From WZEP First News >
Rosemary Ragle Speaks Against ESE Changes
posted an hour ago by WZEP AM 1460 An Exceptional Student Education employee with the Walton School District took issue with Superintendent Anderson’s recommendation to add a Coordinator of Instructional Support Services. Rosemary Ragle spoke to the Board and questioned adding the position at a time she says morale is low, questioned changes in ESE staff location and questioned spending money for a position when it could be used elsewhere.
Ragle, who is with the Walton School District ESE Department, talked to WZEP First News. Ragle is also qualified as a democrat candidate for Walton Superintendent of Schools. With limited time to make comments, and with the meeting being an agenda specific special meeting, Ragle made several comments and points, but not all were fully cited or allowed due to the specific question on the agenda.
At the meeting Ragle talked about constraints on financing and teachers not getting step raises. She says she is concerned about teachers. Ragle also thinks moral is low and does not think teachers feel valued. Talking to WZEP, she noted the recent School Accreditation Report and says they cited the need to develop a plan of corrective action to improve the confidence of the stakeholders in the school district. Stakeholders can be teachers, support and parents. She says another area of weakness noted by the Accreditation team was the need to increase parent involvement.
Ragle also talked about Building One at the Tivoli Complex. She says it has always housed the exceptional education department. Currently they have six staff members with offices there. She told the Board that in the past the district spent funds to install a confidential record file room that meets requirements. Ragle tells First News her staff will be moved in July to accommodate the phy services department. Ragle says she is concerned that the departments are being split into two and that if the ESE staff is separated from the building, they will lose easy accessibility to the records needed to their everyday work. Ragle was stopped from discussing the relocation of her staff since the meeting was an agenda special meeting and the personnel recommendations were listed, but not building needs.
Ragle also questioned adding another administrative position to the payroll. She says the two departments were one, Psychological and ESE and now there will be two. At the meeting, Superintendent Anderson told the Board there will be no additional cost and there might even be a savings. It was explained the position would be funded through several TItle programs. Saying that union negotiations have been at an impasse, Ragle expressed concern with adding a position to the Tivoli Complex. She tells WZEP she feels it would have a negative public perception. Ragle says these funds can not be used to pay teachers, but could be used elsewhere. She says they could find areas of need where the funds could be used, without creating an administrative position. An example would be using these funds to provide inclusive services for V-PK and pre-Kindergarten disabilities.
Replies
243
Beach Fanatic
Hmmm. There are a lot of things that don't work here. Wonder why?:scratch: Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the prevailing attitude of "well, that's always how it's been done around here".:roll:
Beautiful post and so very true. Just because it has always been done that way in the past, doesn't mean we must continue to do it that way in the future.
SoWal Expert
Beautiful post and so very true. Just because it has always been done that way in the past, doesn't mean we must continue to do it that way in the future.
Thank you Andy. I truly believe this the biggest problem faced by Walton County. For those of us who are newer, it is tough to try and make a difference here, because many times it seems that any change or improvements are not really welcome. Thankfully, there are a lot of new families settling here who realize that just keeping the way things are is not conducive to a healthy, progressive, economically vibrant, and healthy community and quality of life.
Banned
Mrs. Anderson's margin of victory in the primary certainly isn't a mandate when one considers that the big money support was with her and Ms. Hutchison had very little funding. I wonder if the registered Democrats and independents will turn out in November?
Beach Comber
I just found “Ragle for Superintendent” facebook page. She has a nice comment about Trish Hutchinson. Ragle has my support.
Beach Comber
Rethink the mission. Rekindle the spirit.
As the Democratic candidate, J P, I certainly hope that all voters, regardless of party affiliation, will see the clear indication that a large number of our citizens want change for our school system. Experience is usually a valuable asset, but not if it tarnishes one's perception and clouds one's judgment.
We in our school system seem to have lost our common purpose with respect for the group. Perhaps a new style of leadership can restore the faith of stakeholders in our schools. Perhaps a new style of leadership will bring our "team" together.
All school employees play a vital role in the total operation of the school system, but I do not believe that teachers or support personnel feel valued and I do not believe that parents feel welcomed. Such an atmosphere is not conducive to progress.
Please visit my facebook page, Ragle for Superintendent, and share your thoughts with me @ rosemaryforsuperintendent@gmail.com. (It is really true! You can teach an old dog new tricks.)
Rosemary
Mrs. Anderson's margin of victory in the primary certainly isn't a mandate when one considers that the big money support was with her and Ms. Hutchison had very little funding. I wonder if the registered Democrats and independents will turn out in November?
As the Democratic candidate, J P, I certainly hope that all voters, regardless of party affiliation, will see the clear indication that a large number of our citizens want change for our school system. Experience is usually a valuable asset, but not if it tarnishes one's perception and clouds one's judgment.
We in our school system seem to have lost our common purpose with respect for the group. Perhaps a new style of leadership can restore the faith of stakeholders in our schools. Perhaps a new style of leadership will bring our "team" together.
All school employees play a vital role in the total operation of the school system, but I do not believe that teachers or support personnel feel valued and I do not believe that parents feel welcomed. Such an atmosphere is not conducive to progress.
Please visit my facebook page, Ragle for Superintendent, and share your thoughts with me @ rosemaryforsuperintendent@gmail.com. (It is really true! You can teach an old dog new tricks.)
Rosemary
Beach Comber
As the Democratic candidate, J P, I certainly hope that all voters, regardless of party affiliation, will see the clear indication that a large number of our citizens want change for our school system. Experience is usually a valuable asset, but not if it tarnishes one's perception and clouds one's judgment.
We in our school system seem to have lost our common purpose with respect for the group. Perhaps a new style of leadership can restore the faith of stakeholders in our schools. Perhaps a new style of leadership will bring our "team" together.
All school employees play a vital role in the total operation of the school system, but I do not believe that teachers or support personnel feel valued and I do not believe that parents feel welcomed. Such an atmosphere is not conducive to progress.
Please visit my facebook page, Ragle for Superintendent, and share your thoughts with me @ rosemaryforsuperintendent@gmail.com. (It is really true! You can teach an old dog new tricks.)
Rosemary
Ms. Ragle, you mention "a large number of citizens want change." The last time I heard a Democrat wanted to make a change, our country ended up as it is now. Change is good when the product of the current establishment is inferior. However, as I have seen through my research, Walton School District is a High Performing School District. Only 5 out of 67 districts in the state have accomplished this 6 times! Why does it need change? What do you want to change to? Change to a low performing school district? I've heard enough about people wanting to feel good and wanted to be respected. We in the business world are glad to have good schools. It helps attract people and industry and our county needs more industry. Keep Anderson in office. She obviously knows how to make a school district work. And, quit whining about respect and common purpose and just do your job!
Beach Fanatic
Ms. Ragle, you mention "a large number of citizens want change." The last time I heard a Democrat wanted to make a change, our country ended up as it is now. Change is good when the product of the current establishment is inferior. However, as I have seen through my research, Walton School District is a High Performing School District. Only 5 out of 67 districts in the state have accomplished this 6 times! Why does it need change? What do you want to change to? Change to a low performing school district? I've heard enough about people wanting to feel good and wanted to be respected. We in the business world are glad to have good schools. It helps attract people and industry and our county needs more industry. Keep Anderson in office. She obviously knows how to make a school district work. And, quit whining about respect and common purpose and just do your job!
It appears to me you are a little overboard. I do not have children in school but mine were raised all over the world. From every indication I have seen, Florida's method of determining "quality education" is flawed. The FCAT is a disaster as it appears teachers have a tendency to teach what is on the test. I am certainly not against testing, but teaching what is specifically on a test is counterproductive. The methodology used to rank the effectiveness of schools also appears to be one of fluff instead of substance. Finally, it seems in many instances in this school district, the superintendent makes policy instead of enforcing what is made by the school board.
To knock Rosemary Ragle because she saw fit to come here and let us know she is running, smacks of cronyism in the highest degree. I have no idea who Ms Ragle is but she will surely get a generous look at both her qualifications and plans from me and I'm a Republican who has no problem blackening in the oval next to the name of a Democrat if it is warranted.
Banned
Obviously there are a lot of people who feel that positive results in the way schools are rated by the state and the promise of low taxes are all important, However, parents, teachers and other citizens have no voice in the way our schools are run. With Mrs. Anderson, "it's my way or the highway". I've never held a public sector job but I've run a business and in the 6 decades I've been around, I've had number of jobs. In my world, you seek out the most qualified people to do the job and our children have been short changed since the economic meltdown. While Walton Schools sought out the best teachers prior to 2008, teacher quality has fallen. The most experienced teachers who didn't enjoy the luxury of tenure have been discarded and replaced with entry level educators. The fact that the number of teachers in Walton county with graduate degrees are below the state average which is only about 30% bears this out. I'd love to see the teacher screening policy. There's no doubt in my mind that the most experienced teachers are excluded from consideration. There is also compelling evidence that the Walton School District has breached elements of the collectivie bargaining agreement and also is guilty of discrimination in hiring practices. I'm one registered Republican who will surely vote for some Democrats in November. For me, character and compassion are more important than people who are part of the bought and paid for Walton County political machine and who make decisions that are not in the best interest of all citizens.
Beach Comber
Civility is the key to an open, honest discussion.
Sorry, Rosie, I did not intend to whine. I joined this forum in an attempt to give voters a feeling for who I am and what I believe.
Yes, a large number of Republicans expressed a need for change judging from the August primary results. Many of us Democrats agree with those Republicans. (Perhaps, as human beings, partisanship is not the barbed-wire fence that divides us. Perhaps it is a lack of respect for an individual's right to disagree with her neighbor.)
In the business world, employees who are content in their jobs are more productive than those who are disenchanted. Indeed, we need industry. We also need a workforce with the basic skills and the soft skills to be productive employees for that industry.
I respect your opinion and your right to express it. If my posts are upsetting for you, ignore them and vote for the incumbent.
Rosemary
Sorry, Rosie, I did not intend to whine. I joined this forum in an attempt to give voters a feeling for who I am and what I believe.
Yes, a large number of Republicans expressed a need for change judging from the August primary results. Many of us Democrats agree with those Republicans. (Perhaps, as human beings, partisanship is not the barbed-wire fence that divides us. Perhaps it is a lack of respect for an individual's right to disagree with her neighbor.)
In the business world, employees who are content in their jobs are more productive than those who are disenchanted. Indeed, we need industry. We also need a workforce with the basic skills and the soft skills to be productive employees for that industry.
I respect your opinion and your right to express it. If my posts are upsetting for you, ignore them and vote for the incumbent.
Rosemary
Beach ComberAuthor
Rosie, Repulicans have been in control of this county for over twelve years. Corruption, lack of transparancy, waste of tax dollars, and no trust in local government. Give the lady a chance
Beach Lover
Ditto what beachbums said, sorry to get off subject but I think 30aRosie is out of line. That type of comment was rude and disrepespectful. The lack of civility these days is a crying shame. I am a registered independent and Mrs. Ragle can count on my vote. Finally a choice for someone to vote for thats not part of the Walton County good ole boy Republican establishment.Beach Comber
Sorry, Rosie, I did not intend to whine. I joined this forum in an attempt to give voters a feeling for who I am and what I believe.
Yes, a large number of Republicans expressed a need for change judging from the August primary results. Many of us Democrats agree with those Republicans. (Perhaps, as human beings, partisanship is not the barbed-wire fence that divides us. Perhaps it is a lack of respect for an individual's right to disagree with her neighbor.)
In the business world, employees who are content in their jobs are more productive than those who are disenchanted. Indeed, we need industry. We also need a workforce with the basic skills and the soft skills to be productive employees for that industry.
I respect your opinion and your right to express it. If my posts are upsetting for you, ignore them and vote for the incumbent.
Rosemary
Point taken Rosemary, can you please tell me some of your qualifications and please share with us some of the specific changes you intend to make if elected.
Beach Lover
I believe you could say that the 3000 or so Republicans who voted for Ms. Hutchison would indicate that there is some dissatisfaction with the incumbent. And what were Mrs. Anderson's outstanding qualifications when she first ran in 2004? It's absurd to assume that she and she alone should run the schools in Walton County.
Beach Lover
Jdarg, regarding your suggestion that we up north need to be screaming just as loud as the south end..."We up North" voted for Mrs Hutchison. "Yall down South" voted for Mrs. Anderson. I guess you thought loud screaming was enough to get you what you wanted. Check the Supervisor of Election website - South Walton overwhelmingly supported Mrs. Anderson, not North Walton.
Edited
SoWal Expert
Jdarg, regarding your suggestion that we up north need to be screaming just as loud as the south end..."We up North" voted for Mrs Hutchison. "Yall down South" voted for Mrs. Anderson. I guess you thought loud screaming was enough to get you what you wanted. Check the Supervisor of Election website - South Walton overwhelmingly supported Mrs. Anderson, not North Walton.
Maybe because many in South Walton thought Anderson was a better choice than Hutchison. Maybe you can enlighten us why North Walton would vote for Hutchison, and South for Anderson?
Moving towards November, I am looking forward to hearing from both candidates.
Banned
It concerns me that most of Walton Countiy's elected officials' campaigns are funded by one billionaire landowner who no doubt enjoys tax exemptions. Mrs. Anderson is one of those officials. In the 2008 election Mrs. Anderson also received thousands in campaign contributions from someone who was involved in a scheme to suck $6million in public education funds to build a hangar/"joint use facility" at Destin Jet at the Destin airport. Even Alexis Tibbits didn't receive funding from these big dawgs although she had a fund of more than $90,000. She recieved funding from more than 400 individual contributors and her own money. Walton County seems to be unique in the fact that super wealthy folks are so interested in getting the right people elected.
Beach Comber
It is time to recognize the contributions of the team.
My goals as your superintendent:
Reward teachers and support staff
Restore the faith of stakeholders in our school system
Reduce time away from the classroom
Reflect an attitude of team spirit: include and involve, listen and consider
Reconsider the hierarchy of the district office
Reassess professional development mandates
The past 7.5 years I have served as Administrator for the Department of Exceptional Education and Psychological Services (ESE) with the Walton District School System. Our department has been ranked a Level I, the highest ranking by the Florida Department of Education, for the past five years. My department’s Level I status has brought additional monies to the district, respect from other districts in the state, and precluded corrective action for noncompliance.
When I became department administrator in June of 2005, WCSD had been cited for 13 systemic areas of noncompliance by the Department of Education as a result of a program audit. Am I taking credit for the department's accomplishments? NO! It has been a team effort.
Surround yourself with smart people, give them a job to do, and let them do it. Treat them like adults and do not micromanage.
During my tenure as department administrator, we have avoided any State due process hearings, findings from complaints filed with the Office for Civil Rights, or law suits related to compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, for the last two years our department’s annual compliance audit by DOE was 100%, zero findings.
I supervise 28 people currently and manage an annual budget between 1.5 to 2 million federal dollars. In fact, I have managed the budget so well that when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) disbursements ended, I was able to absorb salaries of paraprofessionals who were paid with ARRA dollars, therefore savings jobs.
I do not need to be told to do my job, nor do I need to defend myself - just research the district performance on the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services website. I and the accomplishments of my department staff have been recognized statewide.
It is past time to rethink the mission and rekindle the spirit. It is time to recognize the contributions of the team.
Rosemary
Point taken Rosemary, can you please tell me some of your qualifications and please share with us some of the specific changes you intend to make if elected.
My goals as your superintendent:
Reward teachers and support staff
Restore the faith of stakeholders in our school system
Reduce time away from the classroom
Reflect an attitude of team spirit: include and involve, listen and consider
Reconsider the hierarchy of the district office
Reassess professional development mandates
The past 7.5 years I have served as Administrator for the Department of Exceptional Education and Psychological Services (ESE) with the Walton District School System. Our department has been ranked a Level I, the highest ranking by the Florida Department of Education, for the past five years. My department’s Level I status has brought additional monies to the district, respect from other districts in the state, and precluded corrective action for noncompliance.
When I became department administrator in June of 2005, WCSD had been cited for 13 systemic areas of noncompliance by the Department of Education as a result of a program audit. Am I taking credit for the department's accomplishments? NO! It has been a team effort.
Surround yourself with smart people, give them a job to do, and let them do it. Treat them like adults and do not micromanage.
During my tenure as department administrator, we have avoided any State due process hearings, findings from complaints filed with the Office for Civil Rights, or law suits related to compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, for the last two years our department’s annual compliance audit by DOE was 100%, zero findings.
I supervise 28 people currently and manage an annual budget between 1.5 to 2 million federal dollars. In fact, I have managed the budget so well that when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) disbursements ended, I was able to absorb salaries of paraprofessionals who were paid with ARRA dollars, therefore savings jobs.
I do not need to be told to do my job, nor do I need to defend myself - just research the district performance on the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services website. I and the accomplishments of my department staff have been recognized statewide.
It is past time to rethink the mission and rekindle the spirit. It is time to recognize the contributions of the team.
Rosemary
Beach Lover
Well said Mrs. Ragle, and from the school system employess I've spoken with, you are on target with you comments. I was shocked when I found out Carlene Anderson had created a new position just to perform part of the duties you where already performing. Furthermore, the person she hired is suspect from all the things I have read about him and Survivor Charter School. I read the post containing a letter from his attorney on another forum. Mr. Stafford and his attorney apparently don't know his entire case history with Survivor is all public information and available on the internet. It's easy to see, at minimum, he utilized poor judgement and exhibited a lack of integrity. For Carlene Anderson to promote him to a supervisory position exhibits poor judgement on her part as well as wasting tax payer dollars for overstaffing in the district office. I encourage everyone to look at the available information available on line. Best of luck in your endeavor, it's time for a change with all of Walton County's elected officials.
Beach Comber
Someone might ask who interviewed, checked references and recommended the individual in question for hire in Walton Co.; answer is Rosemary Ragle. Check the public records!
SoWal Guide
I am as appalled as ever at politics (local, state & federal) and its terrible impact on the education of children. Why should any professional educator/leader of a school district need to run a political campaign and be elected? The whole system needs scrapping, starting with FCAT.
Education is too important to be run by politicians.
Education is too important to be run by politicians.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
And I have a question, 30ARosie. Did she also hire him or did Carlene Anderson? Your obvious distaste for Ms. Ragle is quite apparent.
Banned
I am as appalled as ever at politics (local, state & federal) and its terrible impact on the education of children. Why should any professional educator/leader of a school district need to run a political campaign and be elected? The whole system needs scrapping, starting with FCAT.
Education is too important to be run by politicians.
Indeed, we all should be apalled at the system in which we educate our children and the effect that politics has on running our schools. Perhaps that's why elected superintendents are the exception rather than the rule except in the 3 states that even allow elected superintendents. The school board is elected and for some reason they don't seem to do anything. The school board should be called the rubber stamp board aka 'the gutless wonders'. I lived in an area where the superintendent was hired by the school board. He was an excellent educator and administrator and wasn't sidetracked by having to run for office. Fewer than 1% of the school superintendents in the US are elected. And the standards by which our schools are rated are junk too IMO. Florida schools don't rank very high anyway and being at the top of the bottom of the barrel is nothing to brag about. We had better schools when the property values were high and Walton Schools had money to recruit the best most experienced teachers. Now we're cutting costs by getting rid of all the experienced teachers who don't enjoy tenure. Walton County painted itself into a corner by paying the best teachers more than neighboring counties and now the money isn't there to do that. The current regime seems to be playing games with stats and making decisions that fall within an envelope of legality without regard the best interest of children and young adults. We can and should do better.
Beach ComberAuthor
You are correct 30ARosie I also hear that Ragle hired Stafford as a School Psycholigist after the only other applicant refused the job. And now... the rest of the story....I also hear that she wanted to let him go and Ragle's supervisor, K. Dailey, stepped in and wouldn't let her. Dailey assigned him to work under another supervisor.
Beach Comber
You are correct 30ARosie I also hear that Ragle hired Stafford as a School Psycholigist after the only other applicant refused the job. And now... the rest of the story....I also hear that she wanted to let him go and Ragle's supervisor, K. Dailey, stepped in and wouldn't let her. Dailey assigned him to work under another supervisor.
That's interesting because I have never had anything but positive interactions with Mr.Stafford & have been very impressed by the way he supports students, teachers and schools. Guess it depends on who you listen to & what their agenda is, huh?
Edited
Beach Comber
RIGHT NOW for the RIGHT REASONS
You are absolutely right! The initiative to change the status of superintendent in Walton County should begin now. Your superintendent should not be an elected official.
Rosemary Ragle
I am as appalled as ever at politics (local, state & federal) and its terrible impact on the education of children. Why should any professional educator/leader of a school district need to run a political campaign and be elected? The whole system needs scrapping, starting with FCAT.
Education is too important to be run by politicians.
You are absolutely right! The initiative to change the status of superintendent in Walton County should begin now. Your superintendent should not be an elected official.
Rosemary Ragle
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.