School board votes to discontinue Rawlings Elementary year‑round pilot after one year

The Alachua County School Board voted 4–1 April 15 to discontinue the district’s year‑round pilot at Rawlings Elementary School and return the school to the standard 10‑month calendar for 2025–26. Board member Ms. Surdon moved to end the nontraditional calendar and Mr. Vu seconded the motion; Chair Rockwell and Board members Vu and Plavic voted in favor and Dr. McNeely cast the lone dissenting vote.

District staff had presented data showing enrollment and attendance shifts and mixed survey results from families and staff. The presentation, given by district staff supporting Rawlings, described a net withdrawal of 233 students during the year, with 181 of those moves occurring to other schools within Alachua County; 41 students transferred to Metcalf, the presentation said. The district compared FTE counts from two reporting periods and reported roughly a 19–20% decrease in some cohorts year over year.

Why the board acted

School leaders and district staff told the board they saw inconsistent enrollment patterns tied to the year‑round schedule. The administration said Rawlings had an overall attendance average near 89% this year, versus a 92% district average, and noted that when Rawlings was in session on dates when most other…