High School Graduation Options

“In Education, one size does NOT fit all!”

For many decades great progress has been made to provide more rigorous educational requirements for high school students.  This progress has occurred at both state and local levels.  Citrus County Schools can be very proud that even with the additional high school requirements, the Citrus County high school graduation rate increased from under 75% in 2005 to over 85% in 2010.  That has not come easily for administrators, teachers and, most especially, for students and their families.

What concerns me now are the new “higher” mandated graduation requirements which are a  result of the 2010 Florida Legislative session’s Senate Bill 4: Education Accountability introduced by Florida Senators Thrasher, Wise, Gaetz, Richter, Storms, Peaden, Fasano, Negron, Altman, and Baker.  This Bill created the requirement that “ALL high school graduates must be college eligible in order to get a high school diploma” by requiring that all graduates beginning with the 2013-2014  9th grade class must  pass 10^th grade Reading FCAT, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry or Physics; pass another science course that is equally as rigorous as chemistry or physics; and pass at least one online high school course.  This is in addition to the graduation requirements already in place which in essence makes a “Standard High School Diploma” a college ready only track. (see requirements at http://www.fldoe.org/students/pdf/FloridaGradRequirements2011.pdf)  This Bill is now law in Florida and has begun being phased in as the new graduation requirements for this year’s 2011-2012 9th grade class must take and pass the EOC tests for Algebra I, Geometry, and Biology. 

Proponents of this more rigorous high school standard diploma will say that our state does have other diploma options.  They will cite the diplomas offered for College Prep, Career Prep, IB, G.E.D., and Special Diplomas as examples.   While in theory that is correct, in reality, and this is important to understand, Special diplomas are NOT an equivalent diploma and do not provide for a student to attend a Florida college (previously known as community colleges), technical center, or registered apprenticeship programs.  Again, under the new graduation requirements approved under SB4, in order for a student to attend a technical center or register for an apprenticeship program or Florida college, they will be required to pass 10th grade Reading FCAT, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and pass another science course that is equally as rigorous as chemistry or physics and pass at least one online high school course. This is in addition to the graduation requirements already in place.

While job creation is important for our state, it is equally important for us to have quality trained skilled workers and professionals ready to fill those jobs.  Our legislators must provide or create a career/vocational high school diploma option which is the equivalent of a “Standard diploma” for students who are not going directly into college or a university right out of high school.  Some of these students may go into a vocational school while others may enlist in the armed services. (Note: Few enlistment offices are accepting G.E.D. for entrance into the military.) Still others may want, or need, to begin working in a job.

While I believe “higher education” is important, I also believe that we MUST provide more than a “one size graduation requirement” for high school students in Florida.  Our great country’s success was not founded on simply having “highly educated young people”; we have been successful largely because we are great at fostering entrepreneurship.

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Board Meeting Recap for Oct 25th

Tuesday’s board meeting and workshop while having a full schedule and covering a multiple of different subjects was, as one person put it, “kind of like watching sausage being made”!  You are really just waiting for the results, not how it is made.  I thought that was a good analogy for describing it. (smile)

The Board approved a couple of amendments for the Crystal River High School Phase II Renovations, Remodeling and Additions.  Phase II will include the new Media Center and Freshmen Academy Building, renovation of the old administrative wing into the Medical Academy, and remodeling of the cafeteria.  This is going to be an amazing addition to Crystal River, Citrus County Schools and most importantly to the students of Citrus County.

The Board approved for four potential calendar variations for the 2012-2013 School Year to be sent to employees and the School Advisory Enhancement Councils for their voting input.  The 2012-2013 calendar is going to be a challenging one.  To help understand why please read my recap from our Sept. 13^th, 2011 meeting regarding the calendar. (Click here for recap to Sept. 13^th, 2011 Board Meeting.)  Two variations of calendars were developed by the Calendar Committee in response to our hope that the Department of Education (DOE) will expand End-of-Course exam dates testing window so that we may consider having our first semester end in December.  Since a final decision by DOE is still pending, in order to make the selection of the final calendar as efficient as possible, we ask that a vote be taken for each variation.  I hope to have more specific details to share regarding this in the coming weeks.

In a workshop meeting Renaissance Center Principal, Danita Eatman, shared information about the Renaissance Transition Program and provided an updated overview of the Renaissance Center.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Kenny Blocker, provided an update from the Budget Committee regarding the 2012-2013 budget.  Several weeks back Superintendent Himmel told her executive team to put together, with the help of the school principals, a comprehensive budget committee. The committee members are from all the various Citrus County School Departments and representatives from each of the schools. The 2012-2013 budget will likely be the most challenging budget Citrus County schools has faced in decades.  Cuts to the budget are inevitable at this time. The purpose of this committee is to look at anything and everything throughout the school district as a possible reduction.  The board will still be the deciding vote in the end, but this information will be most helpful to hear and know when they are making those critical decisions.

Lastly, during a special goal setting part of our workshop, discussion began regarding the school board exploring the possibility of putting a half penny sales tax on a referendum for Citrus County Voters in the November 2012 election.  (see Chronicle reporter Mike Wright’s story, “Board ponders sales tax increase”)  I am sure I will be sharing more about this in the future.

Our next meeting is the School Board Regular Meeting on November 8^th, 2011 at 4:00pm.

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October 2011 Regular Board Meeting Review

Not all Board meetings are alike.

Not all Board meetings are alike. That was my thoughts as we finished the regular Board meeting on October 11^th, 2011.

After the opening exercise by Board Member Linda Powers, we had several presentations.  The first was a Presentation by the Nature Coast 9/12 out of Springs Hill, Florida.  I encourage you to read my separate blog on this presentation.

Our next presentation was to give directions to “Staff” on how to proceed with improving the vehicle circulation at Inverness Middle School during the entrance and exiting processes. After reviewing four options the Board voted not to spend any significant funds at this time. Instead we will spend a limited amount of funds on installing a gate and signage.  The school administrators and Board felt that by doing this we will be able to test the proposed options to see if they would really improve traffic control without spending the funds and later finding out whatever was spent on change didn’t work.  Look for a gate at the end of Middle School Drive in the not too distant future.  The gate will only be closed during specified periods.

Next the Board approved a Proclamation for Red Ribbon Week October 23^rd -29^th, 2011.  Representative from Partners for a Substance-Free Citrus were on hand to accept the proclamation.  Visit their web site www.SubstanceFreeCitrus.com to learn more.

The last presentation was the Insurance Committee’s recommendation for the 2012 Health Insurance Rate Structure. If you have any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact me directly and I would be happy to listen and share with you.

The Board also approved to Adopt/Amend the district school board member residence areas/districts as required by Florida Statue 1001.36.  This identifies the districts/areas where board members must live in order to run for a specific school board seat.  This is part of the whole state wide re-districting that is going on.  Only a few minor amendments were made in Citrus County.  The largest change was in my own district in the Pine Ridge area although it did not affect me.  In addition to the recommended, Florida Statue amendments also prohibit making changes in a district that would “un-seat” a sitting elected official.

Salary schedules for Administrative, Non-Union Support, Professional Technical and Teamsters Support and Professionals were approved.

Our next board meeting, which will be a Special Meeting and Workshop, is scheduled for October 25^th, 2011 beginning at 9:00am. (Click here for the agenda)

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