Dave Schlenker’s new book
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 33
$2
Page B6
AUGUST 19 - AUGUST 25, 2022
Back to school in Marion County
Nonprofits receive boost from ARPA grants By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com
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Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
From Top Left (clockwise): Cora Swanson, 6; Aubryn Barnes, 8, center, and her sister, Ashley, 10, left; Layne and Ryan Langley with their children, Mason, 6 and Merritt, 4; Isabella Franklin, 10, left and her brother, Armelo, 7; Savannah Hall, 6, left and Addi Green, 7; Macy Dove, 7 First day of school at Shady Hill Elementary in Ocala on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
T
he school year beings with a steady start as more students than ever file into classrooms to begin learning after a summer away. The first day of school saw 39,753 students in attendance, which is 90% of the district’s projected enrollment. Once all kindergarten students were in their classrooms, the attendance rate on Tuesday rose to 41,435 out of the projected total of 43,778 students, according to Marion County Public Schools. Several schools saw a perfect attendance rate on Monday, including Dunnellon Middle School, Fordham Early Learning Academy, Howard Middle School, Liberty Middle School and McIntosh Area Charter School. “Our schools have higher numbers than I think we were even anticipating,” said Allison Campbell, vice-chair of the School Board of Marion County. “We’re going to have an increase in students this year over what we had last year.” Campbell said that besides the noticeable increase in students, one of
the biggest differences was being able to see the smiles on students’ faces as they come to school without face masks. She said that she felt that the improvement in the pandemic has contributed to a boost in morale in schools as she saw students flooding into school throughout the week. “There’s just a level of positivity that’s tangible and you can feel. It feels different than last school year,” Campbell said. “I got to see smiles. Children were hugging and walking in to hug their former teachers. The elementary school kids were so excited and jovial with joy on their faces, and we can see that.” Campbell said that everything went very smoothly in her opinion, but that it is expected for schools to run into minor obstacles when educating such a large number of students. One obstacle was transportation, said district spokesperson Kevin Christian in a press release. “Some buses were delayed due to higher-than-expected student counts at bus stops, new drivers on new routes, families unfamiliar with bus stop locations, and drivers placing colored wristbands on younger students to designate them as bus riders during afternoon dismissal,”
Christian said. Delays aside, Christian reported that 95% of the buses showed up either on time or within the first ten minutes of class. The school district uses a mobile app called ‘Here Comes the Bus,” which allows parents and guardians to remotely track the locations of the bus their student is riding. “Transportation delays are a common and expected occurrence during the first days of school,” Christian said. “Once drivers become aware of students and students learn their bus route numbers, stop times and locations, these concerns dissipate.” As those involved attempt to work out the challenges described as ‘normal’ during the first week of school, Campbell said that she hopes to see the excitement for learning carry into the classroom throughout the entire school year. “It’s not just about the first day of school. It’s something that we have to carry with us throughout the entire year,” she said. “As long as that positivity stays at the forefront, and if everyone is doing everything they can to help every student succeed, then we’re going to be on the right trajectory for sure.”
part from the scorching heat, it almost felt like the morning of Dec. 25 when representatives of Marion County gathered with the Community Foundation of Ocala/ Marion to give out funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to area nonprofits. County commissioners joined members of the Ocala Marion Community Foundation at Wings of Faith Fellowship on Aug. 3 to award the first round of funding to His House for Her, Wings of Faith Fellowship ($400,000) and Empowered of Central Florida ($400,000). On Wednesday, Aug. 10, two more recipients received funds, the Marion County Veterans Council ($50.000) and Sozo Kids ($400,000), a program developed and run by Help Agency of the Forest Inc. According to Community Foundation Executive Director Lauren DeIorio 37 nonprofits applied for the grants. Some received training and guidance from foundation personnel so they would put their best “best foot forward.” “The county got some great applications presented to them,” DeIorio added. The application asked prospective recipients to answer demographic questions and describe all programs, projects and services that their nonprofit provides to Marion County residents. The application also asked them to specify whether those who benefited from their services reside in rural and/or unincorporated areas, the target group that their programs or projects will serve. “We know the scope of work that a lot of our local nonprofits See Nonprofits, page A3
School board revises faulty policy for substitute teachers By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
S
ome people suddenly found themselves out of a job in July when the School Board of Marion County adopted a policy that barred many young people from substitute teaching–at a time when the Marion school district, like every other one across Florida, is in dire need of teachers. After hearing from young people who have served as substitute teachers in Marion schools, the board on Aug. 9 passed a resolution ensuring
anyone with the proper qualifications can teach in the new school year, as long as they are at least 18. Language in School Board Policy 3120.04 required elementary school substitute teachers to be at least
20 years old; for middle or high school, the minimum age was 22. The age restriction was passed and adopted into the policy on July 12 of this year when the board hosted a public hearing to update and revise a number of
its policies. Board member Kelly King brought concerns over the policy to the board’s attention at the previous administrative work session, where she stressed the importance of allowing every qualified person to teach, at a
“I have full confidence in the former students who are substitute teachers who have worked so diligently and so hard to get their degrees and they have shown interest in these goals.” Kelly King
School Board of Marion County member
time when the district and state are so heavily impacted by a lack of educators. She emphasized that the teacher shortage was not the only reason she wanted to change the policy. “I have full confidence in the former students who are substitute teachers who have worked so diligently and so hard to get their degrees and they have shown interest in these goals,” King said. “I would never vote on anyone being in front of our students just to have a body there, but only because they are See Age, page A3
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