Archive for News & Updates

Recap of School Board Meeting for 5/8/2012

Posted on May 9th, 2012 by

Recap of School Board Meeting for 5/8/2012

“Ya’ll welcome, Maddie Fisher…”

It was my turn for opening exercises so this time I asked Lecanto Middle School eighth grader, Maddie Fisher to perform two songs for us.  Ms. Fisher sang and played the guitar.  Her first rendition was “Fifteen” by Taylor Swift.  Ms. Fisher has amazing talent and the whole attendants were elated by her performance.

Our meeting was a long one and lasted almost five hours, plus we spent two hours prior to that in Administrative Hearings.  While those are long days my wife, and teacher, always reminds me that while it was a long day, with much important and critical work to do, we, the school board, still are able to take breaks when we need or want, and we do not have 50% of our salary based on the outcome of a high stakes test such as the FCAT.  Maybe she has a point…

During the 5:30pm Public Hearing section of the meeting, revisions to three policies were voted on, and all were passed.  The first was revisions to Policy 6.91, “Salary Schedules”, and then to Policy 6.40, “Assessment of Employees” requiring a minor change necessary due to statutorily changes.  The most major change was to Policy 5.621, “Student Medications”.  Due to revision in statute, the district is no longer allowed to keep Auto injectors, commonly referred to as “Epi pens”, without a prescription.  Previously the school health clinic was allowed to have Epi Pens available in case of an emergency. If you know of a student that may require the need of an Epi Pen please make them aware of this change. The clinic may still keep on campus personal Epi Pens, which have a prescription for a specific person. The district has made the Citrus County Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Office aware of the change so that they know that if a 911 call comes through from one of our schools for an allergy and/or a potential need of an Epi Pen, that they need to respond promptly.

Several Special recognitions were given to students during this meeting. First were Colton Trigin and Austin Boling for attaining their rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.  Next, six high school students who participated as a team in the 2012 Commissioner’s Academic Challenge and placed 2nd in the State in Division II.  The Challenge Team consisted of Alex Park, Hanain Fazal, Kaitlin Beranek, Zuhair Sami of LHS, as well as Robert Walters and Angela Ketchum of CRHS. Their coaches were: Scott Waters (Varsity) and Angela St. George (Junior Varsity) of CHS; Bill Hartley (Varsity) and Luke Witkowski, (Junior Varsity) of LHC; Al Balk (Varsity & JV) of CRHS.

Presentations and special recognition was given to the Citrus County’s 2012 National Merit Scholarship Participants. Among the awards given was a 2012 National Merit Hall of Fame Award given to Jacob Tamposi.  Being a National Merit Scholar is a distinction for life.

Approval was given for the renewal of Bid #2010-56 which was for the Purchase & Installation of School Bus Digital Camera System

Three new administrators were recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the board effective July 1, 2012.  Vicki Lofton as Principal of Lecanto Primary School, Deon Copeland as Assistant Principal of Citrus High School, and  Ernest Hopper  as Assistant Principal of the Renaissance Center.

Lastly at the meeting the board approved thirty-nine Teacher Aide TERM Units which are a continuation of par-professional teacher aides that are currently in our schools.  We also approved changes to the current job description for the Student Health Specialist’s Job Description.

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It Must Be May

Posted on May 7th, 2012 by

It Must Be May

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”

This is almost more enjoyment than one person should have.  I love this time of the school year.  With May begins Speech contests, Orientations, Talent Shows, and Banquets only to be followed shortly behind with Senior Scholarship Awards and High School Graduations.

Last week began the May madness, but let me be clear it is a good kind of madness.

Tropicana Speech Contest

This is one of my favorite events that I can be a small part of.  On Tuesday, School Board Member Ginger Bryant, Chief Deputy Clerk of Citrus County Courts, Angela Vick, and I were the judges for the Citrus Springs Elementary School’s Tropicana Speech Contestants.  I am always so impressed with every student who gives their speech.  I always learn so much about a specific subject that each of the students speak on, or I laugh so hard from the comical delivery of some of the students. CSE’s 1st place winner was Alden Westfall who’s speech was titled, “Mom for Sale!”, 2nd place was Peyton Burdette with a speech titled, “Operation Pre-K” and 3rd place was Peyton Vilardi for his speech entitled “My Cruisin’ Vacation”.

On Thursday I had the opportunity of being a judge at Central Ridge Elementary School’s contest with Citrus County Commissioner Joe Meek, and College of Central Florida Professor, Connie Tice.  Again, it is difficult to fully explain how impressive these young people’s speeches really are.  At CRE the 1st place winner was Truman Roland with the speech, “The Cloning Machine”.  The 2nd place winner was Andrew Esser speaking about, “Sharks” and the 3rd place winner was Ronnie Romanelli talking about “Ban the Bands”.

Middle School Orientations

I was with the Crystal River Middle School 5th grade orientation on Tuesday.  It was great fun, and even more so, educational for me to see the orientation and programs being offered at CRMS.  I very much enjoyed the orientation video your students prepared and thought what a great commercial it would be for CRMS.  My favorite part of the video was Mr. Dan Epstein’s segment promoting CRMS’s Track & Field program.  Hearing and seeing the 5th grade students get excited about school because of his promotion of Track & Field was wonderful to see and hear!  Even more, it was reinforced when a student raised their hand and asked Ms. Claudia McCoy, “Does Mr. Epstein teach too, I want to have him as my teacher”.

My remaining time at CRMS was filled over and over with seeing the positive, and academically rich, programs at CRMS.  It made me wish I was headed back to middle school again.  Thank you for all you do for our students, staff and district leaders each day, and continue the great work you are doing at CRMS!

Bearcat Night of Talent

Friday evening I headed back to Crystal River Middle School to help judge their annual “Bearcat Night of Talent”.  This is similar to an “America’s Got Talent” type of talent show and AGT has nothing on these young people.  The show began with CRMS teacher Suzie Holstead Martin opening the show by leading a rendition which included all the performers that were planned for the evening being a part of this opening number.  The opening musical number was performed by the “student studio band” that was nothing less than amazing.  Following that, there were 15 acts performed for the audience and the judges.  Crystal River Councilman Mike Gudis, Mr. Troy Strawber and I judged the performances. Each was impressive and after the scores were counted and added, Sherry Dourms’ lyrical dance performance of “A Thousand Years” won 1st place.   2nd place was won by Tiffany Kulas with her acrobatic cane performance of “Endangered Species” and 3rd place was won by Lauren Wade for singing “Mean”.

International Baccalaureate Senior Banquet

It was evening dress, suits, and tuxes, at the first ever Senior IB Banquet for the Citrus County International Baccalaureate graduating class.  The banquet took place at the Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club and was sponsored by the Citrus County IB Parent Organization.  The event was an exciting evening to reflect on all the work and accomplishments of not only the seniors graduating, but also the IB program itself.  IB Coordinator, Darrick Buettner, was master of ceremonies for the event and did a tremendous job praising all the individuals and groups that have work together to make IB a success.  If you, or a student you know, is interested in the Citrus IB program at LHS, please visit their web page at: http://sites.google.com/site/pibsandibatlecantohighschool/Home

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Graduation Calender 2012

Posted on May 7th, 2012 by

Click here or on Graduation Calender to enlarge.

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Estuaries Program at Middle School

Posted on April 30th, 2012 by

Estuaries Program at Middle School

Tuesday evening I got a message from Chuck Mulligan the Marine Science and Chemistry teacher at the Academy of Environmental Science, which is our only “public charter school” in Citrus County telling me that a group of his students from the Academy would be at Citrus Springs Middle School in the 7th grade science classrooms presenting lessons on Estuaries, and how they affect our waters.  Last year I had the opportunity of spending the day with his Student-Teachers as they escorted middle schoolers on boats around Crystal River Bay so I was excited to see the students in the classroom.  The class began with a multimedia presentation given by two AES Student-Teachers.  The Student-Teachers talked about the local environment and explained how “we” each play a part in contributing positively or negatively to our environment and local clean water.  Throughout the presentation the Student-Teachers would interact with the CSM students by asking questions relative to the lesson being taught, and providing information that was pertinent to the topics being discussed.  These Student-Teachers clearly were not reciting a memorized lesson. They clearly understood and were well versed on what they were teaching, which is a credit to their own learning environment at AES.  The Student-Teachers showed examples of Plankton and shared how the plankton has a positive effect on the estuaries.  They also showed pictures of some plankton and shared both their scientific names as well as the “nick” names the AES students give them.

After the presentation, the CSM students were given an opportunity to look through very high powered microscopes to view and identify plankton first hand.  Some of these microscopes have a value of over $10,000 dollars and were purchased using special grant monies obtained by AES with the assistance of Mr. Chuck Mulligan.

Student-Teachers also taught CSM students how plankton shape their bodies to float near the surface of the water nearest the sun to help feed themselves and how their shape can help provide some protection. Then CSM students were given an opportunity to form their own plankton, using a 2oz. size clay ball, to see what form would float the longest before sinking to the bottom.  While visiting I was given an opportunity to make my own plankton, and it should be noted that my shape floated the longest and even beat the times of CSMS teachers Mr. Hobson and Mr. O’Leary! Smile!

This program that the AES has of visiting the schools and having the Student-Teachers meet with other students in the County is not only an excellent learning tool but it also is an excellent way for middle school students to see what the Academy of Environmental Science is all about.

What is a Charter School Anyway?

The Academy of Environmental Science is Citrus County’s only Public Charter School. For those of you that don’t know what a public charter school is, they are very different from a Private Charter School. A public charter school is started through the public school board.  The public charter must, by Florida Statue, follow all the curriculum requirements of any public school, as defined by the Florida Department of Education and Statue.  The public charter staff and teachers must meet all the same requirements as any public school board employee or teacher.  Public charter students must take any standard tests that public school students do, such as the FCAT.  In a private charter school none of those requirements are mandated.

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Those who teach, also can do

Posted on April 30th, 2012 by

“For those who are teachers, becoming teachers, family members or teachers or are a fan of teachers, this speaks to many of the issue teachers bring up each day.  If you are a critic of educators I encourage you to also read this article. ~Thomas”

Those who teach, also can do

By Joan F. Kaywell, special to the Tampa Bay Times

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t teach, teach teachers.

Well, I have taught teachers for almost 25 years at the University of South Florida’s college of education. I’m tired of those cliches — and of the assault on the profession.

We all know the power of that one teacher in a student’s life, and I am giving my student-teachers — all 500 that I’ve taught over the years — the tools to become that teacher. Sadly, the current concern in the bureaucracy of education is not how to nurture that one teacher. Nope. The focus is on how you measure whether or not a teacher is effective and how you prove it.

We had a critical teacher shortage when Jeb Bush was governor. But instead of examining why, his answer was to let far too many unready people into the classroom. His way to ensure that anyone entering the field was “highly qualified” was to have each prospect pass a test. That’s analogous to passing the written portion of the driving test and then being called a “highly qualified” driver.

After becoming “highly qualified,” those entering the field are given a temporary teaching certificate and three years to obtain their professional license. A doctor goes through training to become a doctor before taking the state exam, but anyone who’s graduated from college can teach without teacher training simply by taking a test. You don’t even need a degree in English to do so. It doesn’t make sense.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY…

Joan F. Kaywell is a professor of English education in the college of education at the University of South Florida. She is the author of “Dear Author: Letters of Hope.”

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Filter Youth

Posted on April 19th, 2012 by

Filter Youth

“Motivate – Mentor – Modify!”

What might happen if you combined motor dirt bike riding with positive community mentors for at risk youth? You would have a program like Filter Youth Initiatives.  Filter is a newly established program in Citrus County to assist trouble young people. Filter is based on the National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM) youth program.  NYPUM has been an effective means of motivating kids since it was founded in 1969. NYPUM combines the incentive of riding minibikes and the love of the outdoors with the support that comes with the relationships that develop among participants and their mentors. If the youth continues to progress with their behavior contract goals, then he/she will ride, if these expectations are not met, then the goals will be clarified and the youth will have to wait for the next opportunity to ride.

Filter began with the help of Citrus County Sheriff Deputy and School Resource Officer Joe Faherty.  Deputy Faherty has always been involved with youth programs.  Over ten years ago Deputy Faherty began the Citrus County Shop with a Cop program which has assisted over 250 under privileged kids to have a very Merry Christmas.  Deputy Faherty, at the beginning of each school year, can be found working with the “Stuff the Bus” program which helps needy students receive school supplies.  Deputy Faherty has wanted to have a youth program that would assist at risk youth in the afternoons, evenings and weekends.  Deputy Faherty could think of no better motivational project than of the Minibikes Filter Program.

Filter has now secured the location where they will function and has received a generous donation of minibikes from Honda.  They are in the process of establishing formal agreements with many youth and children services throughout Citrus County.

Visit their web site: www.FilterYouth.com to learn more or follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Filter-Youth-Project/185973064786194

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