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Making the Case for Hiring a Superintendent

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
28,762 views1
The opposition to the superintendent referendum has come out with some pretty interesting arguments against hiring a superintendent instead of the old fashioned and ineffective practice of electing one. In fact, they are doing a fabulous job of making our case for us! The parents, citizens, and teachers supporting the referendum are a nonpartisan group of people who saw a way to start the process of helping our school system evolve and improve, and an important step in that process is changing the way the system runs. If you were involved at all this year, you know that the current system was a total disaster when it came to the teacher salary negotiation, a situation that should be an embarrassment to every Walton County citizen. Also, those of us with children in school know that FCAT test scores, which determine school ratings, mean absolutely nothing when, as parents, we measure what our kids' educational experience could be with the right leadership. Our teachers are amazing now, despite zero support from their administration.

I also had to giggle at the RINO comments. The many Republicans working to support this referendum are a bit surprised to find out they are RINOS.:roll: And do we really want a "conservative" superintendent? What does that even mean? With this kind of thinking, our kids are certainly doomed!

So anyway, here is a letter that was published in the Northwest Florida Daily News. it speaks for itself, I think, and totally makes our point of putting Kids Before Politics. Clearly the author of this letter is missing the point!:blink:

LETTER: A cunning ruse

Published: Friday, July 25, 2014 at 18:03 PM.


We’re all aware of political manipulation of Republicans by liberals at the national level. Sadly, some conservatives and misguided RINOS are being outfoxed locally.
Here’s how. The Walton County school district currently enjoys an A ranking in student achievement. Yet there is a significant move underway to change the system.
Why change anything? Particularly, why change the method of selecting our superintendent?
Are liberals and RINOS behind this scheme? Are they attempting an end run around our voting process?
Again, why would they? From a liberal perspective, the reason is clear. In our conservative district, an election will invariably produce a conservative superintendent with a conservative educational philosophy. Thank heaven!
On the other hand, appointment by School Board will open the door to a progressive superintendent and a progressive education philosophy. School Board members are not required to declare party affiliation when running.
The superintendent election process clearly requires an open declaration of political, hence educational, philosophy. This eliminates liberal candidates — as it should, the will of the people.
In the election process a candidate must declare party, hence political philosophy. In this district, a progressive’s chances are quite slim.
This cannot be overemphasized: Changing to selection by School Board significantly increases the chances of a liberal being named superintendent.
Conservatives, open your eyes to this cunning ruse! Look around at the liberal bastions of education, where more money equals lower student achievement. We don’t need that type of change here.
Wake up! It’s your child. Exercise your choice in his or her education. Vote NO to an appointed superintendent.
— RICK McQUISTON
Santa Rosa Beach
funny letter to editor.pdf

Replies

201
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#102
The argument about the board potentially hiring a "liberal" superintendent was hilarious as well. Last time I checked, professional job qualifications for superintendent don't usually have that box to check. If "liberal" or "conservative" is one of the qualifications, then it needs to stay an elected position. Aye yi yi.

All in all it was a great night and thanks to the North Walton Republicans for having an event open to all. Dr. Patrick Ferry did a magnificent job for the YES referendum side, speaking factually instead of the lame "what ifs" and "this one school district in Alabama" anecdotes, along with my favorite, the "we are a top 10 Florida school" sound byte that is continually brought up by the NO team.

This is easy- YES is positive for our kids. NO is negative.
Beach Fanatic
#103
It is a bogus argument that only 3 votes can fire a superintendent. I guess no one has heard of an employment contract? They have something called a termination clause."!! The language in the contract can require a 2/3 vote. I am trying to figure out if the NO crowd thinks the rest of us are blithering idiots.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#104
It is a bogus argument that only 3 votes can fire a superintendent. I guess no one has heard of an employment contract? They have something called a termination clause."!! The language in the contract can require a 2/3 vote. I am trying to figure out if the NO crowd thinks the rest of us are blithering idiots.

The opposition also keeps bringing up specific cases of expensive contract buyouts. First of all, since 2011, it is limited to 20 weeks in Florida. Also, contract terms can be set up at beginning to avoid this stuff. Desperate scare tactics.

I also love that they think it is so great that Florida has more elected superintendents than hired. Yeah, we should be really proud of that fact.:idontno:


Severance Pay
Starting on July 1, 2011, a public employer that enters into a contract or employment agreement (or renews or renegotiates an existing contract/employment agreement containing a provision for severance pay) with an officer, agent, employee or contractor can only include a provision for severance pay (defined as actual or constructive compensation, including salary, benefits or perquisites, for employment services yet to be rendered which is provided to an employee who has recently been or is about to be terminated) in that contract if the contract contains the following: · A requirement that severance pay provided may not exceed an amount greater than 20 weeks of compensation.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#105
Guess how university and college presidents are chosen? Not by election, of course. Ultimately picked by boards of regents and governors, but choices narrowed down based on qualifications, not politics.

I asked the opposition speaker, Donnie Richardson, specifically about this last night, as he is on the board at NWFSC (according to his own bio). His answer was vague and was something about it was not the same thing since the governor picks and he himself really wasn't on the "big" board but the "little" board.
Andy A avatar
Beach Fanatic
#106
It is a bogus argument that only 3 votes can fire a superintendent. I guess no one has heard of an employment contract? They have something called a termination clause."!! The language in the contract can require a 2/3 vote. I am trying to figure out if the NO crowd thinks the rest of us are blithering idiots.

A very good point almost totally overlook by both sides. An appointed superintendent would certainly be subject to a contract.
Beach Fanatic
#107
The opposition also keeps bringing up specific cases of expensive contract buyouts. First of all, since 2011, it is limited to 20 weeks in Florida. Also, contract terms can be set up at beginning to avoid this stuff. Desperate scare tactics.

I also love that they think it is so great that Florida has more elected superintendents than hired. Yeah, we should be really proud of that fact.:idontno:


Severance Pay
Starting on July 1, 2011, a public employer that enters into a contract or employment agreement (or renews or renegotiates an existing contract/employment agreement containing a provision for severance pay) with an officer, agent, employee or contractor can only include a provision for severance pay (defined as actual or constructive compensation, including salary, benefits or perquisites, for employment services yet to be rendered which is provided to an employee who has recently been or is about to be terminated) in that contract if the contract contains the following: · A requirement that severance pay provided may not exceed an amount greater than 20 weeks of compensation.

So, if Mrs. Anderson was appointed and the board decided to fire her, it would cost around $45,000 all inclusive. Seems to me a small price to pay. Under the current system, we could elect a complete idiot (not saying we have) and his/her contract is four years long. That costs the taxpayer upwards of $500,000 in salary and benefits (conservatively). Now tell me, which is a more fiscally conservative approach to managing the county's education funds: To appoint someone that can be fired? or be stuck with someone not up to the job?

Edited

incredible1 avatar
Beach Lover
#108
Is the bottom line question, what happens to the standard of education in the county.

As it stands
For the fifth year in a row, Florida’s public school system ranks among the best in the country, according to the latest annual analysis by Education Week. Released this morning, the highly anticipated “Quality Counts” report puts Florida at No. 6 among states this year, trailing only Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Arkansas. In the previous four years, Florida came in at No. 11, No. 8, No. 5 and No. 11, respectively. - See more at: http://www.redefinedonline.org/2013...-6-in-education-quality/#sthash.wrCpp3aL.dpuf

If elected supers outweigh appointed, in Florida, then would the improving standards mentioned be affected if changed? Just askin....
Banned
#109
Guess how university and college presidents are chosen? Not by election, of course..


and tenured and unaccountable and bulletproof, wonderful example.
John G avatar
Beach Fanatic
#110
I'll ask again in a different form. Whom is the new CFO related to?
Bob Hudson avatar
Beach Fanatic
#111
Mark Davis

I believe they are cousins.

Edited

Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#112
and tenured and unaccountable and bulletproof, wonderful example.
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.
m1a1mg avatar
Beach Fanatic
#113
Is the bottom line question, what happens to the standard of education in the county.

As it stands
For the fifth year in a row, Florida’s public school system ranks among the best in the country, according to the latest annual analysis by Education Week. Released this morning, the highly anticipated “Quality Counts” report puts Florida at No. 6 among states this year, trailing only Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Arkansas. In the previous four years, Florida came in at No. 11, No. 8, No. 5 and No. 11, respectively. - See more at: http://www.redefinedonline.org/2013...-6-in-education-quality/#sthash.wrCpp3aL.dpuf

If elected supers outweigh appointed, in Florida, then would the improving standards mentioned be affected if changed? Just askin....

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.

Edited

Beach Fanatic
#114
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.

Edited

Matt J avatar
SWGB
#115
Is the bottom line question, what happens to the standard of education in the county.

As it stands
For the fifth year in a row, Florida’s public school system ranks among the best in the country, according to the latest annual analysis by Education Week. Released this morning, the highly anticipated “Quality Counts” report puts Florida at No. 6 among states this year, trailing only Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Arkansas. In the previous four years, Florida came in at No. 11, No. 8, No. 5 and No. 11, respectively. - See more at: http://www.redefinedonline.org/2013...-6-in-education-quality/#sthash.wrCpp3aL.dpuf

If elected supers outweigh appointed, in Florida, then would the improving standards mentioned be affected if changed? Just askin....

Will you be voting Yes or No?
j p nettles avatar
Banned
#116
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.
30A Skunkape avatar
Skunky
#117
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!
Beach Fanatic
#118
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.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#119
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

Edited

Banned
#120
college readiness should be the standard by which we look at how well our districts are performing


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.

Edited

Zebraspots avatar
Beach Fanatic
#121
I certainly don't agree with whatever that rant was, but I do think our school system needs a great deal of improvement and that college prep is not the standard to use. We should be realistic about kid's educational and vocational futures and make sure every student in our school system gets a great education that prepares them for a variety of life paths.

A four year college is not the norm for many kids. Only 85% of Walton residents over 25 have a high school diploma or higher and only 24% have a bachelor degree or higher.

Taking politicians out of schools seems like one of many common sense changes that need to be made to improve our local education system.

Edited

Beach Fanatic
#122
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.


I agree that not everyone NEEDS to go to college to be financially successful. However, I think everyone should be educated to the point that it is their CHOICE to go to college or to choose another path to success. If only 18 percent of Walton County students are "prepared for college", this robbing them of choices, we should hang our heads in collective shame.

After reading Seaducer's post numerous times, I still could not find any sort of solution offered. Therefore, I humbly request that you share even some small steps toward solutions.
Bob Hudson avatar
Beach Fanatic
#1231
image-758604615.jpg

Sorry Darrell you just lost 2 votes
Beach Fanatic
#124
<img src="http://www.sowal.com/bb/attachment.php?attachmentid=37388"/> Sorry Darrell you just lost 2 votes

Make that 3 more.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#126
I agree that not everyone NEEDS to go to college to be financially successful. However, I think everyone should be educated to the point that it is their CHOICE to go to college or to choose another path to success. If only 18 percent of Walton County students are "prepared for college", this robbing them of choices, we should hang our heads in collective shame.

After reading Seaducer's post numerous times, I still could not find any sort of solution offered. Therefore, I humbly request that you share even some small steps toward solutions.

Agreed. Asking for the bar to be set for academics at the "college ready" level only prepares EVERY student for their future. No matter what the plan for after high school- college, learning a trade, job, anything- reading, math, and critical thinking skills are the key to success for everyone. Skunkape makes a great argument to this point, and the district teachers and schools are more than equipped to handle this job. It all hangs on taking this district to the next level with accountable leadership and standards that are set for job performance.

If teachers have to meet standards and goals, why shouldn't their boss?

Regarding Darrell Barnhill's unfortunate choice to "proudly opposing the referendum"....he should be ashamed, not proud. His public statement says it all, and whether or not this referendum passes, if he is what is meant by "Walton County Values", then our kids our doomed.

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