Review of Special Meeting and Workshop for March 29th, 2011

Posted on April 4th, 2011 by

Review of Special Meeting and Workshop for March 29th, 2011

On March 29th, 2011 , the Citrus County School Board held a Special Meeting and Workshop. After the meeting began the board approved several kind community member s’ donations to our schools. I am overwhelmed with the generosity of our community to our schools. The board then finished the special meeting by approving several improvements and replacements to our school buildings and faculties. After finishing the Special Meeting , board began our workshop.

This month’s workshop covered the subjects of the 2011-2012 Citrus Schools Code of Student Conduct changes, an E-Rate update, a new Leadership Organizational chart presentation , and lastly a 2011-2012 state and district budget review.

Student Services Coordinator Cheri Cernich presented the proposed changes to the 2011-2011 Code of Student Conduct booklet which is provided to all Citrus County school students each school year. This booklet provides students and families with the rules and policies of our school district at large. I was pleased with some of the modifications and changes proposed. Additional meetings are required to present the booklet at a regular board meeting and then a final vote to approve the 2011-2012 Code of Student Conduct is taken.

Technology and Information Services Director Dr. Mike Geddes presented an E-Rate review and update. E-Rate is the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission. The program provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. It is one of four support programs funded through a Universal Service fee charged to companies that provide interstate and/or international telecommunications services. Funding is requested under four categories of service: telecommunications services, Internet access, internal connections, and basic maintenance of internal connections. Discounts for support depend on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the population served. Dr. Geddes shared that from the 2007-2008 school year through the 2009-2010 school year CCSB is now current and has received $1,092,160.00 in E-Rate funds. Dr. Geddes shared that CCSB is expected to receive another $521,346.50 for the 2010-2011 school year and then is expected to further receive another $436,525.94 for the 2011-2012 school year.

Assistant Superintendent Marry Curry presented the proposed leadership organizational chart to the school board. This proposed organizational chart anticipates an approximate savings to the district of $1,677,000 annually. These were necessary proposals with the imminent 2011-2012 budget being worked on in Tallahassee.

Executive Director of Business Services Ken Blocker,provided the board with 2011-2012 Budget Projections and the Legislators Proposed Budget Reductions. Mr. Blocker indicated that he is anticipating Citrus County School District to have a $5,200,000.00 reduction in funding (5% less). Mr. Blocker presented several proposal summaries that the Superintendent and the Executive Leadership would be bring the board as the state budget is finalized. (Click here for related Chronicle story)

Our next Regular School Board meeting is April 12th, 2011 at 4:00pm at the Citrus County School District, Board Room, 1007 W. Main Street, Inverness, Florida 34450.

 

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Coming Up On Monday, April 4th, 2011 In the Florida Legislature

Posted on April 3rd, 2011 by

Coming Up On Monday, April 4th, 2011 In the Florida Legislature

The House Transportation & Highway Safety Subcommittee will consider the following item(s) and others:

HB 689 – Driver Education Programs by Berman

Requires curricula of driver improvement schools & education programs to include instruction on risks associated with using handheld electronic communication device while operating motor vehicle

The Senate Community Affairs Committee will consider the following item(s) and others:

SB 880 – Value Adjustment Boards by Garcia

Requires a petitioner challenging ad valorem taxes before the value adjustment board to pay a specified percentage of the taxes by a certain date; requires the board to deny the petition if the required amount of taxes is not timely paid

SB 1408 – Public Meetings / Pending Litigation by Bogdanoff

Revises an exemption from public meetings requirements which authorizes a board or commission of a state agency, authority, county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision and the chief administrative or executive officer of such governmental entity to meet in private with the entity’s attorney to discuss pending litigation

SB 1766 – Property Assessment / Challenge Proceedings by Storms

Prohibits the value adjustment board from considering certain evidence or documentation that was not timely disclosed

SB 534 – Firesafety by Wise

Revises the rulemaking authority and responsibilities of the State Fire Marshal relating to educational and ancillary plants

The Senate Health Regulation Committee will consider the following item(s) and others:

SB 730 – Youth & Student Athletes / Head Injuries by Flores

Requires independent sanctioning authorities to adopt policies to inform youth athletes and their parents of the nature and risk of certain head injuries

The Senate Higher Education Committee will consider the following item(s) and others:

SB 1546 – Charter Schools by Thrasher

Revises provisions relating to the sponsoring entities of charter schools; authorizes state universities and colleges to approve charter school applications and develop charter schools under certain circumstances; provides for the designation of charter schools as high-performing

The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the following item(s) and others:

SB 88 – Public Employee Compensation by Gaetz

Revises provisions relating to the prohibition against the payment of extra compensation; prohibits provisions in contracts that provide for severance pay

SJR 658 – Homestead / Non-Homestead Assessment by Fasano

Proposes amendments to the State Constitution to prohibit increases in the assessed value of homestead property if the just value of the property decreases, reduce the limitation on annual assessment increases applicable to nonhomestead real property, provide an additional homestead exemption

SB 1722 – Ad Valorem Taxation by Fasano

[Note: SB 1722 serves as the implementing bill of SJR 658]

SJR 1218 – Religious Freedom by Altman

Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution to provide that an individual may not be barred from participating in any public program because of choosing to use public benefits at a religious provider and to delete a prohibition against using public revenues in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or any sectarian institution

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Education Foundation Fundraiser – ALLEGRO – Heralds of Harmony

Posted on April 1st, 2011 by

On May 1st, 2011 the Citrus County Education Foundation is unveiling our new Signature Event Fundraiser – ALLEGRO.

ALLEGRO (Advancing Learning and Literacy Education through Grants and Resources Opportunities) This year ALLEGRO will feature the Heralds of Harmony, a premier men’s a cappella chorus, and Harmony Explosion, made up of Citrus County’s own high school students. The event will be held at Curtis Peterson Auditorium on May 1 at 2pm.

As this year’s president of the Education Foundation, I am asking for your financial support for our ALLEGRO fundraiser.  And there are several ways you can help.  The first way is to purchase ad space in our concert program.  There are various sponsorship levels, with the top levels including tickets to ALLEGRO.   You can also purchase individual ALLEGRO tickets and attend the concert.  Tickets, available through me, are $15 – general seating and $25 – premier seating.

What is the Education Foundation and what does this organization do? For the past six years I have served as a board member on the Education Foundation.  Since 1988, this non-profit organization has raised and invested over $700,000 in students, teachers and staff in the Citrus County public schools.  Some of our programs include:

Teacher Mini-Grants: We awarded over $35,000 in October 2010 to help teachers implement unique learning opportunities for students of all grades.

Scholarships: We offer several scholarships to college bound seniors each spring.  Support staff members in the school system who are pursuing a teaching career can apply for our Aspiring Teachers Scholarships.

School – to – Work: This program helps students who are enrolled in the career academies to have the necessary training and practical skills needed to enter the workforce upon graduation.

Field Trips & Fairs: We support the Math, Science and Art fairs and make it possible for students with financial needs to go on school field trips.

Literacy Programs: The Education Foundation facilitated bringing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Citrus County.  With community support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides books to young children to help instill a love of reading.

Education is the key to our future and I hope you will join me in supporting the Education Foundation’s ALLEGRO so that we can continue to enhance the educational opportunities for students, teachers, staff and our Citrus County public schools.

Please contact Education Foundation President Rhonda Kauffman directly (kauffamily@yahoo.com or her cell at 352-634-1478) for tickets or to be a sponsor for this event.

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Week in Review for Mar 20th – Mar 26th, 2011

Posted on March 28th, 2011 by

Week in Review for Mar 20th – Mar 26th, 2011

 

Meeting Our Representatives

Meeting Our Representatives Last Thursday, March 25th, 2011, most of the Citrus County School Board was in Tallahassee to meet with our legislators at the Florida School Board Association’s legislative briefing. (Ms. Pat Deutschman was not able to make the trip this year but provide d a great deal of legislative research and talking points […]

 

The Bottom Line Legislative Concerns by FSBA

The Bottom Line Legislative Concerns By Florida School Board Association No More Cuts or Layoffs – Use whatever means necessary to restore funding that has been cut from the education budget, to avoid additional cuts, and to eliminate unfunded mandates. (Click Here for the district by district breakdown for the House Education K-12 budget, Click […]

 

Legislative Update as of Sunday, March 27th, 2011

Legislative Update as of Sunday, March 27th, 2011 I spent last Tuesday, March 22nd through Thursday, March 25th afternoon in Tallahassee for Florida School Board Association Certified Board Training and then for FSBA Legislative Days. I also met with our Florida Legislators. This legislative session is having a profound effect on the future of Florida’s […]

 

On Wednesday Scott signed SB 736 – Education Personnel into law

On Wednesday Scott signed SB 736 – Education Personnel into law Rick Scott traveled to a charter school in Jacksonville this morning to sign the bill (SB 736) into law.  The bill is thought to be a more moderate version of last year’s SB 6, which was designed to abolish the current teacher Professional Service […]

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Meeting Our Representatives

Posted on March 28th, 2011 by

Meeting Our Representatives

Last Thursday, March 25th, 2011, most of the Citrus County School Board was in Tallahassee to meet with our legislators at the Florida School Board Association’s legislative briefing. (Ms. Pat Deutschman was not able to make the trip this year but provide d a great deal of legislative research and talking points prior to our meetings.) Two meetings I want to share with you were with Senator Charles Dean and Representative Jimmie T. Smith.

Senator Charles S. “Charlie” Dean, Sr.

Senator Dean is a former Citrus County teacher and has often been concerned about issues that affect our students, schools and educators. One of the issues in particular that we spoke to the Senator about was SB 1130 on Florida Retirement System sponsored by Senator Ring. This is the Bill that would change the funding to require employees to contribute from their pay a percentage into the Florida Retirement System. Senator Dean shared that he has concerns about asking employees, especially lower annual income employees, to pay into the FRS to help offset and balance the current Florida budget. Therefore, Senator Dean offered amendment# 562994 that says employees would pay, “0% percent for gross compensation up to and including $40,000, plus no more than 2% percent for gross compensation in excess of $40,000 and up to and including $75,000, plus no more than 4% percent for gross compensation that is greater than $75,000.” It should be noted that on Friday, March 26th House Bill (HB1405) sponsored by Workman had the amount of employee contributions reduced form 5% to 3%.

Representative Jimmie T. Smith

I had the pleasure of spending a good deal of time talking with Rep. Smith about vocational/career high school diplomas (such as SB 1830 – High School Career Diploma by Senator Wise and HB 1249 – Career Education by Rep. Nelson). I was pleased at how passionate he , too, is about the need for a career/vocational diploma track option for high schools. Currently with the legislation p assed last year there is only a one track college bound option for high school students. He and I both expressed concerns that we need to have career options for our vocational type and armed service bound students. Rep. Smith shared some of the realistic concerns and obstacles that we will face with some legislators in changing the laws to accommodate a career/vocational diploma option. Like myself , he is very technology – minded and , like myself , desires for more digital textbooks in the classrooms. Rep. Smith already has a committee meeting locally at WTI on this very subject right now.

I appreciated both the Senator and Representative giving us the opportunity to not just simply meet with them but to work with them on continuing to provide the best education opportunities for our students. I look forward to spending more time with each of these men of the coming months and I encourage each of you to contact them on other issues of concern.

Contact Our Legislators

Florida Senator Charles Dean:
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov

Florida House of Representatives Jimmie T. Smith:
jimmie.smith@myfloridahouse.gov

Florida Senate Senators
Florida House Representatives

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The Bottom Line Legislative Concerns by FSBA

Posted on March 28th, 2011 by

The Bottom Line Legislative Concerns

By Florida School Board Association

  • Local Control & Flexibility· – Support efforts to safeguard the authority of local school boards to operate, control, and supervise public schools· and to provide maximum flexibility in the use of all available funds.
  • Flexibility on Class Size – Support efforts to revise constitutional class size requirements in order to provide sensible flexibility While maintaining appropriate limitations on class sizes. (see SB 1466-Class Size Requirements by Simmons and HB 1447-Class Size Requirements by Nelson)
  • Florida Retirement System – Support careful and considered revisions that focus on improving the system, providing reasonable plan options, and avoiding dramatic impacts on employers, employees, and retirees. (see SB 1130 – Retirement, sponsored by Senator Ring and HB1405 sponsored by Workman)
  • School Choice Options – Oppose efforts to create or expand school choice programs that lack comparable and transparent accountability and have no record of success in demonstrating student learning gains. (see HB 1331-School Choice by Bileca [CO-SPONSORS] Corcoran)
  • Revenue Limitations – Oppose any efforts to place unreasonable and artificial limitations on state revenue that will hinder the state’s ability to provide necessary services, launch new initiatives, and respond quickly and efficiently to emergency and unexpected situations.

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