NCSB Receives Safety Report MICHAEL RITTER/SPECIAL JULIA ROBERTS Year and Vestibules Were Secured with You,” Virdin Said
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$1.00 Wednesday, OctOber 30, 2019 / 18 Pages, 2 sectiOns • fbnewsleader.com Burns responds to complaints HOWL-O-WEEN! FUN about ‘FutureNow’ assembly JULIA ROBERTS News-Leader The program “was not intended to Nassau County Schools Superinten- dent Dr. Kathy Burns has assured the promote a particular religious American Civil Liberties Union and the organization, usurp parental authority Freedom From Religion Foundation that the Nassau County School District “has or proselytize students.” no plans for FutureNow assemblies in – SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT DR. KATHY BURNS the future,” after receiving complaints about that religious organization’s August assembly at Fernandina Beach in the hall outside the gym where the event by promises of prize giveaways,” High School. assembly was held. Cavell’s letter says. It goes on to say While Nassau County School District In a Sept. 27 letter sent to Ray Poole, that the sixth period assembly as well personnel have maintained the program the school district’s chief of legal ser- as the “after school evangelical event” at the school was completely secular and vices, Elizabeth Cavell, an attorney for were listed on the school’s August cal- only addressed bullying, making good the Freedom From Religion Foundation, endar of scheduled school events. “It is choices, and other positive themes with along with attorneys for the American a complete usurpation of parental author- students, several parents complained Civil Liberties Union, said the FFRF had ity to take away instructional time from that their teenagers were encouraged been contacted by several concerned their students, without their knowledge to attend services at Journey Church and parents regarding the FutureNow or consent, in order to expose them to that the program was religious and inap- assembly. The letter says it is “uncon- recruitment for a Christian event,” the propriate during school hours. stitutional for the district to offer reli- letter continues. Mark Durham, executive director gious missionaries unique access to its Cavell goes on to “request that of the district’s Office of Curriculum, students during the school day, which Nassau County School District refrain Instruction, & School Improvement, said signals school endorsement of reli- from sponsoring inappropriate and there was a classroom where students gion. To that end, public schools may unconstitutional assemblies moving for- could go if they did not want to attend not permit outsiders to proselytize to ward, and that the district ensure that the assembly. Durham said students students.” assemblies presented by outside groups were told where that room was only if The letter goes on to cite numerous or speakers do not contain an underly- they requested to be excused from the legal cases to support the FFRF and ing proselytizing message and are not assembly. He said parents were not told ACLU position. “FutureNow represen- used to promote attendance at religious about the alternate location. tatives reportedly discussed drug and events.” Cavell also asks for specific One FBHS teacher said he was alcohol use, bullying, and abstinence, and assurances that FutureNow will not be unaware of any announcement of an repeatedly urged students to ‘come back invited to speak at any district schools alternate place to go for students who tonight’ to the evening event to ‘make in the future. did not want to attend, but added that a plan for their lives.’ Students were students who did not want to attend sat further enticed to attend the evening ASSEMBLY Continued on 3A NCSB receives safety report MICHAEL RITTER/SPECIAL JULIA ROBERTS year and vestibules were secured with you,” Virdin said. “It happened a lot last Liliana Sutherin, 7, and her dog, Lil’, took part in Saturday’s News-Leader electronic locks. He said the Fortify year. It’s not as much this year because Howl-o-ween! event at the Nassau Humane Society’s Dog Park. Florida tip line system was implement- we have really tight security ingress and The afternoon featured a parade, costume contest, trick-or- The Nassau County School Board ed, resulting in an increase in tips about egress at all our schools.” treating, and other activities and treats for dogs and their humans received a report last week from its potential threats. Virdin said schools are also work- alike. More photos on 2A. school safety specialist, who says imple- Additional fencing is being installed ing to ensure that only authorized While traditional trick-or-treating will take place Thursday mentation of new security protocols in at schools as well as additional signage. people have keys to school buildings across Nassau County, the merchants on Centre Street in down- the district’s schools are going smoothly. He said the school district has imple- and rooms, conducting monthly active town Fernandina Beach will host their annual “trick or treat down School Safety Specialist Glenn Virdin mented a system that requires everyone assailant drills, training threat assess- the streets” for younger children from 10 a.m. to noon. said Thursday that new procedures on campus, including visitors, to have a ment teams, and training educators in In addition, the Jacksonville Zoo will also entertain families and policies required by the Florida school ID or a badge. School Environmental Safety Instant with its “not-so-scary” Mini Monster Mash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Department of Education began imple- “With that, we know who is on our Reporting (SESIR). He said parents and Thursday. Admission for children in costumes is free with a pay- mentation in Nassau County schools campuses at all times,” Virdin said. guardians were allowed to walk students ing adult. From 6:30 to 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, the Zoo last year and are ongoing. Virdin said he “Anybody who comes on campus has to their classroom for only the first three will also have the final days of its popular Spooktacular event. For would not discuss publicly a great deal to have a legitimate reason to come on weeks of the current term. That change more information and tickets, visit spooktacular.jacksonvillezoo. of information related to school safety campus.” He said having proper ID, along has reduced the number of people on org. and security but did provide an update on with teachers keeping classroom doors campus, he said. Also on Halloween night, Yulee Baptist Church will host its some of the information that the district locked, are non-negotiable matters. In addition, the district’s internal annual Fall Festival from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests will be treated to hay- reports annually to the state. “It’s good to know that anyone who police department continues to grow, rides, candy, games, bounce houses, and family fun. The church is Virdin said new cameras were is on our campus, if they are not badged, located at 85971 Harts Road in Yulee. For more information, call installed in all the county’s schools last our teachers and staff are challenging SAFETY Continued on 3A 225-5128. Fish and Wildlife officers still seeking manatee PAMELA BUSHNELL Freeman told the News-Leader, “The News-Leader tire was loose with about two to four inches of slack in it, so it didn’t seem to The Florida Fish and Wildlife be causing any distress.” Conservation Commission continues to After an initial attempt to remove ask for the public’s assistance in finding the tire with a boat hook failed, the deci- a manatee wearing a bicycle tire around sion was made to leave the animal alone. its middle. “Manatees are quick and strong. They The manatee was sighted in can easily get away from you,” Wright Fernandina Beach on Sept. 30 and said. again on Oct. 2. Despite other sight- Freeman again spotted the mana- ings in Jacksonville before and after its tee in front of Atlantic Seafood, which appearance here, the animal continues is located next to the boat ramp at the to elude officials who want to remove Fernandina Harbor Marina. That time it the tire or at least put a tracking device was swimming with a group of five other on the animal. manatees. By the time FWC responded, According to FWC biologist Nadia the animals were gone. Gordon, “The animal was seen again on After another report a few days later, Oct. 5 near the Dames Point Bridge in the FWC tried to find the manatee by Jacksonville, but we’ve received no fur- boat near the Dames Point Bridge, but ther reports. It is obviously feeding and once again could not find it. moving about, so it’s not a life-threaten- “It’s likely this time of year for man- ing situation, but we’d still like to get the atees to be heading south to warmer tire off or at lease clip a VHF device to it waters,” said Gordon. “If anyone sees so we can follow the manatee.” it again, please take a photo and call Manatees are an endan- us. We really don’t want anyone else gered species protected by the approaching the animal because our Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act, the first attempt is always likely to be the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, best. We have special tools and trained and the federal Endangered Species people. Ultimately we want to cut the Act. tire off but we think the best way to do Charlie Freeman, a live-aboard boat- that is to catch the animal in a net and er at the Egans Creek Marina, saw and pull it aboard our boat to do that.” CHARLIE FREEMAN/SPECIAL reported the manatee twice to FWC. The 24-hour FWC hotline is 888- A manatee that appeared to be stuck in a bicycle tire was twice spotted recently in Fernandina Beach and The first time he saw the manatee at 404-FWCC (3922).