It was a good meeting with very bad news

School Board Meeting May 10^th, 2011 Recap

This month I have Opening Exercise and have been thinking of something a little special to do. Board member Pat Deutschman suggested at an earlier meeting about doing more to involve our students in the meetings. Following a moment of silence, I arranged for Crystal River Middle School 8th grader Isabella Viola, who won the Bearcat Talent Show for 2011, to sing The Star Spangled Banner.  She did an amazing job and when she was done Ms. Deutschman commented, “I think we just saw a future American Idol”.

The meeting began with packed room due to the many presentations occurring. Superintendent Himmel and School Board Chairman Murray give recognition to the Academic Team for placing 5th in the Finals in Division II for the 2011 Commissioner’s Academic Challenge. Recognition of The Congressional Art Competition was presented as was recognition of The Odyssey of the Mind Teams from Central Ridge/Citrus Springs Elementary and Hernando Elementary for placing 1^st at Districts and then finishing 4^th and 10^th respectfully. Lastly, Pat Simon, Director of Research & Accountability, announced the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program winners. Superintendent Himmel and School Board Chairman Murray then recognized Paige Cooke, Larissa Gough, Emily Spilios and Priyanka Thatipamala for becoming National Merit Scholars.

A presentation was given by Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) on the Flying Eagle Preserve/McGregor Smith Scout Reservation Expansion.

At the meeting Superintendent Himmel recommended and the Board approved the Appointment of Administrative Personnel for the 2011-2012 school year. In addition, Superintendent Himmel recommended and the Board approved the Instructional and Support Personnel for the 2011-2012 school year. A last minute item that was necessary to pull from the agenda was the reinstatement of the aide positions at the elementary and middle schools and Office Clerk positions at the high schools. It was necessary to pull this item due to state budget funding that was again cut at the last minute, last week. If anyone would like to talk to me about these matters please feel free to contact me. If you are interested in seeing all of the appointments, simply download and view the CCSB agenda for the May 10^th, 2011 meeting (click here for agenda).

Human Resources Director Jeff Davis and HR Coordinator Linda Waythaler presented and the Board approved the draft of the new “Instructional Appraisal System”. This appraisal system began as a result of Citrus County Schools’ grant with Race to the Top. This system would have been implemented and phased in over a four year period. Unfortunately, SB736, now known as the “Student Success Act”, forces school districts to immediately implement this type of appraisal system which must include 50% of the instructional staff’s appraisal based on student gains/achievement. This meeting’s Board approval is simply the beginning and now the system must be sent to the Florida Department of Education for their approval and/or comments. If you are interested in seeing the new forms and appraisal system, simply download and view the CCSB agenda for the May 10^th, 2011 meeting (click here for agenda).

Executive Director Business Services Ken Blocker, who was approved to be the new Assistance Superintendent Business Services, provided a very grim state educational budget funding update. While we had been optimistically hopeful that the state budget approved would look more like the Florida Senate’s version of the budget which would have meant that Citrus County Schools would have had “only” $5.2 million less in funds for next school year, the recently approved budget which will go to the Governor soon for his signature is much worse. Mr. Blocker said we as a district are now looking at closer to $11 million less in funding for next school year. This means the Superintendent and her staff is having to review things again and again try to make reductions that minimize the impact on students and curriculum. Honestly, it is getting pretty challenging at this point. At our next school board workshop on May 24^th, 2011 at 9:00am the Superintendent hopes to present the beginnings of some of the revised budget planning.

Again, if anyone would like to talk about any of these issues I am more that happy to do so. Please feel free to contact me.

Related Links

• The Star Spangled Banner
• Flying Eagle Preserve/McGregor Smith Scout Reservation
• CCSB agenda for the May 10^th, 2011 meeting
• Race to the Top

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