NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – The Nassau County School Board vice chair introduced a policy proposal Monday to create hardship exemptions for students facing traumatic life changes.
Vice Chair Joe Zimmerman introduced the proposal during a Monday workshop. He said the measure “ensures educational stability for children in crisis, preventing displacement caused by rigid attendance zones.”
Recommended Videos
According to Zimmerman, current attendance zoning rules often force students to transfer schools during crises like divorce, medical emergencies, or temporary housing issues. But his proposed policy would allow these students to stay in their current school, prioritizing continuity.
“Our first responsibility as School Board Members is to ensure student success. For many of our kids, their school is their support system. It’s where they find stability, encouragement, trusted adults, and a community that cares about them,” Zimmerman said. “When a family is experiencing a hardship, the last thing a child needs is to be uprooted from that environment.”
The policy includes specific guardrails to ensure integrity:
- Eligibility: Available only to currently enrolled Nassau County residents. It does not apply to new out-of-county applicants.
- Qualifying circumstances: Applies to sudden changes such as divorce, custody shifts, or temporary moves that force a student out of their zone or Nassau County.
- Accountability: Students must maintain specific attendance, punctuality, and academic standards to remain eligible.
Zimmerman said this proposal does not intend to bypass attendance zoning but creates a transparent process for rare cases where strict boundaries negatively impact a child.
“Zoning matters, and we respect that. But when a family suddenly hits a rough patch, kids shouldn’t lose the support system they rely on at school,” Zimmerman added. “This policy brings compassion, consistency, and clarity to a situation that too often leaves families feeling lost.”
The proposal will have a review of draft language and community input at the January meeting of the Nassau County School Board.