BOCC unanimous in removing School Rep’s restrictions on PDC

Well done Commissioners!

Today the Citrus County Board of County Commission voted unanimously to remove the new restrictions on the School Board Representative who serves on the Planning and Development Commission (PDC).

I want to thank Chairman Adams, Commissioners Carnahan, Damato, Kitchen and Meek for this important vote. I especially must thank Commissioner Carnahan, who put this on his board agenda and made today’s motion and Commissioner Damato who seconded the motion.

This vote essentially reverses the BOCC’s vote on February 10, 2015 which at the time directed the Chairman of the PDC to “limit the participation of the school district representative to only sit and have involvement in those issues dealing with residential density”. The February 10, 2015 action was a dramatic change from the historic participation the School Board and its Representative enjoyed and the community I feel benefited from.

Today’s vote along with the BOCC’s recent vote on June 9, 2015 to maintain School Concurrency (read blog ‘BOCC Votes 5-0 to keep School Concurrency’) continues a positive and encouraging trend by the BOCC with the School Board.

Well done Commissioners!

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Florida Legislature Has Passed a Budget and it includes MSS

Budgets will Assist Funding Marine Science Station

The Florida Legislature today passed a $78.7 billion budget in a Special Budget Session. (see Washington Post Article of Florida Budget: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/19/florida-legislature-to-vote-on-budget-end-special-/)

I am pleased that one of the items that was approved by both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives was a $125,000 recurring funding for the Citrus School’s Marine Science Station. Since 1967, the Citrus County School Board has operated the Marine Science Station (MSS) as an educational enrichment center for marine and environmental sciences.

This educational facility provides outstanding learning opportunities for over 2,000 plus elementary and secondary school students from Citrus County per academic year (4th grade, 7th grade science and high school science students) as well as scores of other student from around the State of Florida and nation. The MSS’s hands-on laboratory and field-based educational experiences are an integral component of the science curriculum of Citrus County Schools and are offered to the schools, teachers, students, parents and other learning institutions. The MSS also features The Berry L. Cannon Memorial Aquarium which was dedicated in 1970 to the distinguished honor and memory of Berry M. Cannon, a civilian aquanaut who died during a dive in the U.S. Navy. This Aquarium is in re-development and will be an exciting addition to the learning at the MSS.

I want to thank Senator Charles Dean; House Appropriations Committee and Joint Legislative Budget Commission, Chairman, Representative Richard Corcoran; along with Representative Jimmie T. Smith who worked to ensure that the MSS funding was included in the State budget.  Lastly I want to thank Gene McGee for all his work on this matter and for his commitment to our schools and community.

The MSS has been a continual commitment of the Citrus County School Board and me to ensure its ongoing positive impacts for the students of not only Citrus County but also Florida. This good news happens to come on the same day as my wife and I picked up our middle school daughter after she attended this week’s MSS Summer Week Camp. Our daughter’s description of camp as soon as she saw us was, “Mom and dad it was the best camp I have EVER been to. I learned so much, I can’t wait to go back.” To see the many photos taken during this summer’s camp at the MSS visit: https://www.facebook.com/marinesciencestation

It is my hope now that Governor Rick Scott signs this budget and includes the MSS funding. This funding will be essential to assisting the School District in its commitment to the MSS.

I am encouraged about the education portion of the State budget this year and as we learn more about the rest of the educational funding I will share it with you.

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Chronicle: Educational renaissance

Thank you to Chronicle Reporter Abdon Sidibe for his article ‘Educational renaissance’ in Sunday, June 14th, 2015 Citrus Chronicle on the Renaissance Center.  Below is an excerpt;

“Citrus County School Board members voted unanimously Tuesday to extend for another year the lease of a Marion County company which operates the Renaissance Center.

If the extension wasn’t endorsement enough, district officials indicate the company is doing a great job running the school.

The school board voted last year to hand over operations of the school to Silver River Mentoring & Instruction Inc., or SRMI. The Ocala-based company promised it could run the school cheaper and more effectively. The contract was for two years, with an opt-out clause for the district after one year.”

(Follow this link to read rest of story: http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/educational-renaissance)

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