WCSD Superintendent Race

**j p nettles** · 11-09-2012, 09:18 AM

For all those who vote R and have no concept of corruption and ethics, Jesse Jackson, Jr. also won his district.

**30ARosie** · 11-09-2012, 09:42 AM

Qualifications to run for superintendent? Got to have a high school education, as long as you have that your in and the job can be yours!

I'm confused if Anderson had a closed door meeting with no witnesses then how does your source know EXACTLY what happened? Right, they don't, but listening to a one-sided argument is still fun, right?

**meggiemom** · 11-09-2012, 10:02 AM

There are two sides to the story. I believe Mrs. Ragle's version.

**Independent Thinker** · 11-09-2012, 10:04 AM

Read my post again, her mouthy little pet snitch witnessed the events leading up to the closed door session. I stated Carlene exhibited her ignorance by not having a witness present during the meeting. Regardless, the way she reacted was deplorable. Mrs. Ragle was not even allowed to enter her office when she arrived for work.

**j p nettles** · 11-09-2012, 10:39 AM

On the Carlene Anderson for Superintendent Facebook page there was an endorsement by the chairman of the rubber stamp committee, Dennis Wallace. He was praising her for balancing the budget among other things. Wallace ought to be an expert on budgets. He's on the board of BankTrust (BTFG), one of the many banks that hit bottom after the financial meltdown by making bad loans. It's finally being bought by Trustmark, but the board has been the subject of an investigation and the acquisition has been delayed.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 10:53 AM

IT, please clarify. There was someone there when it all went down, but no witnesses. Just trying to understand how the information was shared if no one was there, but they were there. And I agree with having someone in the room. An HR person or other witness should have been present for a meeting of this sort. It was bound to end badly from the start with no one else present and that's just my personal opinion.

OK, IT, I went back and read your prior post and now understand someone was there up to the closed door part. Thx!

**ann watson** · 11-09-2012, 11:01 AM

The Human Resources director is Sonya Alford. Perhaps she should have been in on this.

**j p nettles** · 11-09-2012, 11:12 AM

Walton Academy, the charter school is run by the Rader Group. The Rader Group made a contribution to Carlene Anderson's campaign. I understand that the charter is up for renewal in a few months. Is this really good public policy (ethical)? This is the same outfit that gave Ray Sansom a job. And Bill Eddins is principal in one of the Okaloosa County charter schools. Is he related to the state attorney?

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 11:25 AM

Who decides the renewal? The SB or Anderson? And I know, I know what everyone says about the board rubber stamping request, but it's an honest question. I think you could probably tie donations by groups to someone they might want something from, from most of the political candidates. People donate and vote for those they think will help their business or cause from the presidential race down to the school board. Not saying it's ethical, but is it illegal? I disagree personally with many things that bother me ethics wise but are perfectly legal according to the law citizens support through their votes.

Two instances I will mention, and please, I am only asking an honest question and am seeking opinions, not for anyone to jump on me or to get upset.

First, Marti Coley really brought home the bacon for her campus in Chiply/Bonifay area and was never held to the same scrutiny as Samson to my knowledge. Second, when politicians come into office, there is always a "reorganization" of the ranks. There were many changes when our sheriff came into office four years ago. Some people went home, some had their rank lowered and some changed positions. When someone changes their cabinet when they enter into or back into office, that is usually expected. I agree that this with Mrs. Ragel was pretty sudden, but if I remember correctly, and I don't always, I'm human, the sheriff's transition team came in before he took office and starting sifting through personnel and where they would be placed or if they would stay.

I'm honestly just asking how is this different in the posters eyes here and not taking any side or saying what has happened is right or OK. I just want to understand what people think about these issues. Thank you for any thoughts anyone wants to share. :)

**Independent Thinker** · 11-09-2012, 11:37 AM

I get your point, but the changes in the Sheriffs Dept. don't usually occur unless a new sheriff is elected. Why did Anderson decide to relieve Mrs Ragle of her duties the day after the election ? Why was this not done before the school year started or before Mrs. Ragle annouced she would be running for the office ? It just appears to be either a vendictive move, or poor planning and leadership.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 11:45 AM

I agree, IT, the timing and the fact no HR person was in the room are not positive for me personally. I'm going to try to get the skinny on all the employees that were moved that day and report what both sides are willing to speak on record about. I've worked in many different areas, offices small and large and I would never agree to a meeting with a supervisor that I had clashed with without an HR person or someone I trusted to tell the truth no matter their position if and that's a big if, I had the where with all to ask for it. Sometimes, things happen so quickly, we don't make the best choices for ourselves when we are surprised by something. I'm disappointed, personally, as a tax payer, that another person was not included in this meeting if either side requested it. That's pretty much HR 101 from my experience.

And if it cost the tax payers and home owners, like myself, that this was not handled correctly, then that upsets me personally as well.

But let me add this big IF: If this is what has happened as we do not have everyone on the record that was in the room that day. It will be up to the people involved to share their sides of the story on this issue that they can by law and then the public can decide what they think about it.

I already have more bubble gum than I can chew for next week's edition, but I will cover the SB on Tuesday morning and hopefully have something on this out for the week after edition that will cover all the bases and changes that were made. Let me add that Mrs. Ragel, her supporters or just anyone disturbed by this or anything else are always welcome to voice their opinion in a letter to the editor and that would go out with next week's edition if received before Monday at 4 p.m. Letters can be mailed to Bruce@defuniakherald.com or dfsherald@gmail.com and marked, Atten: Letter to the editor.

**j p nettles** · 11-09-2012, 11:54 AM

I've attended a lot of board meetings and don't think I've ever seen the board not approve the superintendent's recommendations. I've talked to a lot of teachers and I wonder why the union has never filed a complaint against the district on behalf of it's members. If this were Dade, Broward, or some other counties, the union would have stood up for their members. The most useful thing to come out of a civil action is that a lot of people would have to give depositons and I'd love to see what some school district officials would say under oath.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 11:58 AM

That would make for some very interesting news as well, JP! :)

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 12:02 PM

JP, I'm not aware of a lot of history of the new member. With the new member coming on, do you think the shift of power will change on the board or stay the same?

**j p nettles** · 11-09-2012, 12:15 PM

I suspect the new member, a retired principal, will be another rubber stamp. I believe she contributed to Mrs. Anderson's campaign in 2008.

**ann watson** · 11-09-2012, 01:36 PM

As a former Walton County educator, I'd love to know the reason why I was non renewed in 2010. I taught for 4 years with good evaluations and excellent student performance in my first grade class. I've applied in other counties and one of the questions is: "Have you ever been fired or denied continued employment, if so why". Obviously, I've been denied continued employment. I can only guess, since the law doesn't require a reason. How do you answer a question like that?

**Independent Thinker** · 11-09-2012, 02:41 PM

Good question...... and it's certainly not fair. I have some questions, and your answer to my question may answer your question; (1) are you a Walton county "native" (2) (I know the answer to this - no) are you part of Andersons suck-up click (3) Isn't in commonplace here to not renew contracts for good teachers after 3 or 4 years ?

**ann watson** · 11-09-2012, 03:24 PM

All of the above. I also signed Trisha Hutchison's petition when she ran in 2008 and I was told that wasn't a good idea. It really hurts to lose a career of more than 30 years and not be given a reason. Also, my husband was very ill at the time and we thought he might not live and to suddenly lose a job and health insurance was a real blow. When I applied for unemployment, I was initially denied because the school district reported to them that I might be rehired. They had no intention of rehiring me. Forgive me if I sound bitter.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 03:33 PM

Miss Watson, I am very sorry for what you have gone through. Why do you think Trisha has not had any consequences for running against Mrs. Anderson or has something happened with her I am not aware of?

**meggiemom** · 11-09-2012, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Alicia Leonard

Miss Watson, I am very sorry for what you have gone through. Why do you think Trisha has not had any consequences for running against Mrs. Anderson or has something happened with her I am not aware of?

Ms. Hutchison probably has tenure. I understand that it's very difficult to get rid of teachers who have tenure. Mrs. Ragle is probably under a different contract. I think the new education law did away with tenure for all teachers who didn't already have it.

**beachbums77** · 11-09-2012, 05:37 PM

Good Questions and here is what I’ve been able to discover :
Ragle, like other administrators, work on an annualcontract. The superintendent can renewor deny that contract yearly. Under thisset up no principal or coordinator would ever disagree with Ms. Anderson if they wanted to work the nextyear. Hutchison is a “tenured” teacherand works under a professional contract. It is much easier to get rid of teachers on professional contract withthe new evaluation system but it will still take a few years. Therefore Hutchison may not be as protectedfrom retaliation as she was four years ago. I guess she’ll know when she gets her evaluation.
The mention of an HR Dept. made my contact laugh. The HR Dept. is called Personnel Director andis a teacher that became a principal with no HR training. In many ways like the Finance Director thatonly has a high school education. Bothof these people make around $90,000 a year. A teacher with a master’s degree and 30 years experience might make$60,000 but extremely unlikely since teachers have not had a step increase inabout 5 years. Wouldn’t a schooldistrict want a CPA or something to manage the millions of dollars? It doesn’t seem to matter your qualificationsjust your willingness to do what you are told and consequences be damned,
My contact also said the superintendent and her pawn, KayDailey, can say they are reorganizing the responsibilities of all thecoordinators at the district office because of an upcoming retirement of one ofthe coordinators but no one that works there believes it. And, they might have moved a couple ofcoordinators around to other offices BUT no other coordinator was met Wednesdaymorning by three men demanding his or her keys, having the locks changed on their office doors and denying them access. All the teachers I know say that the superintendentwon’t fire Ragle right now because that would definitely be seen as retaliationand give Ragle cause to sue the district. The superintendent will just put Ragle in a position that will humiliateher the most and then not renew her contract at the end of school year.
And, you’re not goingto believe this but I’ve heard it from more than one person now, Kay Daileystood up in her church last Sunday, cried, and asked everyone to please votefor Ms. Anderson because if Ms. Anderson didn’t win she would lose herjob. Really? Really?
Dear Ann, all the teachers I talk to say you, like manyother teachers at the 4^th year annual contract position that year, werenot renewed because if you had been the district would have had to put you on aprofessional contract and Anderson didn’t want any more teachers onprofessional contract.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 06:07 PM

Does Anderson do the firing or does the board have to approve a dismissal?

**j p nettles** · 11-09-2012, 06:09 PM

I'm wondering what the district has a personnel director for anyway. I went to a Tea Party meeting back when the half mil tax referendum was up for a vote and I tape recorded Mrs. Anderson's address. In the meeting she took questions and I asked why former teachers were dismissed and not rehired. She said that the principals decide who is dismissed and who is hired and she has nothing to do with it. I have it on tape and I can prove that she said it. Well, if that's the case, what does an HR director do? I submit to you that she was lying.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 06:32 PM

Sometimes, in my experience, HR directors or staff members deal with health care, absences, vacation time, sick leave and such where paper work is concerned. When I worked for a private- non-profit many moons ago, if you had any of those items, you took it to HR. Supervisors also would go to HR when they had questions about hiring or dismissals and such. A supervisor or other staff member might sit in a meeting with you and another employee if you had issues, but when it came down to the legalities, it all had to go through HR.

**liz coats** · 11-09-2012, 07:01 PM

After reading most of the posts here and in speaking with teachers, am I to understand that the school system can fire teachers for no reason at the whim of a principal or anyone else in the system? Isn't that a formula for discrimination? It seems to me that a state law that allows such a thing would be in violation of Federal law. Incredible!!!!

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-09-2012, 09:28 PM

Florida is a fire at will state. But, I believe and others will know more about this than me, most teachers as long as they abide by their contract serve the length of their contract. Instead of being fired, I believe they call it not having your contract renewed in the new school year.

**j p nettles** · 11-10-2012, 07:19 AM

Since the taxpayers and citizens of Walton County are theoretically "the boss" of Anderson and other elected officials, perhaps we the citizens (and taxpayers) need to do our evaluation of Carlene Anderson in the form of a petition, citing all the facts presented here. The petition could be presented to the board demanding her resignation. Of course such a petition would only be symbolic, but perhaps it would bring some facts to the attention of the public. It might make for a good story in the media.

**Bob Wells** · 11-10-2012, 01:45 PM

I am just curious what face you would be speaking of JP?

**Andy A** · 11-11-2012, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by Bob Wells

I am just curious what face you would be speaking of JP?

I may be wrong, but I think you meant "facts" instead of face.

**Bob Wells** · 11-11-2012, 09:07 AM

Yeah, obviously I did not proof that...

**WaltonParent** · 11-11-2012, 11:22 AM

All the posts since the election are interesting. The nutshell of the situation is that Mrs. Anderson's "aggressive management style" and tendency for retribution against opponents were well-known prior to the election. Even with this information in the public discussion, she won with 65 percent of the vote.
What message did it send her? "Keep up the 'good' work".
What message did it send students? Drive to Niceville, find a private school or make peace with the idea of cleaning wealthy tourists' houses or carrying their beach chairs.
What message does it send to teachers and principals? Do more with less resources and pay, and if you do not like it, we can always hire an inexperienced person to take your place (we don't care if they do a good job, as long as they don't question anything).

Based upon the election results, as the electorate, many do not care whether our children get a good education; our teachers are treated fairly; or our elected officials are held accountable.

A petition to oust her? People that is what an ELECTION is supposed to do. The voters failed. Fire yourselves.

**ann watson** · 11-11-2012, 12:08 PM

It appears that most of the people in Walton County are satisfied with the status quo.

**Daydream Believer** · 11-12-2012, 11:02 AM

So, is anyone going to attend the School Board meeting tomorrow morning at 9am? Unfortunately, I am not able to attend because the meetings are held at the most inconvenient time possible. I am just wondering if anyone might ask Carlene why she decided to make so many changes the day after the election and treat Mrs. Ragle the way she did. It’s time to hold her accountable. No wonder this county has such a problem with bullying; it is modeled for students straight from the top.

**Independent Thinker** · 11-12-2012, 12:33 PM

I have a some questions for Walton county teachers and support employees.
1. Why is your union so weak and powerless ?
2. Do you elect your local president ?
3. From what I've seen and heard your union does not stand up for you, why do you keep paying membership dues ?
4. Do you get any benefit for being a member ?
5. Do you have a no strike clause in your current contract ?
I'm not trying to go anywhere with this, just trying to understand what's wrong with your union and their lack of support for it's members.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-12-2012, 01:01 PM

Agenda for tomorrow's meeting-

INVOCATION – F. LEDDON
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AGENDA
A REGULAR MEETING
SCHOOL BOARD OF WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA
Tivoli Administrative Complex, 145 Park Street, Suite 3, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
9:00 A.M.
Opening Agenda Items
1 - OPENING ITEMS -
1.01 - Announcements
Presentation of AdvancED District Accreditation Plaque (D. Jeselnik)
1.02 - Approval of Agenda
Approval of Agenda for November 13, 2012 (C. Anderson)
1.03 - Adoption of Minutes
a. Approval of Minutes from October 9, 2012 Regular Meeting (C. Anderson)
b. Approval of Minutes from October 22, 2012 Special Meeting (C. Anderson)
c. Approval of Minutes from Closed Hearing Expulsion Minutes for #1213-13 (C. Anderson)
d. Approval of Minutes from Closed Hearing Expulsion Minutes for #1213-20 (C. Anderson)
e. Approval of Minutes from Closed Hearing Expulsion Minutes for #1213-08 (C. Anderson)
1.04 - Public Comments
NOTE: Any person addressing the board is reminded that the name of the student, other the children of the person
addressing the Board, should not be mentioned or disclosed in the person's comments.
Consent Agenda Items
1 - OPENING ITEMS -
1.05 - Approval of Consent Agenda Items
5 - AGREEMENTS / CONTRACTS -
5.01 - Agreements / Contracts
a. Approval of Contract Between the School Board of Walton County, Florida and Adele Armitage of South
Walton High School (D. Preast)
b. Approval of Contract Between the School Board of Walton County, Florida and Michael Craig of South Walton
High School (D. Preast)
c. Approval of Contracted Service Agreement Between The School Board of Walton County and Sandra Ganas,
Speech Language Pathologist (R. Ragle)
d. Approval of Contract with The College Board to Designate High Schools as SAT Testing Sites and to
Administer School Day SAT (D. Jeselnik)
8 - FINANCE -
8.01 - Executive Financial Summaries
Approval of Monthly Financial Report September 2012 (M. Hobbs)
8.04 - Budget Amendments
Approval of Budget Amendments (M. Hobbs)
8.05 - Purchasing
Approval of Purchasing Exceeding $25,000.00 (M. Hobbs)
8.13 - Financial Audits
a. Approval of Charter School Financial Audits for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2012 for Walton Academy
(M. Hobbs)
b. Approval of Charter School Financial Audits for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2012 for Walton Academy
Learning Center (M. Hobbs)
c. Approval of Charter School Financial Audits for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2012 for Seaside School
(M. Hobbs)
10 - INSTRUCTION / CURRICULUM -
10.07 - District Advisory Council
Approval of Composition of the 2012-2013 District Advisory Council (D. Jeselnik)
Agenda 11/13/2012
Page 2
15 - TRANSPORTATION -
15.01 - Trip (Bus/Van) Requests
a. Approval of Freeport High School Students to Travel to Andalusia, Alabama on November 27, 2012 to Tour
the Gas Steam Turbine and Hydropower Facilities at the Central Generation Facility of PowerSouth (J. Hicks)
b. Approval of Freeport High School Boys and Girls Soccer Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
c. Approval of Freeport High School Baseball Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
d. Approval of South Walton High School Cheerleading Squad to Travel to Jacksonville, Florida and Kissimmee,
Florida on January 4-5, 2013 to attend the FHSAA Regional Competition and to Kissimmee, FL, on February 1-
2, 2013, for the State Championship Competition (J. Hicks)
e. Approval of South Walton High School Boys Basketball Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
f. Approval of South Walton High School girls Basketball Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
g. Approval of South Walton High School Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
h. Approval of South Walton High School Wrestling Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
i. Approval of Walton High School Boys Soccer Schedule for the 2012-2013 SY (J. Hicks)
17 - PROPERTY -
17.01 - Disposition of Property
Approval of Property Disposition (T. Blackshear)
19 - FACILITIES / CONSTRUCTION -
19.07 - Construction Change Orders
a. Approval of Emerald Coast Middle School Eight classroom Addition - Change Order #3 for $15,796.06 (M.
Gardner)
b. Approval of Emerald Coast Middle School - Eight (8) Classroom Addition Change Order #5 to Elkins
Constructors (M. Gardner)
19.09 - Final Acceptance/Payment on Project
a. Approval of Final Payment to Elkins Constructors for Emerald Coast Middle School Classroom Addition Project
(M. Gardner)
b. Approval of Final Payment to R.D. Ward Construction Co., Inc. for West DeFuniak Elementary School
Renovations (M. Gardner)
Action Agenda Items
4 - FORUM -
4.01 - Forum: Citizens
Forum: Citizen Request (J. Jones)
9 - PERSONNEL -
9.01 - Personnel Recommendations
a. Approval of November 13, 2012 Personnel Recommendations (S. Alford)
b. Approval of November 13, 2012 Personnel Addendum (S. Alford)
25 - ADMINISTRATION -
25.35 - Student Expulsions
a. Approval of Student Expulsion #1213-21 (C. Anderson)
89 - ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION -
89.01 - Items Removed from Consent Agenda
90 - CLOSING ITEMS -
90.01 - Attorney's Report
90.02 - Board Comments
90.03 - Chairperson's Report
90.04 - Superintendent's Report
99 - ADJOURNMENT -
99.01 - Adjournment
Agenda 11/13/2012
Page 3
NOTE: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the School Board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or
hearing, such person will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, such person may need to ensure that a
verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be
based.
DENNIS A. WALLACE CARLENE H. ANDERSON
Chairperson of the Board Secretary to the Board

You can see the board packet here: http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/board/mi...20Default.aspx

**Independent Thinker** · 11-12-2012, 01:11 PM

Isn't it nice for the elected Superentendent and School board to have the meetings when the majority of people are working. I guess it keeps the complaints to a minimum at the meetings. Not that they care about what the parents or teachers think.

**Alicia Leonard** · 11-12-2012, 01:55 PM

They've actually requested input on changing them back to evenings or late afternoons. They talked about it a few meetings back and Mark Davis opened the conversation on it.

**j p nettles** · 11-12-2012, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by beachbums77

Good Questions and here is what I’ve been able to discover :
Ragle, like other administrators, work on an annualcontract. The superintendent can renewor deny that contract yearly. Under thisset up no principal or coordinator would ever disagree with Ms. Anderson if they wanted to work the nextyear. Hutchison is a “tenured” teacherand works under a professional contract. It is much easier to get rid of teachers on professional contract withthe new evaluation system but it will still take a few years. Therefore Hutchison may not be as protectedfrom retaliation as she was four years ago. I guess she’ll know when she gets her evaluation.
The mention of an HR Dept. made my contact laugh. The HR Dept. is called Personnel Director andis a teacher that became a principal with no HR training. In many ways like the Finance Director thatonly has a high school education. Bothof these people make around $90,000 a year. A teacher with a master’s degree and 30 years experience might make$60,000 but extremely unlikely since teachers have not had a step increase inabout 5 years. Wouldn’t a schooldistrict want a CPA or something to manage the millions of dollars? It doesn’t seem to matter your qualificationsjust your willingness to do what you are told and consequences be damned,
My contact also said the superintendent and her pawn, KayDailey, can say they are reorganizing the responsibilities of all thecoordinators at the district office because of an upcoming retirement of one ofthe coordinators but no one that works there believes it. And, they might have moved a couple ofcoordinators around to other offices BUT no other coordinator was met Wednesdaymorning by three men demanding his or her keys, having the locks changed on their office doors and denying them access. All the teachers I know say that the superintendentwon’t fire Ragle right now because that would definitely be seen as retaliationand give Ragle cause to sue the district. The superintendent will just put Ragle in a position that will humiliateher the most and then not renew her contract at the end of school year.
And, you’re not goingto believe this but I’ve heard it from more than one person now, Kay Daileystood up in her church last Sunday, cried, and asked everyone to please votefor Ms. Anderson because if Ms. Anderson didn’t win she would lose herjob. Really? Really?
Dear Ann, all the teachers I talk to say you, like manyother teachers at the 4^th year annual contract position that year, werenot renewed because if you had been the district would have had to put you on aprofessional contract and Anderson didn’t want any more teachers onprofessional contract.

I'd like to know exactly what Kay Dailey does and what her qualifications are. Also at one of the meetings, Mrs. Anderson's "energy guru" spoke and boasted about how much the district was saving in utility expense. What exactly are her qualifications? I'd also like to see a detailed breakdown of how much the school district's personnel costs are for administration and instructional compared with other counties. I dare not ask the district for this information since the last time I asked for information that is supposed to be public record I had to file a complaint with the governors office. That's when I got the info.

**tigers** · 11-13-2012, 02:05 PM

First of all I was told about this sight by someone in the school system. I myself use to be a teacher in this system. I had aspirations of coming back to my home town after being educated and working with the people I grew up around. Mrs. Anderson was even one of my teachers growing up and went to my church. I know every person in the Central Office andall the principals, admin, etc. and held them in the highest esteem. I am a native of Walton Co. and my father helped build DeFuniak and the county into whatit is now. I have watched from a distance the corruptness overwhelm the school district. And I want all of you to know that many of her cronies were not always the ugly people they have become. I still have property in Walton Co. so I am concerned and one day may come back to retire at my folks beach house in Santa Rosa. I want to let others know that there is a better way. I am in such a system. Our board is appointed and Superintendant is hired. Decisions are based on the best interest of the children. Now I would be lying if I said politics were not played but not to the extent that I have to worry about my job or my reputation. I now reside elsewhere because of Mrs. Anderson and (as I heard after leaving) her beloved sorority sisters and the yes men. I know, first hand, how ruthless she can be. And the thing that most people from North (D) of the bay do not understand, is the people from South Walton are a diverse group of people who have been other places (R) and seen what it is like elsewhere. (Not everyone but most) This is where the problem begins. Most everyone that holds the top positions in the school system have large (voting) families. Or are either married to others that have families,etc.... I did not see this when I lived there, they were my friends, blind and naieve as I was. Many still are.

Mrs. Anderson did this to Mrs. Ragle I have no doubt! She did very much the same thing to me. She just used one of her puppets to do it. When confronted she lied and smiled even though others around her were telling me what she said to them about me. And that in is how she works. Her (yes) person degraded my family and spoke about my parents and how I would never move up in this system because of who I was. My Father or mother musthave done something to her, many just called it jealousy. I don't really care. At that time, Mrs. Anderson, you turned my world upside down. Fortunately for me, not so much some of the others, I chose to leave rather than fight eventhough my parents wanted me to stay. I knew she was going to make my life anightmare. It was a choice I made and for years I hated the ground you walkedon. After my father’s death I don't want that anymore. I cannot become theperson God wants me to be hating you. Since I have been away we stay in touch with many still there. I read all the time about the county I grew up in. Politics in Walton Co is like no other place I have ever been before. For the voters of Walton Co. there are better alternatives. Every time I come home people ask me when I am returning and would I run against Carlene. Our paths will never cross again Mrs. Anderson but I pray for you and that God will not let you hurt others the way you hurt my family. I want to show you how wrong you were. I am thriving in another school system, my daughter up for MISS Alabama, and oldest boy following in father’s footsteps by playing collegebaseball. The other son loves hunting and football. We have all become successful and my wife has been named teacher of the year. Me, I am continuing up the ladder on a fair playing field. And doing rather well. I hate the time you took away from my children, seeing their grandparents and wish that the people of Walton County would do away with D and R on the ticket and vote for the person. My friends will send me a message on face book, most of them teachers, saying how nice it must be to not worry about my job. I feel so sorry for them. Many of them are truly scared to say anything. I will have to give you this. You are a very shrewd politician. Somehow though Mrs. Anderson, I don't think that is what God had in mind when he wrote the good book. Maybe in 4 more years.

Tiger

**beachmouse** · 11-13-2012, 05:53 PM

All public unions in Florida are effectively no strike because participating in a labor strike is one of the ways you can lose your public pension benefits, even if you're long ago vested.

**j p nettles** · 11-13-2012, 07:12 PM

The usual dull meeting this morning (Nov. 13). The district presented itself with yet another plaque, so a photo op for Wallace and Anderson. Then a lot of slobbering over the retiring member of the board. So everything is back to normal after the election. The dictator reigns supreme.

**Andy A** · 11-14-2012, 08:48 AM

It is worth noting that considering what some are saying about the Walton County school system, many of us are very happy that we do not presently have children in school.

**beachbums77** · 11-17-2012, 09:20 AM

Now that the election is over and the school system has gone through some sort of official count period all the teachers hired so that the school district could meet the class size amendment requirments and therefore be considerd a "high performing school district" are being let go. This is how the superintendent has been running the school district for years -smoke and mirrors, LOL! Also, another new administrative coordinator's position for the district office is being advertised. Funny when I hear many of my friends talking about the lack of books and other materials in their childrens' schools. Also, one friend that is a high school teacher says that he has missed over 10 days in the classroom because the district is making them all go to training...training that the teachers don't feel is necessary or can't wait until summer.