Council deadlocked on superintendent

The Jacksonville City Council deadlocked on Tuesday over a resolution to express opposition against a local state legislator’s attempt to turn the Duval County Public Schools superintendent into an elected position.

Legislation must earn 10 votes to pass, and Councilwoman Joyce Morgan’s early departure from the meeting resulted in a 9-to-9 tie.

Although the resolution would have been non-binding, Councilman Matt Carlucci introduced it as an attempt to put the council on record opposing a bill filed by State Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, to hold a referendum in November 2020 to make the Duval County public schools superintendent an elected position. The position is currently appointed by the 7-member Duval County School Board.

The Duval County legislative delegation will decide on Nov. 1 whether to support Fischer’s bill in Tallahassee during next year’s legislative session.

Fischer filed the bill in the midst of the School Board's ongoing fight with City Hall to hold a referendum to enact a half-cent sales tax that would be used to improve aging school facilities.

Fischer initially wanted to make the position a mayoral appointee but has since changed his position to let voters pick the superintendent.

Fischer has said he thinks the status quo is not serving all school children. He said voters would have more influence on the direction of the school district by electing the superintendent.

Carlucci has said the current system in which an elected School Board hires a superintendent is working.

At Tuesday’s meeting, proponents of the measure first fought an attempt by Councilman Rory Diamond to withdraw the bill instead of letting the council vote on it.

Carlucci, as well as several other council members, described Diamond’s move as disrespectful to the work he put into the legislation.

Diamond said he meant no disrespect, and the council easily shot down his withdrawal attempt.

Proponents of the resolution had counted Morgan as a supporter, but her early dismissal set up the tie vote.

Danny Becton, Aaron Bowman, Michael Boylan, LeAnna Cumber, Rory Diamond, Al Ferraro, Terrance Freeman, Ron Salem and Randy White voted no. Matt Carlucci, Randy DeFoor, Garrett Dennis, Reggie Gaffney, Tommy Hazouri, Sam Newby, Ju’Coby Pittman, Brenda Priestly Jackson and Scott Wilson voted yes.

Christopher Hong: (904) 359-4272