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Duval County board hears hours of opposition to proposed school consolidations as district cites $100M budget gap
Summary
Hundreds of residents, parents and teachers urged the Duval County School Board to pause or revise a slate of proposed consolidations — citing safety, transportation, program loss and rushed timelines — while district leaders said cuts totaling roughly $100 million make changes necessary.
The Duval County School Board spent an evening hearing public comment on a set of proposed school consolidations and program changes that the superintendent says are part of a plan to close a $100 million-plus budget shortfall for 2025-26.
Hundreds of parents, teachers, students and community leaders urged the board to delay votes scheduled for Nov. 4, saying the process has been rushed, that affected schools appear concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods, and that logistical details such as safe drop-off routes and program continuity remain unresolved. "The consolidation is not what's in the best interest of the students," said Angela Roche, a teacher and parent who testified that families learned about the changes on Sept. 12 and have had only weeks to prepare.
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