QUINCY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Tuesday evening, the Gadsden County School Board approved several decisions regarding the new consolidated high school, which will start in the fall.
The board was unanimous in choosing the name "Gadsden County High School" and keeping the "Jaguars" mascot. Superintendent Roger Milton said despite other options on the table, maintaining "Jaguars" was the most "economical" choice -- with minimal financial impact in adjusting uniforms going forward.
After some resistance to approving school colors, the board decided to include navy blue, Carolina blue, maroon, black and silver -- in essence combining the school colors of both East and West Gadsden.
Board member Audrey Lewis will serve as the school board representative in a committee to determine how the school colors will be used. Milton said all of the colors will not be on a single uniform, but the colors will provide options for different situations.
The decision was met with some resistance at the special school board meeting. East Gadsden High School teacher Chavien Lockwood addressed the board, explaining that rebranding the high school should involve a more substantial change.
The new principal of Gadsden County High School will be Juliette Jackson, a former principal at West Gadsden High School. Sonya Jackson, the current principal at East Gadsden High School, will transfer to the new West Gadsden Middle School in the same role.
In other news, Milton made several more announcements:
- A list of proposed school start times will be issued soon. Milton said the times would be staggered to allow enough time for transportation issues for students and bus drivers. Milton promised that no school would start any earlier than before.
- Milton indicated a renewed interest in bringing the IB program to Gadsden County High School, hoping to provide a more competitive academic curriculum to students in the county.
- According to Milton, the TCC Foundation will be making an announcement on June 8 about a new scholarship program designed specifically for Gadsden County graduating high school seniors.
Wednesday marks the official end to the school year, which will also indicate the end of Gretna Elementary School and St. John Elementary School. Both are scheduled to close as part of the district's approved reconfiguration plan.
