Reading Fun

This past week was one of those weeks where I had great enjoyment spending time reading with some of my favorite children’s books to Mrs. Tesa McClure’s first grade class at Rock Crusher Elementary School.  Mrs. McClure knows how much I enjoy reading to the students and doing the voices of the different characters and making the sound effects.  I love watching the student’s reactions to the stories and the messages.  As a Board Member I appreciate when I have an opportunity to see and be an integral part of the experience of students learning while at work/school.  Not only do we often learn more about the manner in which students receive and absorb information but it also helps to ground us, as Board Members, to our primary function of providing and making decisions that are best for our students.

The books I chose have a personal meaning to me as they are books I have read often to my own son and daughter also.  I began by reading one of our family’s classic, “Coco and Cavendish: Circus Dogs” by Judy Sierra and Illustrated by Paul Meisel.  The story is written from the perspective of Coco, a circus poodle who I also provide with a bit of a French accent. The next book I read was “Dr. Seuss: The Lorax” by Theodor Seuss Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. ).  Seuss This is my very favorite Dr. Seuss book.  Not only does this book’s message about the importance of being good stewards to our environment, but it also is a book that empowers young students as the persons that can be the ones to make a difference in our futures.  For those of you who may not know, a new movie of “The Lorax” is getting ready to be released in the theaters.  (Click here for the movie trailer.) The last book is a favorite with this age group, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems.   This is the first in a series of book by Willems about a inquisitive cute little pigeon.  Reading it to the kids was definitely a hit! Smile!

Many studies show that reading to a child has many critical benefits. A study was made in Rhode Island Hospital to compare two groups of eight months old; one group was read to often as babies, while the other was not.  It was shown that those who were read to have their “receptive” vocabularies (number of words they understand) increased 40 per cent since babyhood, while the non-reading group increased by only 16 per cent.

Teachers, staff and school board members do not need to be the only persons the get the enjoyment out of reading to students.  You can also become a school volunteer or mentor.  Click here for information on becoming a volunteer or mentor.

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What do Zumba and the Super Bowl have in common?

A lesson to learn on how unwise to bet with a teacher!

I should have listened to a good friend of mine when they said, “You should not bet”, but my extreme confidence in my beloved New England Patriots “told me” they would win last week’s Super Bowl for a record six times.  Big mistake!

The bet was if the Patriots won, Ms. Holly Becker, a teacher at Citrus Springs Middle School, would, with the approval of her Principal, have to wear my Tom Brady (#12) Patriots jersey for one full school day.  In the very RARE chance that the Patriots lost, I would have to  participate front and center in a Zumba Exercise Class taught by Christina Heady for Citrus County School employees.

Well, we all know what happened at the Super Bowl….!!

So, on Monday, February 6^th, 2012 at 4:30pm with a very sad face and a miserable cold, I went and participated in the Zumba class.  My wonderful wife was so kind and accompanied me to also participate and encourage me. When I got to class I had hoped that Ms. Becker might forget about the “front and center” part of the bet until I heard the  double doors fling open Ms. Becker announce,  “Mr. Kennedy, front and center!”  Then Ms. Beck very sweetly said, “Mrs. Kennedy you can be in the back if you’d like.”  I knew at that point it wasn’t going to get any better. (All kidding aside, Ms. Becker kept checking on me and encouraging me and really made the class fun as did the instructor and all the other participants.)

I will tell you that I had a wonderful time participating in the Zumba class and I hope to do it again.  Thank you to everyone whether you were supportive, teasing me, or just plain put up with me that evening.

For those interested in learning more about th exercise classes offered: In an effort to provide positive health opportunities, encourage staff, and promote better health (which would also minimize the cost of high health insurance claims, thus in the long run minimizing the rising cost of Health Insurance Premiums) Citrus County Schools, through the Risk Management & Employee Relations Department, has implemented the Zumba Exercise Class.  This exercise classes, along with other strategies, and our District Wellness Center, have dramatically assisted in lowering the high cost of health care insurance that the district offers.  Monies for these classes do not come out of our schools’ general operating fund.

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State Proposed Educational Budget Update – Revised

The state budget is beginning to take shape in the Florida 2012 Legislative Session.  We have seen some encouraging signs and some discouraging signs as the budget is being developed.

It is important to understand that while the information I am sharing is encouraging, it alone does not mean we still will not have several budget funding challenges ahead for our district, but it will potentially provide with some options.

The Encouraging News

About a month ago Governor Scott presented a budget which asked for a $1 billion dollar increase in Education PreK-12 funding for this year’s state budget. The Florida House of Representatives presented passesd their version of the House State Budget and it included a $1.1 billion dollar increase in Education PreK-12 funding over the previous year’s budget.  While we know this may affect other agencies budgets we also know that education has seen severe budget cuts in the past many years and funding back some of those cuts is critical to providing for our students future. This increase, over last year’s funding, could mean as much as $3 million dollars in funding back to Citrus County schools.

Initially the Florida Senate began sharing their budget allocations which shows a budget reduction cut of over $1.3 billion to the PreK-12 budget from last year’s budget.  But that has changed.  The Senate Education PreK-12 Funding Summary for its educational budget proposal was released.   The Senate proposal provides an increase in funding of about $1.18 billion (about $130 million more than the House budget proposal).

What To Do Now?

I want to thank our local Representative, Jimmie Smith, for his efforts in his own Education Committee for working to develop a budget that is more positive for students.  If you have an opportunity I would ask you to email or call Rep. Smith and thank him for his efforts in supporting education at (jimmie.smith@myfloridahouse.gov or by calling Tel # 850-488-0805)

I would further encourage you to contact our State Senators that represent Citrus County and ask them to fund this Educational Pre-K-12 budget increase over last year’s budget and restore back some of the Educational funds that have been taken away from our students.  Citrus County Senator Charles Dean (dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov | Toll Free: 866-538-2831) and Senator Mike Fasano (fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov | Phone: 850-487-5062).

Please remember when you contact your Legislators it is important if you want to have a positive impact to be respectful when stating your position.  Be clear and brief with what you are asking of them and share how it may affect you personally or someone that you may be concerned about.

Looking Forward

I am optimistically encouraged by the Florida House’s and the Florida Senates Proposed Budgets.  But we still must do our part to inform our Legislators of the needs of our students, teachers and schools.

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