Citrus Schools Summer Break Spot Program

Free summer food service

Citrus County School’s Food and Nutrition Services will again participate in the Summer Food Service Program during the months of June and July. The Summer Food Service Program, also called the ‘Summer Break Spot’ in Florida, is a federal nutrition program that nonprofit groups and schools use to make sure that children in their communities don’t go hungry during the summer when school is out.

Nutritionally balanced meals will be provided free to all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability during summer vacation when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. All children 18 years old and younger are eligible for meals at no charge at an open site and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

There will be four open sites throughout the county: Lecanto Middle School, Inverness Middle School and Crystal River Middle School. The open sites will be open Monday through Friday from June 1 through July 25. Citrus Springs Elementary School and Rock Crusher Elementary will be open Monday through Thursday. Meal serving times for breakfast are 8-8:45 a.m. and lunch will be served 11 a.m. to noon. All meals must be consumed on site.

The upcoming Summer Break Spot schedule will be available soon on the Citrus County Schools Food and Nutrition Services website at cafe.citrusschools.org. The menus will be available to view on www.Citrus.Nutrislice.com. For more information, call Lora Fredrikson at 352-726-1931, ext. 2451.

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Superintendent shares about local Impact of Proposed State Budget

This afternoon Superintendent of Citrus County Schools, Sandra “Sam” Himmel sent out an email to staff regarding the impending state budget and the most recent figures of how it will impact Citrus County.  If the current State budget passes, Citrus County Schools would see a decrease of $21.99 per student, which equates to a loss of over $300,000.  (see letter below)

Himmel also shared a press release by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) regarding this proposed budget. Follow this link to the FADSS Press Release: https://thomastalks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FADSS-05-04-2017.pdf

Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel email to staff

May 4th, 2017

Good Afternoon

I want to make you aware of the current budget being proposed by our Legislators in Tallahassee. Below is a press release from the Superintendent’s Association stating our position in reference to the current proposed budget.

The local impact for us in Citrus County would be a decrease of $21.99 per student, which equates to a loss of over $300,000. Along with this decrease in funding, we have an increase in the District’s contribution to the Florida Retirement System of over $300,000.

As you will read in the press release, we are asking Legislators to increase the funding back to Governor Scott’s and the Senate’s original proposed budget.

There is still hope that the Legislators could reconsider as the budget has not been approved. I am sending this to you to keep you informed of the budget process that is taking place in Tallahassee.

Sam Himmel
Superintendent
Citrus County Schools

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Chronicle Editorial Board Give Thumbs Up to Educational Pathways Bill

Chronicle say Rep. Ralph Massullo’s “House Bill 407 is a common sense initiative”

I wanted to thank you the Citrus Chronicle for their support of Rep. Massullo’s educational bills and for their editorial in Thursday’s paper, ‘Massullo bill seeks necessary balance’.

The Editorial Board stated, “The bill’s multiple pathways importantly recognize a student’s performance and potential should not be simply defined by a single standardized test score, but by his or her individual educational aspirations, abilities and mastery.”  The Editorial Board went on to say, “Rep. Massullo’s interest in listening to the concerns of local educators about the state’s reliance on standardized tests for the awarding of a high school diploma and his willingness to challenge conventional thinking with the filing of HB 407 are applauded.”

I wanted to update that Rep. Massullo got Senator Debbie Mayfield to file identical companion bills for HB 6015 (SB 782) ‘High School Graduation Requirements’ and HB 591 (SB 808) ‘Maximum Class Size’.  In addition, Rep. Jason Fischer agreed to co-sponsor HB591.  Rep. Massullo is working with Sen. Montford and other Senators on his major educational pathways bill, HB 407 ‘Alternative High School Graduation Requirements’ and I have confidence he will be successful with that bill as well.

Follow this link to read the entire Chronicle Editorial: http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/massullo-bill-seeks-necessary-balance

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