When the Duval County School Board chooses a new superintendent Thursday May 23, the vote will likely be close.
Three liberal members on the seven-member board probably will vote for a progressive from Virginia, Daniel Smith.
Three others are likely to vote for a Florida educator, Christopher Bernier, former superintendent of the Lee County school district. He is experienced and knowledgeable in the area of school discipline, which is important in this city.
The member who might decide the issue is Kelly Coker.
Coker is a retired teacher who has been on the board four years, representing the Arlington and Arlington East areas.
The government schools already have experienced progressive superintendents such as Nikolai Vitti and the most recent one, Diana Greene. They were not good experiences.
When the district had leaders such as John Fryer, it was better for the students and the taxpayers.
A more mainstream superintendent also would be a better fit with the state government, which provides a major source of funding for the schools. Parents, teachers, students and taxpayers – “stakeholders” in lib terms – should be hoping Coker does the right thing – for the sake of the children of Jacksonville.
