Monroe County School Board Member John Dick joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about his tenure in the district.
After more than 20 years on the Monroe County School Board, Dick is preparing to step away from the district, saying he is proud of the progress made during his tenure and confident the school system is in good hands.
Dick was honored last week during a gathering in his home district in Marathon. He said he has one more school board meeting scheduled in Key West, expected to take place October 6, before Luis Gonzalez takes over as a board member on November 17.
Dick said the decision to leave after two decades was the right time to allow someone else to step into the role.
“I did 20 years, and it is time for somebody else to take over,” Dick said. “I’m glad to see Mr. Luis Gonzalez take it over. I think he’ll do a wonderful job.”
Dick said one of the biggest changes he has witnessed during his time on the board has been the expansion of educational opportunities available to Monroe County students.
He recalled that when he first joined the board, many students in the Middle Keys were primarily focused on careers in commercial fishing or as charter captains, with college not necessarily at the forefront of their plans.
Today, he said, students have access to advanced courses, improved athletic facilities and opportunities to travel and study around the world through programs such as Take Stock in Children and the Experiment in International Living.
Dick said Monroe County students are now attending Ivy League schools and military academies, among other institutions.
“The opportunities that they have before them is enormous,” Dick said. “There is no limit to it, and I am very, very grateful to see that happen.”
Dick also praised Superintendent Tierney, whom he called the best superintendent the district has had.
Dick recalled participating in the superintendent search when approximately 30 candidates applied and said Tierney immediately stood out to him.
“I said to myself, ‘Well, that’s the man. I hope the other board members believe it because I said this is the guy that we need to run this school district,’” Dick said.
Dick said he hopes Tierney remains with the district for many years and pointed to the superintendent’s decision to purchase a home in the Florida Keys as a sign of his commitment to the community.
Another accomplishment Dick highlighted was the district’s effort to increase employee compensation and improve teacher recruitment and retention.
He said Monroe County teachers are now among the highest-paid in Florida, with the average teacher salary in the district at roughly $76,600, compared with an estimated statewide average of about $57,000.
Dick said improving employee pay has been one of his priorities since he first joined the board.
“We squeeze every dollar we can, and what do we do? We get it to the employees,” he said.
The district also began the current school year with very few, if any, vacancies, which Dick described as an “incredible” achievement.
Dick said the district has also worked to reduce administrative expenses and direct more money toward teachers and other personnel.
However, he said additional opportunities remain to trim the district’s operating costs. In particular, Dick pointed to positions created using temporary federal COVID-19 funding.
He said those positions were intended to end when the temporary funding ended, although the district can work to place employees in other available positions if they have performed well.
“The positions need to go away,” Dick said. “The people we can always put in and find another position that’s open for them.”
Dick also reflected on the district’s extensive school construction and renovation program during his tenure.
He said the district has gone from aging buildings that experienced issues such as concrete deterioration to what he described as top-notch facilities.
Dick said the newer school buildings have also performed well during hurricanes, with most damage limited to minor issues such as roofing materials being blown off by strong winds.
As he prepares to leave the board, Dick said he is proud of the changes he has witnessed over the past two decades and believes the district is positioned to continue improving educational opportunities for students throughout the Florida Keys.