Back to school: Board members report on newest addition
By Cheri Harris
Monday, March 7, 2011
Thomas Kennedy doesn’t hesitate when asked about the best part of his new job as a school board member.
He said his goal is to visit two to three schools per week. So far, he has been doing that or more.
“And loving every minute of it,” he said.
Sometimes he chats with the principal or visits a couple of classrooms.
“Sometimes it’s just wandering around and seeing different things,” he said.
He also enjoys the opportunity to interact with other parents, whether it’s out in public at the grocery store or at an advisory council meeting when parents are sharing their ideas or concerns with him.
“That’s exactly what I so much wanted,” he said, “and in many ways that’s probably the biggest compliment someone can give me is when they’re coming up to share with me something about the schools — good or bad or just informative.”
When I began thinking about becoming a school board member, I met with previous school board members to learn about the job, its responsibilities, and gain wisdom of those that had served before me. What was encouraged by all was to take the training offered by the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA). The FSBA offers several Board Development Programs. The programs are voluntary and are uniquely designed to serve the leadership developmental needs of both the entire school board and to address the specific needs of individual school board members. It provides a broad range of educational opportunities and activities for both new board members like myself and experienced school board members. One of these programs is the “Master Board” (MB) . In the past Citrus County School Board (CCSB) had been designated as a Master Board but with my arrival it requires additional training to again being designated as a Master Board again. Later this year the CCSB will have that training. Another program is the “Certified Board Member” (CBM). This is the training which I began as a new Board member in late November, attended again about a week ago and I will continue to attend until I have received the required courses to achieve to become a CBM.
In February I attended course training in “Personnel and Bargaining Issues” and “School Finance”. Both of these trainings provided outstanding presenters with years of experience in their fields. The personnel and bargaining course was presented by Dr. Max Schmidt, Executive Director of FSBA’s Florida School Labor Relations Service and Martin Miller, President of Miller Consulting Group. This course provided training and background in personnel issues and annual contract bargaining and labor issues. The school finance course was presented by Dr. Michael Bookman, former Hillsborough Schools CBO and current professor at University of South Florida and Judy Preston, Assoc. Superintendent of Financial Service, Brevard Schools and Gretchen Saunders, Chief Business Officer, Hillsborough Schools.
The Personnel and Bargaining Issues course began with the sharing of 1878 Rules for Teachers which set a humorous beginning point of how far we truly have come in hiring educators for our schools. This course provided a history of teachers’ salaries and benefits, past and current budget challenges, and how to work with teachers and staff bargaining units which many time are unions. With all the proposed legislation both in and out of Florida, we all had much to share and learn.
The School Finance course was a two day course beginning with how our school systems are funded using the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). The FEFP is the funding formula adopted by the Legislature in 1973 to allocate funds appropriated to school districts for K-12 public school operations. The purpose of the funding system (originally stated in law as legislative intent), is “to guarantee to each student in the Florida public educational system the availability of programs and services appropriate to his or her educational needs which are substantially equal to those available to any similar student notwithstanding geographic differences and varying local economic factors.” On March 8th, 2011, the Florida legislators will begin their session and working on next year’s state budget. Educational funding is playing another big role in the shaping of the Florida budget and policies and laws. A great part of the two day course was spent talking and sharing about how some proposed legislation and budget proposals may affect our FEFP funding and student services. Unfunded mandates were as always a hot topic.
I came away realizing more then ever that education is at one of its most challenging times ever in our history. Florida Trend Magazine (Florida leading business publication) said, “Without a top-notch school system, Florida cannot hope to sustain its many industries. Without good public schools, this state cannot hope to prepare its young people to become happy, healthy, law abiding, and productive citizens. That’s why education is literally everyone’s business and deserves a high priority in public policy.” I posted this video before but I think it is worth seeing again. (See below or Visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY) It helps demonstrate why public education is critical to our Country.
Inverness Primary School students stayed after school to line up and pay tribute to Cpl. Johnathan Taylor as his procession rolled through on Thursday.
By Amanda Mims
Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 10:28 pm
INVERNESS — When Cpl. Johnathan Taylor arrived in Inverness Thursday, he wasn’t alone. Citrus County residents and others came out in droves to U.S. 41 and State Road 44 to show their support for the fallen Marine, who was killed Feb. 22 in Afghanistan at the age of 23. Taylor, a Lecanto High School graduate, had been serving his fourth combat tour.
Roughly 2,000 supporters — including many young children — lined the streets of Inverness Thursday waving flags to honor the young Marine and his family as they made their way by with police escorts. About 120 motorcycles joined in the procession along the way from the airport in Brooksville.
Thursday, (March 3rd) for the following schools: Citrus High & Inverness Middle (1:45 pm); Lecanto High, Crystal River High & Crystal River Middle (2:00 pm); Lecanto Middle (2:20 pm).
Please share this announcement with any parents/guardians w/ students at those schools.
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By Darrick Buettner Darrick Buettner is IB coordinator at Lecanto High School.
As a teacher, I encounter students every day who think that education is an endeavor limited to their time in school. Not true. In order to really be educated, students need to read books (non-fiction as well as fiction) and, perhaps even more importantly, get out and experience life.
Learning is not limited to the space that exists within four walls; it is a lifelong process. Lecanto High School is fortunate to have many senior students who are successful outside the classroom as well as inside.
Last summer, Mallik Begur traveled to Mount Kailash in Tibet, the residence of the Hindu god Lord Shiva. In geography class, Mallik learned of the many hardships people in Tibet face. Reading about countries and people, however, can only teach so much. Actually visiting and meeting people firsthand gives a person true knowledge.
Last year, 55 students at Hernando Elementary School were trailblazers.
In a pilot program based on eligibility for free or reduced lunches, each Friday students picked up a backpack filled with food for the weekend.
As a result, those participating in the program saw gains of at least 25 percent in the areas of reading, attendance and behavior. Their tummies weren’t growling as much anymore.
This year, 62 students at Homosassa Elementary and 99 at Floral City Elementary and other schools are also receiving food, courtesy of the Blessings in a Backpack, a nationwide program of USA Harvest and a local program of Citrus County Harvest.
Each student receives three protein items, crackers, an entree, fruit, cereal and snack items. Once a month they receive plastic jars of peanut butter and jelly and a box of (shelf-stable) milk if available. Enough food is also sent home for younger siblings who don’t go to school.
All food or funds are donated through individuals, churches, civic clubs, foundations and schools.
Thomas Kennedy doesn’t hesitate when asked about the best part of his new job as a school board member.
