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
243Beach Comber
It is he who does not learn from mistakes, you should hold with disdain.
Rosie:
General procedure for hiring personnel is a matter of checks and balances and, yes, references provided by a candidate for employment are checked. An interview is also conducted during which time the candidate for hire may disclose information related to his/her qualifications for the position.
Any recommendation to hire, together with pertinent documentation, is forwarded to the immediate supervisor for approval which, if approved, proceeds to the personnel director and then to the superintendent and finally to the school board. The superintendent makes her recommendation to the board and parliamentary procedure continues.
Decisions related to a new employee are usually left with his/her immediate supervisor; and, usually, it is the immediate supervisor who evaluates performance and makes the recommendation to rehire or not. I realize that I do not need to explain this to you, but readers unfamiliar with these procedures may appreciate my reply.
As you know, I will not discuss individual personnel matters with the general public out of respect for the employee’s confidentiality. Further, I agree with other forum members that your motives are focused on me, personally.
You will need to create a new pseudonym. I will not address any of your further comments. Will the real 30ARosie please stand up?
Rosemary Ragle
Rosie:
General procedure for hiring personnel is a matter of checks and balances and, yes, references provided by a candidate for employment are checked. An interview is also conducted during which time the candidate for hire may disclose information related to his/her qualifications for the position.
Any recommendation to hire, together with pertinent documentation, is forwarded to the immediate supervisor for approval which, if approved, proceeds to the personnel director and then to the superintendent and finally to the school board. The superintendent makes her recommendation to the board and parliamentary procedure continues.
Decisions related to a new employee are usually left with his/her immediate supervisor; and, usually, it is the immediate supervisor who evaluates performance and makes the recommendation to rehire or not. I realize that I do not need to explain this to you, but readers unfamiliar with these procedures may appreciate my reply.
As you know, I will not discuss individual personnel matters with the general public out of respect for the employee’s confidentiality. Further, I agree with other forum members that your motives are focused on me, personally.
You will need to create a new pseudonym. I will not address any of your further comments. Will the real 30ARosie please stand up?
Rosemary Ragle
Admin
Let's stay respectful. Thank you. A comment is a comment. Truth is truth. A rose by any other name . . .
Beach Lover
Good for you Mrs, Ragle, I think your being respectful in taking the high road here. Carlene Anderson does not seem to have guts to introduce herself here, much less answer in questions.
Beach Lover
Sorry for the typos in the previous post...... I forgot to address the Stellablue1 comment. Your accusations of someone having an agenda about Mr. Stafford are based on your opinion. Just because other people have a different view than you about Mr. Stafford does not mean they have an agenda. I've never met the guy, but all of the "FACTUAL" information I've read about him makes me question his integrity and honesty. For Mrs. Anderson to create an un-needed supervisory postion for him is poor management.
Beach Fanatic
Let's stay respectful. Thank you. A comment is a comment. Truth is truth. A rose by any other name . . .30aRosie or Rosemary Ragle
SoWal Insider
While I appreciate the open dialogue and expression of opinions on local politics, I would like to ask one favor. If you have information you would like to share with the Herald/Breeze, PLEASE, feel free to stop by our office or even drop it in the mail. This is the much preferred method of gathering submitted information on our part, rather than our reporters finding packages stuffed under their cars while out doing their private errands (which is happening in this race). When information is brought to us upfront (without agendas), it tends to be taken a little more seriously, not to mention, it doesn't make our reporters feel like they're being followed or watched. Thanks-AL
Beach Fanatic
SoWal Insider
lol
Banned
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.
Is the Mr. Stafford in this discussion the same individual who contributed $500 to Mrs. Anderson's campaign? Job security I suppose.
Beach Fanatic
This post thread is a perfect example of why the superintendent should be appointed based upon qualifications and experience -- not mudslinging and rumors. While the superintendent is running for re-election, who is running the school system? Our graduation rates are pathetic. Our reading comprehension in high school is ridiculous. Our children are not National Merit Finalists. They are not being actively recruited by top universities. Those, among other factors are how we should be viewing the quality of our schools, not some "A" rating. If we get "A" rating compared to violent schools in the inner city, but our kids can't get into a top level college (no offense NWF, then what have we accomplished?
Beach Lover
You are absolutely right WaltonParent, the supintendent should not be a political position. Mrs. Ragle has also publicly stated she believes the superintendent should be an appointed position. It is my understanding, that if elected, she will not seek a second term. This could be an excellent opportunity for the citizens of this county to change the system, with the superintendents help and support. I truly believe she is committed to improving Walton County Schools and does not have a future political agenda.
Edited
Beach Lover
From everything I've read here and from talking with other parents and teachers, we do need a change. It sounds like cronyism isn't confined to the county commission. Some of my friends tell me that their children are going into the second grade and can't read!
Beach Fanatic
My child is in the second grade and can read. He could read when he got to Butler because we lived out of state for his preschool and kindergarten years. I have been patient with the math assignments so far, but honestly, his kindergarten work was more challenging than what he is doing now. Last year, he made straight A's...never lower than an average of 98, and never did more than 10 minutes a WEEK in preparation. I have to ask...is our school system helping him live up to his full potential academically? Sadly, no. But the school system loves kids like mine because teachers do not have to invest any effort in them, and they boost the overall test scores on FCATs. These are also the scores that Ms. Anderson uses to get reelected. If there was a way to give her a grade for how the system helps each child acheive his or her true potential, I am afraid she would have to repeat a grade or two.
SoWal Expert
From everything I've read here and from talking with other parents and teachers, we do need a change. It sounds like cronyism isn't confined to the county commission. Some of my friends tell me that their children are going into the second grade and can't read!
I think it is important to remember that the majority of the kids going into second grade CAN read, and like schools everywhere, there are kids, for a variety of reasons (school, parents, the kids themselves) who move through the grade levels under performing. It is sad, but it happens, and not just here. Watch the broad brush- I can't speak for NoWal, but there are many good things happening in the South Walton schools.
I remember when our 19 year old was in elementary school, and the school issues a challenge to the parents- What are YOU doing to enhance/enrich/support your child's school, education, and community? I never forgot it.
Banned
A big issue for a lot of people is the concept of ethics, which in my mind is simply doing the right thing. Right and wrong seems to be lost when elected officials operate in a gray area that suggests that if it's legal in the strictest sense, it's ethical. Personally, I don't think it's ethical for a superintendent to take campaign contributions from employees of the school district or shafting good teachers because they're being paid too much. I also don't think it's right for elected officials to take thousands of dollars from a single contributor who owns or controls dozens of companies and entities that each contribute $500. If anyone here thinks otherwise Yo momma and daddy were a lot different from mine.
Beach Fanatic
Jbarg, I definitely agree that parents need to be involved in every level of their child's education. I think that goes beyond being a room mother or PTO member, though those are both important activities. I think raising public awareness, rallying parents for change, lobbying elected officials, etc. are also ways in which we support our children's education.
Banned
Parent involvement is good. The problem with the current regime is that parent involvement isn't solicited. In the rear of the board room at the Tivoli complex there's a lifesize likeness of a man with the words, "It's Miller's way or the Highway". These days it's "It's Carlene's way or the highway".
Beach Fanatic
I suggest we show Carlene the highway. Money is not the only reason she wins. Apathy is her real campaign manager.
Beach Comber
I am a parent who is friends, neighbors, and church members with many teachers. From what I hear, Carlene’s campaign manager is intimidation. Teachers are too scared to speak out against her in public, and believe you me, they have LOTS to say. I am shocked and appalled at the vindictive, revengeful actions that Carlene takes. Because of these actions, teachers are too scared to campaign against her, put a sign for Ragle in their yard, tell their first hand stories, etc. This week, my daughter had to go to an anti-bullying assembly. Perhaps it would be beneficial for Carlene to do the same. This is America. “The Dictator” should be a funny movie that we rent from RedBox, not the daily reality with which teachers live their lives!!!!!
Beach Comber
Has anyone seen all the new campaign signs for Rosemary Ragle? Someone might need to tell her that ALL of her signs are out of compliance (illegal) for not having the campaign disclaimer on them, wouldn't want someone to turn her in.
Beach Comber
Majority?
Jdarg,
Yes, the majority of 2nd graders can read. What about the remaining 49 percent?
Seaside Neighborhood School can boast that only 13 percent of its students are not reading on grade level or above, only 4 percent are behind in math, and 3 percent behind in writing. All of our schools do not have a majority of students reading on grade level.
(Before I continue, I hope that you read Brett Beck's article in last week's Walton Sun. If not, I posted a link to the site on my Facebook and website campaign accounts. It is most appropriate for this discussion.)
Three of our "A" schools did show adequate yearly progress. The other "A" schools did not.
(High school grades have yet to be published. Reports are found on fldoe.org.)
Involvement of parents and community was cited by the 2012 accreditation team as an area to be addressed through corrective action for WCSD. The accreditation report noted discontent in our schools by stakeholders and a lack of equity demonstrated among schools at the district level.
Leadership must recognize weaknesses for there to be positive change. A+ sounds good, but is the grade reality?
Rosemary Ragle
Jdarg,
Yes, the majority of 2nd graders can read. What about the remaining 49 percent?
Seaside Neighborhood School can boast that only 13 percent of its students are not reading on grade level or above, only 4 percent are behind in math, and 3 percent behind in writing. All of our schools do not have a majority of students reading on grade level.
(Before I continue, I hope that you read Brett Beck's article in last week's Walton Sun. If not, I posted a link to the site on my Facebook and website campaign accounts. It is most appropriate for this discussion.)
Three of our "A" schools did show adequate yearly progress. The other "A" schools did not.
(High school grades have yet to be published. Reports are found on fldoe.org.)
Involvement of parents and community was cited by the 2012 accreditation team as an area to be addressed through corrective action for WCSD. The accreditation report noted discontent in our schools by stakeholders and a lack of equity demonstrated among schools at the district level.
Leadership must recognize weaknesses for there to be positive change. A+ sounds good, but is the grade reality?
Rosemary Ragle
I think it is important to remember that the majority of the kids going into second grade CAN read, and like schools everywhere, there are kids, for a variety of reasons (school, parents, the kids themselves) who move through the grade levels under performing. It is sad, but it happens, and not just here. Watch the broad brush- I can't speak for NoWal, but there are many good things happening in the South Walton schools.
I remember when our 19 year old was in elementary school, and the school issues a challenge to the parents- What are YOU doing to enhance/enrich/support your child's school, education, and community? I never forgot it.
Banned
Has anyone seen all the new campaign signs for Rosemary Ragle? Someone might need to tell her that ALL of her signs are out of compliance (illegal) for not having the campaign disclaimer on them, wouldn't want someone to turn her in.
I suspect that a lot of residents of the county are like me......Not in the habit of looking at campaign signs on my hands and knees and reading the fine print. But I'm sure the Carlene Anderson cheerleading squad will report this heinous offense.
Beach Lover
Has anyone seen all the new campaign signs for Rosemary Ragle? Someone might need to tell her that ALL of her signs are out of compliance (illegal) for not having the campaign disclaimer on them, wouldn't want someone to turn her in.
How childish to post such silliness. Would you also report a child for opening a lemonaid stand without the proper licenses and permits?
Beach Comber
How childish to post such silliness. Would you also report a child for opening a lemonaid stand without the proper licenses and permits?
We would expect that a child might not know the rules related to running for a political office, but an adult surely should. Seriously... If someone running for office wants people to vote for them, the very least they can do is follow some very simple campaign rules... It isn't that complicated. I would hate to see this candidate negotiate the complexities of the federal & local mandates imposed upon a district if she's unable to follow a few specific & clear campaign guidelines. The 'child running a lemonade stand' analogy is appreciated, but it doesn't work in this circumstance.
Edited
Beach Comber
Stellablue1, you are obviously a Carlene supporter. I actually like the fact that Ragle is not a politician and that this is not old hat to her as it is to you.
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