For your consideration.
Walton County School District (WCSD)has experienced the worst five funding years in its history; however, we have maintained excellent schools during these times. During these very difficult funding years, the school district has maintained an “A” district rating for six consecutive years and has been designated by the State Board of Education as a High Performing School District for five consecutive years. This distinction is only held by 5 out of 67 school districts in the state. Additionally, the graduation rate has increased 18% while Superintendent Anderson has been in office.
http://www.fldoe.org/board/meetings/2012_07_17/high.pdf
The High Performing School District status requires school districts to demonstrate improved student achievement, have no material weaknesses in their financial audit and meet Class-Size Reduction. Receiving this designation confirms Carlene Anderson can manage a budget while maintaining academic excellence, as well as, manage personnel required to meet class-size. Since 2007, we have seen our tax revenues fall approximately 15 million dollars. The state student base allocation has been reduced from the highest at $6,000 to the current allocation of $3,400 dropping our revenue by over $18 million. However during her term, Superintendent Anderson has not recommended closing schools, had massive layoffs, cut essential programs for students, cut art and music from the elementary programs, and has not removed school resource officers. In fact, Walton County student enrollment has grown every year during her terms in office. WCSD has built new schools or added on to existing schools every year she has been in office; using the pay-as-you go model to reduce the tax burden on future generations. All of this has been accomplished with a declining budget.
Not to mention that Walton County accomplishes all of this while overcoming greater poverty levels than found in other counties.
http://www.waltonsun.com/news/walton-9353-consider-poverty.html
With 37 years in the Walton County School District, almost eight as superintendent, Mrs. Anderson has proven she is on the right track. However, it isn’t finished, yet. Walton County School District needs her to get through the next few years of continued difficult budgeting and the new legislative requirements to increase student achievement. In other words, she knows how to “do more with less and do it better than before”. A newly elected superintendent would have a significant learning curve that would set the district back and seriously jeopardize student achievement at a time when the bar is being raised, yet again, and new standards and assessments are being mandated. Walton County Schools cannot afford inexperience.
The wheel is working just fine. I support Carlene Anderson.