WCSD Superintendent Race

[BJackson]

According to the Florida Department of Education a school district must be an academically high-performing district in order to start school prior to 2 weeks before Labor Day. To be considered academically high-performing, districts must meet four state standards:

- They must meet class-size requirements.
- They must have a clean financial audit.
- They must maintain an A grade for two straight years.
- They must have no district-run schools with an F grade.

Does the district receiving a B grade for 2012 change the start date for the 2012-2013 school year?

​

 

[graytonbeachguy]

"I think your perception of what "Tea Party types" are, to be kind, is tremendously flawed. While the Tea Party is for limited government and less spending, it is certainly not against necessary and well supervised expenditure of tax funds.

I am of the very strong opinion, and have noted such at Tea Party meetings, that the average attendent is well informed on governmental issues at all levels of government, intelligent and well educated. The Tea Party is not a bunch of rag tag individuals, it is composed primarily of those who have been around the block once or twice and those willing to listens to facts and become educated.

_________________________________________________________

Sorry, AA, gonna have to call B.S. on that. Have you read a newspaper or serious analysis of how this "grass-roots" movement was co-opted by the Republican Party? This may be line that Teabaggers tell each other, but it is far from the truth.

 

[Andy A]

"I think your perception of what "Tea Party types" are, to be kind, is tremendously flawed. While the Tea Party is for limited government and less spending, it is certainly not against necessary and well supervised expenditure of tax funds.

I am of the very strong opinion, and have noted such at Tea Party meetings, that the average attendent is well informed on governmental issues at all levels of government, intelligent and well educated. The Tea Party is not a bunch of rag tag individuals, it is composed primarily of those who have been around the block once or twice and those willing to listens to facts and become educated.

_________________________________________________________

Sorry, AA, gonna have to call B.S. on that. Have you read a newspaper or serious analysis of how this "grass-roots" movement was co-opted by the Republican Party? This may be line that Teabaggers tell each other, but it is far from the truth.

May I graciously invite you to attend a Tea Party meeting before you go off half cocked with an opinion that has no basis of fact. It is true that most Tea Party members are Republicans but to say that the Republican party has co-opted the Tea Party movement is a stretch. I'm sure you know that the TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already. The Tea Party has one agenda and that is to see people elected who adhere to their ideals and principles.

 

[graytonbeachguy]

No, thank you on the invite. I, too, originally thought the TEA Party was a spontaneous and genuine grass roots movement. The dissatisfaction of the Tea Partiers was quickly harnessed by the Koch brothers, et al., for their own purposes. A simple agenda of tax and spending reform quickly blossomed to include the myriad social "hot-button" issues favored by the Republican Party. I would have a lot more respect for them had they remained an actual "Party" and not a Republican Party fringe group. Unfortunately, this happens with most every movement: it is brought to heel by moneyed interests and used for their purposes.

Btw, your "graciousness" is offset by your characterization of my opinions as "half-cocked." Not sure where that leaves your attitude barometer.

 

[j p nettles]

My perception of the Tea Party is that it is simply an umbrella tag for some conservatives. While I like to think I'm a fiscal conservative I have strong points of disagreement with extreme points of view, even though my wife has referred to me as right wing extremist. I've been to a couple of tea party meetings. I think it's healthy for people to speak out and the tea party organizations are vehicles for speaking out. My biggest concern about politics and public officials is the lack of true ethical conduct. I'll vote for a Democrat in a heartbeat if their moral discipline stronger than the Republican. Unfortunately, my perception is that most of Walton County's citizens don't share that belief. Some people will vote for their party's candidate regardless of misconduct.

 

[Andy A]

May I graciously invite you to attend a Tea Party meeting before you go off half cocked with an opinion that has no basis of fact. It is true that most Tea Party members are Republicans but to say that the Republican party has co-opted the Tea Party movement is a stretch. I'm sure you know that the TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already. The Tea Party has one agenda and that is to see people elected who adhere to their ideals and principles.

There are a lot of Tea Partiers who are considered half cocked, including me, at times. I stand by my original statements. They are basically for limited goverment, less taxes and spending and the furtherment of capitalism. Any Tea Party member who disagrees is free to weigh in. There is also a reason they have gravitated to the Republican side of the eisle. They are basically conservative and the Tea Party was never meant to expand as a third political party. Everytime that has happened in this country it has weaken our national functions, IMO, not to mention splitting the votes. When a 3rd Party strong enough to become a national force comes along, I'll be glad to consider their candidate. So far, that hasn't happened. The only political nature assigned to the Tea Party is to vet and consider all candidates and make clear their support of those who most closely support their positions, regardless of party affiliation. That, admittedly, is usually the Republican candidate. (Sorry, I used the wrong quote in my answer to graytonbeach guy.)

 

[mputnal]

This thread has unfortunately deteroriated from the original thread into what is wrong with our socio-political systems. Our world is changing around us requring us to desparately need reform in many if not all areas of our society however politics keeps that from happening. The problem with a two party system is that it creates too much polarization in all of us. The reality is that both parties including the Tea Party have a few answers but not all the answers and what they lack in answers is becoming deceptive smoke and mirror speeches and slogan from our political leaders or potential leaders. Most voters do not research or have the time or means to research candidates. Solutions will require compromise which is what I thought defines a good democracy. When our political leaders take positions like signing a contract to never raise taxes or vote for legislation that only the party will approve of then my fellow Americans we have a problem. If you as a voter find yourself always voting along party lines then you are part of this problem. We voters need to be better informed about the problems that exist in our communities and then use our best judgement on the people we put in charge to fix them. We have to take the polarization out of our current political system which is probably not an easy thing for human beings to do. Instead of a good debate we have slogans, labels, ridicule, negative campaigning and contracts to "never" do this or that. IMO truth and even solutions are in the middle of that debate most times. Debate now seems to take a back seat to television advertisements at least in State and National elections. Hopefully if we can get back to these debates in our local governments we will find that it does not make any difference what the politial affilliation is and with even more hope our State and National leaders will take notice. Not sure this will happen in my lifetime but I hope that we will figure this out sooner than later.

 

[Jdarg]

Soo...anybody have any comment about the superintendent's race?

:leaving::leaving:

I can't get away from a tea party debate fast enough. Time to make some coffee!

 

[Andy A]

Soo...anybody have any comment about the superintendent's race?

:leaving::leaving:

I can't get away from a tea party debate fast enough. Time to make some coffee!

You are right about the thread being hijacked. Sorry. I have a question for Trish Hutchinson. Just how much is your associaltion with the teacher's union going to affect your decisions as school superintendent vs. that of the betterment in any situation for the students and parents?

 

[j p nettles]

I listened to each of the 3 candidates speak at the Forum in Freeport. The thing that stuck with me is that Mrs. Anderson seems to think that she's irreplacable and she seems to place too much emphasis on her political connections. I'm one of the people who believe that school superintendents should be hired and not elected too. That process seems to work in 47 other states, why not Florida? I've been around for 6 decades and I've found that anybody can be replaced. I'm also like Alabama's former governor, I believe in term limits of two terms for most elected officials.