Wet Field Day sends students into summer with a splash

Rock Crusher Elementary School second graders streak across a field at their school Monday morning during a Wet Field Day activity. (PHOTO BY MATTHEW BECK)

CRYSTAL RIVER — It might never appear on any standardized test, but one of the most important lessons for children to learn is how to have fun.

Rock Crusher Elementary School second-graders dove into this subject Monday morning during the annual Wet Field Day, a tradition that dates back to 1989-1990, the school’s first year.

Physical education teachers Alicia Algor and Paul Earnheart planned the festivities, which will continue through Wednesday, May 18, until all grades at the school get their two hours of slipping, sliding, splashing, slathering, slurping and sunning.

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Week in Review for May 8th 24th – May 15th, 2011

	Graduation at Cypress Creek Academy  Graduation at Cypress Creek Academy Detention Center Of the many ceremonies and events I attended or participated in this past week, the one I want to share with you was the high school graduation ceremony for the Class of 2011, it was at the Cypress Creek Academy and Detention Center.  Yes, for those of you […]
	School Funding Budget Update  School Funding Budget Update As I left the Cypress Creek Academy and Detention Center graduation on Friday I could not help but recall that we typically spend approximately $18,000 a year (or $50 a day per inmate) to manage and rehab an inmate in our detention centers, while for the 2011-2012 school year we are […]
	It was a good meeting with very bad news  It was a good meeting with very bad news School Board Meeting May 10th, 2011 Recap This month I have Opening Exercise and have been thinking of something a little special to do. Board member Pat Deutschman suggested at an earlier meeting about doing more to involve our students in the meetings. Following a moment […]
	Work to begin on Crystal River High School entrance  Work to begin on Crystal River High School entrance Work on new Turkey Oak entrance to Crystal River High School to begin soon Bids are expected back soon for a county administrated road project to add another entrance to Crystal River High School – this entrance from Turkey Oak Drive. The contractor who wins the […]

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School Funding Budget Update

As I left the Cypress Creek Academy and Detention Center graduation on Friday I could not help but recall that we typically spend approximately $18,000 a year (or $50 a day per inmate) to manage and rehab an inmate in our detention centers, while for the 2011-2012 school year we are provided less then $6,300 a year to educate a student.  [Note that CCA can receive an additional $5,670 per year to educate the inmate.]

As many of you know the state has drastically reduced the funding for public school students.  We are expecting to have a reduction of $11.2 million for Citrus County Schools for the 2011-2012 school year.

On Friday, Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel send out an important email to all teachers and employees of Citrus County School District.  Ms. Himmel shared “State Legislators have approved the budget for the 2011/2012 year which will now be sent to Governor Scott for his approval. The final budget for our district is a reduction in revenue of $11.2 million.  (This funding level is equivalent to the funding we received in the 2001/2002 school year.) I share this with you because we will be facing some very challenging times in the next few years. Although we had been preparing for a reduction, we were not expecting the reductions that were approved by the legislature last week.  We have been reviewing programs and positions at all levels and have been forced to make some very difficult decisions.”  Ms. Himmel went on to share, “We have reduced positions in every occupational field such as food service, maintenance, custodial, transportation, clerical, teaching and administration. We have chosen not to fill some of the vacant positions so that we can meet these reductions. We know and agree that these reductions are not in the best interest of our students; unfortunately, we cannot sustain our current level of funding and services.”  Ms. Himmel finished by saying, “I am still optimistic for we have found bright lights in this economic challenge. While many districts have eliminated special areas such as art and music, we have committed to sustaining these valuable programs.”

I very much appreciate Ms. Himmel’s email and for making our teachers and employees aware of this situation.  We are a community and our lives are very connected to one another. It  is important as we begin to look at potentially more changes that we continue to work together on solutions as much as possible.  That said, like Ms. Himmel stated, I too remain optimistic that we will prevail and be successful despite these economic challenges.

If you have any questions or concerns that I might be able to address please do not hesitate to contact me.

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