Making the Case for Hiring a Superintendent
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College and university presidents aren't necessarily tenured. And tenure for faculty used to be lifetime -- as long as you didn't commit a crime or show up to class under the influence, you were golden. But now the yearly contracts for tenured people are so detailed, not abiding by one little sentence can get a tenured person terminated. For example, if a student complains about you missing your office hours, even if you post a note on the door saying you have a doctor appointment or whatever good reason, you can be let go.
Just got to throw a big HUH??? at that one. Your link is from January 10th, of 2013.
The latest data is quite different:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/qc/2014/state_report_cards.html
This link shows Florida at 31. So I guess schools took a big dive.
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Incredible, Read the entire article, not just the headline. The language below is pulled from the same article that was touted in a previous post as the truth and vindication of the status quo. To be kind, your effort to use quotes from the article may have been the truth, but it is far from from the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Here are other sections from the same article. Fourth in the country for transitions and alignment? What the heck is that? 44th in graduation rate? That is a statistic I think we can all understand.
"Education Week updates three of the six categories every year. Florida's C-minus for student achievement , another A for standards assessments and accountability and a B for the quality of the state's teaching profession were carried over from 2012. Florida this year improved its grade for transitions and alignment from B-minus and 14th nationally to A and fourth place. The state's grades in the other two categories revised this year, though, remain unchanged with a C for chance of success — 34th nationally — and a D-plus for finance — 39th." "While the state gets high marks for equity in school spending, another drag on Florida's finance grade is that it devotes only 3 percent of its taxable resources to K-12 education — 42nd nationally." "That year, Florida had only a 63.9 percent graduation rate — 44th nationally — compared to a 71.7 percent national average," It is so completely insulting that people opposed to an appointed superintendent have used bad information, distortion and in some cases outright lies to justify their position.
"Education Week updates three of the six categories every year. Florida's C-minus for student achievement , another A for standards assessments and accountability and a B for the quality of the state's teaching profession were carried over from 2012. Florida this year improved its grade for transitions and alignment from B-minus and 14th nationally to A and fourth place. The state's grades in the other two categories revised this year, though, remain unchanged with a C for chance of success — 34th nationally — and a D-plus for finance — 39th." "While the state gets high marks for equity in school spending, another drag on Florida's finance grade is that it devotes only 3 percent of its taxable resources to K-12 education — 42nd nationally." "That year, Florida had only a 63.9 percent graduation rate — 44th nationally — compared to a 71.7 percent national average," It is so completely insulting that people opposed to an appointed superintendent have used bad information, distortion and in some cases outright lies to justify their position.
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Will you be voting Yes or No?
From what I've seen, the 99.5 % of the hired/appointed superintendents in the US are much better qualified than the elected ones in the three states that allow elected superintendents.
The whole point of the exercise of educating kids is to give them the tools they need to be highly functioning adults. We know that the high school diploma does not carry the weight it once did as far as preparing our youngsters for the workforce, so now, more than ever, college readiness should be the standard by which we look at how well our districts are performing in carrying out their mission.
US News and World Report composes high school rankings by state and district annually. Here is a link to their 2014 Florida data: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida
The data is telling. I have, on my own, compared the average 'college readiness' score of the districts that appoint versus elect their superintendents. There are 25 districts that appoint their superintendents and 40 hold elections. There are five unique districts that I didn't include in my calculations (Lab schools at FSU, UF and FAMU), the Virtual School, and School for the Blind and Deaf. The average 'college readiness' score of the appointing districts was 28.56 compared to 17.2 for the districts that elect. Of note, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Liberty and Union Counties (all districts that elect their superintendent) had 'N/A' reported as their readiness score, as I think they did not have enough students taking AP exams to qualify. I would point out that the Florida Department of Education has handed out three "F" district grades, going to Jefferson, Hamilton and Franklin Counties. Franklin County is an election district and had a readiness score of 5.9.
Notable scores, if you don't click the link: Walton 18, Okaloosa 35.8, Bay 21.3, Holmes 5.8, Washington 9.2. Alachua and Duval Counties are Walton's nearest neighbors that appoint their superintendents and score 31.8 and 36.7, respectively.
It is quite clear from the data, appointed superintendents are generally more competent at meeting the mission of their systems. We have a clear choice;we can continue to accept mediocre performance as somehow acceptable given the State ranking Walton's school district as an 'A' district or we can do what we all know is beneficial to the majority, rather than a select few, and vote 'YES' on this referendum!
US News and World Report composes high school rankings by state and district annually. Here is a link to their 2014 Florida data: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/florida
The data is telling. I have, on my own, compared the average 'college readiness' score of the districts that appoint versus elect their superintendents. There are 25 districts that appoint their superintendents and 40 hold elections. There are five unique districts that I didn't include in my calculations (Lab schools at FSU, UF and FAMU), the Virtual School, and School for the Blind and Deaf. The average 'college readiness' score of the appointing districts was 28.56 compared to 17.2 for the districts that elect. Of note, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Liberty and Union Counties (all districts that elect their superintendent) had 'N/A' reported as their readiness score, as I think they did not have enough students taking AP exams to qualify. I would point out that the Florida Department of Education has handed out three "F" district grades, going to Jefferson, Hamilton and Franklin Counties. Franklin County is an election district and had a readiness score of 5.9.
Notable scores, if you don't click the link: Walton 18, Okaloosa 35.8, Bay 21.3, Holmes 5.8, Washington 9.2. Alachua and Duval Counties are Walton's nearest neighbors that appoint their superintendents and score 31.8 and 36.7, respectively.
It is quite clear from the data, appointed superintendents are generally more competent at meeting the mission of their systems. We have a clear choice;we can continue to accept mediocre performance as somehow acceptable given the State ranking Walton's school district as an 'A' district or we can do what we all know is beneficial to the majority, rather than a select few, and vote 'YES' on this referendum!
30a,
Your information rocks. It is clear that the proponents of appointing a superintendent have data and facts on our side. Let's hope data and facts overpower fear mongering and apathy.
My observation is that the "powers that be" are not as worried about our education system declining even further under an appointed superintendent as they are the message their defeat would send. It would clearly tell them that the county has reached a tipping point and that their years of running everything is quickly coming to an end.
Your information rocks. It is clear that the proponents of appointing a superintendent have data and facts on our side. Let's hope data and facts overpower fear mongering and apathy.
My observation is that the "powers that be" are not as worried about our education system declining even further under an appointed superintendent as they are the message their defeat would send. It would clearly tell them that the county has reached a tipping point and that their years of running everything is quickly coming to an end.
Wow.
Leadership is everything.
I ran into 3 different families at Publix earlier, with kids currently enrolled in South Walton schools. All were planning on voting YES in the primary on August 26th, and the issue getting them to the polls is the superintendent referendum. Some were not even aware that electing the superintendent is our current system and so of course see the logic of changing to hiring. I am curious to see how many families with children currently enrolled in Walton County Schools are flying their "No" banners, because it seems the only supporters don't have school age children, are more worried about this "right to vote" issue than education (this is not a "patriot" issue), are concerned their high paying district job might go away, might want to run for superintendent themselves, or see the change as the first wave of change to the Walton County good old boy system. The opposition is completely funded by the Walton County Small Business Association PAC, which is REALLY weird since so many of the businesses here are supported by local families who support the YES vote- not really sure why the WCSBA chose to take a big stand on this issue, and they haven't publicly said. Instead, they have had different individuals with different agendas blow their horn, but honestly, if a PAC representing local business is going to spend $10,000 opposing an educational referendum, wouldn't it be fair to ask why?
Wings/Kids Before Politics can proudly say that we remain nonpartisan, have had monetary contributions from local businesses, families and individuals, and truly are invested in the educational future for our kids here. We "get it". It should be so far removed from the Walton County political system that they exist on separate planets. This is not a Republican- Democrat thing, and shame on those who have tried to make it such. When we started this conversation back in the winter, we never knew that trying to make a common sense, logical argument for education improvement would start such a political hornet's nest. Not to mention the nastiness the opposition has shown to the hardest working people in our school system- our teachers.
Reports can be found here http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/WScandnew/candidate_pr.php?c=walton
Vote YES on August 26th. Early voting starts Saturday, August 26th. Thanks so much to everyone supporting the YES vote!
www.kidsbeforepolitics.com
Leadership is everything.
I ran into 3 different families at Publix earlier, with kids currently enrolled in South Walton schools. All were planning on voting YES in the primary on August 26th, and the issue getting them to the polls is the superintendent referendum. Some were not even aware that electing the superintendent is our current system and so of course see the logic of changing to hiring. I am curious to see how many families with children currently enrolled in Walton County Schools are flying their "No" banners, because it seems the only supporters don't have school age children, are more worried about this "right to vote" issue than education (this is not a "patriot" issue), are concerned their high paying district job might go away, might want to run for superintendent themselves, or see the change as the first wave of change to the Walton County good old boy system. The opposition is completely funded by the Walton County Small Business Association PAC, which is REALLY weird since so many of the businesses here are supported by local families who support the YES vote- not really sure why the WCSBA chose to take a big stand on this issue, and they haven't publicly said. Instead, they have had different individuals with different agendas blow their horn, but honestly, if a PAC representing local business is going to spend $10,000 opposing an educational referendum, wouldn't it be fair to ask why?
Wings/Kids Before Politics can proudly say that we remain nonpartisan, have had monetary contributions from local businesses, families and individuals, and truly are invested in the educational future for our kids here. We "get it". It should be so far removed from the Walton County political system that they exist on separate planets. This is not a Republican- Democrat thing, and shame on those who have tried to make it such. When we started this conversation back in the winter, we never knew that trying to make a common sense, logical argument for education improvement would start such a political hornet's nest. Not to mention the nastiness the opposition has shown to the hardest working people in our school system- our teachers.
Reports can be found here http://www.voterfocus.com/ws/WScandnew/candidate_pr.php?c=walton
Vote YES on August 26th. Early voting starts Saturday, August 26th. Thanks so much to everyone supporting the YES vote!
www.kidsbeforepolitics.com
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everything you said after that was wasteful typing and bull****
and exactly wrong.
we have far too many children, the victims of Union influenced
and biased 20-25 year educations, who are ill prepared
for any worthwhile modern application
we are educating kids in worthless concepts simply to pay educators.
they stand no chance out there in the real world. sadly most of the
people who encourage them and 'teach' them haven't spent a
minute in the world into which they will be thrown.
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