The Newberry Community School Board appointed a new board member in a meeting Monday.
Jessica Norfleet, a 45-year-old Newberry resident, will replace board member Chuck Clemons following the board’s June meeting.
Norfleet works as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Florida. She has held similar positions for previous U.S. representatives since 2012.
Newberry Community School principal Lacy Roberts said Norfleet’s experience living in Newberry and sending her children to charter schools makes her a standout potential board member.
The board’s policy allows members to serve unlimited four-year terms. Seats will become available in a rotational fashion with no more than two seats opening per year, Roberts said.
The decision to appoint Norfleet comes amid the board’s preparation for the upcoming school year.
Newberry Community School is set to open in August. There are currently 421 students enrolled in the school, which offers kindergarten through fourth grade classes. Enrollment is down slightly from the 427 students enrolled in February.
While the current number is about 100 students under capacity, Roberts said she will continue to prepare materials in case the school operates at its maximum.
“I am planning for 520,” Roberts said. “I am planning for maximum, because if we don't fill up the first day, we could fill up anytime during the year.”
The pre-charter school Newberry Elementary School reported 651 students for the 2024-25 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Students not enrolled in the school following its conversion will attend Oak View K-8 School, an existing middle school that will expand to a pre-K through eighth grade school in August.
Alachua County Public Schools estimated in a letter May 15 roughly 200 kindergarten through fifth grade students were enrolled at Oak View K-8 School.
Both schools will continue to track enrollment and make preparations ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
The Newberry Community School Board will meet again on June 15.
Contact Grace Larson at glarson@alligator.org. Follow her on X @graceellarson.
Grace Larson is a second-year journalism student and this summer's metro editor. She previously worked as city/county commission reporter and K-12 education reporter for The Alligator. When she's not editing stories, Grace enjoys running, weightlifting and going on random side quests. If she's not at her desk, you can find her at any place offering free food and crafts.
