Opening Day of Florida’s 2020 Legislative SessionToday is the opening day for the 2020 Florida Legislative Session. Praying for a positive Session for public education, our teachers, our staff and our students.
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(c) The Florida Channel
Well done to the Florida Senate Education Committee who voted unanimously to advance SB 1088: Teacher Salary Enhancement by State Senator Manny Diaz Jr. out of its first committee.
Pleased that during debate, Senators on both sides of the aisle expressed support for Governor Ron DeSantis and the legislature for being serious about improving Florida teachers’ salaries. Several Senators expressed hope that the bill is improved to include all educators.
Was further pleased with bill sponsor Senator Diaz’s closing comments where he stated that the bill needed to, “respect local collective bargaining process which is in our State’s constitution”, and where he went on to say the bill needs to also, “be equitable to districts cost of living differential”.
As the Senators express this bill is just beginning to be developed and has a long way to go still. Senator Diaz explained it will likely be a late approval due to its majorly impacted by the budget.
Watch the entire meeting at http://www.flsenate.gov/media/VideoPlayer?EventID=2443575804_2020011024&Redirect=true
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At Marine Science Center with Mr. Hansen and former school board member, Pat Deutschman.
Over this past holiday season, Citrus County lost another one of its special individuals when it lost former Citrus County School Board member Carl Hansen. Mr. Hansen served on the Citrus County School Board from 1996-2000 and was Chairman from 1997-98. While Mr. Hansen’s professional life extends far beyond his time on the Citrus County School Board, for me he will always be best known as the Honorable Carl Hansen, Citrus County School Board member.
Mr. Hansen and I both attended Crystal River United Methodist Church and I was familiar with his personal and professional accomplishments. I sought him out prior to my being elected to the school board to learn about how to best serve our students and community. During one of our meetings, he walked me step-by-step through the responsibilities, challenges, rewards, and even his own expectations of being a school board member. I remember drinking in all that he shared and realizing that whatever I thought I knew, I had much still to learn. I recall him asking me a lot of questions about why I was running for office and about what I hoped to accomplish. Mr. Hansen ended our meeting by asking, “Who do I write your campaign contribution check out to?” I was taken aback because while I knew donations were part of the process, I had not expected that my very first campaign donation would be from Carl Hansen. That and his donations of his time, wisdom, and experience are a special connection I will always have with him.
Many months later when I was honored to be elected as a school board member, Mr. Hansen and I met again. This time he began the meeting by saying he had some gifts for me. Mr. Hansen began to place on the table several special neckties and lapel pins he had worn as a school board member. If you knew Mr. Hansen, you won’t be surprised to learn that he had a special story to go along with each one of those gifts. One of the pins he gave me simply states “CHILDREN FIRST”. He took special care to remind me how vital it was as a school board member that each and every decision I made should always put children first. That pin has been on my school board lanyard since the day I was elected. I wear that lanyard into every classroom I visit; doing so makes me feel like Mr. Hansen is with me. I regularly wear Mr. Hansen’s neckties in honor of him at school board meetings and wore one of his ties the day of his memorial service.
While others will do a far better job sharing about Mr. Hansen’s amazing life and accomplishments, I wanted to take a few minutes to share my personal connection with Mr. Hansen as a school board member and to let you know the love he had for the children of Citrus County Schools. That love may be best evidenced in three of his children who serve as teachers and leaders in our school system: Earnie Olsen, coordinator of the Marine Science Center; Debra Dumas, district teacher; and Donna Olsen, music teacher at Homosassa Elementary.
Thank you, Mr. Hansen, for being a friend of the Citrus County School District, a guide to me, and a warrior for public education.
To learn more about Mr. Carl Hansen visit https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chronicleonline/obituary.aspx?n=carl-thomas-hansen&pid=194879197
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This week Governor DeSantis unveiled his state budget recommendations for the 2020 Legislative Session. While some in education still have some additional ideas, concerns, and hopes about budget funding and policy development for the 2020 session, and while no budget recommendation is perfect— this is an encouraging budget recommendation for public education and I look forward to sharing with our Legislators about how we can improve it more for the students in Citrus County and Florida.
As one reviews the Governor’s budget and see things one likes and doesn’t like, it is important to remember that this is only a recommendation, it is the Legislature that has the authority and responsibility of creating the state budget. It is important to understand that the governor’s recommendation highlights the spending priorities and new policies that the Governor looks to pursue. Governor DeSantis’s budget serves as a guide to the 2020 Legislature as it takes on the more detailed task of developing and passing a balanced state budget. Follow this link for an excellent side-by-side comparison of 2019-2020 Florida State Budget on Education and the Governor’s 2020-2021 Budget Recommendations- https://fsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Comparison-Gov-Budget-2020-21-Budget.pdf.
Please continue to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas about how we can help make the Florida 2020 Legislative Session positive and successful for our students and schools.
Here are some key items in the Governor’s recommended budget:
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What a great day visiting our Lecanto campuses today. Enjoyed seeing a number of my student friends at Lecanto Middle School. I was so impressed at the Lecanto Primary School‘s Character Education/Social/Emotional class taught by Guidance Counselor Dr. Bowman. Also stopped by the Technology Resource Center seeing the challenging and vital work our talented and committed team members are doing to keep all the bits flowing. We have some outstanding educators throughout our schools.
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This past Saturday the 2019 FHSAA 2A District 4 Swimming Championship swim meet was held at the Citrus Memorial YMCA in Lecanto. Crystal River High School was asked by the other district schools to host what is believed to be the largest swim meet ever held in Citrus County with well over 500 swimmers, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators covering 10 teams from around the Tampa Bay areas in attendance.
Months of planning went into making this a tremendously successful event. Visiting officials, teams, and families gave it high praise. None of this success could have been possible if not for the great support and donations from a number of organizations and businesses. We want to publicly thank Crystal River High School, the Citrus County School District, YMCA of the Suncoast, CRHS Naval JROTC, FHSAA, Sun Coast Swim Team, Citrus County Education Foundation, Citrus County Parks & Recreation, Flavor Express, McDonald’s of Lecanto, WREC and Mike Scott Plumbing. Saturday’s success was also made possible because of the fabulous support and encouragement of a number of individuals. We thank to especially thank Robert “Raz” Rasmussen, Mike Laycock, Lori and Mike Lenoir, Bobby Verlato, Dr. Linda Connors, Cliff Dyer, Garrett Adkins, Robin Braswell, Gary Saslo, Bob Griffiths, Eva Gronke, Chief Warrent Liz Rivera, Senior Chief Maurice Perine, Ashlyn Hunnicutt, Pedro Williams, Angelique Hickman, and Capt. Thomas Holme. We want to also thank the Suncoast YMCA Lecanto leadership and aquatics team who truly went above and beyond. Lastly, we want to thank the tremendous work of the Pirate Swimming coaching staff of Chuck Gatton and Beth Penn.
As a result of the successful swims at this Saturday’s 2A4 Districts, Citrus County will be sending 11 relay teams and 22 individual swimming and dive events to compete in the FHSAA 2A Region 2 Championships at the Long Center in Clearwater this Saturday, November 2, 2019. Congratulations to all the teams and swimmers!!
Thank you again to all the individuals, organizations, and businesses that made Saturday’s District Swim Meet a successful one!
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