►
Description
In this edition of Community Connections, Superintendent Addison Davis spoke with Karen McMillan, Coordinator of School Choice, along with Terri Dennis, Chief of Staff. During their time together, the three discussed the need for Clay County to continue to launch new concepts and programs within elementary and junior high schools that directly link to the amazing Academies of Clay. Additionally, they had the opportunity to discuss the meaning of Controlled Open Enrollment and identify schools that have available seating based on overall utilization. For more information on Clay County's Controlled Open Enrollment, visit oneclay.net/openenrollment
A
Hello
and
welcome
to
community
connections.
My
name
is
Addison
Davis
Superintendent
of
Schools
of
Clay
County
in
this
session
of
community
connections,
we'll
talk
about
pressing
issues
and
topics
surrounding
school
choice,
control
and
open
enrollment,
a
law
we're
looking
at
information
recently
gathered
from
a
survey
extended
to
our
community
relating
to
school
choice
pathways
within
our
schools.
This
month
we
have
coordinator
of
school
choice,
Kara
McMillan,
along
with
Terri
Dennis
chief
of
staff.
A
As
you
know,
school
choice
continues
to
grow
legs
across
the
nation
and
really
pushes
organizations
to
think
differently
about
what
educational
offerings
we
offer
to
our
learners
every
single
day
and
what
pathways
we
offer
as
well.
Our
job
as
educational
leaders
is
a
make
certain
that
we
are
making
certain
that
our
students
are
prepared
every
single
day
to
either
become
full,
gradual
options
related
to
military
college
or
the
workforce.
As
we
talk
about
school
choice,
school
choice
has
continued
to
expand
in
Clay
County
miss
McMillan.
A
B
School
choice
is
to
improve
student
outcome
by
giving
parents
a
wider
range
of
educational
options
so
that
they
can
look
for
options
that
are
a
good
fit
for
their
child,
and
currently
parents
have
more
options
than
ever
before
we
have
our
district
manage
public
schools.
We
have
our
public
charter
schools,
virtual
schools,
homeschool
private
school,
and
now
we
even
have
the
extra
layer
of
control
that
open
enrollment.
So
currently,
when
we
look
at
Clay
County
as
being
one
of
those
choice
options,
we
know
that
Clay
County
district
managed
schools
is
a
tweren't.
B
We
our
graduation
rates
higher
than
it's
ever
been
before
we're
top
20
in
the
state
for
graduation
for
Els
or
ESC,
and
our
at-risk
students.
One
of
your
initiatives
was
to
put
art
music
in
all
of
our
schools.
In
the
district
we
have
accelerated
learning
College
pathways
at
all
of
our
high
schools.
The
learning
that's
occurring
in
our
district
managed
Public
Schools
is
amazing.
A
I
would
agree,
we've
had
so
many
successes
recently,
you
know
with
with
movement
academics,
but
our
pathways
are
getting
better
every
single
day.
Clay
County
really
has
great
anchor
academies
within
every
one
of
our
high
schools
and
as
we
continue
to
grow
and
evolve
in
our
system,
we
really
want
to
focus
on
our
junior
high
schools.
There
are
Elementary's
as
well
as
we
talk
about
school
choice
in
the
last
couple
of
years.
How
is
it
kind
of
evolved
not
only
throughout
the
state
nationally
but
also
locally,
as
well,
for
us
in
Clay
County,
so.
B
Historically,
locally
choice:
what
choice
has
been
available
at
the
high
school
level
through
CTE,
the
Career
and
Technical
Education
and
through
accelerated
learning?
And,
as
you
said,
it's
our
initiative.
It's
it's
a
goal
of
ours
to
move
these
choice,
options
down
to
the
junior
high
and
elementary
level,
creating
these
pathways
that
students
can
enter
in
kindergarten
and
followed
all
the
way
through
to
graduation
yeah.
A
It's
very
important:
while
we
do
a
beautiful
job
in
our
high
school
settings,
we
have
to
get
better
and
related
to
what
course
offerings
we
have
in
junior
high
school
and
Elementary.
We
want
to
see
pure
continuity
from
k12,
where
our
kids
really
can
find
somewhere
in
their
heart.
They
really
want
to
study
and
that
we
have
robust
programs.
That's
really
trying
to
get
our
21st
century
learner
ready
and
prepared
overall
we're
trying
to
create.
A
You
know,
learners
and
prepare
them
for
jobs
that
do
not
even
exist
today,
and
if
we
do
that
by
having
robust
programs
and
having
critical
thinkers
and
problem
solvers
and
decision
makers,
let
me
think
you
know,
analytically
and
I
think
we'll
be
able
to
prepare
them
to
be
successful.
Research
research
says
that
students
who
have-
and
you
know,
are
select
you
know:
educational,
offering
or
choice,
offering
have
positive
impacts
on
their
academics
and
on
their
mindset.
Can
you
speak
to
that
so.
B
We
know
that
all
children
do
not
come
to
school
with
this
equal
amount
of
resources
and
the
same
needs
and
same
interests
and
the
benefit
to
having
school
choice
options
is
that
it
allows
us
to
create
curriculums
and
educational
experiences
that
will
cater
to
these
ones.
That
will
cater
to
these
interests.
We
are
also
able
to
build
communities
within
and
around
our
schools,
because
when
families,
when
parents,
when
students
pick
choices
and
they
work,
they
come
more
engaged
and
more
engaged
increases
test.
A
Well
said,
you
know,
we
talk
about
the
the
impacts
and
the
positivity
that
it
brings
to
our
learners.
They
can
really
in
their
parent,
so
they
can
select
an
environment
that's
best
for
them.
We
see
that
it
creates
pride
and
ownership
as
well
and
in
Clay
County.
We
will
continue
to
evolve
and
create
more
choice
and
offerings
so
that
we
can
have
attractive,
effective
academic
experiences
for
our
kids.
Can
you
speak
to
some
of
the
programs
we
currently
offer
and
we
aspire
to
offer
in
the
future,
so.
B
That
suit
our
community
that
suit
our
families,
accelerated,
learning
we're
always
looking
at
improving
our
offerings
at
that
level.
At
the
junior
high
school
level
this
year
we
added
our
first
creates
program
that
will
feed
into
malade
side
of
at
lakeside
junior
high
school
and
they
don't
feed
into
Fleming
Island
High
School's
ACE
program
and
we're
looking
at
increasing
those
opportunities
at
the
junior
high
school
level
over
the
next
couple
of
years,
and
at
elementary
we
have
a
concept
school
or
in
Orange
Park
Elementary,
but
we
also
have
a
Montessori
score.
First.
A
So
a
lot
of
cool
things
going
on
and
play
County
surrounding
choice.
We
know
for
the
first
time
ever
in
the
last
two
years,
we
have
an
accelerated
program
at
every
one
of
our
high
schools
for
our
learners.
We
see
that
unbelievable
CTE
programming's
in
our
schools,
from
aerospace
to
agriculture,
to
help
science
to
build
and
design
to
carpentry.
We
have
it
all.
So
you
know
hats
off
that
department,
our
teachers
who
work
so
hard
to
prepare
of
students
that
we
have
great
internships
and
externships
for
our
students
as
well.
A
We
will
continue
to
expose
them
to
great
offerings.
As
we
talk
about
growing
this
initiative
within
our
schools,
we
need
we,
you
know
for
futuristic
mindsets,
there's
a
lot
of
highlights
we'd
like
to
talk
about,
and
will
we
get
into
the
into
the
weeds
of
the
board
in
a
workshop
next
month
they
talk
about
how
we
grow
gifted
in
town
and
how
we
grow
acceleration
programs
in
elementary
and
junior
high
school
as
well,
and
then
looking
at
having
concepts,
expanding
concept,
schools
in
our
school
district.
So
thank
you
so
now
transition
to
controlled,
open,
enrollment.
A
That
means
that
we
identify
a
you,
know,
seat
capacity
level
determine
whether
or
not
we
have
seats
available
in
our
schools.
In
our
school
district
in
Clay
County,
we
have
established
an
85
percent
threshold
that
identifies
whether
or
not
we
have
available
seating.
Therefore,
any
school
that
has
a
capacity
over
85
percent
will
not
be
open
and
linked
to
control
and
open
enrollment.
However,
if
they're
under
85
percent
capacity,
then
we
do
have
available
seedings,
so
controlled,
open
enrollment.
What
does
that
mean?
Miss
Dennis
and
miss
Dennis
takes
on
a
lot
of
responsibilities.
A
C
Is
actually
our
third
year
of
controlled,
open
enrollment
in
Clay
County,
and
so
we
average
about
the
same
amount
of
schools
open
each
year,
we've
kept
the
85
percent
threshold
consistent
and
it's
basically
just
another
avenue
for
students
in
Clay
County,
their
parents
and
surrounding
counties
to
look
for
another
educational
opportunity
outside
of
their
zone.
Neighborhood
school
parents
could
choose
a
different
school
based
on
choice
programs.
C
A
It's
it's
coming
on
board,
and
so
we
talked
about
the
applicational
process
and
I
believe
it's
gonna
launch
on
the
21st
of
January
and
it
will
close
on
February
the
22nd.
So
what
you
know
how
two
parents
start
to
look
to
identify?
What's
opening,
what's
the
application
process,
what
can
they
look
for
in
that
application
window?
So.
C
Our
application
is
online.
We
do
have
the
option
for
a
printed
application
that
if
you
would
like
to
mail
into
the
district
office,
we
also
have
that
application
fully
in
Spanish
as
well
to
meet
all
of
our
citizens
needs
with
that
application.
It
is
about
a
three
page
application
with
some
information
where
we
do
verify
your
address,
your
student
current
student,
their
siblings
involved,
if
you
are
military,
because
there
are
some
processes
with
the
lottery
that
you
do
get
priority.
C
If
you
are
currently
a
student
that
is
up
for
expulsion,
we
do
have
some
questions
about
that
as
well,
because
we
do
have
some
parameters
on
that.
So
the
application
will
be
live
on
our
website
on
Monday
January
21st,
which
is
the
kickoff
of
national
school
choice
week.
It
will
be
up
for
a
full
month
to
apply
so
you
just
need
to
apply
once
and
then
once
you
apply
you're
in
and
then
each
school
that
is
open
for
control,
open
enrollment
will
be
hosting
parent
nights
tour
nights.
C
A
I
think
it's
really
good
the
fact
that
when
we
go
to
open
schools
who
qualify
you're
under
the
threshold,
even
5%
that
parents
really
take
advantage
of
our
tours,
so
they
can
get
to
understand
staff,
the
direction,
the
academics
and
whether
or
not
that's
the
right
climate
that
has
the
right
core
values
for
their
learners.
Now
we
have
42
schools
in
our
district,
and
so
I
want
to
make
certain
that
we
talk
about
what
schools
are
eligible
for,
our
parents,
our
students
and
what
schools
may
not
be
eligible.
A
C
So
this
is
again
for
next
school
year
we
have
11
schools
that
are
open.
We
have
six
elementary
schools,
two
junior
high
and
three
high
schools.
Our
elementary
schools
are
Argyle
Elementary
with
20
available
seats,
copper
gate,
Elementary
with
30
available
seats,
Learning
Island
Elementary,
with
55
available
seat
lakeside
elementary
with
64
available
seats;
s
Brian
Jennings,
with
43
available
seats,
Shadowline
elementary
with
30
available
seats.
C
So
we
do
have
about
a
little
over
200
available
seats
at
the
elementary
level,
and
that
is
K
through
6
in
Clay
County
I
know
for
some
surrounding
counties,
it's
a
little
different
with
6th
grade,
and
then
this
is
for
kindergarten.
It's
not
for
VP
K.
So
I
do
want
to
stress
that
it
was
kindergarten
through
sixth
grade
for
the
elementary
for
our
junior
high.
It
is
a
traditional
junior
high
of
just
seventh
and
eighth:
that's
lakeside
junior
in
Orange,
Park
junior.
They
are
both
open
with
a
hundred
seats
available.
C
Once
you
apply
through
the
window,
we
actually
will
be
sending
out
a
email
toward
the
end
in
March.
That
will
be
whether,
if
you've
been
accepted
or
if
there's
a
waitlist
or
rejection
based
on
if
there's
a
lottery,
so
some
of
our
schools,
if
I
take
Argyle
Elementary,
for
example,
they
have
20
seats
open.
If
only
18
students
apply,
all
18
students
would
be
able
to
get
in
because
they
did
not
need
to
have
a
lottery.
If
I
have
30
students
apply,
then
we
will
need
to
do
a
lottery.
We
will
accept
20.
C
A
Then
they
look
at
you
know
anybody
that
said
moved
due
to
foster
care
and
then,
as
the
next
prong
is
linked
to
individuals
that
have
been
court-ordered
to
move
art,
a
placement
for
a
particular
school,
then
we'll
go
to
Clay
County
residents
and
then
afterwards
we'll
go
to
outside
residents
as
well.
So
there's
a
criteria
and
that
will
be
spelled
out
completely
on
our
website
as
we
continue
to
launch
this
so
continue
to
go
to
one
clay
dotnet.
So
we
have
information
forthcoming.
A
So
thank
you,
miss
Dennis,
so
back
to
school
choice-
and
you
know
we
talked
about
you
know.
How
do
we
continue
to
make
certain
we
prepare
learners
for
the
21st
century
and
for
jobs?
You
do
not
exist
today,
you
know
what
do
we
do
so
what
we
did
recently
is
that
we
extended
a
survey
to
all
of
our
stakeholders,
our
community,
to
figure
out
what
they
actually
would
like
to
see
within
our
schools.
So,
from
your
perspective,
is
there
from
that
survey
any
information
that
you
believe
by
great
banner
garb
I?
A
B
Is
important
at
the
elementary
and
junior
high
school
level,
we
saw
a
commonality
of
both
of
them,
wanting
a
good
number
of
parents
from
both
levels,
wanting
accelerated
learning
opportunities
and
we're
already
putting
these
this
into
motion.
We
have
them
wanting
scheme
opportunities
and
Seamas
science,
technology,
engineering,
arts
and
math,
and
this
is
an
instructional
method,
as
you
said,
that
builds
our
workforce
of
tomorrow
right.
So
it's
no
wonder
that
parents
want
to
see
more
of
this
instruction
and
we
have
a
junior
high
school.
B
A
It
is-
and
you
know
make
thanks
to
all
the
parents
that
took
the
time
to
complete
the
survey
it
gives
us
really.
You
know
a
lot
of
information,
so
we
can
make
informed
decisions
and
we
can
see
we
can
use
that
body
of
work
to
identify
what
we
can
do
locally
in
order
to
enhance
experiences
for
our
learners.
You
know,
one
thing
I
did
see
is
that
at
an
elementary
level
there
they
wanted
some
bill
language
to
be
a
part
of
the
process,
so
really
cool
takeaway.
Thank.
B
A
Really
neat
and
intriguing
information,
so
we'll
put
that
live
as
well
on
the
control
open,
enrollment
website,
so
they
can
see
over
their
findings
will
be.
When
we
talk
about
the
you
know,
there's
so
many
things
we
want
to
do.
It
relates
to
creating
choice
and
though
I've
always
spoke
about
how
we
can
have
a
visual
Performing
Arts.
What
do
we
do
to
have
a
pre
Cambridge
program
within
our
elementary
models
that
feed
it
up
to
our
ACE
program?
Tonight,
beef?
A
You
know
pre
IB
and
early
HIVs
and
our
elementary
Zoran
junior
high
schools,
and
it
makes
certain
that
we
have
really
robust
initiatives
for
kids
and
we
keep
them
and
we
attract
newcomers
as
well.
But
that's
going
to
take
money
and
that's
going
to
take
time.
You
know
any
thoughts
about.
You
know
how
we
make
this
happen
and
in
in
the
near
future,
for
for
our
community.
So.
B
When
we
look
at
funding
a
successful
program,
we're
really
looking
at
four
things.
We
look
at
getting
highly
trained
teachers,
be
it
through
like.
If
we're
looking
at
a
school
of
arts,
we
have
to
hire
trained
teachers
when
we're
looking
at
a
steam
program,
we
train
a
cohort
of
teachers
when
you
have
to
look
at
curriculum
and
purchasing
curriculum
for
each
of
these
programs.
B
We
look
at
the
learning,
materials
and
resources
that
are
required
for
these
successful
programs
and
lastly,
sometimes
even
the
facility
needs
to
get
altered,
we
have
to
look
at
storage
or
performance
areas.
So
if
we
want
you
get
what
you
pay
for
right
and
if
we
want
cutting-edge
we're,
gonna
have
to
pay
for
it
absolutely.
A
B
A
I
totally
agree
with
you,
whether
it's
grants
or
additional
revenue
streams
from
the
community.
We
have
to
think
differently
to
evolve
and
have
attractive
facilities
and
meet
the
needs
of
these
programs
in
order
to
prepare
them
and
and
also
follow
their
passions.
You
know
so
look
forward
to
what's
coming
for
the
future
in
Clay
County.
We
know
that
you
know
we
have
a
lot
on
our
plates,
but
we
are
really
committed
to
make
certain
that
we
have
cutting-edge
opportunities
for
every
learner
every
single
day
within
our
school
district
superintendent.
A
You
know
this
has
been
a
priority
of
mine.
We
will
continue
to
grow,
we're
looking
at
a
potentially
identifying
national
models
through
CTE
program
that
expanded
CTE
initiatives,
but
at
the
same
time
making
sure
that
that
expansion
goes
all
the
way
down
to
the
the
garden
age
and
through
elementary,
the
transition
to
junior
high,
but,
more
importantly,
making
certain
that
we
do
everything
in
the
lockstep
with
our
parents
and
our
students
and
our
teachers
voice
in
the
board's
voice
to
make
sure
we're
getting
the
right
every
single
day
in
Clay
County.
A
So
thank
you
for
this
session.
You
know
once
again
a
reminder
of
control
open
enrollment,
as
miss
Dennis
spoke
about.
It
opens
on
January
21st
and
will
close
on
February
the
22nd.
Again,
we
will
make
certain
that
we
get
all
information
about
those
who
have
been
accepted
by
starting
around
March
22nd
and
beyond.
A
So
look
forward
for
more
information
to
come,
we'll
have
more
marketing
information
about
this
initiative
in
order
to
create
excitement
around
Clay,
County
district
schools
next
month
is
we'll
talk
about
math
adoption
that
we
just
adopted
last
night
or
a
school
board,
the
new
math,
the
doctrine
process.
What
does
that
mean
for
students?
What
does
that
mean
for
teachers
and
what
does
that
mean
for
parents?
How
do
we
help
and
then
we
look
at
some
of
the
record
high
graduation
rates
that
were
just
established
last
month
with
in
Clay
County
District
schools.