Archive for News & Updates

School Visits

Posted on September 6th, 2011 by

School Visits

The best part of my work

Whenever I am asked what the favorite part of my work I don’t ever have to hesitate, I immediately say, “visiting schools”. A former school board member, Patience Nave, gave me an important bit of advice. Mrs. Nave said, “Whenever you get flustered or need to be reminded who is most important in a decision, get in your car and go to one of the schools and visit the students and it will all become much clearer.” Visiting the schools and students is not only my favorite part, it also greatly helps me to see the results of the decisions we make at the board level.

On Wednesday I went to Hernando Elementary School (HES). I checked in at the front desk (yes, even school board members have to get scanned in to Raptor at the front desk), and started walking around the school. It wasn’t long before I turned a corner and saw Principal Laura Manos, along with Superintendent Sam Himmel, and Assistant Superintendent Mike Mullen all visiting the classrooms. Ms. Himmel immediately asked if I would like to join them. I want to explain that School Superintendents and School Board Members have very different roles. When we are at schools we are there in different capacities. In an effort to be sensitive to that, I did not want to interfere with Ms. Himmel’s visit so I responded, “Would it be ok?” Ms. Himmel didn’t hesitate a moment. “Absolutely”, she responded. It is important to understand that Ms. Himmel works hard to have a positive working relationship with the School Board Members. It is often that respectful relationship which allows for the Superintendent and School Board to be such an effective School Leadership Team for our students and schools. As we traveled from classroom to classroom it was clear that Ms Himmel has a positive relationship with both her principals’ teaching staff and any other school staff. What is also clear is how much Ms. Himmel loves the kids. There wasn’t a classroom that we went in that she didn’t find a student that clearly touched her heart or with whom she would find something to identify with. One classroom in particular had two lovely 4th grade young ladies sitting across from one another. What I noticed first was the cool eyeglasses that they both had on. This is often the case with me as my own daughter, Genevieve, is a 3rd grader and has worn glasses since she was three. What I didn’t notice until a moment later was that both girls looked alike and were in fact twins. It was just then that Ms. Himmel walked up to their desks. I got a big smile on my face as I knew what was going to happen next. Ms. Himmel began to share with them that she too is a twin. Ms. Himmel told them what she often tells people when she talks about being a twin, “If you see me doing something you don’t like I want you to know that it wasn’t me that was doing it… it was my twin sister!” The girls seemed to like learning that she was a twin too. As we finished visiting the other classrooms at HES Ms. Himmel would not leave the school before making sure she stopped by the cafeteria to visit “her Ladies”, as she said. Whether it is the janitor, bus driver, administrator, teacher, secretary, classroom aid, or anyone in the school system, they can be sure that “Sam” will stop by to check on them when she can.

One of coolest things I enjoy doing when I am visiting the schools is looking at the “Educational Archiving” (a.k.a. “Student Work”) displayed on the walls of the schools. It often provides me with a little insight into both the classroom teacher and the student’s life outside of school. Some of the pictures here are just a couple of the works I found this week.

I am regularly telling students when I am speaking to them, “When you see me at your schools walking around the halls, stop me, tell me what you’re doing in school, tell me what you like, what you don’t like, and what we can do to help provide you with a better school”.

 

Homosassa Elementary School's 1st grade Music class with Teacher Donna Olsen

Citrus Springs Elementary's Ms. Jamie Barker Class work

Citrus Springs Elementary - Outside Ms. Anne Fleck's 3rd grade classroom

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ChronicleOnline: Turn on a book – Digital on way in, textbooks on way out

Posted on September 5th, 2011 by

ChronicleOnline: Turn on a book – Digital on way in, textbooks on way out

By Mike Wright, Citrus County Chronicle, September 5, 2011

Technology is no longer creeping into the schools, it’s roaring in and that means nothing from days gone by are the same. Including textbooks.

Citrus County schools are moving toward digital textbooks, giving students a remarkable way to read and digest important information on hand-held computer pads.

The state is giving districts until 2015 to ensure half their instructional materials are digitalized, which are designed to give students the latest in data and instruction that textbooks cannot provide.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF STORY…

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CHRONICLE ONLINE: A whole new school

Posted on August 31st, 2011 by

A whole new school

Crystal River Primary School gets bevy of upgrades and renovations

By Matt Beck, Citrus County Chronicle, Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Her school has recently undergone a massive construction and renovation project that has given an aging school a much-needed facelift.

The renovations have also lifted the spirits of all who walk through the doors.

“When you come up, everybody says, ‘Wow!’” said Speight, a 33-year school district employee.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

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Marine Science Station 7th grade CSMS Field Trip

Posted on August 29th, 2011 by

Marine Science Station 7th grade CSMS Field Trip

Just another day of going to school in “paradise”.

On Friday I took the opportunity of multitasking as dad, school volunteer, and board member observer and went on my son Ethan’sseventh grade science classroom learning trip to the Marine Science Station (MSS). The MSS is one of my favorite places to go and learn in our school system. How can it not be for any kid? It’s on the water, you get to go on a fast boat, swim and snorkel, everything is hands on, and you spend the whole day outside of a traditional classroom!

For those that don’t know, since 1967 the Citrus County School Board has operated the Marine Science Station (MSS) as an educational enrichment center for marine and environmental sciences. Each school year the MSS provides an “in nature classroom” learning opportunity for approximately 2,000 plus elementary and secondary school students from Citrus County. (Students visit the MSS when they are in 4th grade, 7th grade science and as high school science students).  Visiting educational and ecotourism groups from other Florida Counties, other states, and foreign countries also use the facilities.  All field trips to the MSS correlate to the specific educational requirements for each visiting group. All MSS field trips, lesson plans, and experiential activities are correlated with the Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards as well as the Ocean Literacy Principles set forth by the Ocean Literacy Network and NOAA Education Plan Goals and Outcomes. Special emphasis is directed towards instilling in students a higher level of scientific literacy and an environmental stewardship ethic that can be spread to their respective communities.

On the day I went  the weather was sunny and bright but windy due in large part to hurricane “Irene” which was blowing past our state on the east side of Florida. The entire MSS staff jumped into action as our bus entered the area. MSS teacher Earnie Olsen and Cathy Proveaux, MSS Secretary, Cafeteria Manager & Boat Captain, met the bus and guided the students into the onsite classroom and lab. Mr. Olsen first took time to introduce the students to the staff and explain the history and mission of the MSS. Then Mr. Olsen provided a critical (and humorous) safety lesson about traveling on the boats, snorkeling, and the natural habitats they would be guests at. Mr. Olsen taught a quick lesson on the types of marine science they might experience in Crystal River’s waters. Mr. Olsen teaches with the enthusiasm of a 7th grader who has just learned something new and can’t wait to share it with someone else.  You see, Mr. Olsen is not just a teacher at MSS; he once was a student in Citrus County who used to come to the MSS himself. On this day the current student’s 7th grade science teacher, Randy Hobson, happened to also be Mr. Olsen’s former 7th grade teacher. Mr. Hobson is another student that grew up into a Citrus County School teacher and has spent many of his own summers as a teacher at Camp Citrus at the MSS.

After getting all of our equipment and gear together we headed to the docks to get onto the boats. Mr. Olsen was one captain of one of the boats and MSS Coordinator and teacher, Hugh Adkins, captained the other. We headed out to the sponge beds at “Limestone Rock Reef” in hopes of snorkeling and seeing some of the marine life. Every moment on the boats Mr. Adkins and Mr. Olsen used as a learning experience from teaching the science vocabulary words to showing them examples of photosynthesis and estuary. I was assigned to Mr. Olsen’s boat and it was thrilling observing the students get excited about learning about their environment and the marine life. As we reached Limestone Rock Reef the students promptly got geared up and headed into the water. Unfortunately, due to the wind, the water was choppy and the underwater was not very clear. Mr. Olsen was able to have two students observe a sea turtle but then shortly after that Mr. Olsen and Mr. Adkins felt it would be best to find a calmer location. Both captains know these waters well and make sure no matter the weather or situation that an alternative option is available for the safety of all. As a result, we packed up and headed to the east end of an ancient oyster reef island. The students had calm and much clearer waters to view sea grass meadows, marine life and even some of the root systems of the Mangrove trees next to the island. This island was formed by Native Americans foraging for oysters and then discarding the shells to form an island. This particular island is also an ancient burial ground. The time went all too fast before it was time to get back on the boat and head back to the Marine Science Station. Again, all the way back Mr. Olsen and Mr. Adkins used every opportunity to teach in this natural classroom. As we parked at the docks we got off right in front of “Barry L. Cannon Memorial Wet Laboratory Marine Museum”.

“This museum was named for the outstanding career of Barry L. Cannon, a civilian electronic engineer, whose life was cut short when he met death while working on the ocean floor the first day of the Navy’s Sea Lab III project off San Clemente Island, off the California coast, on Feb. 17, 1969. Cannon, who was 33 years old at the time of his death, was a veteran of the Navy’s Man-in-the-Sea program, an extensive and projected program to determine man’s ability to live and work in the ocean. Cannon also was a participating aquanaut during the Sea Lab II experiment conducted in 1965, La Jolla, Calif. CA Cannon was on active duty in the Navy from 1953 to 1957, attended the University of Nevada and received his BS Degree in electronics engineering from the University of Florida in 1962. He had been with the Navy Laboratory in Panama City since 1963.” (Excerpt from the Orlando Sentinel, written June 17th, 1970.)

The School Board approved renovation of the Marine Museum over a year ago and it is hoped in the near future to fill the museum with more learning once again.

As my day ended at the Marine Science Station I again felt blessed to live and raise my family in Citrus County where we have such great assets for our students and community like the MSS.

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Fire Academy Presentation, State of the District Part 1 & Senator Nelson

Posted on August 28th, 2011 by

Fire Academy Presentation, State of the District Part 1 & Senator Nelson

A lot can sometimes happen in one Board Meeting day

August 23rd was a jam packed day for our School Board Meeting.  After a quick Special Board Meeting to approve the Instructional and Support personnel recommendations from the Superintendent, we began our School Board Workshop.

First up was a presentation by Sheriff Jeff Dawsy and Lt. Philip Royal on developing a Fire Academy at the WTI Criminal Justice Academy.  Sheriff Dawsy first shared about the impending merger of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and Citrus County Fire Rescue. (See Chronicle article “County Approves Dawsy’s Fire Plan” June 15, 2011) Next Lt. Royal, the Director of the Criminal Justice Academy, outlined a preliminary plan of adding the Citrus County Fire Rescue School into the WTI Criminal Justice Academy to form a Fire Academy as part of the Criminal Justice Academy.  Lt. Royal explained that he would come back to the board again soon with firm figures but that if approved, the Fire Academy for no additional expense to Citrus County Schools, WTI, or the Criminal Justice Academy  may in fact provide additional revenue.  Furthermore,  Lt. Royal shared that currently approximately 97% of the Corrections Academy graduates and 90% of the Law Enforcement Academy graduates are being employed immediately with as much as 15% locally.  Lt. Royal explained that he expects as good a result with the Fire Academy.  The Board indicated that it was most interested in the adding the Fire Academy and Lt. Royal planned to come back soon with firm cost to present.

Next was a presentation on the “Citrus County School’s State of the District, Part 1” presentation.  The better part of the rest of the Workshop and day was spent on this presentation.  The presentation included Personnel Report, Personnel, Teacher Evaluation System Update, 2011 FCAT Results, 2011 Student Data, 2010-2011 Initiatives and 2011-2012 Initiatives, including Gifted, Penn Foster, Horizon, Plato and AVID.  The Human Resources Department shared that currently we have 2,380 employees which represents a 7.7% reduction in total staff.  HR also shared the new Teacher Evaluation System.  The 2011 FCAT Results were presented. Citrus placed 14th out of 67 counties but was one of the highest districts among those with over 60% Title 1 students (a.k.a. Free and Reduced Lunch).  In addition, all elementary and middle schools earned an “A” rating (high school scores will not be released until late fall 2011) from the Florida Department of Education. The  Citrus School District earned an “A” rating for the district and earned the high distinctions of “Academically High Performing District”.

One of the most exciting and challenging presentations in the State of the District report is that regarding Technology and the Transition to Digital Curriculum, meaning digital textbooks for students.  Florida legislation F.S. 1002.321 Digital Learning Now Act states, “Each student shall have access to a high-quality digital learning environment.”  F.S. 1006.40 Instructional Materials  further requires that, “By the 2015-2016 fiscal year, each district school board shall use at least 50 percent of the annual allocation for the purchase of digital or electronic instructional materials.”  Also reported and what I was most excited about is the new wall-to-wall wireless network/internet access for students in middle and high school that Citrus Schools is installing this 2011-2012 school year.  This highly filtered wireless network will provide students an individual logon username and password.  Students could then use the network from their own laptops, netbooks, iPad and more.  A School Board Workshop on this and other emerging technologies in our schools and classrooms along with student and staff use guidelines is being scheduled for November 15th, 2011.  If you are interested in these issues I would encourage you to come to the workshop.

The Board recessed about three-quarters through the meeting to break to attend a small Elected Officials meeting with United States Senator and former astronaut Bill Nelson.  It was a pleasure meeting and hearing from the Senator.  You can read more about this meeting by reading my blog post, “Bill Nelson comes to Citrus”.

Our next meeting is a School Board Workshop Meeting at 9:00am on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 at 4:00pm.

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Chronicle Online: Rare disease claims life of former coach

Posted on August 26th, 2011 by

Rare disease claims life of former coach

By Mike Wright, Citrus County Chronicle
Thursday, August 25, 2011

CRYSTAL RIVER — Coach Joe Buccheri was a rare man who brought more to a teenager’s life than teaching hitting and pitching. And it was a rare disease that took his life. Coach Buccheri, 64, died early Thursday morning under the care of Hospice less than a week after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, said a close friend, Jim Manos.

Buccheri coached Crystal River High School baseball from 1987 to 1996. He won five district titles and was a mentor to his most famous player, former major league pitcher Mike Hampton. “He had a big influence on my life,” Hampton said Thursday. “He helped make me see that major league baseball was possible.”

Buccheri, who played and coached in the St. Louis Cardinals organization before arriving in Crystal River, had survived cancer and two strokes, Manos, a retired Lecanto High School teacher, said.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE OF STORY…

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