Archive for School Board Meetings

Update from Special Budget Workshop Meeting

Posted on June 8th, 2011 by

Update from Special Budget Workshop Meeting

Tuesday, June 7th, the Citrus County School Board met for a special budget workshop.  A major topic of this workshop was funding  the Paraprofessional Teacher Aides for the 2011-2012 school year.  The workshop was attended by nearly all of  our school principals.   Each grade level  (elementary, middle, and high school ) was represented by at least one principal who presented information about student grades, test scores, class schedules and other school data in order to  provide the board with  a clear indication of the use of these aides.  These presentations  allowed board members the  opportunity to ask questions about how aides are utilized and discuss how other programs  might be affected by a reduction in the budget.   Ken Blocker, Executive Director of Business Services, shared that our district would be receiving two additional grants for next school year totaling approximately $450,000.  Mr. Blocker indicated that funding one aide at each school would cost approximately $300,000.  Because this was a workshop, no official vote was taken about the funding of aides but a majority of the board indicated they were in favor of  using the onetime grant monies  for a one year “term” for funding one aide at each school.

Other school budget concerns and items were discussed at the meeting but board members felt more information was need before moving forward. I will continue to keep you informed about the difficult decisions we are facing this month.

Our next school board meeting is this Tuesday, June 15th, 2011, at 4:00pm.

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It was a good meeting with very bad news

Posted on May 12th, 2011 by

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 of silence, I arranged for Crystal River Middle School 8th grader Isabella Viola, who won the Bearcat Talent Show for 2011, to sing The Star Spangled Banner.  She did an amazing job and when she was done Ms. Deutschman commented, “I think we just saw a future American Idol”.

The meeting began with packed room due to the many presentations occurring. Superintendent Himmel and School Board Chairman Murray give recognition to the Academic Team for placing 5th in the Finals in Division II for the 2011 Commissioner’s Academic Challenge. Recognition of The Congressional Art Competition was presented as was recognition of The Odyssey of the Mind Teams from Central Ridge/Citrus Springs Elementary and Hernando Elementary for placing 1st at Districts and then finishing 4th and 10th respectfully. Lastly, Pat Simon, Director of Research & Accountability, announced the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Program winners. Superintendent Himmel and School Board Chairman Murray then recognized Paige Cooke, Larissa Gough, Emily Spilios and Priyanka Thatipamala for becoming National Merit Scholars.

A presentation was given by Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) on the Flying Eagle Preserve/McGregor Smith Scout Reservation Expansion.

At the meeting Superintendent Himmel recommended and the Board approved the Appointment of Administrative Personnel for the 2011-2012 school year. In addition, Superintendent Himmel recommended and the Board approved the Instructional and Support Personnel for the 2011-2012 school year. A last minute item that was necessary to pull from the agenda was the reinstatement of the aide positions at the elementary and middle schools and Office Clerk positions at the high schools. It was necessary to pull this item due to state budget funding that was again cut at the last minute, last week. If anyone would like to talk to me about these matters please feel free to contact me. If you are interested in seeing all of the appointments, simply download and view the CCSB agenda for the May 10th, 2011 meeting (click here for agenda).

Human Resources Director Jeff Davis and HR Coordinator Linda Waythaler presented and the Board approved the draft of the new “Instructional Appraisal System”. This appraisal system began as a result of Citrus County Schools’ grant with Race to the Top. This system would have been implemented and phased in over a four year period. Unfortunately, SB736, now known as the “Student Success Act”, forces school districts to immediately implement this type of appraisal system which must include 50% of the instructional staff’s appraisal based on student gains/achievement. This meeting’s Board approval is simply the beginning and now the system must be sent to the Florida Department of Education for their approval and/or comments. If you are interested in seeing the new forms and appraisal system, simply download and view the CCSB agenda for the May 10th, 2011 meeting (click here for agenda).

Executive Director Business Services Ken Blocker, who was approved to be the new Assistance Superintendent Business Services, provided a very grim state educational budget funding update. While we had been optimistically hopeful that the state budget approved would look more like the Florida Senate’s version of the budget which would have meant that Citrus County Schools would have had “only” $5.2 million less in funds for next school year, the recently approved budget which will go to the Governor soon for his signature is much worse. Mr. Blocker said we as a district are now looking at closer to $11 million less in funding for next school year. This means the Superintendent and her staff is having to review things again and again try to make reductions that minimize the impact on students and curriculum. Honestly, it is getting pretty challenging at this point. At our next school board workshop on May 24th, 2011 at 9:00am the Superintendent hopes to present the beginnings of some of the revised budget planning.

Again, if anyone would like to talk about any of these issues I am more that happy to do so. Please feel free to contact me.

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School Board Review for April 12th, 2011 Meeting

Posted on April 15th, 2011 by

School Board Review for April 12th, 2011 Meeting

At the April 12th, 2011  Regular School Board meeting one thing was noticeably different about this meeting and   exciting to all the board members: the room was full!   I have the pleasure of sitting next to Board Member Pat D and she and I commented to each other how wonderful it was to have the room filled with students and members of the public.

Throughout the year the Superintendent and the School Board honors students, teachers, staff, administrators, and community members  and today the room was filled with those being honored as   their proud friends and family looked on.

First to be recognized was Patrick Mand for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

Then, the CCSB honored the Citrus County Schools State Science and Engineering Fair winners.  These talented students represented Citrus County at the State Science and Engineering Fair in Orlando, Florida the week of   March 23rd-25th, 2011. These students were Angela Byrne, Chloe Hale, Lena Martone, Jordan Miller, Dharma Murphy, Merci Ovard, Karma Pfeiffer, Ocean Pierce, William Sherouse, Quynn Sisto, Derek Starkweather, Hunter Taskey, Elisabeth Veal, Joseph Wilder, and Graydon Wolfe. Chloe Hale and Joseph Wilder were recognized on being selected to represent Citrus County Schools at the International Science and Engineering Fair being held in Los Angeles, California May 8th-13th, 2011.  Also recognized were Lena Martone and Karma Pfeiffer as alternates to the ISE Fair.

Bruce Titus of Crystal River Middle School was honored as the winner of the Math Field Day T-Shirt design contest. As winner of this contest, Bruce will receive a $100.00 savings bond.

Certificates of Achievement were presented to Sunshine State Scholar nominees Lena Rose Martone – Citrus High School; Morgan Lee Metzger – Citrus High School; Harsh Praful Patel – Crystal River High School; and Aaron Edward Johnston – Lecanto High School. Citrus County Schools Sunshine State Scholar Winner is Devon Rhuel Harvey.

School volunteers and mentors are our schools’ unsung heroes and are some of their greatest assets. The CCSB awarded the 2010-2011 Outstanding School Volunteers and Mentor of the Year:

  • Adult Volunteer of the Year is Mary White, Citrus Springs Elementary
  • Senior Volunteer of the Year is Mary Terschak, Crystal River Primary
  • Outstanding Mentor of the Year is Michael Quigley, Crystal River Primary

Click Here for Information on becoming a School Volunteer or Mentor.

The last presentation was to honor the many great volunteers of the “Blessings in a Backpack” program.  This is an outstanding non-profit program which bridges feeding students on the weekends. (Click here to ead a past post on Blessings.)

Catherine & Julia Schlabach recognized for Blessings in a Backpack. These girls themselves raised half of the start-up funds to begin the Blessings program at their school (FRE).

The Executive staff presented for Board approval several Human Resources changes.  The Board approved the Organizational Chart/Positions presented at the March 29th Workshop.  The Board also approved new job descriptions for the Assistant

Superintendent of Business and Support Services, Executive Director of School Support Services, Supervisor of Business Operations, and Supervisor of Accounting and Internal Accounts.  The last positions the Board approved at the meeting was for seven new units for Technology Support Specialist positions at each of the high schools and middle schools.

Before adjourning Mary Curry and Cheri Cernich shared the modifications to the “2011-2012 Student Code of Conduct” that were requested by Board members at the March 29th, 2011 Workshop.

Our next Special Meeting/Workshop is April 26th, 2011 and the next Regular Board Meeting is May 10th, 2011 at 4:00pm.  Hope to see you there!

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Review of Special Meeting and Workshop for March 29th, 2011

Posted on April 4th, 2011 by

Review of Special Meeting and Workshop for March 29th, 2011

On March 29th, 2011 , the Citrus County School Board held a Special Meeting and Workshop. After the meeting began the board approved several kind community member s’ donations to our schools. I am overwhelmed with the generosity of our community to our schools. The board then finished the special meeting by approving several improvements and replacements to our school buildings and faculties. After finishing the Special Meeting , board began our workshop.

This month’s workshop covered the subjects of the 2011-2012 Citrus Schools Code of Student Conduct changes, an E-Rate update, a new Leadership Organizational chart presentation , and lastly a 2011-2012 state and district budget review.

Student Services Coordinator Cheri Cernich presented the proposed changes to the 2011-2011 Code of Student Conduct booklet which is provided to all Citrus County school students each school year. This booklet provides students and families with the rules and policies of our school district at large. I was pleased with some of the modifications and changes proposed. Additional meetings are required to present the booklet at a regular board meeting and then a final vote to approve the 2011-2012 Code of Student Conduct is taken.

Technology and Information Services Director Dr. Mike Geddes presented an E-Rate review and update. E-Rate is the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission. The program provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. It is one of four support programs funded through a Universal Service fee charged to companies that provide interstate and/or international telecommunications services. Funding is requested under four categories of service: telecommunications services, Internet access, internal connections, and basic maintenance of internal connections. Discounts for support depend on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the population served. Dr. Geddes shared that from the 2007-2008 school year through the 2009-2010 school year CCSB is now current and has received $1,092,160.00 in E-Rate funds. Dr. Geddes shared that CCSB is expected to receive another $521,346.50 for the 2010-2011 school year and then is expected to further receive another $436,525.94 for the 2011-2012 school year.

Assistant Superintendent Marry Curry presented the proposed leadership organizational chart to the school board. This proposed organizational chart anticipates an approximate savings to the district of $1,677,000 annually. These were necessary proposals with the imminent 2011-2012 budget being worked on in Tallahassee.

Executive Director of Business Services Ken Blocker,provided the board with 2011-2012 Budget Projections and the Legislators Proposed Budget Reductions. Mr. Blocker indicated that he is anticipating Citrus County School District to have a $5,200,000.00 reduction in funding (5% less). Mr. Blocker presented several proposal summaries that the Superintendent and the Executive Leadership would be bring the board as the state budget is finalized. (Click here for related Chronicle story)

Our next Regular School Board meeting is April 12th, 2011 at 4:00pm at the Citrus County School District, Board Room, 1007 W. Main Street, Inverness, Florida 34450.

 

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School Board Review for March 8th, 2011 Meeting

Posted on March 10th, 2011 by

School Board Review for March 8th, 2011 Meeting

At the March 8th, 2011 , regular school board meeting Geoffrey Greene, Citrus County Property Appraiser , presented a Special Budget Workshop to the school board on the current property value trends for the nation, our state, and Citrus county.

Citrus County Property Appraiser Budget Presentation March 2011  

BRPH presented an updated overview of the Crystal River High School Phase II design documents. This next phase will include the development of the freshmen academy, new media center (library), business school, parent & bus pickup/drop-off, cafeteria renovation and more. It will also tie the current new construction phase of science labs, classrooms and administrative buildings to the campus.

Carol Mainor, Director of Elementary Education , gave an excellent presentation of the new K-5th grade writing curriculum for Citrus Schools. This new curriculum provides district wide schedule pacing charts, terminology, strategies and lessons that correlate back to the Sunshine State Standards.

Mark Klauder, Director of Secondary Education gave an overview presentation for board and asked for approval of the new 2010-2011 Science textbook adoption for K-12th grades. Mr. Klauder shared how the text books being purchased often in many cases come with a multi-media and/or internet component so that students and families have access to these additional resources via a personal computer, laptop, iPhone, iPad or tablet devices .

Our next meeting is a School Board Workshop on March 29th, 2011.

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[mediaplayer src=’mms://TRCMS01.citrus.k12.fl.us/SBM_030811′ ]

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School Board Regular Meeting March 8th at 4:00pm

Posted on March 7th, 2011 by

School Board Regular Meeting March 8th at 4:00pm

Come join us for our board meeting March 8th at 4:00pm at the Citrus County School District, Board Room located at 1007 W. Main Street, Inverness, Florida 34450.

The first Citizen Comments at 4:00p.m. is reserved for comments on the items requesting approval on the agenda. A second opportunity for any subject is available at 6:00 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR CHRONICLE STORY…

CLICK HERE FOR AGENDA

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