Posted on December 2nd, 2014 by
Thomas Kennedy
FSBA Board of Directors Votes to Send Resolution on to General Meeting
Passes first step, now heads to General Meeting this Thursday, December 4th, 2014 at 3:45pm
Today the Florida School Board Association had its Board of Directors meeting. During the Legislative Committee report by committee chairperson Carol Cook (Pinellas County School Board Member) as I had hoped submitted a FSBA Resolution on Assessments & Accountability for approval of the Board of Directors to send to the FSBA General Meeting this Thursday for adoption by the FSBA members.
On the FSBA Board of Directors, Citrus is represented by board member Ginger Bryant. Unfortunately Ms. Bryant wasn’t able to attend and she asked I attend as her proxy (which is permitted under FSBA by-laws). This afforded me the privilege of speaking during the meeting in support of the FSBA Resolution. I am pleased to share that the FSBA Resolution passed overwhelmingly.
I am looking forward to the FSBA General Meeting this Thursday, December 4th, 2014 at 3:45pm with hopes that the FSBA members will next adoption the Resolution.
Below is a copy of the proposed FSBA Resolution.
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Posted on November 26th, 2014 by
Thomas Kennedy
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to share our gratefulness for those blessings in our lives. I want to take this time to thank a few of those in my life.
Our family is blessed to live in such a “Capraesque” community–a community that is proud of our American heritage and is always striving to give our kids a better future.
I have been blessed to have been raised by a mother and father that always made me feel anything was possible if I worked hard. While I miss my daily contact with my dad, he instilled in me his unwavering strength. I am grateful that my mother has found strength inside of her that she didn’t even know she had.
I am so grateful that I get to work in education with some of the finest student-centered leaders, educators and people you will ever find.
Our family is blessed to have our two Captains to coach us in the water and in life.
I am blessed to have dear and special friends that have become surrogate family members. People that are like fathers, brothers and sisters to me.
I am blessed to have two children that make life brighter and more beautiful and that show me what God’s love truly is.
Lastly, I am most thankful for the most beautiful and caring wife I ever dreamed of- my Thomasine!
My prayer is that we let those in our lives know how blessed we are to have them not just at Thanksgiving but each day of the year.
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Posted on November 18th, 2014 by
Thomas Kennedy
Thank You Board Members
Today at the Citrus School Board’s Organizational Meeting the Honorable Doug Dodd, Honorable Linda Powers, Honorable Sandy Balfour and I were sworn in as Citrus County School Board Members.
The Crystal River High School Gasparilla Singers opened the meeting singing The Star-Spangled Banner. (Follow this link to wath performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vCjSeDFqFI)
This is the one meeting when the Superintendent is required to open and preside over the meeting. Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel offered a beautiful prayer and then asked for nominations for Chairman of the School Board. There is an implied rotation of board members so I expected for me to nominate Linda Powers as Chairman since I had just completed my term as Chair. To my surprise Ms. Powers nominated me as Chairman explaining that she felt that with our ongoing technology initiatives the district would benefit by me serving another term. Ms. Balfour seconded the nomination and the board voted unanimously for me to be Chairman for another year. I suggested that if I were to become Chair that someone nominates Ms. Powers as Vice-Chairman, Ms. Balfour did just that and Mr. Dodd seconded.
I am humbled by Ms. Power’s confidence to have me as Chairman and I want to thank my fellow board colleagues for entrusting me to continue as Chairman for this coming year. I am honored to serve with each of you.
God Bless our Citrus County Schools!
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Posted on November 18th, 2014 by
Thomas Kennedy
School Board Organizational Meeting Nov 2014
Swearing In Day
Today is the Citrus School Board’s Organizational Meeting at 4:00 pm in the Board Chambers at the District Service Center in Inverness.
At today’s meeting those who were elected to the school board office this election year will be sworn in to office. It is a great honor to experience raising your hand to take an oath of office and represent our great community and most importantly the 15,000 young people in our public schools.
Great challenges are in front of us in public education in Florida and in our country. We must endeavor to continue to focus on what is best for our students and to prepare them for the world they will live and work in.
Thank you for entrusting me to represent our students and you as a Citrus County School Board member.
God bless our students and Citrus County Schools,
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Posted on November 14th, 2014 by
Thomas Kennedy
Thomas Kennedy Swearing In Ceremony
Please join us at my Swearing In Ceremony at the Citrus School Board Annual Organizational Meeting & New Board Member Swearing In Ceremony on Tuesday, November 18th, 2014 at 4:00pm in the School Board Chambers at the District Service Center at 1007 W. Main Street, Inverness, Florida 34450.
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Posted on November 13th, 2014 by
Thomas Kennedy
School Board approves and signs Resolution on Assessment & Accountability
At today’s school board meeting (11/12/2014) the School Board approved and signed a Resolution on Assessment & Accountability along with Superintendent Sandra ‘Sam’ Himmel.
The board gave direction to send a copy of the Resolution to: Florida Governor Richard L. Scott, Florida Senate President, Florida Speaker of the House, Florida Senator Bill Montford, Florida Senator Charles S. Dean, Sr., Florida House of Representative Jimmie T. Smith, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator Marc Rubio, U.S. Congressmen Richard Nugent, all 67 School Board Chairmen in Florida, and the Florida School Board Association.
In addition there is an opportunity for the community to show their support of this Resolution by signing a subsequent open letter of support of the Resolution. A copy of this letter is available at the District Services Office with the receptionist as well as others are being distributed throughout the community.
This Resolution is NOT the end it is the continuation of a battle we will continue to fight for our students, teachers and schools.
This Resolution is an opportunity for us to make the community and our elected representatives aware of the effects their policies and laws are having on our children.
Below is a copy of the signed Resolution;
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