Special thanks to our Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Deputies for their extra and reassuring presences in and around our school campus.
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Important Message from Superintendent of SchoolsThis message was sent to parents and families of Citrus County Public Schools on February 20, 2018.
You can CLICK HERE to listen to message or read below.
Good evening:
This is Sam Himmel, Superintendent of Schools. I am calling you today regarding the district recently receiving several calls inquiring about the safety of children in our schools. The tragic event that occurred at a school in South Florida, last week certainly is cause for great concern. In the aftermath of this event we have unfortunately dealt with several situations regarding students making inappropriate statements and false threats in some of our schools. I want to assure you that we take student safety very seriously and all threats, regardless of their context, will be thoroughly investigated. These threats often include verbal statements from students, messages on social media, written notes left in classrooms and sometimes a written message left on a bathroom wall. The school district works very closely with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office to investigate all threats.
Students that engage in this type of behavior may face criminal charges and they will certainly face SEVERE school discipline. We want you to know that we work quickly to resolve these issues as they arise. In an effort to minimize the frequency of this type of behavior we do not publicize most of these situations. If the district were to receive a credible threat of violence please know we would immediately take all appropriate actions to protect your child. These actions would most definitely include notifying all parents and guardians.
Please be aware in light of recent events, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office may have an increased presence on our school campus’. This is being done to put students and staff at ease and is NOT in response to any specific threat.
If you have any concerns regarding something you have heard or possibly seen regarding school safety I encourage you to contact your child’s Principal or you can contact our Director of Student Services Mrs. Allegretta at 726-1931 ext. 6304 or Director of Risk Management Mrs. Cernich at 726-1931 ext. 2270.
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When I first ran for this office, I promised you that I would serve the needs of the students, families, teachers and schools of Citrus County every day, I have kept my promise. With all of us working together, much has been accomplished, but much more is still to be done. Today, February 19th, 2018, I have filed papers with the Citrus County Election Office to run for re-election to again serve as your Citrus County School Board Member for District 1.
The support, encouragement, and prayers I have received each day from you encourage and empower me to serve our schools and community. I very much value the citizens that follow me on Facebook, Twitter, on my blogs at Talk on Citrus Schools and www.ThomasTalks.org. I am honored by the number of you that have reached out to me, shared your concerns with me, and/or asked for assistance. I am continually honored to be your representative and to be a vocal advocate for the students, parents, teachers, staff, schools, district, and community.
During my tenure on the Citrus County School Board, I’ve watched as public education funding in Florida has been reduced as per-pupil funding by the legislature has been cut, which has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in lost funding for our school district. We are now funded at a per-pupil rate LESS than the 2007 levels! Despite these challenges we have worked strategically to protect the classroom level needs of our students, bringing engaging and relevant academic technology integration to individual students so they are prepared for the challenging expectations of their future college and/or career paths.
I have taken an active role in building relationships with our local state legislative representatives to help them better understand our district’s and students’ needs. I have stood against high stakes testing, while advocating for relevant and appropriate alternatives, by working to influence proposed legislation that would reduce state-mandated testing and offer alternative graduation options for our students. I was instrumental in the Citrus County School District’s removal of the controversial “Value-Added Model” from the teacher evaluation formula. I play an active role in creating effective policies, improving effective budget development and improving job descriptions that led to enhancements for our students, staff, and schools. I have made it my priority to regularly communicate with you, the public, on the education issues that are impacting the classrooms, students, teachers, and ultimately the entire Citrus County community. It has been my honor to provide a needed voice for parents, advocate for special needs and at-risk students, and to have been readily accessible to those with concerns about the issues public education is facing today.
But with all that the school board has tried to accomplish, public education is clearly under great attack. The State of Florida through legislative mandates continues to penalize our students using the snapshot of a high stakes standardized test that may keep many students from earning a high school diploma. Our schools struggle to find qualified teachers; we are facing a teaching shortage in our county, state, and nation which will have monumental negative impacts if we do not immediately and strategically address it.
Our students and our public schools are an investment in our country’s future and Florida’s future economy is dependent on their successes. We must continue to focus on making the curriculum and standards relevant to the world in which our students will live and work. We must continue to foster positive working relationships with our state legislators to educate them so they can make better decisions that enhance and promote improving education, rather then hampering it. We must continue to support our teachers and reverse the great teaching shortage. And we must continue to challenge and inspire our students to be more and go further. As we face some of the greatest challenges to education our generation has ever seen, I will continue to work tirelessly to support, promote and improve public education for our students, parents, teachers, staff, schools, district, and community.
I ask for your continual prayers and support.
Thomas Kennedy
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At our February School Board meeting on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, I was honored that the School Board unanimously approved my policy recommendation to school board policy 3.60 – ‘FLAG DISPLAY AND PLEDGE’, to be revised to include the additional language in Florida Statute 1003.44 which requires that students and the public stand when our United States National Anthem is played, and to add in policy that the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited at the beginning of the day in each of our public elementary, middle, and high school in our district.
During the January 9th, 2018, School Board Public Hearing we approved an update of policy 3.60 – ‘FLAG DISPLAY AND PLEDGE’. My request simply follows the expectation and daily practice already in our school district and that is already in Florida Statute. We have a most respectful community and this change simply makes it clear to our students, staff, and public, our policy on the matter.
Citrus County Schools is the first Purple Heart School District in the nation and we strongly support and foster pride in our nation and our veterans. (CLICK HERE to Read blog on Dedication of School District’s Purple Heart Wall of Fallen Heroes.)
The revised policy 3.60 – ‘FLAG DISPLAY, PLEDGE AND NATIONAL ANTHEM’ will receive its final required vote after the required 90-day period, at a School Board Public Hearing on April 10, 2018, where I expect it to pass again unanimously.
The revised policy will read: (Underline is newly added language.)
FLAG DISPLAY, PLEDGE AND NATIONAL 3.60
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As I write this I am in Tallahassee, sitting in the gallery overlooking the Florida House of Representatives Chambers as HB 5001 – General Appropriations Act (more commonly known as the House budget) and the ominous education “train bill” HB 7055 is debated and voted on. Like many of you, I am shaking my head saying, “can we really be again in the same position”? The response isn’t easy, but as disappointed I am on one side I must remain diligent in the work we now must do. The work for today, tomorrow, next week and for next session. I am causally optimistic about public education’s future. Why? One, because we must, for our students’ and teachers’ sake, but also, because there is reason to be.
Yes, the House passed their version of the budget, and yes HB 7055 also passed the House. Both largely along party lines. But it is also clear that while today things were unclear and unsettling, there will be House leadership changes after this session. I know it is said that we have good representation in the legislature in Senate Wilton Simpson and Representative Dr. Ralph Massullo and that is true, but it is more than simply that.
Senator Simpson is on track to assume the Senate presidency in 2020. This will provide the Senator great control in advancing his agenda. I believe Simpson to be a strong supporter of career pathways for our high school students. A passion of mine as well and this is essential to Florida’s economic future, let alone is best for students.
In addition to Simpson’s continual leadership in the Senate is what is developing in the House. There will be a change in leadership and potential opportunities for new leaders to emerge. Dr. Massullo is one that many of his House peers greatly respect and feel will continue to play a vital role in the House’s future leadership. That is excellent for students and families! Why? Because simply put, Dr. Massullo “gets it”. He has been willing to put his “bills” where his heart is. Where his heart is, is students and their individual academic needs. As I talked to “education friendly” House members—Dr. Massullo’s name is one of the ones they bring up as being a powerful friend to common sense public education policy. This year’s Dr. Massullo filed HB 311 providing common sense alternatives to high-stake testing, and are but one of those examples, as is his co-sponsoring of HB 427. Watching Dr. Massullo on the floor of the House of Representatives, it is evident that he values and respectfully listens to all House members views whether he agrees or not. But major improvements to issues that we know are vital to public education and our students will likely have to wait for a future session. In the meantime, thank you Dr. Massullo and Senator Simpson!
We turn our attention back to this session. Now that the House has passed their budget and HB 7055 will be sent to the Senate to be conferenced. We now turn our attention to the Senate. Today Florida Senate President Joe Negron told reporters that the Senate will not agree to have HB 7055 as part of the budget conference. He went on to say that the bill should be sent to Senate committees for the Senate to consider. While this may slow the adoption and approval process of HB 7055 down, it by no means stops the bill. President Negron noted that most of what is in HB 7055 is probably supported by the GOP majority. That doesn’t mean it won’t change. Expect amendments to be filed and negotiations to begin between the House and the Senate.
Continue to keep informed and I will do my best to share information. Continue to share with legislators about our students’ and teachers’ needs. And for those of faith, pray for wisdom for these policymakers.
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CCSB 2018 Winter CommunicationThis 2018 district winter communication includes coverage and information about; Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year, Parents’ Guide to the Florida Standards (FS) and Testing Tips, 2018 Kids Marathon, Schoolhouse Hustle, Math Field Day and the 20th Annual Superintendent’s Golf Classic.
Follow this link to download a PDF version: https://thomastalks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/CCSB-Winter-Communication-2018.pdf
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