Blessings Needs Help for LHS & CRHS

Blessings for CRHS & LHSBlessings Needs Help for LHS & CRHS

We want to silence weekend hunger at CRHS and LHS! Join our mission and donate today!
www.citruscountyblessings.com

 

WTC Winter/Spring 2016 Course Schedule

WTCWithlacoochee Technical College
Winter/Spring 2016 Course Schedule

Classes will begin the week of January 25th, all you need to do is click on the link Enroll to register. If you have any questions regarding any of the classes listed please contact Denise Barber via email or at extension 4360.

You can access this information through our WTCollege.org for a full calendar of classes offered as well as register.

Senator Dean to file bill for MSS

Senator Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr.Senator Dean to file bill for MSS

Tell him THANK YOU!

Thank you, Senator Dean! Citrus County Chronicle reported that during the 2016 Florida Legislative session, State Senator Charles S. “Charlie” Dean, Sr.vowed to re-introduce the need to fund the Citrus County School District’s Marine Science Station. Dean was instrumental in getting the $125,000 funding on the state budget. Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the allocation.” Contact Senator Dean’s office, thank him and let him know you support his efforts!

Tallahassee Office
311 Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5005
(866) 538-2831 Toll Free
www.flsenate.gov/senators/s5
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov
Legislative Assistants – Drew Aldikacti and Kyle Langan

District Office
405 Tompkins Street
Inverness, FL 34450
Legislative Assistants – Janet Oehmig and Judy Wells

Happy New Years 2016!!

Happy New Years 2016!!

2016Our family and I wish you all a very happy and successful New Year! Thank you for this opportunity to serve the students and community as a representative of Citrus County Schools.

Remove current Educational Laws before adding new ones

Remove current Educational Laws before adding new ones

this is less about recess and more about Legislators control of our local classrooms

questionIn Tuesday, December 29th, 2015 Chronicle, reporter Andrew Caplan wrote a good article entitled, ‘A group of senators have proposed a bill that would shake up classrooms once more‘, about a proposed bill to extend recess in elementary classrooms.  I encourage you to read the article by following this link; http://goo.gl/ZUxQxo

While I greatly support and believe that students need recess or free play time, this is less about recess and more about Legislators control of our local classrooms.

Of course we want students to have recess– we were not the ones that made the educational testing laws that put the pressure on students, teachers, schools and districts which created the need to reduced non-instructional time for students. The legislators mandated what standards we must teach; then they used these mandated tests in a punitive manner. Now they are telling us when we should give recess. They already have mandated 150 minutes a week (30 consecutive minutes a day) of physical education/structured student physical activity time (a.k.a. SPA or PA). Now they want to add an additional 100 minutes of recess (20 minutes a day). If passed, this would mean that at the elementary levels 50 minutes a day (or 250 minutes a week) would be physical education/structured student physical activity time, recess/play time.  All by not reducing any of the educational requirements and testing mandated by the state Legislature and Florida Department of Education.

While I love the thought or more recess, the Legislator should I feel first deregulate the educational laws they already passed.  They could start first by removing the current law requiring the 30 minutes a day (150 minutes a week) of structured physical activity and instead let local classroom teachers, schools and districts decide.

MUST READ: Chronicle gets it right again on Best & Brightest!!

MUST READ: Chronicle gets it right again on Best & Brightest!!

31938-12I must thank the Citrus Chronicle Editorial Board once again for its outstanding editorial, ‘On second go, ‘brightest’ idea even dimmer‘ in December 18th, 2015 Chronicle.

The Chronicle’s correct opinion is to “Vote down misguided attempt to reward teachers“.  They go on to say, “It is puzzling that legislative support for this program is so staunch when public support is so lacking. If legislators feel so strongly that highly effective teachers should be rewarded with handsome bonuses, they should give the money to school districts and let them allot it as they see fit.” The Chronicle ends is editorial with, “we must urge Citrus County’s representatives to vote against the measures.”  “…Teachers don’t want it, school districts don’t want it, but legislators do“.

Follow this link to read the entire editorial: http://goo.gl/7bYYBn