central Florida, Cox Communications
• Don Davis, Vice Chair, CareerSource North Central Florida
• Rodney Long, President & Founder, Martin Luther King Commission
• Darry Lloyd, President, African American Accountability Alliance
• Ed Potts, President of the Alachua Chamber of Commerce
• Charles Chestnut IV, Chair, Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
• Ed Braddy, Mayor, City of Gainesville
• Gib Coerper, Mayor, City of Alachua
• Doug Jones, Mayor, City of Archer
• Matthew Surrency, Mayor, City of Hawthorne
• Barzella Papa, President/CEO, Community Foundation of North Central Florida

The Alachua County Education Compact will facilitate a systemic and holistic approach to improving education outcomes by focusing on areas including K-12, early childhood education, parent education, higher education, workforce development and career preparedness. A Stewardship Committee of signers will be formed to identify Compact strategies and accountability measures. Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Workforce Development Ian Fletcher estimated that the Committee, strategies and measures will be established later this year no later than October.

“A community cannot rise above the ability of its people,” said Alachua County Public Schools Superintendent Owen Roberts. “Here in Alachua County, we have the capacity, brain trust, economic opportunity and heart to create the kind of talent needed to ensure a bright future for our students, children and region.”

——

Escambia County School District has been a “C” district for one year longer than Alachua. It’s overall score is less than Alachua.

It’s time for Escambia County leaders to work out an education compact. As difficult as Superintendent Thomas can be to work with, the community and its children deserve better.

Alachua County has figured out that the good public education is good business.