LCS Board Rejects Citizen Review in 3-2 Vote

Smith’s Proposal Called for an Independent Evaluation

In a divided session on Tuesday February 10, the Leon County School Board narrowly rejected a proposal to establish a citizen-led advisory group tasked with evaluating the dis­trict’s long-term enrollment trends and school facilities. The motion, introduced by Board Member Alva Smith, failed in a 2-3 vote after a sharp debate over the necessity of outside oversight versus the expertise of district staff.

The proposal aimed to convene a “commu­nity-wide citizen review team” where each board member would appoint a representa­tive to study data over the next six to eight months. Smith argued that a “community lens” was essential because the district is facing a “larger picture” of a 6% enrollment decline over the past 15 years. She highlighted that Leon County Schools lost $12.3 million to charter schools and saw private school scholarship costs soar from $2.5 million five years ago to $28 million today.

“This is not just based on declining birth rates,” Smith stated. “It’s actually based on declining birth rates in addition to choice: charter, scholarship, and even choice within our own district”.

The debate grew heat­ed as Smith challenged internal district projec­tions. While some dis­trict reports suggested that affluent Northside schools were projected to decline, Smith noted that Montford Middle School has seen a 16% increase. She suggested that the Superintendent and the Board were “reading the data two different ways” and argued for an independent evaluation to maintain honesty with the community.

However, the motion faced stiff opposition from Board Member Daryl Jones, who emphasized his trust in the “subject matter expertise” of the district’s staff. Jones argued that the board should not “relinquish” its fiduciary responsibility to an ad hoc committee. Quoting Sena- tor Patrick Moynihan, Jones remarked, “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but they’re not entitled to their own facts”. He expressed concern that a new task force would lack the authority and intel found in the district’s own employees.

Other board members raised logistical concerns, noting that such committees require significant staff time and must operate under “sunshine” laws. While Board Member Cox supported the proposal, citing successful precedents like the COVID task force and the half-penny sales tax renewal committee, the majority of the board felt the issue did not rise to an urgent “priority”.

Ultimately, the board chose to rely on internal analysis.

“I’m not sure why we would hit the panic button if we’re not even… an inch to the cliff,” Chair Marcus Nicolas concluded before the final vote.