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First Coast Connect

5/03/2017: Addison Davis; Seperation Of Church, State; PS 27

Wednesday on “First Coast Connect," we spoke with Clay County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis (00:58). We also heard from the director of communications from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State Rob Boston (28:00) and we were joined by PS 27 managing partner Jim Stallings (45:12)

Addison Davis

Clay County School Superintendent Addison Davis has something in common with President Trump: He’s looking back on his first 100 days in office. Davis, who was recently elected to the job by citizens hoping to heal divisions left by the previous superintendent, has already made some changes in Clay County Schools and has been mentioned as a possible replacement in Duval County for Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, who is expected to leave for the same position in Detroit.

Rob Boston

In the U.S., churches have had tax-exempt status ever since the start of the federal income tax more than a century ago. But beginning in the 1970s, some religious leaders have wanted to become political players too — a trend that’s led to controversy and division over the faith community’s role in the public square.

Boston is in Jacksonville to speak to the First Coast Freethought Society about his book “Why Religious Freedom Doesn’t Give You The Right To Tell Other People What To Do.” He’ll be speaking at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Mandarin Branch Library.   

PS 27   

In one office, frozen dessert is being sold around the world. In another, a stress-relief program is trying to get off the ground. In yet another, digital menu boards are being created for restaurants coast to coast. This is just a sampling of what you’ll see at PS27 Ventures on Jacksonville’s Southside. It’s a place where young companies are being developed. Stallings talked about the five secrets of successful startups.

Producer Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax

Kevin Meerschaert has left WJCT for new pursuits. He was the producer of First Coast Connect until October of 2018.