The plan was developed following weeks of considering back-to-school plans from districts across Florida and other states, surveying families and staff and consulting with local health care experts and the Florida Department of Education. “No plan will make everyone happy,” Johnson said. Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) was recognized as Families with additional questions or who need assistance with the online application can contact the Office of Student Assignment/Zoning at (352) 955-7700 or email zoning@gm.sbac.edu. This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. The window to apply for controlled school choice ends May 8. } Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. In response to the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education , the Alachua County Public Schools Board was ordered by the courts to operate a freedom of choice system starting in 1964, when there were eleven all-black schools in the district. If I'm interested but want more information, where can I go? The video’s nearly 3,000 views as of Monday are an indication of how nervous many teachers and parents are about the coming school year. As back-to-school season approaches, COVID-19 concerns are engulfing the usual first day jitters. There is a lot more flexibility for the student, and the child is much more self-directed.”. Alachua County Public Schools We are committed to the success of every student. School is scheduled to reopen for the fall on Aug. 10. Alachua County recorded 128 new COVID-19 cases and two additional deaths on Friday, according to the Saturday update from the Florida Department of Health. ... October 31, 2020 ... Alachua County Public Schools, the Alachua County Health Department, and the Scientific Medical Advisory Council have issued a joint statement on COVID-19 in the schools View menus online or with the Nutrislice app. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( listeners: [], School system officials will remain in constant contact with local health care professionals about the virus and its impact on schools. Prospective Interim Superintendent for Alachua County Public Schools brings extensive expertise, ambitious goals to the position. Alachua County Public Schools-Your Choice Fresh menus, powered by Nutrislice. View menus online or with the Nutrislice app. Press release from Alachua County Public Schools. The Alachua County School Board is currently accepting applications for school choice/controlled open enrollment for the 2020-21 academic year. Alachua County Public Schools have released their three finalists for teacher of the year. “I read through the draft proposal and liked the options they are proposing,” Vihlen said. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail regarding official business to the District or any of its employees. Community. But because of her workload and concerns about the effectiveness of online learning for her young children, she is leaning toward having them attend school in-person. event : evt, VPK is a free educational program that prepares children for kindergarten. Nutrislice is the leading provider of digital menus, signage, and ordering software. Comments (-1) Alachua County Public Schools' food service director wins top national honor. Parents will be notified through the application system if their application has been approved, if they have been placed on a waiting list, or denied. “I appreciate that they have to wear masks, although that will be a challenge for my kids. In the Digital Academy option, students would receive individualized instruction at home with live lessons. “If a student wants to work in the middle of the night, that’s fine. You’ll soon discover, we’re not your ordinary “school … “That would allow us to start the planning. Applications for School Choice in Alachua County due Feb. 15 By Audreyanna Loguerre. For more information about school choice/controlled open enrollment, review the Links section on this website. } Alachua eSchool is an online program and the student’s study hours are more flexible. ); Apply for VPK online! Santa Fe College is honored to once again be the top choice for Florida Bright Futures scholars for the 2019-2020 academic year. If the application is approved and accepted by the parent through the system, the student will be assigned to the approved school until completing the final grade at that school. Parents will first create an account and then log into the system to complete the application. “We really focus on making sure that we are staying on trend with what the students are seeing out there in the restaurant world,” said Caron Rowe, an Alachua County School District food specialist. Alachua County Public Schools are giving parents a choice as to how they want their children educated for the coming school year. Alachua County Public Schools-Your Choice Fresh menus, powered by Nutrislice. “Parents will have an opportunity to select which one of those options they would like for their children,” said district spokeswoman Jackie Johnson. Sign up for our daily or breaking newsletters to stay informed. (function() { Form is not available till Open Enrollment begins, please check back later. The district will seek input from staff, families and the community before the plan is made final, which is set to happen July 15. To know more about it, get in touch today! School Choice is no longer open for the 2020-2021 school year. We are excited to serve fresh, healthy food choices for students to enjoy! “We recognize that no single plan will meet every family’s needs, particularly in this very challenging environment,” Clarke said. Free meals provided by Alachua County Public Schools during summer break James J. Rowe, Walker Thomas 6/2/2020. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { callback: cb Alachua County Public Schools has sent emails, phone messages and texts to all families with information about their educational options for the fall of 2020 and a request that they select an option by July 19. } ELCAC offers voluntary pre-kindergarten program in Gainesville, FL. The Explorers are also members of the Florida Sheriff’s Explorer Association (FSEA), a state organization that meets four times a year throughout Florida. Photo: Karen Clarke has led the Alachua County School District since 2017 and will retire in June 2021. Call or visit: 352-955-7700 zoning@gm.sbac.edu 620 E. University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 According to the health department, the county is now in the minimum/moderate spread category. Adrienne Vihlen, a Realtor with Watson Realty who has a son set to enter fourth grade and a daughter headed to first grade, said she will weigh her options before making a final decision. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 983 is a member of the Boy Scouts of America and adheres to the principles set forth by the Boy Scouts of America Explorer programs across the nation. The district plans to offer families three options for educating their children when school reopens. Transportation to and from school is not provided by the district, and students may be removed from the school for attendance concerns or disciplinary issues. The Alachua County Public School board voted 3-2 in a meeting Friday to select Carlee Simon as interim superintendent. Only one account is needed per family. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. ALACHUA COUNTY – Alachua County Public Schools has sent emails, phone messages and texts to all families with information about their educational options for the fall of 2020 and a request that they select an option by July 19. Staff. Alachua County Public School District Summary . A YouTube video that began circulating during the Fourth of July weekend has picked up steam heading into Wednesday’s Alachua County Public Schools workshop. Sign up for our daily or breaking newsletters, becoming a digital subscriber to the Gainesville Sun, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. That was the main thrust of the draft of a school … Press release from Alachua County Public Schools Parents can apply for controlled school choice using a NEW Online Application through May 8, 2020 . In-person assistance is available by appointment only. Nutrislice is the leading provider of digital menus, signage, and ordering software. A school board workshop on July 8 at 2 p.m. will include a presentation on the draft plan, including the instructional options, and an opportunity for residents to comment and ask questions. “In eSchool, it is much more student-driven,” she said. Students. Alachua County School Superintendent Karen Clarke said in a news release that offering options for parents was the best solution for the situation parents are facing. Emails, texts and phone messages with a link to the plan are being sent to all families in the district. We will be asking parents once they have a look at what these options are.”. Starting tomorrow, any child in Alachua County can receive a free meal, regardless if they’re enrolled in school. If there are more applications for a particular school than there are spaces available, admission to the school will be granted on a lottery basis following the guidelines in School Board policy. If local news is important to you, consider becoming a digital subscriber to the Gainesville Sun. { ... Stathatos has earned a Masters in Public Administration and her BA in Political Science. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. Welcome to Alachua County Public Schools, consistently rated a high-performing district by the Florida Department of Education. That was the main thrust of the draft of a school-reopening plan released Tuesday, which outlines steps that would be taken under three COVID-19 scenarios as determined by the Alachua County Health Department: no spread, minimum/moderate spread and significant spread. Families. Beres’ dream to teach music began when she took up clarinet around the same time as her Howard Bishop students. Applications are online at the school board's website: www.sbac.edu. Alachua County Public Schools are giving parents a choice as to how they want their children educated for the coming school year. Residents can submit their input at returntoschool@gm.sbac.edu. Applications for school choice now being accepted, Office of Student Assignment/Zoning website. The workshop will be held online and will be open to the public. “That is why we have options.”, The plan is available on the district’s website at https://bit.ly/AlachuaSchoolsRepopen. Clarke has led the Alachua County School District since the start of the 2017-2018 school year and worked for the district for nearly 30 years. It offers families options, including in-person instruction, a Digital Academy, and enrollment in the Alachua eSchool. Sounds like they have really thought through the plan, and are giving parents the most options they can.”. } Next Article Alachua County Schools Closed Thursday Due to Hurricane Eta; ... the City held a Special Commission meeting rather than a workshop so Commissioners would be able to vote on their top choice immediately following their interviews. February 8, 2013 Education. The website also includes a list of available schools and other information about the process. The Alachua County School Board is currently accepting applications for school choice/controlled open enrollment for the 2020-21 academic year. The draft plan has been reviewed by the Alachua County Health Department and the district’s medical director and a pediatrician with UF Health. Alachua County Public Schools have expanded their meals program to cover all children in Alachua County. ... School Choice-Controlled Open Enrollment - RES-819-001.pdf. Children must be 4 years of age and be Florida residents to participate. })(); Get our new posts delivered to your inbox: Parents must apply online on the district’s Office of Student Assignment/Zoning website using the new online application system. The Alachua County School Board is accepting applications for "school choice" for the 2018-2019 school year. “What we’ve tried to create is a draft plan that provides options and covers a variety of scenarios depending on the course of the virus.”. If approved, the parent will need to accept the seat to the approved school through the online system. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. ... click here to visit the Your Choice Fresh website. All applications need to be completed through the new online application system so that parents can receive up to date information and alerts and accept any offered seat. The strategic plan developed by the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) resulted in the many of the awards and recognitions earned by the district. The school has an enrollment of 3,000 full-time and part-time students. We educate students, empower our members, and work with parents and the community to build a stronger Alachua County. More information on all the options will go out to families next week. Johnson said Digital Academy is a much more robust program in which a child will be online and usually live with a teacher during a regular school day, which for elementary students is typically 7:45 a.m. until 1:52 p.m. Alachua eSchool, which started in 2012, is different in that the program typically doesn’t have live instruction, Johnson said. Parents should click on the "zoning" link near the bottom of the left-hand side of the district's home page, and then click on "controlled open enrollment" near the top of the Office of Student Assignment page. Parents can apply for controlled school choice using a NEW Online Application through May 8, 2020. ... Alachua County Public Schools Turn to HyFlex Learning During Pandemic. Alachua County Education Association is a union of professional workers dedicated to advancing the cause of public education. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - Who will be top of their class?. Website designed and engineered by Alachua County ITS, Applications Division Version 2014 (v1.0) Under Florida law (Statute 119.011), all information, including e-mail, written letters, documents and phone messages, sent to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners is subject to Public … Comments (-1) District Spotlight Archives for Years Past. Online applications for the 2021-2022 school year will be opening late in the spring of 2021. Our vision for our students is that they will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics to be lifelong learners and independent thinkers. We invite you to to take a fresh look at our various food and nutrition programs. The honorees were selected by the previous teacher of the year finalists with one from an elementary, middle, high school… Significant spread would shut down schools, as happened at the end of the 2019-20 school year. We would like to welcome you to the Your Choice Fresh Food & Nutrition Services program! forms: { GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WGFL) — Cafeteria food at public schools tends to get a bad rap but Alachua County schools want to chop the stereotype with their unique and fresh menu. Florida, meanwhile, added 11,450 new cases for a total of 1,193,165 with 20,764 deaths. 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