ALACHUA – Alachua County Public Schools ended its “courtesy busing” effective Jan. 16, 2024. This sparked some discussion during the Monday, Jan. 22 joint meeting between the Alachua County School Board and the Alachua City Commission.

“Courtesy busing” are those stops and rides provided to students who live within two miles of their zoned school and are not ESE (Exceptional Student Education) students. The school district announced the changes in fall 2023.

On the heels of those changes, speaking at the joint meeting, School Board Member Tina Certain expressed concern that Alachua did not have adequate school crossing guards.

As the discussion developed however, it became clearer that the School District had not contacted the Alachua Police Department (APD) to discuss how the changes in busing policy might affect the number and location of student pedestrians.

“We certainly haven’t been made aware of any bus route changes that would require us to add any additional school crossing guards,” said Alachua Police Department Chief Jesse Sandusky.

Certain claimed to have received calls from parents regarding the crossing guard issue in Alachua. She also alluded to a Jan. 20, 2023 pedestrian accident that claimed the life of 5-year-old Kaiden Mincey, an Irby Elementary School student.

Chief Sandusky noted that the department does have a school crossing guard placed in the area where the 2023 accident occurred. Sandusky and Alachua City Manager Mike DaRoza both also noted that all four of the City’s school crossing guard positions are filled, and when a crossing guard calls out from work, a police officer steps in to handle school crossings.

Still, Sandusky said the police department could evaluate if there are any other areas in need of a crossing guard. “We can take a look and see how the change in bus routes affected our area, but I was not made aware of anything,” he said.

The apparent lapse in communications became clear when Alachua Vice-Mayor Dayna Miller inquired as to how the Alachua Police Department would know there was a change in need for crossing guards. Alachua County Public School Superintended Shane Andrew responded that the school district’s transportation department would need to contact the police department to inform them of the changes.

Andrew said the police department would typically be working with the school district’s director of transportation.

“[I]f we created [a need for a crossing guard], then they would bring that forward from the school district’s department of transportation,” Andrew said.

Andrew vowed that the school district administration would follow up with the Alachua Police Department to discuss the changes and assist in evaluating needs for crossing guards.

Alachua County school district officials estimate that courtesy routes required 16 buses district wide at an annual cost of about $1.8 million. The district reports that it does not receive reimbursement from the State for these additional costs. The changes in “courtesy busing” are believed to affect about 1,200 students in the district.

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The IdentoGo TSA Pre✓® Mobile Enrollment Truck returns to the Gainesville Regional Airport Tue., Feb. 20 - Fri. Mar. 1, 2024

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Feb. 19, 2023 — The popular IdentoGO by IDEMIA TSA Pre✓® Mobile Enrollment Truck event is returning to Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) in February. The event will run from Tuesday, Feb. 20 – Friday, Mar. 1, 2024 (closed Saturday and Sunday, and does not operate Monday, Feb. 19 as it is President’s Day). The Mobile Enrollment Center will be located on the airport property at 3880 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville, Fla., 32609. Enrollees should look for the truck in the parking lot between the airport’s second cell phone lot and the GNV Airport Fire Station, across from the temporary overflow parking lot at GNV (please see small royal blue box denoting truck location in airport parking map below.)

IdentoGO, the company that manages the event, offers 12 appointments per hour. Applicants should note that appointments are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis, so register as soon as possible. Please note this event is for TSA Pre✓® only, not Global Entry. TWIC enrollment will also be offered.

GNV TSA Pre✓® Mobile Enrollment Truck Returns to GNV in February 2-2-2

GNV has hosted seven previous enrollment events, allowing thousands of people to easily enroll in the popular expedited screening program without having to drive to Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa. To accommodate increased passenger traffic, GNV added a second screening lane in May 2018 and added TSA Pre✓® in October 2018. TSA Pre✓® is now available for all flights at GNV.

TSA Pre✓® is an expedited screening program that enables identified low-risk air travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience. For TSA Pre✓® travelers, there is no need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts. Today, TSA Pre✓® has more than 450 lanes at 200+ U.S. airports and in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The TSA Pre✓® application program allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to directly apply for TSA Pre✓®. Once approved, travelers will receive a “Known Traveler Number”(KTN), which can be added to a travelers airline profile and reservations and will have the opportunity to utilize TSA Pre✓® lanes at select security checkpoints when flying on over 80 carriers that currently participate in TSA Pre✓®.

To participate in GNV’s enrollment event, follow these steps to pre-enroll:

1. Visit tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov to access the application page
2. Click “NEW ENROLLMENT”
3. Fill out steps and choose “Next” at the bottom of each screen
4. Type in your location in the Zipcode/City/Airport Code box – then click Search
5. Choose location “Gainesville, FL - Truck Pop-Up: GNV 2/20-3/1” and click Next
6. Select your desired appointment time (Please be sure to make note of your appointment time, no reminders will be sent out.)

The hours for the IdentoGo TSA Pre✓® Mobile RV Event at GNV will be:

Tuesday, February 20 – Thursday, February 29: Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch).

Closed Saturday and Sunday.

Friday, March 1, 2024: 9 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Convenient parking will be available in the parking lot between the second cell phone lot and the airport fire station, across from the temporary overflow lot.

IMPORTANT! To complete the application process, you will need to bring documentation proving identity and citizenship status! If you have a valid U.S. passport, that is all you need for ID! You will finish the process onsite by providing your fingerprints for a background check.

The application fee is $78, which covers five years of participation, if approved, and can be paid by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier's check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.

Enroll now in TSA PreCheck and become part of an expedited security screening program that helps take the stress out of travel.

GNV TSA Pre✓® Mobile Enrollment Truck Returns to GNV in February 3-3-3

About Gainesville Regional Airport

Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) serves North Central Florida and the Heart of Florida through all facets of aviation: commercial airlines, general aviation, military operations, medical missions and air cargo. Located in Gainesville, Florida, just minutes away from the University of Florida, GNV provides a close, convenient and competitively priced “gateway” to the Heart of Florida. The airport normally operates 16 daily departures on American Airlines, Delta and Silver Airways with nonstop service to the international hubs of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, providing access to hundreds of destinations around the world in one stop. GNV is served by a full-service fixed base operator, University Air Center (UAC). With more than 400 part- and full-time employees and tenants at the airport, GNV has an annual economic impact on North Central Florida of $556 million. In 2023, 547,457 commercial passengers flew in and out of GNV. For more information, please visit flygainesville.com

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L-R: Three finalists for Teacher of the Year honors are Sarah Rendek, a reading teacher at High Springs Community School; Jenifer Knowles, a science teacher at the Professional Academies Magnet @ Loften High School; and Dwynette Smith, music teacher at Metcalfe Elementary School

GAINESVILLE -  Alachua County’s Teacher of the Year will be announced this Thursday, Jan. 25 at a special ceremony hosted by The Education Foundation for Alachua County Public Schools and sponsored by Cox Communications, Florida Credit Union, SWI Photographers and many other business, organizations and individuals.

The three finalists for Teacher of the Year honors are Dwynette Smith, music teacher at Metcalfe Elementary School; Sarah Rendek, a reading teacher at High Springs Community School; and Jenifer Knowles, a science teacher at the Professional Academies Magnet @ Loften High School.

Smith, the elementary finalist, has been teaching music in private settings and public schools since 1998. She’s been teaching at Metcalfe for nearly four years, and also spent six years at Buchholz High School. She says music can be a ‘spark,’ a catalyst for students to succeed in other areas.

“I love giving them that joy, that place where they can be successful,” she said. “Even when you have a child that’s struggling, to have that one victory, where they can play the notes you want, play their own melody or create something that they know is theirs, there’s nothing that can compare.”

Rendek, the middle school finalist, has been a teacher for more than 13 years, more than eight of them at High Springs, where she teaches reading. She says she loves teaching middle school students, who are starting to consider who they are and where they want to go in life.

“I want to be a light in their lives, their positive role model and their cheerleader,” she said. “In class I give them the freedom to express themselves, which allows them to grow as human beings, but also under the guidance of appropriate expectations.”

Knowles, the high school finalists, has been teaching science for 19 years in a variety of locations, including Michigan and even in New Zealand. Here in Alachua County she taught at Oak View Middle in Newberry in addition to the three years she’s been at Professional Academies Magnet @ Loften High School. She wants her students to understand that science and learning in general is ongoing.

“I’m excited to share science with my students,” said Knowles. “It’s important for them to see how what they’re learning translates to life outside the classroom. Sometimes the content lends itself well to this goal and other times the less are in life, technology, collaboration or other soft skills.”

The three finalists and 36 other nominees from Alachua County Public Schools will be honored at the upcoming Robert W. Hughes Teacher of the Year ceremony, which is named after the former Superintendent of Schools who established the program. The winner will go on to represent the district in the state recognition program.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ On Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, Assistant State Attorney Nicole Reed presented to the Alachua County Fall Term Grand Jury State vs. Amanda Marie Jazen.

On Dec. 25, 2023, the Gainesville Police Department responded to Walgreens 3909 N.W. 13^th Street in reference to a shooting investigation.

Officers arrived and observed the victims, Anna Haslup Terrill and Thomas Lepread Williams, in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers observed a fleeing vehicle that Amanda Jazen, dob 6/29/1985, was driving.

The Gainesville Police investigation determined that Jazen unlawfully shot and killed Haslup and attempted to unlawfully kill Williams.

While Jazen fled from the scene, she had five of her children with her as she led law enforcement on a 15-mile chase.

The Fall Term Grand Jury reviewed all the evidence and returned a True Bill indicting Jazen for first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and five counts of child neglect.  

Jazen was remanded to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Department of the Jail without bond on the first degree murder charges.

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