JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Monday the community heard for the first time from each of the men who could be the next leader of their children's school district and one of Duval County’s largest employers, Duval County Public Schools.
The two superintendent finalists interviewed for three hours each Monday, first with a focus group that included former teachers and principals of the year and leaders within the education community and then with the Duval County Public School board. Then they went to EverBank Stadium for a meet and greet with the public.
The finalists were asked about how they handle controversial issues, how they stay in touch with teacher problems and successes and how they hold themselves accountable. The school board members asked questions specific to DCPS issues. They were both asked about a proposal to close a dozen schools.
Dr. Christopher Bernier, former schools superintendent in Lee County, described his experience leading the Lee County school district through the destruction of Hurricane Ian. He said he would improve transparency and student achievement in the district.
Dr. Daniel Smith, chief of staff in a Virginia school district, pitched himself as a fresh set of eyes with experience from the teacher to superintendent level. Smith said he would hold listening sessions for the community as the superintendent.
Bernier got emotional for a moment when talking about his experience as superintendent when Hurricane Ian devastated the community. He touted shaving 15,000 miles a day off bus routes in Lee County when students weren’t getting to school on time, which is an issue DCPS dealt with this year.
“He cannot do this alone," Bernier said about the next superintendent. "He's going to need the help and support of the community, the internal and external stakeholders and everyone else you mentioned today. These are systemic issues. They're transformative. It’s second order change, but it's possible. It really is possible.”
Smith touted raising graduation rates and holding listening sessions in his Virginia district and discussed stepping into the position of interim superintendent in a tense atmosphere following a scandal involving the school district.
“I'm somebody that comes with a fresh set of eyes," he said. "I have not worked in Florida. I come with a fresh set of eyes working from three large high-performing school districts that have done some pretty amazing things and so I bring that to Duval County Public Schools as someone who is not a fan of doing things because that's the way it's always been done. We need to make sure we're doing what's best."
The two were asked about the proposal to close a dozen Duval County schools. Bernier said it took many people by surprise and shouldn’t have.
“We have to be transparent that it’s happening," Bernier said. "We have to say, ‘We need your help in planning.’ And yes, everybody's going to want to protect their school, I get that. But let’s have those community engagement programs, let’s have that opportunity.”
Smith said communication is key.
“I think we need to talk about the ‘why,’" Smith said. "I think we need to be transparent in our process, I think we need to talk to our principals so our principals understand it because they're really some of your key communicators."
Both finalists say it takes a community to build a successful school district.
The school board is set to vote on who gets the job next Thursday, May 23. On Tuesday they will have one-on-one interviews with each school board member.
First Coast News caught up with School Board Chairman Darryl Willie after the interviews.
"I think it's about fit," Willie said. "Really asking questions around, 'You're in a current situation now whether you're here in Florida or you're in Virginia, how is that gonna overlay with what we're doing here in Jacksonville?' So that's number one and two is really tackling and addressing some of the challenges we have and flipping them into opportunities. And I think that showed in a number of the interview answers as well from both candidates."
He encourages the community to give their feedback. You can do that through a DCPS survey that is open until May 21 at 5 p.m. Find the survey here.