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 Lover
[h=5]Posted on Ragle for Superintendent
Monday, October 22, 3:30-7pm
Join us at the Coastal Branch Library community room, 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach for a public Meet & Greet with Rosemary Ragle. Refreshments and door prizes will be available for everyone. We would like to extend a special invitation to all teachers, and we will have goody bags for kids and teachers.
This is your opportunity to meet Rosemary Ragle, candidate for Walton County Superintendent of Schools. Rosemary has been involved in public education for 36 years, with 22 years in the classroom, and 14 years as an administrator. Please join us and meet with Rosemary to discuss your questions and concerns about the education of our children, and her plans as Superintendent of Our Schools in Walton County.[/h]
Monday, October 22, 3:30-7pm
Join us at the Coastal Branch Library community room, 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach for a public Meet & Greet with Rosemary Ragle. Refreshments and door prizes will be available for everyone. We would like to extend a special invitation to all teachers, and we will have goody bags for kids and teachers.
This is your opportunity to meet Rosemary Ragle, candidate for Walton County Superintendent of Schools. Rosemary has been involved in public education for 36 years, with 22 years in the classroom, and 14 years as an administrator. Please join us and meet with Rosemary to discuss your questions and concerns about the education of our children, and her plans as Superintendent of Our Schools in Walton County.[/h]
Beach Comber
Please join me next Monday afternoon. Teachers and parents, come for a snack and door prizes - children are welcomed and a treat awaits them.
We welcome Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. Remember, it takes a village!
Those of you whom I have not met, look for a slightly older woman than pictured in my newspaper ads. I could not resist the eight- year-old photo.
Those were the "good ole' days."
See you soon,
Rosemary
We welcome Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. Remember, it takes a village!
Those of you whom I have not met, look for a slightly older woman than pictured in my newspaper ads. I could not resist the eight- year-old photo.
Those were the "good ole' days."
See you soon,
Rosemary
Beach Comber
You can listen to a recording done by WZEP AM 1460 which airs a forum that took place this morning between Rosemary Ragle and Carlene Anderson. Unfortunately, it cuts off Mrs. Ralge just as she begins her closing remarks, and if her earlier comments were any indication, I would have really enjoyed hearing her closing remark. Anderson asked that we not judge her based on each individual decision she has made as Superintendent, but rather how the District performs as a whole. If she is not responsible for her own decisions, who is responsible for them? Maybe we ought to give credit to teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents for how the District has performed as a whole.
https://sites.google.com/site/wzepam1460/
https://sites.google.com/site/wzepam1460/
Beach Comber
They cut off Mrs. Ragle’s statement?! That’s convenient. The good ole’ boy system strikes again. WZEP, your partisanship is showing!
Beach Lover
Mrs. Anderson asks not to be judged by "individual decisions" but sometimes individual decisions define a person's character. She seems to be taking all the credit for the work of teachers and other good people. And I seriously doubt that F-Cat scores paint a complete picture.
Banned
I understand that Walton Academy, the charter school for at risk kids is run by a private company, the Rader Group aka BTR, Inc. I also understand that the charter is up for renewal in May or June. Carlene Anderson recently received a $500 contribution from BTR and a $100 contribution from an officer in that company. What a splendid gesture!
Beach Crab
Early voting begins today. Please consider voting for Rosemary Ragle.
Beach Lover
I'm registered to vote as a Republican in Walton County. I'm also a mom. Mrs. Ragle has a positive message and she has responded to personal attacks with dignity and respect. I want the best for my children and all the children in our county. I also want hard working teachers to feel that they have a voice and not have to feel intimidated. We vote for our school board on a non-partisan basis. I think it's time that we quit electing all of our county officials strictly along party lines. It certainly won't have any effect on the balance of power in Washington.
Banned
Well, the election is over and the reign of terror in the school district will continue as expected. Obviously it isn't possible for a qualified Democrat to win any office in Walton County. The fear that teachers feel is really sad. My wife, it appears, will never teach in Walton County again and when I asked her to go to the meet and greet for Mrs. Ragle, she was hesitant. She was literally afraid to go, but she did. She plans to keep applying for teaching jobs but I think she knows that the Walton School District has no use for an over 50 former teacher with over 30 years experience, and great student results. The School District needs "consultants" like an energy guru more than the best teachers.
Beach Lover
There's no doubt the retaliation will begin against Mrs. Ragle and her "known" supporters. I feel for all of the teachers and adminisrtative staff, all of the ones I know are both worried about their jobs and are miserable because of Anderson and her cronies. We'll see what Andersons true colors are. If she does retaliate aginst anyone I hope they have their documentation in order, and have the resources to file a lawsuit.
Banned
There's no doubt the retaliation will begin against Mrs. Ragle and her "known" supporters. I feel for all of the teachers and adminisrtative staff, all of the ones I know are both worried about their jobs and are miserable because of Anderson and her cronies. We'll see what Andersons true colors are. If she does retaliate aginst anyone I hope they have their documentation in order, and have the resources to file a lawsuit.
I think a lawsuit is unlikely. Sovereign immunity limits the districts liability to $100,000 and I doubt that you could find a good attorney to take the case for a percentage of that amount. There's a lot more money to be made chasing ambulances. I know a number of teachers that have a compelling cause of action for discrimination as well as breach of the collective bargaining agreement but the education law is written in such a way that discrimination is legal since no reason is required for nonrenewal of annual contract teachers. I'm sure Sen. Gaetz, one of Mrs. Anderson's donors (and crony) would agree that's what was intended. Article 11.5 of the collective bargaining agreement states that non-renewed annual contract teachers will receive "first consideration" for teaching positions when they become available. I have plenty of documentation that this was breached and I've called it to the attention to the board, superintendent, and the union and they don't even have the decency to respond. Obviously I've become a pest to the school district and I'm sure my wife is the target of retribution since she's applied for at least 100 jobs over a period of two years. But Mrs. Anderson boasts of the district being an A plus district according to some flawed system and that's all that counts to some people.
Beach Fanatic
The morning after her failed bid to become the next superintendent of Walton County schools, Rosemary Ragle says she was asked to resign during a private conversation with newly re-elected Superintendent Carlene Anderson.
The long-time educator and current school district administrator said she was sitting in her office Wednesday morning when three men who work for the district came in and said she needed to speak to Anderson while they changed the lock on her door.
Rather than go straight to Anderson’s office, Ragle said she sat down in the lobby of the building and tried to compose herself. She said she was in shock as she watched the workers rekey the door.
After they finished, one of the men again asked her to go see Anderson, but Ragle said she requested more time.
A few minutes later, Anderson came to Ragle and asked the others to leave.
Anderson and Ragle confirm that sequence of events, but what came next is disputed.
Ragle says Anderson “stood over me and she demanded my resignation.”
Anderson said that’s not true.
“I did not tell her to resign,” Anderson said. “Unequivocally I did not say, 'resign’.”
Anderson, who was elected Tuesday to her third term, said she’s had school district employees run against her before and none of them lost their jobs because it.
She declined to comment on the details of the conversation, citing personnel privacy issues. But Ragle said Anderson accused her of insubordination multiple times.
“I told her that I could not give her an answer because I had the right to at least contemplate my options before I made a decision,” Ragle said. “That is when she told me she could put me anywhere and have me do any kind of duty, and I would have to do it.”
Anderson denied threatening Ragle in such a way. She said she initiated the conversation in order to speak with Ragle about a change in her job description because of a pending retirement. She said Ragle was one of seven employees who were told Wednesday their job descriptions would change.
Rather than having Ragle’s immediate supervisor bring the news, as was done with the other employees, Anderson opted to speak with her first.
“Because we had been candidates together I felt that she deserved some explanation,” Anderson said.
It never got that far, but if it had Anderson said she planned to explain that she had known the retirement was coming for a while, but postponed making any changes until after the election so Ragle could handle it as she saw fit if she was elected.
When Ragle wasn’t, Anderson said she wanted to implement the plan immediately.
The future of the dispute remains unclear. Ragle, who said she has consulted an attorney, took the rest of Wednesday off and said she wasn’t certain what would happen next.
“I expected to be shunned by the district office," Ragle said. "I expected to be lowered, but did I expect that? I sure didn’t.”
The long-time educator and current school district administrator said she was sitting in her office Wednesday morning when three men who work for the district came in and said she needed to speak to Anderson while they changed the lock on her door.
Rather than go straight to Anderson’s office, Ragle said she sat down in the lobby of the building and tried to compose herself. She said she was in shock as she watched the workers rekey the door.
After they finished, one of the men again asked her to go see Anderson, but Ragle said she requested more time.
A few minutes later, Anderson came to Ragle and asked the others to leave.
Anderson and Ragle confirm that sequence of events, but what came next is disputed.
Ragle says Anderson “stood over me and she demanded my resignation.”
Anderson said that’s not true.
“I did not tell her to resign,” Anderson said. “Unequivocally I did not say, 'resign’.”
Anderson, who was elected Tuesday to her third term, said she’s had school district employees run against her before and none of them lost their jobs because it.
She declined to comment on the details of the conversation, citing personnel privacy issues. But Ragle said Anderson accused her of insubordination multiple times.
“I told her that I could not give her an answer because I had the right to at least contemplate my options before I made a decision,” Ragle said. “That is when she told me she could put me anywhere and have me do any kind of duty, and I would have to do it.”
Anderson denied threatening Ragle in such a way. She said she initiated the conversation in order to speak with Ragle about a change in her job description because of a pending retirement. She said Ragle was one of seven employees who were told Wednesday their job descriptions would change.
Rather than having Ragle’s immediate supervisor bring the news, as was done with the other employees, Anderson opted to speak with her first.
“Because we had been candidates together I felt that she deserved some explanation,” Anderson said.
It never got that far, but if it had Anderson said she planned to explain that she had known the retirement was coming for a while, but postponed making any changes until after the election so Ragle could handle it as she saw fit if she was elected.
When Ragle wasn’t, Anderson said she wanted to implement the plan immediately.
The future of the dispute remains unclear. Ragle, who said she has consulted an attorney, took the rest of Wednesday off and said she wasn’t certain what would happen next.
“I expected to be shunned by the district office," Ragle said. "I expected to be lowered, but did I expect that? I sure didn’t.”
Beach Fanatic
I am disgusted that Mrs. (not Dr) Anderson won...particularly by the margin she did. Thank Goodness there are private school options in South Walton County. I encourage parents to vote with their feet if at all possible (some schools offer scholarships). if the D and R where reversed, Mrs. Ragle would have won, without changing a single position. When are we going to forget about the party and vote for the person?
Beach Lover
As usual Anderson is lying to try and cover her butt. I hope she gets sued for retaliation, because that's exactly what it is. This is another good reason the School Superintendent should not be an elected position. I still can't believe Walton County citizens put this lying, unethical piece of crap back in office.
Banned
As usual Anderson is lying to try and cover her butt. I hope she gets sued for retaliation, because that's exactly what it is. This is another good reason the School Superintendent should not be an elected position. I still can't believe Walton County citizens put this lying, unethical piece of crap back in office.
She has friends in high places. With wealthy supporters like Jay Odom, M.C. Davis, Sen. Gaetz and other big time friends in Tallahassee (and Miami) she's learned that she's above the law. The state attorney, ethics commission, and elections commission have dismissed complaints before.
Beach Comber
Living and working in the garden of good and evil.
The events posted by Jensky are unequivocably true. I was greeted at the door of my office on Wednesday the 7th @7:15 am by Mark Gardner, Director of Facilities and Operations for WCSD, Danny Graham, attendance officer, and a maintenance worker whose name I do not know.
Mr. Gardner advised me that they were acting on the directive of the Superintendent. Mr. Gardner's words to me were, "Rosemary, I am just doing my job."
The unadulterated audacity, albeit expected, of the superintendent to actually say that she, personally, offered to speak with me herself out of courtesy to her opponent is ludicrous.
Yes, she demanded my resignation -immediately! Yes, she told me that if I did not resign at that moment, I would be fired 6-30-13.
Yes, she told me that she could move me anywhere, assign me any duties of her choosing, and my only option would be to quit or do "as I was told." As an annual emploee, I know this to be true. I do not dispute the information she enjoyed reiterating to me.
Not even I recognized the extent of this woman's vitriole. Carlene Anderson's style of A+ leadership appears to be the future of Walton County.
Paradise or paradox?
Thank you to all who supported me. Be discreet if you wish to work in the garden of good and evil.
Very truthfully yours,
Rosemary
The events posted by Jensky are unequivocably true. I was greeted at the door of my office on Wednesday the 7th @7:15 am by Mark Gardner, Director of Facilities and Operations for WCSD, Danny Graham, attendance officer, and a maintenance worker whose name I do not know.
Mr. Gardner advised me that they were acting on the directive of the Superintendent. Mr. Gardner's words to me were, "Rosemary, I am just doing my job."
The unadulterated audacity, albeit expected, of the superintendent to actually say that she, personally, offered to speak with me herself out of courtesy to her opponent is ludicrous.
Yes, she demanded my resignation -immediately! Yes, she told me that if I did not resign at that moment, I would be fired 6-30-13.
Yes, she told me that she could move me anywhere, assign me any duties of her choosing, and my only option would be to quit or do "as I was told." As an annual emploee, I know this to be true. I do not dispute the information she enjoyed reiterating to me.
Not even I recognized the extent of this woman's vitriole. Carlene Anderson's style of A+ leadership appears to be the future of Walton County.
Paradise or paradox?
Thank you to all who supported me. Be discreet if you wish to work in the garden of good and evil.
Very truthfully yours,
Rosemary
Beach Fanatic
If we, as citizens, do not start a movement to become a charter county so that we may take the R and D from behind the names of those running for local office, we do ourselves a great disservice. We could also then have the Superintendent of Schools appointed rather than elected. To elect someone who supposedly works for the school board is ludicrous! She/he runs the school board, which BTW, is also elected. I'll close by saying the Rosemary Ragle situation is the height of audacity! If what she says is true, every effort possible should be made to remove the re-elected Superintendent from office. There are such things as malfeasence in office and other reasons for removal that can be pursued, I'm sure. They should be explored if the alligations are found to have merit.
Beach Lover
Hang in there Mrs. Ragle, and remember, you have about 10,000 supporters who believe in you. I would be happy to volunteer time and financial contributions for a movement of any kind to try and get Anderson ousted.
Beach Fanatic
Count me in, too, Mrs. Ragle.
Beach Lover
On Halloween I was so hoping that Carlene Anderson would ride off into the night on her broom.
Banned
Now that the presidential election is over, maybe the Walton County Republican Party could spend some time cleaning it's own house.
Beach Lover
I encourage everyone to send Carlene Anderson an email, we need to let her know personally how we feel about her deplorable actions against Mrs. Ragle and others. Her email address can be found on the county website.
AndersoC@waltonK12fl.us
AndersoC@waltonK12fl.us
Edited
Beach Comber
Don’t you know there are always two sides to every story, making assumptions that you’re getting the whole truth on one side is just plain short-sighted. The unfortunate thing is that Ms. Anderson doesn’t get to come on all these social media sights and explain what really happened, conversations like the ones that were had with several district employees on Wednesday are considered confidential. So while the public gets to Monday morning quarterback, Ms. Anderson is out running a school district. Remember if you don’t like the current administration and the direction its going, maybe you yourself should run for the office in the next election!
Beach Lover
My information comes from Carlene's "inner circle" pet cronies that likes run her mouth, she was there when it all went down. Anderson exhibited her ignorance by having a closed door meeting with no witness. If she new anything about running a government entity she would have had the director of human resources as a withness. To handle things they way she did the next day after the election is deplorable. Maybe you're right, maybe I should run the next time, apparently the quailifications and standards are very low. This I do Know, a partisan elected position for Superintendent of schools is ignorant.
If she is so busy running the schools she might want to start actually visiting them and see how they are doing.
If she is so busy running the schools she might want to start actually visiting them and see how they are doing.
Edited
Banned
For all those who vote R and have no concept of corruption and ethics, Jesse Jackson, Jr. also won his district.
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