Duval County Schools Fail While School Board Fiddles

Duval County in Florida has eleven failing schools. When reporters for two local TV stations went to the School Board building to get comments today, they found the doors locked tight. Why? Duval County School Board employees get every Friday off during the summer.

Excuse me, but maybe -- just maybe -- we would have fewer failing schools if these employees were spending those Fridays figuring out how to improve these schools. I know we all like our beach time in the summer, but our kids need a decent education.

Their excuse will be that this is the first year that Science education was tested. Supposedly, the Duval County School Board and administration anticipated more failing schools as a result. That is a sorry state in an age when science/technology education is so critical.

None of the surrounding counties -- St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, and Clay -- had any failing schools. Their students were able to deal with a new Science test. I wonder if their employees are doing their job of providing excellence in education five days a week throughout the year.

Can there be any clearer evidence that Duval County desperately needs a new Superintendent and School Board? How much longer are Duval County voters going to accept so many failing schools?