The WCTA Executive Committee has requested to add three agenda items to the Earliest available school board agenda.
The request was made through School Board member Mark Davis who acknowledged receipt of the request and stated that he would start the process of having the WCTA requests added to the School Board agenda.
The three requested agenda items are:
1) Ask that the School Board approve a resolution asking the BCC to place the vote for the ½ mil transfer on the regularly scheduled August ballot rather than a special election in May of 2015.
(Note: The special election would cost the School district approximately $45,000.)
2) Ask that the School Board approve a resolution asking the BCC to place on that same August ballot a measure specifying that the method of choosing a Superintendent of Schools for Walton County be changed from an elected position to an appointed one at the earliest possible date.
3) Ask that the Board approve scheduling School Board meetings in a manner more consistent with the needs and desires of parents and citizens, i.e., always in evenings beginning no earlier than 6 p.m., alternating between locations in DFS and in S. Walton, preferably in the BCC meeting room such that streaming video is facilitated at the minimum cost to taxpayers.
Replies
46
Banned
What happens if the queen refuses to allow an audience with the WCTA?
SoWal Expert
What happens if the queen refuses to allow an audience with the WCTA?It's not up to her. The board votes. The WCTA asked for the 3 requests to be put on the agenda. We are waiting to find out the meeting date. Also these requests have nothing to do with anybody personally, but an attempt to hopefully get the ball rolling for the community to take more of an interest in the Walton County educational process. Let's please keep looking at the big picture.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
If we are unable to get a specific agenda slot we will simply make the requests by using multiple people to make a request during the public comments section.
Newspaper ads are being prepared to help everyone understand our requests.
Newspaper ads are being prepared to help everyone understand our requests.
Beach Fanatic
Bob, you and the WCTA are doing a great job!!! Please continue to do so.
Beach FanaticAuthor
This is a effort by a very dedicated group of individuals and the WCTA. Thanks for your support Andy. Ultimately voters will decide the answer to what is the best system for our children and grandchildren. The issue is about our teachers and children not people or politics.
Edited
Beach Lover
What happens if the queen refuses to allow an audience with the WCTA?
lol!
Banned
lol!
What's so funny? Evidently it is a real possibility. The WCTA and the individuals directly involved in this effort have created alternatives for just such an occurrence.
Beach FanaticAuthor
No need for Plan B
This is a cut and paste from the 3/4 School Board Agenda.
Hopefully many people will make a trip to show their support.
25 - ADMINISTRATION
25.25 - Collective Bargaining
a. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement for SY 2013-2014 for the Walton County Educational Support Personnel (C. Anderson)
b. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement for SY 2013-2014 for the Walton County Instructional Personnel
(C. Anderson)
25.40 - MISCELLANEOUS
a. Approval of Request from Walton County Tax Association (WCTA) is “Asking the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to Place the Vote for the 1/2 Mill on the Regularly Scheduled August Ballot." (Walton County Tax Association)
b. Approval of Request from Walton County Tax Association (WCTA) is “Asking the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to Place the Vote on the August Ballot a Measure Specifying that the Method of Choosing a Superintendent of Schools for Walton County be Changed from an Elected Position to an Appointed one at the Earliest Possible Date” (Walton County Tax Association)
c. Approval of Request from Walton County Tax Association (WCTA) to Schedule School Board Meetings in a Manner More Consistent with the Needs and Desires of Parents and Citizens, i.e. Always in Evenings Beginning on Earlier that 6:00 PM Altering between Locations in DeFuniak Springs and in South Walton (Walton County Tax Association)
This is a cut and paste from the 3/4 School Board Agenda.
Hopefully many people will make a trip to show their support.
25 - ADMINISTRATION
25.25 - Collective Bargaining
a. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement for SY 2013-2014 for the Walton County Educational Support Personnel (C. Anderson)
b. Approval of Collective Bargaining Agreement for SY 2013-2014 for the Walton County Instructional Personnel
(C. Anderson)
25.40 - MISCELLANEOUS
a. Approval of Request from Walton County Tax Association (WCTA) is “Asking the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to Place the Vote for the 1/2 Mill on the Regularly Scheduled August Ballot." (Walton County Tax Association)
b. Approval of Request from Walton County Tax Association (WCTA) is “Asking the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to Place the Vote on the August Ballot a Measure Specifying that the Method of Choosing a Superintendent of Schools for Walton County be Changed from an Elected Position to an Appointed one at the Earliest Possible Date” (Walton County Tax Association)
c. Approval of Request from Walton County Tax Association (WCTA) to Schedule School Board Meetings in a Manner More Consistent with the Needs and Desires of Parents and Citizens, i.e. Always in Evenings Beginning on Earlier that 6:00 PM Altering between Locations in DeFuniak Springs and in South Walton (Walton County Tax Association)
Edited
SoWal Expert
Well there ya go!
If you support these items on the agenda, please let the school board members know, and even better, attend the meeting next Tuesday!
If you support these items on the agenda, please let the school board members know, and even better, attend the meeting next Tuesday!
Beach FanaticAuthor
Well there ya go!
If you support these items on the agenda, please let the school board members know, and even better, attend the meeting next Tuesday!
This is a convenient way to send an email to EACH School Board member.
Click the link below and sign the petition and they will send you email to all 5 School Board Members
http://www.change.org/petitions/all-school-board-members-vote-yes-on-the-3-wcta-agenda-items
Beach FanaticAuthor
Well there ya go!
If you support these items on the agenda, please let the school board members know, and even better, attend the meeting next Tuesday!
This is a convenient way to send an email to EACH School Board member.
Click the link below and sign the petition and they will send your email to all 5 School Board Members automatically.
http://www.change.org/petitions/all-school-board-members-vote-yes-on-the-3-wcta-agenda-items
Banned
This is a convenient way to send an email to EACH School Board member.
Click the link below and sign the petition and they will send you email to all 5 School Board Members
http://www.change.org/petitions/all-school-board-members-vote-yes-on-the-3-wcta-agenda-items
[h=2]Well this is embarrassing…[/h][h=1]We couldn't find the page you were looking for.[/h]
Beach FanaticAuthor
[h=2]Well this is embarrassing…[/h][h=1]We couldn't find the page you were looking for.[/h]
Works on my machine and my phone.
Banned
Works on my machine and my phone.
That's the message I got when I clicked the link. If others are having the same issue I'm sure they will let you know. It doesn't work for me.
Beach Fanatic
It appeared to work fine for me.
Beach Lover
Works fine on mine, also.
Beach Lover
I'm working on Tuesday and I can't get to the meeting. While I agree that this initiative is a positive step, it's too bad it didn't start before the last election. I have close friends who are teachers and they are scared and they're hurting. Some parents I've talked to who live here have enrolled their kids in Okaloosa county schools.
Banned
While I'm not a fan of PACs I would hope that since this positive move was started by the WCTA a PAC would be in order. I rarely make political contributions but this is something I could contribute to. I would also hope that some qualified people would come forward and run for school board. I'm not sure that being a member of the Walton County Tea Party and the First Baptist Church makes the cut as qualifications. Certainly Mr. Davis is well qualified and on the surface, Ms. Smith is qualified but the other board members' qualifications are iffy.
SoWal Expert
While I'm not a fan of PACs I would hope that since this positive move was started by the WCTA a PAC would be in order. I rarely make political contributions but this is something I could contribute to. I would also hope that some qualified people would come forward and run for school board. I'm not sure that being a member of the Walton County Tea Party and the First Baptist Church makes the cut as qualifications. Certainly Mr. Davis is well qualified and on the surface, Ms. Smith is qualified but the other board members' qualifications are iffy.
The paperwork has been started for a PAC. Everything should be official and filed next week, with a name, PO box, and bank account ready to go!
However, the Tuesday meeting is VERY important, as well as the petition. Please share the link with everyone. It literally takes about a minute and a half.
Beach FanaticAuthor
The WCTA received a response from School Board member Sharon Roberts to our request for action by the school board on three issues on the agenda on Tuesday.
Each school board member was asked to respond.
As requested by the Walton County Taxpayers Association:
1. Placing the half mill transfer on the August ballot, instead of during a special election.
Response: I Sharon Byrd Roberts have asked multiple times for this to occur. I recently on February 18, 2014 asked again for this to occur. Thank you for your efforts in helping this tax saving initiative to be considered by the Superintendent and my fellow board members. I thank the Tax payers Association for their efforts in informing the community of these issues.
2. Holding more meetings at convenient times throughout the county, so that more people can participate.
Response: I Sharon Byrd Roberts ask every year for this to be considered. I again in November 2013 during the reorganization meeting pled for this to occur. My efforts fell on deaf ears! I voted no on the set date and time because I value the involvement of our communities in our community schools! I again asked for a special meeting to be held in South Walton to discuss with the community their ideas and wishes for the proposed properties of a new school facility. I have not been granted that request either. I never want our citizens to feel disenfranchised! I have been your voice! Thank you for joining in the effort to help our community flourish.
3. Creating a referendum so that voters can decide how the superintendent of schools is selected
Response: I have never asked the board to consider this because I have never been asked by the public to do so. I do personally feel that this is a good initiative and would support this idea too.
Sharon Byrd Roberts
School Board Member District 3
She also posted the same response on the petition website.
Each school board member was asked to respond.
As requested by the Walton County Taxpayers Association:
1. Placing the half mill transfer on the August ballot, instead of during a special election.
Response: I Sharon Byrd Roberts have asked multiple times for this to occur. I recently on February 18, 2014 asked again for this to occur. Thank you for your efforts in helping this tax saving initiative to be considered by the Superintendent and my fellow board members. I thank the Tax payers Association for their efforts in informing the community of these issues.
2. Holding more meetings at convenient times throughout the county, so that more people can participate.
Response: I Sharon Byrd Roberts ask every year for this to be considered. I again in November 2013 during the reorganization meeting pled for this to occur. My efforts fell on deaf ears! I voted no on the set date and time because I value the involvement of our communities in our community schools! I again asked for a special meeting to be held in South Walton to discuss with the community their ideas and wishes for the proposed properties of a new school facility. I have not been granted that request either. I never want our citizens to feel disenfranchised! I have been your voice! Thank you for joining in the effort to help our community flourish.
3. Creating a referendum so that voters can decide how the superintendent of schools is selected
Response: I have never asked the board to consider this because I have never been asked by the public to do so. I do personally feel that this is a good initiative and would support this idea too.
Sharon Byrd Roberts
School Board Member District 3
She also posted the same response on the petition website.
SoWal Expert
This is a convenient way to send an email to EACH School Board member.
Click the link below and sign the petition and they will send your email to all 5 School Board Members automatically.
http://www.change.org/petitions/all-school-board-members-vote-yes-on-the-3-wcta-agenda-items
You can sign the petition AND leave a comment about why these issues are important to you.
Thanks to the following for making this happen, and happen fast!
Bob Hudson and the WCTA- they understand that yes, it is about taxes, but also so much more.
A big shout out to Andrew Campanella, who set up this change.org. After his brief but memorable school board campaign, he is learning about the educational issues we face in Walton County, and I am thankful he redirected his efforts for a good cause.
Christi Ferry has run all over the place this week setting up the PAC, and it should be up and running next week. Thank you Christi!
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