JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The floors at Venetia Elementary are looking particularly shiny on a hot July morning. The staff is preparing for another school year to start in just a few weeks but are taking a moment to recognize their success after scoring an "A" on a state evaluation – all following a year rebuilding from a major fire.
“The fire happened in December [2017], we didn’t move back into the cafeteria until August [2018], so it was a lot of moving parts,” Venetia Elementary principal Monique Chatman said.
The late 2017 fire was likely caused by a faulty cord connected to a piece of equipment, Chatman said. No one was injured, but there was at least $25,000 worth of damages to the cafeteria and stage area.
Learning materials were destroyed, a temporary cafeteria was set up using desks and students were displaced. The western hallway is where some of the soot traveled – as much as 75 feet away from the center of the fire.
Chatman was in her first year as principal when the fire happened. She said in the months after, there were a lot of distractions to work through. Then the 2018 state report card showed Venetia dropped a letter grade.
“We were a 'C' and that was a shock," she said. "We took a 75-point drop. We knew it was because of all the different changes and adversity, but we couldn’t let a lot of the operational things get in the way."
She added that was the motivation her staff needed to turn things around -- investing more time over the 2018 summer to improve how they teach and areas of focus. The pay-off coming just days ago as they prepare for a new year.
“We made so much growth," Chatman said. "We thought we were going to be an 'A,' but at the least a 'B.' It was a total surprise,” Chatman said.
Venetia joined five other Duval County Public Schools that jumped two letter grades. The district had 42 schools increase at least one letter grade in 2018-19.
Chatman even commissioned a mural in wake of the fire. A new school motto was painted in the entryway – "Set big goals and take action."
“We worked very hard," Chatman said. "It would not be possible without my teachers and I always say my students -- they took the tests. I just want to congratulate them because they did the work.”