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Consider the school board’s fee concerns 02/19/11

THE ISSUE: School impact fee rate.
CHRONICLE EDITORIAL OPINION: Commission’s view is shortsighted.

Last May, county commissioners voted to reduce the transportation impact fee to zero until the end of 2010 to create a window of opportunity for encouraging new business activity.

On the heels of this bold move, the commission retained Duncan Associates to review the county’s impact fees. The report by Duncan Associates, which is the first phase of a multi-phase project to update impact fees, sparked opposing views by school board members and county commissioners during a recent public workshop on impact fees.

Although school board members unanimously recommended the county commission adopt the school impact fee at 100 percent of the rate recommended by Duncan Associates, county commissioners, with the exception of Commissioner Winn Webb, appeared inclined to set the school impact fee at 50 percent of the recommended rate even though school impact fees are not assessed for commercial development.
By singling out the school impact fee for a rate that would be only half of that recommended by Duncan Associates without first consulting the school board, county commissioners are relegating education to lower importance than the other impact fee categories they plan to adopt at 100 percent of the recommended rate.

Given that the Florida Constitution decrees, “The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida,” county commissioners are being dismissive of the school board’s constitutional responsibility for assuring a uniform, efficient, safe, secure and high-quality system of free public schools. They are also being dismissive of the overwhelming majority of Citrus County voters who affirmed this fundamental value last November when they approved the ad valorum restoration of .25 mills for school facilities maintenance and improvements.

While county commissioners are interested in leveraging the county’s economic future, they are overlooking the fact that the school board must also leverage for the future if quality education is to be maintained and enhanced. In this regard, a capable labor pool and quality school system are key to economic development and diversification since they are primary considerations for the relocation of businesses and families.

When it comes to school board matters, county commissioners are presumptuous to believe they know best. Therefore, if commissioners are to remain true to their goal of leveraging county impact fees to promote economic development in a fair and equitable manner for all parties, they need to consider school board members as full partners rather than silent partners on school impact fees by soliciting their input and seriously considering it.

(Source: www.chronicleonline.com/content/consider-school-board%E2%80%99s-fee-concerns-021911)

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CREST Open House and EXPO on March 1, 2011 in the CREST Cafeteria from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

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Tuesday, February 8^th, 2010 ,  was our school board’s regular board meeting.

The meeting began with the Academy of Environmental Science (AES) sharing its annual report.  AES is Citrus County’s first charter school and was established in 1999 through a partnership with individuals, organizations, agencies, and the Citrus County School Board.  AES is active in community events including Coastal Cleanup, Save Our Waters Week, National Wildlife Refuge Week, and Earth Day. Students who have attended the academy have received numerous awards in the Citrus County Regional and Florida Science and Engineering Fair, Regional and State Envirothon as well as many scholarships to post secondary institutions. All students between grades nine and twelve who have maintained a 2.0 or higher in their core courses and have passed an academy review of their discipline and attendance records are eligible to apply for enrollment into the academy.

Ben Stofcheck, Administrator for AES reports on AES at the School Board Meeting Feb 8, 2011

Mr. Ben Stofcheck, Administrator for AES,  reported that AES currently has approximately 96  students enrolled.  During the 2009-2010 school year, AES  student  progress maintained a remarkable average of 3.26 GPA  per  semester.  Mr. Stofcheck went on to share that AES again was the #1 high school at the 2010 Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Fair.  Six of the ten students selected for the 2010 State Science & Engineering Fair were from AES.  One of the two students selected for the INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair was from AES.   The ninth grade Algebra 1 team won 2nd place in the Citrus Math Field Day competition.  Mr. Stofcheck proudly reminded the board that AES was selected by the US News & World Report as one of the “Best 100 High Schools” in the United States.  AES board of directors is organizing a fund-raising dinner set for Feb. 26 at Sugarmill Woods Country Club in Homosassa. Proceeds benefit students, paying for things such as supplies, equipment, books, field trips  and shelves to create a library. The event includes a silent auction, cash bar ,  and live deejay. Social hour starts at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $250 for a table. For reservations or more information, call 726-4093, ext. 4093, or 795-8703.

The very concerning news…  Executive Director of Business Services   Ken Blocker shared Governor Scott’s proposed  recommended educational budget.  If the Governor’s recommendations are approved in its current form, Citrus County Schools will face for the 2011-2012 school budget a $8.2 million dollar cut which is approximately 8% of the budget.   In my  personal opinion, this  is devastating to our students’  education and future.  I ask you to continue to monitor and stay informed on  the  Governor’s recommended budget.  We need for you to contact your legislators about the negative impact this budget will have on our student s’  education and future.

At the meeting several budget amendments were approved.  These amendments brought up at board meetings are often for prior approved purchases and fund reclassification.  The board also approved  the hiring of an engineering report on corrections needed for the parent pickup line at the Inverness Middle School.

The meeting ended with board member reports.  Member Linda Power reminded the public of the upcoming Purple Heart Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20^th, 2011, at the Florida National Guard Armory in Crystal River.  Chairman Bill Murray shared about the annual Galaxy of Stars event to honor the 2012 Teacher of the Year and 2011 School-Related Employee of the Year.  Member Pat Deutschman shared about speaking before the Board of County Commissioners on the proposed Educational Impact Fee.  (More on the impact fee issue in the future.)

Related Links

• Academy of Environmental Science
• Citrus County School Board
• Florida Envirothon
• Best 100 High Schools
• Purple Heart Ceremony
• Galaxy of Stars

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