Deo Vindice: Nathan B. Forrest High School’s Name Retained by Duval County School Board

Lovers of the South, we had a great victory last Monday, November 3rd, here in Jacksonville, Florida, CSA. The Duval County School Board voted 5-2 to retain the name of Nathan B. Forrest High School. Tremendous pressure had been placed on the Board over the past two years to change the school's name.

Please accept my grateful thanks to all of you who wrote and called School Board members or spoke at the meetings on behalf of our Southern heritage and history. Your efforts made the victory possible. I admit I was very worried that we would lose this one because several of the Board members are about to retire or cannot run again due to term limits; they would not have to answer to voters. Instead, they listened and remembered their history.

In today's Sunday Florida Times-Union, there is a front page story on the decision. (See http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110908/met_353875219.shtml ) According to it, our Mayor John Peyton, Executive V.P. of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Jerry Mallot, and Public Relations guru Michael Munz are unhappy with the decision. If you like, you can contact them at:

Mayor John Peyton
City Hall
117 W. Duval St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 630-1776
Email: jpeyton@coj.net

Mr. Jerry Mallott, Executive Vice President
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce
5000 Norwood Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32208
(904) 366.6654
Email: jerry.mallot@jacksonvillechamber.org

Mr. Michael Munz
Dalton Agency
140 W. Monroe St., Ste. 200
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 398-5222
FAX: (904) 398-5220

As Jesus told us, we must be ever vigilant for the enemy lurks around waiting to devour. Nothing could be more true than with the name of Nathan B. Forrest High School here. Every few years, we have to refight this battle. I will keep you posted as to any future developments.

Voting Recommendations for Duval County [Florida] Residents

Below are my recommendations for Duval County residents. As you will see, I have split my ballot more than I usually do. Whomever you chose to support, what matters most is that you exercise your right to vote.

President: John McCain (REP)
Congressional District 4: Jay McGovern (DEM)
Public Defender: Bill White (DEM)
Clerk of Courts: Jim Fuller (REP)
City Council-at-large, Group 2: John R. Crescimbeni (DEM)
School Board, District 1: Stan Jordan
School Board, District 3: W. C. Gentry
Soil & Water Conservation Board, Group 2: Jonathan McGowan
Soil & Water Conservation Board, Group 3: Victor L. Wilhelm, Jr.
Soil & Water Conservation Board, Group 4: Katrina L. Finley

On the judges, I could find no agregious decisions, so I voted to retain all.

Here are my recommendations on the Amendments:

#1: No (A 'yes' vote would give "equal rights" to illegal aliens under Florida's Constitution and prohibit the Legislature from "discriminating" against those who are in the United States illegally.)
#2: Yes (This amendment puts the current definition of marriage under Florida statute in the Constitution to prevent activist judges from ordering Florida to allow homosexual marriages. Current law defines marriage as between a man and a woman. This amendment will have no other impact.)
#3: Yes (This gives homeowners the incentive to make hurricane protection and energy conservation improvements without penalizing them with higher property tax assessments.)
#4: Yes (It encourages property owners to maintain their undeveloped property for conservation purposes with tax breaks.)
#5: Removed from ballot by the Florida Supreme Court
#6: Yes (It requires property tax assessments on working waterfront properties to be assessed according to their current usage, not future or potential usage. It protects small businesses, such as marine repair, commercial fishers, and marinas, from being forced out of business by higher assessments because their properties could be used for condos or resorts, etc.)
#7: Withdrawn
#8: No (This amendment would allow an increase in sales' taxes. Although the purpose is good, increasing taxes on anything at this time of economic turmoil is bad.)

Again, I hope this helps you and please, get out and vote! Deo Vindice, Sue

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?