Posted on January 14th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Citrus School Board consensus: Yes to essential mentors and in-person traditional graduations
School Board Member Thomas Kennedy shares about bring back mentors during the January 12, 2021, Regular School Board Meeting.
During yesterday’s Citrus County School Board meeting, I shared that I felt it was needed to modify our COVID-19 protocols to begin again permitting essential mentors and volunteers (especially at the high school level) and who are ESSENTIAL to the success of our students to mentor students at school. These mentors and volunteers not only impact the students but often dramatically aid our guidance departments who are already challenged at this time. We have always depended on the help of these essential mentors and volunteers before COVID as part of our success model, we need their support more than ever. We have been successful with our COVID protocols and I am confident our administrators and staff can implement this safely and effectively. I am grateful that each of my fellow board members supported both of the issues. end of the school year. I feel that since we have successfully and safely had football games, basketball games, and other events that have had hundreds of large crowds, that we can safely plan and accomplish having in-person traditional graduations. The Class of 2021 seniors have now lived through so much and we can make this happen for them. With about 4-1/2 months to plan we can do this.
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Filed under: News & Updates
Posted on January 10th, 2021 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Winston Churchill was an optimist, and so am I
“For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.”
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Filed under: News & Updates
Posted on December 1st, 2020 by
Thomas E Kennedy
FL-DOE Order No. 7, Most welcomed
Thank you Gov. DeSantis and Commissioner Corcoran
Yesterday Florida Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran issued Florida Department of Education Order No. 7 which continues to provide specific exemptions and gives needed options and flexibility for school districts, students, and families for the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. FL-DOE Order No. 7 continues many of the important needs originally issued earlier this year in FL-DOE Order No. 6. (CLICK HERE to read my commentary about FL-DOE Order No. 6 published on July 19, 2020.)
FL-DOE worked together in collaboration with the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) on the language in FL-DOE Order #7. The new order extending flexibilities to districts, requiring brick and mortar learning remains an option. It also creates new communication requirements and reporting requirements to ensure that students who are struggling get the assistance and monitoring needed to succeed. Learn more on the FL-DOE website at: http://www.fldoe.org/em-response/index.stml
I am very grateful to Gov. DeSantis and Commissioner Corcoran for this new order and for extending these necessary options and opportunities. I am further appreciative of FL-Doe working with FADSS and the Florida School Board Association on our concerns.
Below is an easy to understand graphic on the basics of FL-DOE Order No. 7.
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Filed under: News & Updates
Posted on November 20th, 2020 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Citrus County Blessings Board of Directors meeting
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Filed under: News & Updates
Posted on November 12th, 2020 by
Thomas E Kennedy
Chronicle shares about CRHS Royal EMT Program
Students in the College of Central Florida’s dual-enrollment Phil Royal EMT Program at Crystal River High School’s Academy of Health Careers apply oxygen to a training dummy during a class prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those pictured, from left to right: Bradley Ciccone, Maxwell Wolff, Zachary Kahler and Grace Mason. (c) Citrus Chronicle – https://www.chronicleonline.com
Great article on this outstanding opportunity for high school seniors next semester. Please read!
Thank you to Citrus County Chronicle for covering this program and opportunity.
READ ARTICLE:
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Filed under: News & Updates
Posted on November 4th, 2020 by
Thomas E Kennedy
FHSAA appeals voted on Wednesday
FHSAA Sectional Appeals Committee votes impact lives
Today I was honored to again participate in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Sectional Appeals Committee. Today we had a number of appeals brought by families of student-athletes and schools. This is one of the most fulfilling committees I am honored to serve on. This is a group of academic and athletic leaders who collectively and impartially vote to approve FHSAA appeals as part of the FHSAA’s due process system.
During today’s meeting, one of the appealing school athletic directors after the appeal vote praised the FHSAA and those of us on the appeals committee for providing and being part of a democratic process where student-athletes can present their case and the facts for consideration. During one of the appeal presentations, one of our more stoic members following the vote became visibly emotional because the decision we made may have had profound impacts on a young person’s life.
These are more than just a decision to let a young person play or not, or be disciplined or not. For many, these activities can represent college enrollment, college tuition, needed mental health, a reason to come to school, and much more. Everyone in and out of the room has one objective and that is to do what is best for the student, the other student-athletes, and the school, in that order.
I am so grateful to the superior FHSAA staff that support and assistance us with having the information to make good decisions. I thank FHSAA for providing the FHSAA’s due process system. Lastly, I thank both my appeals committee and those committee’s around the state that does this each month for no compensation and no reward other than doing best for students.
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Filed under: News & Updates
