FINAL - October 23, 2025, Duval County School Board Joint Meeting with Baldwin and Beaches Mayors - GC
Meeting Minutes
Duval County Public Schools
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October 23, 2025, Duval County School Board Joint Meeting with Baldwin and Beaches Mayors
Ms. Charlotte D. Joyce, Chairman
Ms. April A. Carney, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Reginald Blount
Ms. Melody A. Bolduc
Ms. Cindy Pearson
Mr. Anthony Ricardo
Mr. Darryl D. Willie
Dr. Christopher Bernier, Superintendent
ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING OF THE DUVAL COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD: All Board Members were
present except Board Member Darryl D. Willie. Dr. Christopher Bernier, Superintendent, and Mr. William
Spillias, Office of General Counsel, were also present. Mayor of Baldwin, Sean Lynch was not in attendance.
Board Member Melody A. Bolduc arrived at 5:03 p.m. and Board Member Anthony Ricardo arrived at 5:20
p.m. Board Member Pearson departed at 5:45 p.m., and Board Member Melody A. Bolduc departed at 5:50
p.m.
Call Meeting to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:01 p.m.
Chairman Joyce extended a welcome to all in attendance. She then requested everyone at the table to
introduce themselves:
• April A. Carney, Vice-Chairman - District 2.
• Cori Bylund, Mayor of Neptune Beach.
• Curtis Ford, Mayor of Atlantic Beach.
• Charlotte D. Joyce, Chairman - District 6.
• Christine Hoffman, Mayor of Jacksonville Beach.
• Reginald Blount, Board Member - District 5.
• Cindy Pearson, Board Member - District 3.
• Dr. Christopher Bernier, Superintendent - Thanked Principal Dean Ledford for hosting the meeting at
Fletcher High School.
Items to be Discussed
1. CROSSWALKS
Vice-Chairman Carney opened the discussion and others joined in on the following:
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• Concern about the congestion at Seagate Avenue and 4th Street.
• Concern about the students who have been hit by drivers.
• Conversations with Mayors Bylund and Hoffman about improving the crosswalk situation.
• Mayor Bylund shared information regarding plans for crosswalk improvements involving Jax Beach
and Neptune Beach.
• City managers were thanked for their assistance.
• A brief summary regarding the Jacksonville Beaches Urban Trail project was shared.
• Vice-Chairman Carney thanked the mayors for the open dialogue and collaborating with the district.
2. USE OF SALES SURTAX ON CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE
Mayor Hoffman opened the discussion and others joined in on the following:
• Thanks was given to Jacksonville Beach Councilman Dan Jansen for his assistance.
• Dr. Bernier mentioned a handout that provides an update regarding school projects. In the
meantime, Dr. Bernier shared information on projects that have been completed and future projects
for schools at the Beaches.
• Master Facility Plan (MFP) - 15-year plan, which is available online. Brought to the Board every
year for review.
• Deferred maintenance projects.
• Safety and security projects - secure vestibules.
• Funds used on projects.
• Half-penny sales tax and millage.
• The district needs to look for cost savings.
• The work that Jim Culbert, Chief of Information Technology/Operations has done was shared.
• Vice-Chairman Carney and Principal Kaufman did a walk-though at Seabreeze Elementary School
to review the safety concerns.
• Looking forward to replacing the aging playground equipment at Seabreeze Elementary School.
Chairman Joyce apologized for not having the other elected officials in attendance to introduce themselves.
She requested them to do so. Mayor Hoffman also requested the City Managers to introduce themselves.
Additional introductions:
• Dan Janson, Jacksonville Beach City Council At-Large.
• Jessica Ring, Atlantic Beach City Commissioner.
• Bruce Wouters, Jacksonville Beach City Commissioner.
• Greg Sutton, Jacksonville Beach, City Council.
• Bill Horn, Atlantic Beach City Council.
• Sandy Golding, Atlantic Beach City Council.
• Brent Rogers, Neptune Beach City Council.
• Mike Staffopoulos, Jacksonville Beach City Manager.
• Richard Pike, Neptune Beach City Manager.
• Bill Killingsworth, Atlantic Beach City Manager.
• Melody A. Bolduc, Board Member District 7.
• Anthony Ricardo, Board Member District 1.
3. PEDESTRIAN/BIKE-RIDER SAFETY
Mayor Hoffman opened the discussion and others joined in on the following:
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• Plans for the Urban Trails.
• Dr. Bernier introduced Heather Albritton, Director of Health and Physical Education, and Chief
Jackson Short of DCPS Police.
• Ms. Albritton spoke about Be Safe, Be Seen Program.
• Information about the Traffic Gardens painted on school grounds was shared.
• Chief Short spoke about the incidents of students being hit.
• The relationship with all three Beaches Police Departments and JSO with helping in educating the
public and enforcement.
• Ms. Albritton provided additional information about Be Safe, Be Seen Program:
o The program had been extended to the secondary schools.
o Past and future events.
o Partnerships.
o Creating a Be Safe, Be Seen pledge for the community.
• Dr. Bernier shared additional information. He also shared that he sent a Public Service
Announcement (PSA) through Farah and Farah. He added that Farah and Farah are doing
something called Respect the Stop, and that they were having additional PSAs created for students
with the assistance of students.
• Dangers with E-Bikes and knowing before you buy. Encourage those who sell the E-Bikes to have
communication with those who are buying.
• Speed cameras at the beaches have caused speeding to decrease.
• Cameras on the school buses.
4. BOUNDARIES AND UTILIZATION FOR BALDWIN/BEACHES SCHOOLS
Mayor Ford opened the discussion and others joined in on the following:
• The number of students per facility to keep a building operational.
• The possibility of redirecting students from West Atlantic Beach to attend the school at Atlantic
Beach.
• Rezoning, consolidation, and Academic and Community Excellence (ACE) process.
• Inquiry was made regarding the number of Atlantic Beach students living in the 32223-zip code who
are attending Neptune Beach Elementary School.
• Atlantic Beach Elementary School is currently not in the MFP for expansion or rebuild.
• The capacity of Atlantic Beach Elementary School is 568 students.
• Additional research is required regarding the number of students in the 32223-zip code who do not
attend Atlantic Beach Elementary School. Also, there are students who live outside of 32223 zip
code and do attend Atlantic Beach Elementary School.
• The Mayor of Neptune Beach shared why she was not concerned about losing students from
Neptune Beach Elementary School.
• An explanation regarding the new law about School of Hope was provided.
5. STAFF REDUCTIONS
Mayor Hoffman opened the discussion pertaining to the topic, and others joined in:
• The loss of Paraprofessionals at Seabreeze Elementary School.
• The Student Allocation Model (SAM) was explained.
• An explanation of how the 10-day student count in October affects the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
was provided.
• Losing and gaining teachers in a school.
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• The district invested over $15 million in class size and $7.5 million in elementary and middle
schools.
• The planning process of future schools was explained.
• Number of students attending Seabreeze Elementary School since the 10-day count.
• Neptune Beach Elementary School was able to keep the Media Specialist because funding is going
to be provided for the 26-27 school year, so that every school will have a Media Specialist.
• Charter schools.
• When opening or closing a school, look at the choices that are being made as to where students
will attend.
• The effect of low birth rates on student numbers.
• Looking at the MFP every year instead of every five years.
• The district does not want to move students and not look at how it affects the environment.
6. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN BALDWIN/BEACHES CITIES AND SCHOOL
BOARD
Mayor Ford opened the discussion and others joined in on the following:
• A request to have two meetings a year to include ensuring at least one of those meetings are open
for public comment.
• Suggestion for the next meeting to be in a Town Hall format.
• As soon as the Board has the new meeting schedule, additional meetings can be rescheduled.
• Want to be able to hear from the community at one of the two meetings.
• Interlocal Agreement regarding meetings with DCSB.
• Appreciation for the district's service was expressed.
• Dr. Bernier introduced Arwen Fitzgerald, Chief of Communication, and thanked Principal Ledford for
hosting the meeting at the school.
• Dr. Bernier shared a press release that was put out that the district would be continuing with
magnet transportation.
• November 1st, the CTE Fair at UNF.
• District 5 Town Hall on November 3rd, at Riverside High School.
• November 15th, DCPS Enrollment Fair at the Prime Osborn Center.
• Vice-Chairman Carney thanked everyone for being in attendance, the communication with the three
mayors, and that the field at Jack Taylor Stadium will now be called Joe Reynolds Field at Jack
Taylor Stadium.
Adjournment
1. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
GC
Superintendent Chairman