As we enter the fourth and final quarter of the school year, the School Board would like to express its sincere gratitude to our students, families, and staff for your hard work and dedication. It has been a remarkable year of growth and achievement across the district, and we are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made. We wish everyone continued success and focus as you finish the year strong and celebrate your many accomplishments.

In our ongoing commitment to transparency and safety, the Internal Audit Committee recently completed a routine review of the district’s cybersecurity framework. This proactive audit confirmed that our data protection protocols remain in alignment with state and federal privacy standards. Based on the findings, we are continuing to enhance our digital firewalls and staff training to ensure our network remains resilient against evolving threats. These regular "health checks" allow us to safeguard our digital environment just as diligently as we do our physical campuses.

📘 A Clearer Path: Updates to the Student Code of Conduct

The Clay County School Board is committed to ensuring that our expectations for student behavior are transparent, accessible, and easy for families to navigate. To support this goal, we have completely redesigned the Student Code of Conduct for the upcoming school year. By improving readability and streamlining the layout, we aim to provide a more user-friendly resource that empowers parents to better support their child's success and well-being.

What’s New for Families:

Tailored for Every Level: The Code of Conduct is now divided into two distinct handbooks—Elementary and Secondary. This allows us to provide age-appropriate guidance and consequences that reflect the unique needs of different grade levels.

Essential New Sections: We have added dedicated sections, including those for MTSS and Attendance Support.

Simplified Language: We updated the language to be more clear and straightforward.

Direct Policy Links: To provide full transparency, we have embedded direct links to specific School Board Policies within the digital version of the document, allowing families to easily reference the formal rules governing district decisions.

🗳️ One Mill: Ballot Language Approved

At the April 2nd School Board meeting, the Board took a major step toward securing the future of our district by officially approving the ballot language for the One Mill. This referendum, which will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026, general election is a continuation of the community’s commitment to keeping Clay County schools safe, competitive and high-performing.

How the One Mill Supports Our Schools:

The official ballot summary outlines that these funds are dedicated to two primary goals for the district:

Protecting Students and Schools: Investing in school safety, which includes maintaining the presence of law enforcement officers in our schools.

Supporting Academic Results: Attracting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff through competitive compensation.

✅ Commitment to Accountability

The Board remains dedicated to transparency in how these funds are managed. As specified in the approved resolution, all expenditures from the One Mill levy will be subject to a strict review by an independent citizens' oversight committee. This ensures that every dollar continues to be invested directly into the safety and academic success of Clay County students.

The implementation of our wireless communication policy has been a resounding success this school year, with campuses reporting a significant positive impact on student engagement and overall behavior. By reducing digital distractions, teachers have observed a more focused academic atmosphere and healthier face-to-face social interactions among students. Principal Justin Fluent from Oakleaf High noted: “The implementation of the electronic device policy at Oakleaf High School has led to increased student engagement, fewer class disruptions, and a more focused learning environment across campus.”

Many families ask how student bus eligibility is determined. Here are the key factors used when determining transportation services:

Distance from School
Students living within 2 miles or more from their assigned school qualify for bus transportation. 

Special Needs / IEP
Students with disabilities who require specialized transportation as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation regardless of distance.  Students receiving transportation through an IEP do not need to complete bus registration, as transportation is arranged through the IEP process and continues each school year.

Hazardous Walking Conditions
Elementary students who live within the walk zone may still qualify for transportation if their route to school is officially determined to be hazardous. See additional details and form at https://sdcc.mybusplanner.com/Workflow\ViewForm.ashx?FormId=0456a7df-d321-41d9-8ad9-4e921b05b2e0

Courtesy Riders
Students who are not eligible for bus transportation may request courtesy ridership. Approval is not guaranteed and depends on seat availability, existing routes, student behavior, and district transportation policies. See additional details and form at https://sdcc.mybusplanner.com/Workflow\ViewForm.ashx?FormId=179991bf-3f82-4de4-aba9-bafac50dbfb5

   State Statute Reference
For those who would like to review the Florida statute related to transportation funding and eligibility:
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1011/Sections/1011.68.html

🐾 New Safety Initiative: K-9s on Campus

Clay County District Schools and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) have launched a new collaborative K-9’s on Campus Administrative Search Program. This proactive partnership is designed to further enhance school safety and maintain a drug- and weapon-free environment for all students.

What You Need to Know:

Safety First: K-9 teams will conduct routine, random sweeps of secondary school campuses (Junior High and High Schools).

Scope of Searches: These administrative walkthroughs may include parking lots, lockers, common areas, and classrooms.

Minimal Disruption: Searches are designed to be seamless. Interactions between students and K-9 units will be kept brief to ensure the learning day continues without significant interruption.

Prohibited Items: The K-9s are specifically trained to detect firearms, controlled substances, and other prohibited items.

Why Now?

The Board remains committed to the "One Voice, One Message" standard for school safety. By utilizing these trained CCSO units, we can identify potential threats before they escalate, providing peace of mind for families and staff alike.

"Our goal is to be proactive rather than reactive. This partnership with CCSO is another layer of protection in our comprehensive safety plan."

Learn More: For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit oneclay.net/safety/k9.

We are thrilled to share that our K-3 students are making incredible strides in literacy this year.

The Progress: Since August, nearly 1,000 additional students have met key reading benchmarks.

The Impact: We started the year with 16% of students needing extra reading support; as of December, that number has dropped to just 6%.

This significant progress is a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, and your support at home. We look forward to seeing these reading skills continue to grow!