This was my first full agenda board meeting.  The meeting began with opening exercises which board members do in turns.  It was my turn for this meeting.  As we bowed our heads for a moment of silence, I asked them and I ask all of you now to please keep in your individual thoughts and prayers during this time of the year (and during these very cold days and evenings) the needs and challenges of our near 200 “McKinney-Vento” homeless students that are in our schools and who are without a permanent home.

It was a most productive board meeting.  Mr. Kelly Tyler, Principal of Lecanto High School (LHS), accepted the United Way Trophy for LHS. LHS raised the most donations for United Way and has continually been a winner of this award.  Mrs. Kathy Thrumston received a special Recognition award from the district for her  years of support, leadership and advocacy in education for the children of Citrus County as a Florida PTA Director, Education Panel Adviser,  and Legislative Committee Member.

The Board was provided a presentation on Crystal River High School (CRHS) Phase II.  Currently CRHS is in the middle of Phase I which includes construction of nearly half of the current campus.  Phase II will include among other things a new Media Center (Library), Freshman Academy, Business Academy/Education, classrooms, and cafeteria expansion.  These are critical renovations and additions.  The Board approved the preliminary design concept and schematic and now the architect will begin preparing a more complete drawing.

The Board also approved a 1% salary increase and 1% bonus plus an additional $20 Board match for health insurance for instructional and support staff who are members of Citrus County Education Association (CCEA).

One of the exciting and important actions the Board took at the meeting was the approval of immediately beginning the leasing of nearly all of its computers on a three year cycle.  This has many important benefits to our students, schools, staff, and budget.  First,  in the end this will be a savings to our school improvement budget.  It also means that computers used by our students, staff, and teachers will all be in working order and up-to-date.  Most of the districts’ computers are well over 5 years old and are running very old operating systems.  The computers will be under warranty for repairs, and maintenance will not need to be done by our Technology Specialist or our Technology Resource Center (TRC).  This will allow the district to use those staff members in other much needed technology areas.  Also approved was the purchase of Skyward’s School Management System software.  This is an important software solution for our school district.   Its many features include students’ grades, lesson plans, attendance reports with parents/guardian login, teachers grade book, district wide reporting, and human resource management software .  This will for many of our students, parents, staff and others be a “one login” solution.  I am greatly excited about parents and students being able to have instant online secure access to their grades, lesson plans, resources and attendance for all our students.  I commend our school district; these recommendations by the Superintendent and approval by the School Board reflect a strong commitment to bring the best quality and necessary technology to our students.   Furthermore, it will provide essential tools needed for our educators.

Lastly, the Board approved the 2011-2012 school calendar.   This calendar came from an extensive process involving our Calendar committee and then was subsequently voted on by our schools and School Advisory Enhancement Council (SAEC).  The calendar can be viewed by clicking here.

After each of the Board members gave individual reports and information to the other board members, Board Chairman Bill Murray had us spend time reviewing our SAEC assigned schools and our Committee Assignments.  I have been assigned as Board SAEC representative to Citrus Springs Elementary, Citrus Springs Middle, Renaissance Center, Forest Ridge Elementary and Pleasant Grove Elementary Schools.  I was also assigned to the following committees: HRMD Committee, Elementary School Pupil Progress Plan, ESE Advisory Council and District Technology.  I most excited about all my school and committee assignments.

Our next regular school board meeting is January 11^th, 2011 at 4:00pm at the Inverness CCSD Offices, Board Room.  Hope to see you there!

Related Links: