The Gainesville City School Board has secured the Public Safety Complex for its monthly meeting until the end of the 2020.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the board has had to change the locations of meetings from varying schools, where they would recognize students and staff at that school prior to handling business, to the government building off Jesse Jewell Parkway.
"Last month we were there and there was obviously enough space, enough to spread out," said Superintendent Jeremy Williams. "So we're glad to bring our department directors and our principals back to board meetings. So there will be space available... to accommodate 60 people and still be socially distant."
Board Chair Andy Stewart probed the idea of changing the meeting times for work sessions and meetings from 6 p.m. to something earlier, but board treasurer Sammy Smith was quick to remind the board the change to 6 p.m. was a recent one.
"Our previous schedule, we met at 5 o'clock for work sessions and 7 o'clock for board meetings, and we were here at 11 p.m. - remember?" Smith asked some of the board members who chuckled at the reminder. "They had to work the next day, including principals, remember that? So it was one of mine, I brought forward. Plus, it's confusing, meet at 5, meet at 7... meet at 6."
Stewart asked the board if they would consider a potential time change, which Dr. Heather Ramsey verbally agreed to as long as the day wasn't changed. Williams said the administration will bring some meeting time options for the board to look at with next year's calendar, sometime in November.
For background, all members are currently employed or occupied during the weekday, including vice chair Willie Mitchell, who is retired but spends time mentoring children within varying educational outlets. And, several board members, as well as the superintendent, have school-aged children.
