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Duval board hears why class-size chart is blank and staff details recent $22M investment
Summary
At an agenda committee meeting, board members asked why the class-size chart in the draft Dec. 1 packet was empty; staff said the state has not released final Survey 2 numbers. Superintendent Dr. Bernier said the district invested about $15 million last year and another $7–7.5 million in October to meet class-size goals, and stressed staffing shortages remain a limiting factor.
Board member Pearson pressed staff on why an in-packet chart showing school names and class-size counts was empty, and staff replied the state has not released final Survey 2 numbers and the district will update the chart once the state provides the official template and figures.
Superintendent Dr. Bernier told the committee that the state’s timing caused the empty chart and that the district is awaiting the formal report before finalizing class-size plans. "The state has not given us the final numbers from Survey 2," he said, and added that the district prefers to wait until those figures are official before adjusting plans.
Pearson and other board members also pressed staff on financial implications. Dr. Bernier said there are no current financial penalties for being out of compliance with average class-size rules — penalties referenced in older law were withdrawn — but that meeting class-size targets has required direct investment. "That was approximately about $15,000,000 of investment into class size at the elementary level," he said, and staff later added the district authorized another roughly $7,000,000 to $7,500,000 in October to address remaining out-of-compliance schools.
Board members said the public should understand the connection between class-size policy and district budgets and operations. Board member Willie, a former teacher, emphasized how smaller classes affect student outcomes and asked for clarity on the operational and financial trade-offs of staying in compliance.
Dr. Bernier said the additional dollars were used to create and fill positions, and that a higher vacancy rate reflects the district advertising more openings to meet class-size targets. He urged transparency about both the dollars invested and the ongoing challenge of recruiting certified teachers.
Next steps: staff will update the agenda packet when the state releases Survey 2 data and will provide further details about the district’s class-size investments and staffing plans at a future meeting.
