Academy of Environmental Science Open House April 5th, 2011 @ 5:30p-8:00p

Posted on April 4th, 2011 by

Academy of Environmental Science Open House

Followed with an Astronomy Night on the dock (weather permitting)

From 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Academy of Environmental Science
12695 West Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, FL 33429
Tel (352) 795-8793
Fax (352) 794-0065
www.environmental-school.org

MISSION

The mission of the Academy of Environmental Science is to instill in our students a sense of environmental stewardship and provide unique and challenging opportunities in the natural sciences.

The Citrus County Academy of Environmental Science in cooperation with community organizations and post-secondary institutions will provide a curriculum to prepare students to be qualified for entry-level positions and/or post-secondary education in careers in the environmental sciences. The academy will integrate various core courses to ensure relevant preparation for environmental science careers. Students in the academy will develop a strong partnership with academy administration, instructors, their parents and members from environmental organizations.

HISTORY

The Academy of Environmental Science, Citrus County’s first charter school, was established in 1999 through a partnership with individuals, organizations, and agencies working to protect our precious environment in order to foster an awareness and promote appropriate stewardship of our environment and natural resources while focusing on environmental careers. The location of the academy provides a unique learning opportunity for students with many of the lessons designed to be taught out-of-doors. Under the guidance of highly qualified instructors, students from grades ten through twelve encounter the environment firsthand through exploration, discovery and research projects in cooperation with environmental organizations and post secondary institutions.

The academy is active in community events including Coastal Cleanup, Save Our Waters Week, National Wildlife Refuge Week, Earth Day and CSES Wetlands Festival. 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.

 

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Week in Review for Mar 27th – Apr 2nd, 2011

Posted on April 4th, 2011 by

Week in Review for Mar 27th – Apr 2nd, 2011

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 […]

 

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 […]

 

Education Foundation Fundraiser – ALLEGRO – Heralds of Harmony

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 […]

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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.

 

Related Links

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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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