It’s not on the same scale as the water wars between Florida and Georgia or the annual football battle waged by the Dawgs and Gators, but a friendly rivalry is brewing between two school districts in the neighboring states over a big prize.
Georgia’s Gwinnett County School District and Florida’s Orange County schools are finalists for what has been called the Oscars of education, the Broad Foundation prize. The winner gets $750,000 in college scholarships.
The superintendents of both districts raised the stakes Monday. If Orange County wins, Gwinnett Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said he will send them a package of Georgia swag that could include Coca-Cola, peanuts and “something peachy and sweet” from the district’s award-winning culinary arts program.
“My hope is Gwinnett County Public Schools will be on the receiving end of that congratulatory gift,” Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks noted both districts will be winners since the runner up also receives scholarship money, which is $250,000.
Orange County Superintendent Barbara Jenkins sprinkled some trash talk in her part of the wager. If Gwinnett wins, she said they’ll send them a crate of Florida oranges.
But Jenkins believes she won’t have to worry about shipping anything to Georgia.
“We suspect that we will be eating our own oranges because we expect to win,” she said.
The winning district will be announced on Sept. 22.
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