Bill Nelson comes to Citrus

United States Senator Bill Nelson from are our state of Florida met with Elected Officials on Tuesday, August 25th, 2011 at Inverness City Hall. Chronicle Reporter Mike Wright (in background) was covering the event.

I told the Senator that my wife, Thomasine, was more excited for me to meet him because he is an Astronaut (he flew on the 1986 Columbia Space shuttle mission) than because he is a Senator. The Senator offered a big smile when I said that and responded, “She sounds she is a kid at heart.”

Prior to this day’s meeting with Senator Nelson I had the pleasure of spending some quality one on one time with the Senator’s Regional Director, Digna Alvarez sharing about my concerns for students that may not immediately attend a college or university after high school.  I explained that I believe our state and national legislative leaders are taking an approach to education of “one size fits all” which is unfortunate and incorrect. They are directing resources in education in only one direction-one that assumes all students must go to college.

I followed by asking the Senator, “how are we as a school district, as a state, and as a nation supporting and developing educational programs and pathways that guide students whose interests are in career and technical education?”  For example:

• The National Educational Agenda, reflected in Race to the Top reforms, promotes the doubling of the number of students entering college with very minimal reference to vocational/career/technical.

• Stimulus and AARA funding supports college readiness, including Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM), but little seems to be directed to career and technical (college-bound career & technical students).

• Florida School Accountability (high school) emphasizes college readiness including participation & performance in dual enrollment classes, Advanced Placement classes, International Baccalaureate classes, and industry certification classes. The latter is the only reference to career and technical education.

• In Florida, Perkins Career & Technical Education Act funds vocational programs; funding is being reduced and being attacked.

I encouraged the Senator as well you to read this transcript of the April 19th, 2011 speech, “Rigor, Relevance, and the Future of Career and Technical Education” from Education Secretary Arne Duncan who noted the grave implications for Career and Technical Education. (CLICK HERE TO READ SPEECH)

I am asking Senator Nelson to join the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus who is a a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress created to enhance awareness in Congress of the importance of career and technical education in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce in America.

Comments Off on Bill Nelson comes to Citrus
Filed under: News & Updates

We Care Food Pantry Live Auction

This  special auction benefits the “Under One Roof” Capital Campaign being conducted by the We Care Food Pantry and Feed Citrus County.  The campaign is to raise funds for the construction of two 7,200 square foot buildings.  Complete with freezers,  loading docks and storage areas, the distribution center will be available to serve the Citrus County community for generations to come.

Bid on more than 150 items at  www.natlauctions.com starting Monday, August 15 Final bids at telethon on Saturday, Sept. 10 on WYKE-TV (Channel 16) from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Auction Item Categories Include:

Home Improvement
Water Recreation
Golf
Gifts for Ladiies
Jewelry
Sports
Art
Stay Overs
Outdoor Equipment
Gifts for the Home
Electronics
Hair Care
Fishing Equipment
Pet Products
Food & Restaurants
Camping
and much, much more

Call the We Care Food Pantry at 628-9333 or 628-0445 for more information or to make an appointment to view a specific item.

Comments Off on We Care Food Pantry Live Auction
Filed under: News & Updates

Highlights from School Board Meeting, Aug 9^th, 2011

For those that have not attended a School Board meeting each meeting begins with Opening Exercises.  Each month Board Members rotate who does the opening exercises and it is a time when each board member can share something meaningful to them or bring attention to a special cause.  This is then followed by the leading of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Linda Powers was unable to attend this meeting so she asked Bill Murray the Chairman to have Opening Exercises.  Mr. Murray took this opportunity to remind us of the great privilege we have in our country to express our individual beliefs and to assemble, meet and have the freedom to share our opinions.  He reminded us that this freedom does not come cheap but at a high price.  He asked that we remember the 38 servicemen that died in helicopter crash in Afghanistan. It was the worst single incident suffered by foreign forces in 10 years of war in Afghanistan.

Alan Burcaw, Director of Facilities and Construction, requested funds for flashing school zone lights at the new Turkey Oak Drive entrance of Crystal River High School, the Board approved the funds.  The Board asked for the approximate completion date for the new entrance (see current photo to above/right). Mr. Burcaw indicated that it should be completed in the next 45-60 days but it may be completed even earlier.  I know for our students and staff at CRHS it cannot be done soon enough.

Mr. Burcaw also presented the “Financial Management and Performance Audit of the District’s Educational and Construction Activities”.  Beginning in 2002, Florida Statute Section 1013.35(2)(f), required that every 5 years district school boards must have an independent third party audit done of the financial management and performance of the educational planning and construction activities of the district.  This audit was most in-depth and found NO deficiencies or corrective actions needed.  That is truly a remarkable and impressive accomplishment for the district and its staff and administrators.

One item that was on the agenda for approval was the renewal bid for mowing services to various vendors at our schools.  I was interested if the district had reviewed if there was still a savings by outsourcing this service.  Ken Blocker, Assist Superintendent of Business Services, and John Colasanti, Coordinator of Maintenance, shared that the district had reviewed that and among other appropriate reasons for recommending outsourcing it provide an approximate $75,000 a year savings. That was the information I needed.  I must share that I have been blessed with the professional and supportive manner in which our district staff and administrators assist me as a Board Member with my questions and background information requests.  They have always been willing to look at something in a new way but are also comfortable sharing if they have concerns about why it may or may not work.  That respect runs from the bottom to the top at the district and everywhere in-between.  That is the type of working relationship other districts only dream of having.

Among several other items passed at the meeting was the Board agreement between the School Board and the Citrus County Sherriff’s Office for School Resource Officers (SROs) for the 2011-2012 school year at our schools.  I have great respect for this program and the Officers in it and I whole heartily supported it as did all the board members present.  I have had the pleasure of being in the elementary classroom when the Child Lures, FOCUS , and Junior FOCUS had been taught.  I firmly agree with the CCSO description of the SRO program, “SROs take a proactive approach to law enforcement.  SRO’s are not just ‘cops’ on campus.  SRO’s provide all law enforcement duties on their campus.  They educate the students by teaching law related classes and other related subjects in the classrooms and counsel both students and parents on various topics.  The SRO becomes involved in the students’ lives as a positive role model.”

One of the last items approved at the meeting was for 106 SuccessMaker licensees for 4 Middle, 1 Elementary School and CREST.  Successmaker is a K-12 learning management system with an emphasis on reading, spelling and numeracy.  I believe the data we have has shown how successful students are becoming through the assistance of the Successmaker program.

Our next meeting is a School Board Workshop Meeting at 9:00am on Tuesday, Aug 23^rd, 2011.

Comments Off on Highlights from School Board Meeting, Aug 9th, 2011
Filed under: School Board Meetings