Regular School Board Meeting for June 14^th, 2011

In honor of Flag Day, Board Member Pat Deutschman gave a wonderful presentation about the history of Flag Day using  Superintendent Himmel’s flag collection that was displayed  around the board room. This collection included one sewn years ago by Mrs. Deutschman’s Cub Scout Troop.  Ms. Deutschman then had new Eagle Scout Derek Mangelsen and his scout brothers lead out in the national anthem.

The board received an update on the Lecanto cafeteria project, learning about its  color selections and serving area décor.  The cafeteria is scheduled  for completion on or about the middle of August 2011.

At the meeting we  had many wonderful presentations again this month.  (This is always my favorite part of the board meetings.)  Derek Mangelsen was honored for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.  Derek’s Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project was a garden project at Rock Crusher Elementary school which is also Derek’s former elementary school.  Gail Grimm, Director of Professional Development & Community Services, recognized four aspiring teachers with the Aspiring Teacher Scholarships.  This program provides $ 1,000 scholarships for non-instructional personnel in Cirrus County public schools who are pursuing a degree in education.  This year’s recipients were Rachel Miller of Renaissance Center, Dawn Diaz of Citrus Springs Elementary, April Head of Rock Crusher Elementary and Marsha Wallace with the District Service Office.  Amy Mangan, Community Relations Officer with Progress Energy presented the Progress Energy K-12 Grant in the amount of $25,000.00 to the Citrus County Education Foundation.  Lastly, the Board recognized the Elementary Tropicana Speech winners and listened to their speeches.

Dr. Michael Geddes, Director of Technology and Information Services, provided an update on the computer rollout at our schools and throughout the district.  Dr. Geddes shared that his department and Dell have refreshed 7,002 new computers. Those that weren’t refreshed were traded out for newer computers.  What this means  for our students and staff is that  we now have the best of all systems available. In most cases this means that staff and students will be using Windows 7 and Office 2010.

Ken Blocker, Executive Director of Business Services, (and recently promoted Assist Superintendent of Business Services) provided budget updates and answered board questions regarding the current district budget.  The board  approved nineteen “TERM” (for 2011-2012 school year only) Supplemental Academic Instruction (SAI) Teacher Aides,  with one for each elementary, middle, and high school and Renaissance Center.  The board approved one Social Worker “TERM” (for 2011-2012 school year only) for the Renaissance Center.  This person I believe was and is important to the continual improvement of the programs at the Renaissance Center.  Lastly, the board approved  eighteen “TERM” (for 2011-2012 school year only) Teacher Aides for the elementary, middle and high schools.

This was also a bit of a bittersweet board meeting as it was Assistant Superintendent Mary Curry’s last board meeting.  Ms. Curry is retiring and her last day in June 27^th.  Ms. Curry has been critical to our school district’s success over the last many years.  My own family has directly benefited from Ms. Curry’s talents as Ms. Curry was the founding principal at Citrus Springs Middle School where my wife teaches and where  my son is a student.  Ms. Curry’s positive impact on that school is still evident today.  Many former and current principals credit Ms. Curry for CSMS’s successes then and now.  Ms. Curry will be nearly impossible to ever fully replace and we are a better district because of her love for students and their learning.

Our next meeting is a School Board Workshop on Tuesday, June 28 at 9:00am.

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