Florida Statutes clearly establishes the selection of the School Board’s representative to the Planning Commission as a responsibility of the School Board.  The School Board has done so and we have been a non-voting member since 2002.  To become a voting member, the Board of County Commissioners has placed several conditions including the School Board providing three (3) candidate names with resumes, the selection will be the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners, and the candidates to be a citizen of Clay County.  The Board of County Commissioners is seeking review by their staff with information coming back to them on March 13, 2007.  The School Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is not until March 15, 2007.  Should the School Board find the conditions not agreeable, a formal position should be submitted at the earliest opportunity.  The School Board should also consider additional issues including the Board of County Commissioner home rule power in considering zoning applications or comprehensive plan amendments and amendment capability of the County’s comprehensive plan or land development regulations to include schools when considering residential zoning applications or comprehensive plan amendments.

Michael J. Elliott, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services