Schools Closed Friday

Citrus County Public Schools closed Friday due to Hurricane Matthew.

It is projected that there will be 40 mph winds and gusts 55-70 mph strong winds. Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel shared that Lecanto Primary School will be opening Thursday afternoon as a shelter.

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said that Citrus is expected to have tropical storm force winds through much of the day Friday, starting at around 7:00 a.m.

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CHS AFJROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit 2015-2016

Distinguished Unit with Merit 2015-2016

At the September School Board meeting the Citrus High School Air Force Junior Officer Training Corp Unit FL-082 was honored as a Distinguished Unit with Merit for the 2015-2016 school year. This designation puts CHS AFJROTC in the top 8% of all JROTC units in the country.
Citrus Schools have three JROTC units, one at each of the high schools. CHS is an Air Force unit, Lecanto High School is an Army unit, and Crystal River High School is a Navy unit.

I am a strong supporter of these JROTC units.  JROTC units are a leadership program where some of our finest students are a part of these programs. While many of these students may go into the armed services these are not recruiting programs, but rather they build leadership, academic and career skills which raise these students to achieve lofty goals.

An example of CHS AFJROTC successes— In 2014-2015 students averaged a 3.019 weighted GPA.  A total number of 1711.88 community service hours and over 30 community service events for the 2015-2016 school year.  Two Cadets were nominated to the USAF Academy.

During the School Board meeting the Cadets presented this excellent presentation which you can view by following this link:  https://thomastalks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CHS-AFJROTC-2016-Briefing.pdf

I had the opportunity of first learning about JROTC through Capt. Thomas Holme (ret.) who is one of the CRHS Senior JROTC Naval Science instructors.  Capt. Holme has over the years given me a strong insight into the great benefits these programs provide, not just the students, but also the schools and our community.  Over the years I have now coached many JROTC students and I only grow more impressed with these students and the programs.

If you are interested in more information on these program, please feel free to contact the school’s programs for more information.

Crystal River High School Navel Science JROTC
Lt Commander Akil King
Senior Chief Petty Officer Ira Sparkman

Citrus High School Air Force JROTC
Col. Dennis Yamrose
CMSGT Tammy Lepird

Lecanto High School Army JROTC
LTC Dave Brown
Sgt Dean Kelly

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Post-Election

The ½ Penny for Schools Sales Tax did not pass with 45.24% voting “For” and 54.76% voting “Against”.  I want to thank the many, many people who worked so hard to share about the real need for this funding to replace the great reduction in capital educational funding.  Just today The Tampa Bay Times shared an article on how Citrus County Schools is not alone in the challenges for funding educational capital needs. (see story: https://t.co/xeIy2fKI6C)

Why this school referendum didn’t pass can be attributed to several things, but doesn’t change the fact that in the end not enough voters supported replacing the funding. I am frustrated by those that shared misinformation or perpetuated misinformation about the referendum and the great funding needs we have, along with the enormous reduction in educational funding. Their actions will result in a negative impact on our students and schools.

I cannot put this gently—this is going to be a difficult road ahead. We will find a way through this, but not without having to make even further reductions.  Over the coming weeks and months, the superintendent and the school board will continue refining our 1-3-5-10 year capital improvement plans.  Even after refining our capital needs and funding we will have to now turn to our general fund to meet our capital funding needs.

I must be frank that we will be having to make some very tough decisions. The challenge lies in how we balance meeting educational requirements, new and future state mandates, provide raises for employees, address growing maintenance/construction needs, while all the while trying to lessen the impact felt in the classroom and on our students.  In the past the superintendent and school board have been able to minimize the effects in the classroom and have tried to not reduce services.  I am not sure that will be possible unless something drastically changes. We have far too many needs and mandated requirements compared with the funding we receive.

We will continue to advocate for the needs of our students and classrooms. We will always be putting students first in the decisions we make.  They are the sole reason our schools exist.  We have a responsibility to not fail them.  I have much confidence in our superintendent and school board and our local educational leaders making the best decisions for our students’ and schools’ future.

Please continue to share with those that will listen the true challenges associated with the loss of educational funding. Support those who are in office who support our students and schools.  Use your power as voters to elect those that support our students and schools.  Lastly we must continue to speak out and communicate to our elected state leaders that their educational reform movement of mandated over-testing and underfunding to our students and schools must stop!

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