Archive for News & Updates

Three more weeks until the end of the 2010-2011 school year

Posted on May 1st, 2011 by

Three more weeks until the end of the 2010-2011 school year

I had the pleasure of attending a training for our teachers on effective processes for “Race to Intervention” (RTI). This training was presented by Jodi O’Meara who is the author of several teacher guides on RTI. She provided many excellent resources for providing modifications for RTI. Tuesday began with an Administrative hearing and then a short Special School Board Meeting.  Wednesday I spent a wonderful morning on the Crystal River with students and instructors from Academy of Environmental Science and the Citrus County Marine Science Station.

Board members attended the Upward Bound Awards presented by the Rotary Clubs of Citrus County on Thursday and Mr. Murray graciously encouraged me to give a Board member talk to the students.  Many students in our school system make significant improvements in some aspect of academic achievement during a given period.  Citrus County Rotarians and school principals saw the need for a program to reward these students.  The “Upward Bound Awards” was developed in 1990 to fill that need.  The award consists of breakfast at the Citrus Springs Community Center, addresses by selected individuals in the community, and  then a presentation of a certificate to each of the students by the Superintendent of schools.  Each year the award is given to approximately 500 students from grades 4th through 12th who have been selected by the staff of the Citrus county schools, both public and private.  Parental attendance has grown to  approximately 600 in the current year.

It is a very exciting time of the year. I look forward to sharing with you some of the many student awards and excellent end of school year activities happening each week from now through the end of the school year.

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Learning from AES Students about our Springs

Posted on May 1st, 2011 by

Learning from AES Students about our Springs

A few weeks back I got an email from Chuck Mulligan, science instructor, at our Academy of Environmental Science (AES).  Mr. Mulligan invited me to come out to observe the AES’s “E.S.T.U.A.R.I.E.S.” Program (Educating Students to Understand AnthRopogenic Influences on Estuarine Systems). This is wonderful program that  has AES students act as  instructors (teachers) to middle and high school students from Citrus and surrounding counties to examine the human impacts on the springs of Crystal River (Click here to read a Chronicle Story on this program).  The boat captains for each learning vessel were Mr. Mulligan from AES and our instructors from Citrus County Marine Science Station (MSS), Mr. Hugh Adkins, Mr. Earnie Olsen and Ms. Cathy Proveaux.  This day’s guests were from Liberty Middle School (LMS) in Marion County.  Some of these middle school students had never been to Crystal River, let alone participated in marine science experiments and studies.  As we left the docks of the MMS, AES student-teachers began sharing about the seven rivers in Citrus County.  They shared about estuaries and how human daily activities play a critical role in their protection.  It was a beautiful day on the Crystal River.  One of our stops was in front of “Three Sisters” Springs where AES student-teachers with the help of LMS students took samples of the water and collected data.  Samples were taken  and tests were performed at three sites around the Crystal River and Crystal Bay areas before heading back to the MSS.  Throughout the trip AES student-teachers asked LMS students questions and taught them about our waterways, environment, and what each of them can do to make a positive impact in the future.  LMS students left with a better appreciation of marine science, biology and our Citrus County.

Before leaving I stopped by the AES campus and visited several of the classes going on.  In the Creative Writing, taught by Ms. Sandy Balfour I had the opportunity of listen to students that had an assignment of taking their last name and making it the name of a new product that they created.  The students had to provide a drawing or model of the product, write about how it would be used, and then produce a 30-second radio commercial.  These students came up with some very creative products that were both interesting and useful.  I stopped by the Marine Science class which had the students I  had just spent the morning with. I can not express enough how impressed I was with these students.

I have to share with you a story about three young ladies, Lindsay R., Darah N., Tess R., that I am referring to as the “Bio-Diesel Girls” who politely asked if they might have a minute of my time to ask a school board question.  Needless to say, I was all ears.  They each went on to ask about  my position and the Board’s position about the use of bio-diesel in our school buses.  I got the biggest smile on my face.  You see, the AES students have been in class manufacturing bio-diesel from used cooking oils.  The girls went on to explain to me the best formula for making the bio-diesel, the best mixture of standard diesel to bio-diesel mixture for maximum efficiency, and how much raw material would be needed to manufacture enough fuel for a single bus’s tank.  Now how can one not be impressed by all of this!  I said I could not speak for the Board but that I was impressed and felt they made a good case.  I am not sure we are ready as a district to switch over to bio-diesel, but I am interested in hearing more from these students on the subject.

These students are just another example of why I am excited for our future with students like this in our world.

 

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Dean Comes Out Against SB830

Posted on April 29th, 2011 by

Dean Comes Out Against SB830

Controversial bill targeted at public unions in Florida losing some support

Senate Bill SB 830 – Labor and Employment, is a bill that would prohibit a state agency from deducting from employee wages funds for political activity. A county, municipality, or other local governmental entity would be prohibited from deducting from employee wages funds for political activity.  This includes automatically deducting union dues from employees’ paychecks. According to SB830, union members would also have to give written consent before their dues are used for political purposes.

The Miami Herald has reported that, Scott made rare personal visits to the offices of four Republican state senators and pleaded with them to support the measure on Wednesday. All of them, it appears  were unpersuaded.

One of Citrus County’s own Senator Charlie Dean said, “I’m a conservative Republican, I support the governor and I support the (Florida Senate) president and (Florida House) speaker. But I also reserve the right somehow to make up my own mind.”  Senator Dean’s aide, Kevin Sweeny shared with The Huffington Post that the senator objected to the fact that the bill only singles out public employee unions for making automatic paycheck deductions. Within Florida, there are at least 364 groups or agencies that deduct money from employees’ wages at employees’ request for charitable donations, life insurance, taxes and other deductions. SB830 only focuses only on union dues.  Sweeny went on to say that, “(Senator Dean’s) main objections are that he doesn’t believe it’s his money to say; it should be left alone, what he would really like to see is if we’re going to take away the option for the state to take the money out of the checks, we should do it across the board.”

Another GOP Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, said the bill would, “It creates division and turmoil, and doesn’t create jobs.”

The Huffington Post reported that in an interview with Florida Senator Rene Garcia that Garcia met with Scott on Wednesday and that he too would be opposing the bill. Senator Garcia expressed that many of his constituents who were union members and they contacted him and wondered why the legislature was targeting them rather than going after all automatic deductions.

SB 830 was on the legislative calendar on Wednesday but delayed.  A Florida state labor official said, “This legislation is, at this point in time, for all intents and purposes, completely stalled.  We won’t call it dead, simply because there is a Republican supermajority. For that matter alone, I won’t call anything dead until the gavel goes down on the final day of the legislature.”

The HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. and The Miami Herald were used in this blog.

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ESE Advisory Meeting, Tues, May 3rd at 9:00am

Posted on April 29th, 2011 by

ESE Advisory Meeting, Tues, May 3rd at 9:00am

START of Citrus County (Student Transition And Resource Team) Meeting

Citrus Schools District Services Center, Building 100, Upstairs Conference Room 234

START will provide parents and students with important information about agencies that support transition to desired post school activities.

The Mission is to positively impact the quality of life for all students with disabilities in Citrus County through interagency collaboration.

The Purpose is to better communication with, and connecting all families to, agencies, Citrus County Schools, community organizations, and service providers.

START is made up of parents, community organization, businesses, adult agencies, schools, school district staff, and anyone interested in assisting students and families with transition.

START MEETING AGENDA

9:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. Cathy Jackson, Stephanie Hopper and Marianne Bryant:
Welcome and Introductions, Review START Notes from previous meeting

9:20 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Federico Valadez:
Project 10: Transition Education Network (online at: http://www.project10.info/ )

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Cathy Jackson and Karl Amundson
Agency Updates

Meetings for next year:
September 20, 2011
November, 2011 (CREST Student Showcase)
January 16, 2012
May 1, 2012

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ChronicleOnine: IMS swings $12K for heart health

Posted on April 28th, 2011 by

Students swings $12K for heart health

Inverness Middle School continues enviable fundraising record for AHA

By Matt Beck, Citrus County Chronicle
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Jasmin Pryor spins a half-dozen hula hoops around her waist Wednesday morning at the Inverness Middle School as part of a reward program for raising money for the American Heart Association.

Nearly 500 Inverness Middle School students jumped, shot baskets and hula hooped their way through the morning as a reward for collecting more than $12,000 for the American Heart Association.
As part of the physical education department’s community-service project, students have been collecting money for research and education projects for the AHA to work on defeating America’s number one killer of men and women — heart disease.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

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ChronicleOnline: HS Plays in the spotlight

Posted on April 27th, 2011 by

Plays in the spotlight

By Cheri Harris, Citrus County Chronicle
Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Lecanto High School students rehearse for the one-act play “Once On This Island” at Curtis Peterson Auditorium.

A trio of high school plays opening soon should give local audiences something to sing about.

For, like, an amazingly interactive night of fun, for sure check out “The Awesome 80’s Prom” at Crystal River High School.

Cathy Tweeddale-Tate, the school’s drama teacher, said her students have been rehearsing since the end of January.

Recognizable characters from the decade of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Footloose,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and all those Molly Ringwald movies will compete for prom king and queen.

Audience participation will be a big part of the show, including choosing the winners.

“The audience can come in costume if they want and the whole bit,” Tweedale-Tate said.

Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Pirate’s Cove Black Box at Crystal River High School. The entrance to the theater is located across from Portable 400.

The fine arts department at Citrus High School will present “Seussical The Musical” with music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Thursday through Saturday in the school’s cafetorium.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…

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