Nikolai Vitti

The Duval County School Board unanimously voted Wednesday to hire Patricia Willis, who has a 35-year history with the district, as temporary superintendent.

Willis, a Jacksonville native, has been a Duval teacher, principal, district professional development director and deputy superintendent. After retiring in 2012, she earned a doctorate degree and was an education consultant in Florida and Georgia.

The Duval County School Board on Monday narrowed down its choice for interim superintendent to three candidates from a pool of seven.

Board members will interview the three at the meeting scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Duval School board members are preparing to weed out district-funded programs that are not serving students as intended.

Of 37 programs and organizations scrutinized, 14 received a score of questionable. One was rated unacceptable and 22 were rated as worth funding.

Friday on our weekly “First Coast Connect” Media Roundtable, we featured Florida Times-Union reporter Sebastian Kitchen, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk. We also spoke with Dylan Read, lifestyle director of Shearwater, about Earth Day events Saturday in St. Johns County. HandsOn Jacksonville CEO LeAnn Daddario told us about next Sunday’s Celebrate GOOD Festival and artist Lana Shuttleworth talked about her exhibit being unveiled Friday night at the Space Gallery. 

The Duval County School Board met Wednesday to talk about the likely departure of school Superintendent Nikolai Vitti.

The Detroit school board voted Tuesday to enter into contract negotiations with Vitti for the district's superintendent position. Duval School Board Chair Paula Wright said her main reason for calling the meeting was to talk about ensuring Vitti’s possible departure doesn’t cause disruption, especially as students are taking state tests this month.

Duval County Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said he’s extremely concerned about state legislation that would encourage charter school takeovers of low-performing schools.

The bill, PCB EDC 17-03, passed the House education committee Thursday.

Friday on “First Coast Connect” it was our weekly Media Roundtable with Florida Times-Union columnist Ron Littlepage, Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski and contributing writer for the Jacksonville Free Press Charles Griggs. We also spoke with University of North Florida professor Parvez Ahmed about the upcoming presentation of the movie “The Sultan and the Saint.” Ahead of its concert Sunday in Jacksonville, we heard a live in-studio performance by Pharaoh’s Daughter. 

Thursday on “First Coast Connect” we talked about Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti possibly leaving Jacksonville to take over the Detroit Public Schools Community District with WJCT education reporter Lindsey Kilbride and Detroit Public Radio education reporter Sascha Raiyn. Navitas Credit Corporation CEO Gary Shivers told us how to bring out your inner entrepreneur, and marking Arbor Day Saturday, Greenscape’s Anna Dooley told about their tree giveaway at Metropolitan Park. 

Duval County Superintendent Nikolai Vitti is now one of two finalists for Detroit Public Schools Community District superintendent after the third candidate, Orlando Ramos of Milwaukee Public Schools, dropped out Thursday night, according to Detroit NPR member station WDET.

  Friday on “First Coast Connect” was are weekly Media Roundtable with Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons, blogger Fred Matthews and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk. We also spoke with Generation W founder Donna Orender and U.S. Naval War College professor of strategic leadership and leader development Olenda Johnson about next week’s conference. We spoke with Washington correspondent for The Economist James Astill about the rise of modern India, and we spoke with the star of the play “Fences” Shauntel Robinson and director Jereme Raickett.