[FONT="]By ASHLEY AMASON[/FONT]
[FONT="]Superintendent Carlene Anderson congratulated Walton County students, teachers, and administrators on FCAT scores at the June 7 Walton County School Board meeting. Having received the scores earlier that day, the district learned certain grade levels scored as high as third in the state.[/FONT]
[FONT="]A brief action agenda resulted in the unanimous approval of board member Mark Davis and citizen appointee Rob Neale to serve on the 2011-2012 value adjustment board.[/FONT]
[FONT="]During public comments, Bay Elementary School (BES) parents Rene Endres and Andrea Miree addressed the board, along with Jose Perez, husband of an annual contract BES teacher.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Endres alleged “We’ve had the recent budget cuts…the school district, the superintendent, and the principals, they’ve let go of Bay teacher of the year, the two teachers with the highest third grade FCAT scores that increased by 6 percent over last year…and when Carlene is congratulating people on the FCAT, two of these teachers scored best in the district, their students did. That doesn’t sound quite like it’s making the best decision [in] the interest of the students, or Bay in general…With all the vacancies that are now at Bay, due to five people letting go, two transfers, the principal is going to have to hire teachers. So why would they let the best teachers go? When you do that, the difference between hiring a new teacher with zero to one year experience and keeping a fourth-year teacher is less than $1,000, I believe. So as PTO board president, is there any way we could have recouped those fees to help the teachers, make up the difference where they didn’t have to be fired? These teachers have had the most professional and accomplished evaluations, have excellent work ethic, have put in the years of dedication into this district and why they were chosen to be let go is mindboggling…they’re almost getting tenure and they’re let go right before they’re about to get tenure. I’m confused on how that decision was made, why it was made when there could’ve been other ways to handle that.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Anderson replied, “When we talk about letting people go or being fired, only the board can give the final approval on hiring and terminating. Anyone else up to this point that has not been recommended back may not have been recommended back for several reasons…as far as specifics, I couldn’t talk about teachers specifically unless those teachers allowed me to do that…the board hasn’t terminated anyone, so no one has been fired. Under annual contract, [which] are the only teachers we are talking about, the contract is one year. When the contract ends, it ends. There is no firing, there is no letting go, there is just ‘the contract is up, we thank you for your year of service.’” Now can they be rehired, yes. Could they be, absolutely, at the discretion of the recommendation of the principal to me to this board and the board makes the final decision. But no one has been terminated at this point because that has to come to this board…All annual contract teachers receive [a letter] in this district…stating their contract ended…Based on budget considerations which we just discussed tonight [principals] can hire some people back if they need them based on class-size reduction...but they’ve just been given the go to hire back those people who they need and who they choose based on performance…the budget hasn’t been set, it’s only been discussed once with this board.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Endres clarified, “So what you’re telling me is the teachers that were let go were asked not to come back. I’m confused then because the teachers are under the impression they’ve been formally let go.” Anderson interjected, “They were not let go. Their contract expired.” She continued, “Our relationship with an annual contract employee after one year is done…We may choose to rehire them, but that will come as a recommendation from the principal to me and me to this board…annual contract can be rehired at that school, another school, or anywhere throughout the district. However, they may not be rehired at all because their contract expired and no one chooses to bring them back.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Endres said, “Well as a Bay parent, I recommend these teachers be reinstated because they’re amazing. And if there is a [financial] difference, if there is something we can work out with the PTO board to keep them there, if there is something that we can use our funds or fundraising because south Walton can raise some money. We would like to keep them. If there is something, we can let go of the librarian and that fat paycheck she gets. Get her out of there and I’ll find somebody….” [/FONT]
[FONT="]Board Chairperson Sharon Roberts stated, “The board has not terminated or told anyone to go home at this time.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Jose Perez, husband of one of the Bay teachers in reference, broke into tears, and sobbed, “Where are the checks and balances in this school district? How can the sole decision of letting go phenomenal teachers who dedicate their time and love to their profession, never are behind on a deadline. My wife works 60-hour weeks at Bay Elementary. She’s the school improvement chair…she has done everything she can for those kids and for her to be told by the principal she’s being cut because of budget? We could have taken a pay-cut rather than not having any funds. She has dedicated her life to these kids, to her classroom, to her school for four years. She has just asked to be renewed. Because she is not being renewed she no longer has tenureship. She has worked so hard for this tenureship. The school district asked the citizens of Walton County to pass the half-mill referendum to keep these teachers’ jobs. Why are you letting these teachers go? They haven’t been renewed. They were told they’re gone…these four teachers were seeking their fifth year. They were going to get their tenureship but they’ve been let go so they’re not going to get it now.”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Roberts requested Perez make an appointment with the superintendent. “I am so sorry for your situation…The superintendent cannot even discuss your wife’s position with you unless your wife is with you” she said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]BES parent Andrea Miree told the board, “I too have been very upset and shocked by what we consider firing, but as you’re saying they were just not recommended to be rehired at this point. They were asked to leave and take their stuff, where there [are] other teachers on annual contracts that were not asked to do so, so that’s where we see the difference. So my question would be, how many other teachers that are on annual contract have been recommended not to be rehired, if that is a number you can give us? Especially, I’d be interested in that number, maybe, at Butler…I too am very concerned that the ESE teacher, we only have one at Bay, as far as we knew was asked to leave and was not going to be renewed. Are we planning on having ESE services at Bay...This ESE teacher is teacher of the year. I have worked with her because of my son for the last several years and I know the dedication, I know the great evaluations. It’s not a job to her. It is a calling, and it is so hard to find good ESE teachers. They burn out easily and they go into the regular classroom. It’s very hard to teach these children who all learn so differently. And with her commitment to do so, and to give me everything I need at home as a parent to try to teach my child, I could not recommend anyone more highly. I just ask to please consider rehiring her….”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“ESE students, by law and by the right thing to do, will have an ESE teacher. We have to serve [them]. Absolutely, so do not fear we will not have an ESE teacher. We will.” Anderson said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The meeting adjourned after the board scheduled several workshops. A workshop will be held at 4 p.m. on June 21 to discuss an easement at Freeport High School as well as tenure, which will no longer be offered after July 1 in light of a bill signed by Governor Rick Scott. At 5 p.m. on June 30, the year-end budget amendments meeting will be held.[/FONT]
[FONT="]A budget workshop will be held July 11 at 4 p.m. to discuss general operating funds and at 5 p.m. to discuss capital outlay funds.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The next meeting of the WCSB is June 21 at 5 p.m. at the DeFuniak Springs Tivoli Complex.[/FONT]
DeFuniak Herald / Beach BreezeDeFuniak Herald / Beach BreezeLocal Media264 postsJoined View profileMessageLocal Media
DeFuniak Herald / Beach BreezeLocal Media264 postsJoined View profileMessageLocal Media10,835 views
Replies
56librarianlibrarianBeach Lover94 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
as someone who would LOVE to move to the area in part due to the great public school system this really is sad. i'd love for my son to be able to grow up in this area.it would be nice if the teachers/families could push back in some way- ageism etc. but in this climate challenges can be difficult.
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertI don't think ageism works when they're basing cuts on you working there less than 4 years.
And our school system is still pretty good - it isn't like we have 44 schools and hundreds of teachers cheating on standardized tests ala Atlanta.
And our school system is still pretty good - it isn't like we have 44 schools and hundreds of teachers cheating on standardized tests ala Atlanta.
Edited
Bob HudsonBob HudsonBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach1,066 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
Bob HudsonBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach1,066 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticAnd our school system is still pretty good - it isn't like we have 44 schools and hundreds of teachers cheating on standardized tests ala Atlanta.
You sure about that ?
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertIt is time for South Walton parents to kick it in gear and get involved in their schools. Parents from Bay, Butler, Seaside, Emerald Coast, and SWHS need to get together and work on a plan for what is important and necessary for our students in SoWal. I don't know how to make this happen- but it needs to happen. Immediately.
amarettodiamoreamarettodiamoreBeach Comber16 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Comber
It is time for South Walton parents to kick it in gear and get involved in their schools. Parents from Bay, Butler, Seaside, Emerald Coast, and SWHS need to get together and work on a plan for what is important and necessary for our students in SoWal. I don't know how to make this happen- but it needs to happen. Immediately.
The next school board meeting is July 11th @ 4 p.m.. I'm willing to help kick it into gear and host a parents meeting at the Hammock Bay Lake Club this Saturday, July 9th lets say starting around 2 p.m. If you're able to attend send me a personal message or add to this post, that way I know around how many persons to reserve the Lake Club for. Your questions, ideas and support are greatly welcomed.
Parents, the teachers from these schools need your help!
Edited
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertOur South Walton schools do need our help and all need to work together, but it is much broader than the teacher rehires at Bay. We need an organization- like some sort of South Walton School Association, with clear goals and objectives about how to make sure our voices are heard and our needs are understood- and for our parents to have more say in the direction and future of our schools. While there have been some instances where parents have been successful in making changes, the overall atmosphere in SoWal is always the feeling of having to battle and struggle for changes and trying to make the school system stretch to accommodate our high expectations that we have brought in from other school systems around the country.
The teacher issue at Bay and how it was handled was very unfortunate IMO, but it is not the only issue that needs our attention down here. Next week's school board meeting is a budget workshop, so if people are interested in where the money goes and can get there during work hours, then the drive to DeFunk is worth their time. In the meantime, maybe the PTOs at each school can be contacting each other about some sort of association- I will speak to Bay's PTO president today. There is no reason why our schools can't be known at least regionally for their excellence and academic strengths- we certainly have the parents living here who expect no less.
The teacher issue at Bay and how it was handled was very unfortunate IMO, but it is not the only issue that needs our attention down here. Next week's school board meeting is a budget workshop, so if people are interested in where the money goes and can get there during work hours, then the drive to DeFunk is worth their time. In the meantime, maybe the PTOs at each school can be contacting each other about some sort of association- I will speak to Bay's PTO president today. There is no reason why our schools can't be known at least regionally for their excellence and academic strengths- we certainly have the parents living here who expect no less.
momof2kidsmomof2kidsBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach793 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
momof2kidsBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach793 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticThe next school board meeting is July 11th @ 4 p.m.. I'm willing to help kick it into gear and host a parents meeting at the Hammock Bay Lake Club this Saturday, July 9th lets say starting around 2 p.m. If you're able to attend send me a personal message or add to this post, that way I know around how many persons to reserve the Lake Club for. Your questions, ideas and support are greatly welcomed.
Parents, the teachers from these schools need your help!
Thank you for offering to get the meeting going. I am willing to get involved, but driving 331N on a Saturday afternoon makes me cringe... and unfortunately we have plans for Saturday. When the next meeting is set please let us know. Maybe a weeknight? Wed or Thurs night 6pm? This might give parents in SRB time to get out of work & get up there. Or if we have a space available down here - library? or another pool house?
Thanks so much!
Edited
amarettodiamoreamarettodiamoreBeach Comber16 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Comber
Jdarg, I hear you loud and clear. We've got to get more involved in what is happening in this school system. If you can ask those PTO presidents to come that would be great!
Momof2kids, I have reserved to meeting room at the Coastal Branch Library for tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. I going to ask the teachers in this posting to attend, and well see.
I hope to see many parents there and we can start Jdarg's great idea of starting the South Walton School Association.
Momof2kids, I have reserved to meeting room at the Coastal Branch Library for tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. I going to ask the teachers in this posting to attend, and well see.
I hope to see many parents there and we can start Jdarg's great idea of starting the South Walton School Association.
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertWow- y'all work fast! I am not certain that I can attend on such a short notice- maybe pick a date out a week or two, get some discussion going in the meantime? I don't know how many people we can get on Friday night as well----
ZebraspotsZebraspotsBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach840 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
ZebraspotsBeach FanaticSanta Rosa Beach840 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach FanaticI think it is great you want to do this, but why another group? In most schools what you describe is done by the School Board and the PTO or PTA. Would reforming those work better?
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertIt would be a parents and teachers representing all of the schools in South Walton in communicating our needs to the district and the county as a whole. And for now just an idea I threw out! I think there should be lots of discussion to really flesh out all the options.
At the school level, I would like to see each school have a site based decision making council (what they were called in KY). Each school was "run" by the principal, several teachers, and several parents who served 1 year terms. Everything from curriculum to testing to conduct codes were worked on at the school level. The parent reps then reported at PTO meetings on status of issues and concerns.
At the school level, I would like to see each school have a site based decision making council (what they were called in KY). Each school was "run" by the principal, several teachers, and several parents who served 1 year terms. Everything from curriculum to testing to conduct codes were worked on at the school level. The parent reps then reported at PTO meetings on status of issues and concerns.
newbynewbyBeach Crab3 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Crab
Hey Jdarg...I believe the SIT accomplishes most of that at Bay. I think all of these are strong, ambitious and good ideas. I also think that the focus needs to be within each school becoming a powerful force of parents and teachers...and then maybe expand into a SW School Assoc with representatives from each individual school meeting monthly sharing ideas and implementing change.
All politics are local...so I think its good for all parents and teachers to SHOW UP! They need to show up at their individual school meetings, they need to show up at Board meetings and hold the administration accountable. No excuses!!! This needs to happen strongly in each south walton school not just when a crisis happens...there needs to be consisitency...bc by the time the crisis hits its too late.
The time is now and we must act strongly and in HUGE numbers. I know for a fact numbers cause extreme worry and pressure on the administration and its important we start really doing this. With the census it is also imperitive we express what kind of heart in numbers we have down here and fight for what we need...real representation! I look forward to working closely with you at Bay this year stirring some pots 🙂
All politics are local...so I think its good for all parents and teachers to SHOW UP! They need to show up at their individual school meetings, they need to show up at Board meetings and hold the administration accountable. No excuses!!! This needs to happen strongly in each south walton school not just when a crisis happens...there needs to be consisitency...bc by the time the crisis hits its too late.
The time is now and we must act strongly and in HUGE numbers. I know for a fact numbers cause extreme worry and pressure on the administration and its important we start really doing this. With the census it is also imperitive we express what kind of heart in numbers we have down here and fight for what we need...real representation! I look forward to working closely with you at Bay this year stirring some pots 🙂
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertI have never heard much about or from our SIT at Bay. Who is on it? Do they make reports to the PTO? How deep is the involvement? Our SBDM was a major force and very visible in the school and school community.
amarettodiamoreamarettodiamoreBeach Comber16 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Comber
SIT at Bay
The Bay SIT this past year was comprised of a chair person (teacher), the principal, guidance counselor, grade level chairs, and parent representatives. The team creates a School Improvement Plan to address areas of needed improvement. Then throughout the year they monitor the action plans and goals to see if they are being met. The SIT doesn't report directly to the PTO, but there are parent representatives on the team to relay the information and to provide input. The SIT doesn't have authority over the school or decisions. The principal has sole authority.
The Bay SIT this past year was comprised of a chair person (teacher), the principal, guidance counselor, grade level chairs, and parent representatives. The team creates a School Improvement Plan to address areas of needed improvement. Then throughout the year they monitor the action plans and goals to see if they are being met. The SIT doesn't report directly to the PTO, but there are parent representatives on the team to relay the information and to provide input. The SIT doesn't have authority over the school or decisions. The principal has sole authority.
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.