Chamber EDC Breakfast Goes Back to School

Workforce development begins with a skilled workforce, and workers gain skills with education. But it all starts with funding for teachers, staff, facilities and technology. To help teach that lesson, St. Johns County School District Superintendent Tim Forson gave a short lecture on school funding at the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council Quarterly Breakfast earlier this month.

Forson said with St. Johns County among the fastest growing in the state, school funding is an issue that cannot be ignored for the county’s future.

“Truly the future of our county is dependent upon the quality of life for our children to come back here,” he told the early morning crowd at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. “Everything I say is for the children we have today and the children we’ll have.”

After highlighting the school district’s growth and accomplishments, including being one of only two districts in Florida that has received an “A” rating every year since 2004, Forson focused on two measures on the November ballot to provide funding for county schools.

“The demand on the educational system is greater than the demand on the system as a whole,” he said. For that reason, the district is seeking renewal of the half-cent sales tax measure approved by voters in 2015 and second measure increasing the property tax millage to fund teacher pay.

“It’s important to recognize there are two different (funding) silos,” Forson said. “To serve students we, have to have the right resources in front of them.”

If approved by voters, the half-cent sales tax measure would fund new construction, security improvements, maintenance and technology improvements as part of the district’s capital outlay budget. The millage increase would fall under the operating budget to fund salaries and benefits, utilities, instructional materials and consumable supplies.

Forson said unlike other sales tax, revenue from the half-cent measure on the ballot would only be for county schools.

“Every penny that comes in on that half-cent sales tax stays here,” he said.

Forson said the additional revenue from the millage increase is necessary because of the continued growth in the county.

“Today we are the largest employer in St. Johns County,” he said, adding that Duval, Clay and Nassau voters have already approved millage increases.

Forson said if approved the two ballot measures will be strengthen the county and improve opportunities for students.

“It is about moving forward and how we ensure my grandchildren get the same education my children got in St. Johns County,” he said.