This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There is such a thing as a basic education that should be universal for all students including those in vocational studies. The meeting was all about the new facilitys leasing agreement. Pritchett, who moved to Martin Countyfrom New York sixyears ago,also raises parental involvement in the curriculum and reading scores as points of concern she'd like to address. We wholeheartedly understand the crucial importance of nurturing a continued dialogue in our community, specifically including our students, to create and foster a learning environment and community free of bigotry, hate and racism. That a child will see someone having a glass of wine? Why wouldnt you want to involve and get approval from the people? The board should do that at the next meeting. Remember that even how much a school board can tax residents is proscribed by Tallahassee. It doesnt believe in textbooks as much as original sources. Both the BOCC and school board want this to happen, but the devil is in the details. The vote was 4-1 with Defenthaler voting no. Another matter was who should have final say over a schools code. Under the old system of an elected superintendent, the district had a legal staff, and the board had an attorney. Sometimes, you must know when you won and accept victory. Since this set up will be with the district for the rest of the year, Dr. Millay should see whether it can be improved. While her roots in Martin County are shallow, she had the might of the Republican Party behind her in this non-partisan race. Neither was Anthony George, the school boards attorney. On first look, it appears that the district is not being harmed (at least financially). The blended increase for the plans would be 13.8%. He envisions eliminating the COO position which I never believed was well thought out in terms of its job functions within the district structure. She has not been endorsed by the Martin CountyMoms for Liberty chapter. If the referendum is defeated, what happens? The district may require assigned seating in other settings such as cafeterias. However, there is more to it than just that. I would like to see our school system invest more resources into supporting reading skills because reading is crucial to a childs ability to succeed. Staff will be scheduling a meeting to go over the items. I dont know whether they were for or against, but it was a bone of contention. This was Laurie Gaylords last meeting as superintendent. He is married to Robbye Hillard . If a student is unable to attend school because of being in quarantine or sick, instructional materials and coursework may be accessed online by signing into ClassLink and then accessing either Schoology, a learning management system, or Google Classroom depending on the course. This was referred to several times by this years Florida legislature when legislators were dismayed to find large pots of money unclaimed by districts. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent by districts building schools that ended up vacant. This is real competition for the district and the only school board member that sees it clearly is Christia LI Roberts. The committee will meet to consider options for that area before the boards next meeting. Winchester, VA 22601. But the arbiters of how children are educated are not professional teachers or administrators. The statement had to do with a package of Memorandums of Understanding that was Covid related. We are providing counseling to anyHidden Oaks Middle Schoolstudent in need and are working on longer-range plans to work with community partners to help heal the harm this incident has caused. The people have much more influence at this level. Didnt that strike anyone as unusual and odd. Dr. Millay begins on a per diem basis based on his contracted salary on October 26th. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. I cant think of a less potent threat. One was a half-cent sales tax to replace two elementary schools and other capital improvement work. If he is just blowing smoke, then he is the best smoke blower I have ever seen. Schools could serve as more of an employment agency for those students while still providing the academic underpinnings needed for their intended occupation. It is not a logical risk assessment but more a political calculation. These are public buildings paid for with taxpayer dollars that sit idle for more than half the year. She said she's running because she sawa fundamental misunderstanding in the community about the School Board and its responsibilities, she said. I hear it is all about the kids until it is not in the contracttoo bad. Seats for Districts 3and 4are contested,butDistrict 1 incumbent and School Board Chair Christia Li Roberts was elected automatically reelected when no other candidate qualified. As a retired teacher and principal of the Martin County district she was in line with the professional educators viewpoints. That is the kind of remark that would get her predecessor in trouble. I hope to learn more about her. She wrote in her evaluation, We must be open to new & innovative ways to deliver instruction. It was a complicated discussion to follow without the spread sheet available. Board Members District 1: Christia Li Roberts District 2: Marsha Powers District 3: Jennifer Russell District 4: Amy Pritchett District 5: Michael DiTerlizzi Meetings Thursday, February 23, 2023 THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MARTIN COUNTY - 5:00 PM - CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT COMMITTEE MEETING Code of Student Conduct Committee Tuesday, February 21, 2023 Children must swipe their ID cards when they board and as they depart. The newsletter will continue to report on you and write opinions about your conduct as a school board member. He once again attacked me for being inaccurate and deliberately lying about things he has said during his comments. This involves a plan to add additional licensed teachers in grades 1, 2, and 3 to focus on literacy skills. The board has said that they do not have the funds to bus children that live less than 2 miles from schools. She then made a motion to issue the proclamation. All literally means all it means every Martin County student will be equipped to reach their highest personal potential, including our most vulnerable populations. The board approved the referendum to continue the increase of a mill. DiTerlizzi also expressed his doubts. Mr. Spellman received the proposed MOU from a member of the districts negotiating team. This means not only can district children have a choice about what school to attend so, too, can kids from outside the district. We bring learning to life! Christia Li Roberts Area: District 1 - North Stuart, Jensen Beach Phone: (772) 219-1200 Ext. A simmering anger came out into the open. Powers moved that Russell be vice-chair, and it was seconded by Pritchett. Millay had a plan and had done his research. Dr. Millays vision also begins to eliminate the inhouse legal team and outsource to an outside legal firm that specializes in education. At the same time there is probably a few years in the beginning where it will result in higher costs. You can read Ms. Roberts and the boards statement here, The board also approved their meeting calendar for 2022. This resulted in a total of $2,482,998.60 as the first batch that would be coming from ESSER II. 2017 Minutes. Though the rate has gone down, do not expect the amount you pay to be less. Public schools throughout the country have tended to go away from more practical hands-on classes that were meant to train students to be auto mechanics and carpenters. Students, teachers, employees all have a stake for success. I remember when I was young, the Catholic mass was still in Latin. The buck stops with them. While expertise is important when it comes to the education of our children, it should not be the decisive factor for the school board. If you or any of your readers have any questions regarding this information, please feel free to contact me. Yet the scourge of believing that ones race, ethnicity, or religion makes one individual better than another has been allowed to resurface in the guise of replacement theory or other such conspiracy nonsense. The board does control how much the district will expend on health care instead of going against the employees wishes in choosing a company. Victoria Defenthaler, who voted for Millay, decided not to run, and was replaced by Jennifer Russell. Now Roberts is chair again. Carter Morrison was concerned that they would need more people on his staff. When it came to most of those on the Organizational Chart, the Board was reluctant to do so. Perhaps as approved developments are built, enrollment will begin to increase. However, if a vaccinated student is awaiting Covid test results and is asymptomatic, he/she can return to school. Spellman had concerns about the language and that it had to be presented at a collective bargaining session. Confused yet? No school board member wants to look at a parent or another member of the community if something goes wrong and say we should have put more money into guarding the children. Those kids mostly come from parent-involved homes. The capital projects increase was not $84 million but $17 million over last year. I looked at the screen shots that were included in the email to board members that were supposedly about CRT and the Covid module. All rights reserved. Are our dollars being spent to improve scores and strengthen the curriculum? There were several members of the clergy who spoke against the measure. Commissioner Smith was there on behalf of Jensen Beach and had rallied that schools PTA. I cant imagine the private sector doing that. Quite frankly it is the usual dribble that now passes for lessons in our public schools. There have been a variety of funding programs (like CARES, GEERS, ESSER, ESSER II) that K-12 public school districts have been able to utilize to address the unexpected costs and consequences of the global pandemic. Defenthaler stated that the district can also provide the services that the new academy can. Further, the pecking order that is established early on with certain students on top continues throughout their academic careers. Jensen Beach High also has availability. At this meeting, teacher after teacher took to the podium to complain bitterly about their pay. Interestingly, it seems that enrollment is continuing to fall. District; Schools . 445 likes. This trend may change as all the new housing units being built come online in the next few years, but it probably will not. This myopic vision of what a school should be is becoming less and less relevant especially with declining enrollment. Tony often goes the long way around to make his pointsand those points sometimes are then lost on his listeners. Incumbent Anthony Andersonof District4facesopposition fromAmy Pritchett,who co-chairsthe localchapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative parental-rights advocacy group. He cannot be a slacker and have been accepted to one of the service academies. The district should try the app, but ultimately it will not make much difference to those parents searching out charters, virtual schools, and home schooling. Watts points out all the reasons why staging busses at school is not a good idea. Michael Dunsmore, currently teaching at East Carolina University in North Carolina, and Lori Romano, formerly from Martin County now in Pasco County, received 1 vote each. He was not copied. If you are going to teach a health curriculum as dictated, then the money must come from somewhere. To see the budget presentation and handouts please gohere. The space cannot exceed the master plan for Stuart Middle which leaves about 2 acres for the Council. Ms. Pritchett was the one that dug most deeply into this matter. The staff responsible for the project has done a remarkable job in ignoring and alienating the schools surrounding communities and the PTAs. "That's where you can actually impact the budget the next year's implementation plan," she said. Now she is moving the Arts Council further from the district. I will be an advocate for them by listening to their concerns, and making sure they have the resources they need to succeed in the classroom. Published: Feb. 27, 2023 at 8:50 PM PST | Updated: 9 hours ago. Though the candidates are listed by the seat they are running to represent, they are elected by every voter in the county. The Martin County School Board and District should concentrate on the education of students. If the referendum does not pass, all bets are off. Things like raises and bonuses consume very little meeting time. As you know I am on the boardof Gertrude Walden and strongly believe that every teacher and day care worker should be qualified but not necessarily with a college degree. She successfully campaigned with the message "every parent has the right to make education and health decisions for their children," and lauded academic excellence, student empowerment, parent collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Is Chaucers Canterbury Tales pornography or an example of medieval literature? Stay Connected Every employee must be back physically at the district. Governor DeSantis is also looking to more choice in education. Perhaps two board members never completed the evaluations and returned nothing to the district, that in and of itself would be something to know and report to you. By the time a student became a junior, he/she was either going to go onto college or would be getting a job upon graduation. So, either the district needs to engage in better communication with parents or show that to be true by raising the scores. Although CTE fell out of favor in public education, it is now back with a vengeance and many entities want a piece of the action. As a father of three (Allie, Maggie, and Jake), all educated in public schools, I fully understand the dreams and aspirations that all parents have for their children to have the very best possible education that also meets their unique needs and differences. Does this mean that any individual teacher cannot try and inject an opinion into the course work? Chair Powers questioned whether a program is necessary. Ron DeSantis, have increased their focus on the state's roughly 120 school board races. Editor's note: This article was modified from its original version to correct reporting of District 3candidate Jennifer Russell's support. South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. And that means whether you are a public or a private sector employee. Regarding parental rights, Anderson said, they have always existed in the district, andhe continues to be supportive of them. MARTIN COUNTY Parental rights, academics and safety are topissues in this year's nonpartisan races for the School Board's three open seats, one of which issought by a local Moms for Liberty co-chair. It is mandated that there be a Moment of Silence at the start of each day. Things have changed and Covid has accelerated the pace of that change. In that memo, Martin County was estimated to receive $12 million (pg 16) from ESSER II. Governor DeSantis signed House Bill 641, Funds for the Operation of Schools, and announced the approval of $500 million in the states budget dedicated to raising teacher salaries in Florida. Sophie will be on NBCs Lester Holts broadcast. The School Advisory Committees can propose changes, but the board must have the ultimate decision. I am sure if I wanted an explanation of what it all means, I could have it because the district does provide almost any information that is asked of it. And, we moved the ChalkTalk item on page 15 at a cost of $35,000 because this was Summer programming. They will all safely keep their salaries and benefits since the governor will not be threatening this group. Anderson is right that the organization has so far been able to do what was promised including raising the necessary funds for the building. I guess if you take a course of advanced physics and receive a top grade then it should be worth more than a course on basket weaving. Three plans are offered. Winchester, VA 22603 . As Roberts stated, she receives info from the health department and would be willing to share it if any member of the public wanted to send his/her email address. Which means it could be for less at the Boards discretion but never more. In July, the district and union did come to an understanding regarding Resciniti remaining a fulltime district employee who would work from the union office and report to Tyson Villwock, the Director of Professional Standards. There is an insurance committee that meets year-round that studies this issue and to discuss claims experience. For those of you who want to take a look, go here, INDIANTOWN BUSSES AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT US. They are starting from different bases. Martin Countys taxpayers subsidize other school districts throughout the state. They plan on submitting a final site plan next year. Because of COVID, the district endorsed senior celebrations at the three high schools that were anything but traditional. Martin County enrollment is down and even with the development happening in Stuart, there does not seem to be a need to build more schools. This meeting should have been reported to you in the last newsletter. We also added an item at the top of page 7 splitting out the Pre-K expansion for Port Salerno adding two classes (40 students) with VPK voucher reimbursement bringing the $190,000 cost down to $100,000 to be added. The ultimate decision is the individual student and parent. Powers and Defenthaler withdrew their motion. Every parent has a right to make education and health decisions for their children, Every child has a right to a quality education, Every teacher should follow school board and superintendent policies in the classroom and be accountable, Every citizen has a right to review curriculum offered in the schools. It was clear that three board members favored Millay (DiTerlizzi, Defenthaler and Roberts), and two preferred Licata (Anderson and Powers). However, the truth must be that he is the best at his job. He longs for a time that even government could be more trusting. Should a book that depicts a same sex couple be banned because of that even if there is no explicit sexuality? At the last workshop, Superintendent Millay presented a new district organizational chart. A survey created for this purpose is availableherehttps://forms.gle/y4nE2K8ek6MiuTyaA. The newsletter asked each candidate to provide a statement on why they wanted to be elected or re-elected. 1049 students have left the District and 15,449 have enrolled. School Board | MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT When many of us went to school, we received our grades either as A through F or as a percentage. Campaigns for public office benefit the most when community members join together to support those who share their values. Ms. Gaylord served the district well if not always on the same track as the board. After consulting with our bargaining units leaders and in collaboration with our School Board, our school calendar will be revised to reflect instructional makeup days that do not interfere with the valued holiday plans many of our families and employees have made.. I continue my interactions with former classmates and 3,000+ members of the Florida Leadership Program. 2014 Minutes. In that way, the committee would know the number they would ultimately be asking their members to contribute. Well, no one had to attend and those who did seemed to have a good time. He is a teacher and sincerely believes in trusting to the experts. Perhaps, it was because the committee had not disrupted numerous lives. For those in middle school, who have taken high school classes, the grade will be converted to a 5-point scale. In the last edition the newsletter printed a link to where people could hear for themselves Andersons remarks in full. One of the boards quieter members, Anthony Anderson, gave a big speech that I am afraid is being misconstrued by the very people he was speaking to. Instead of people spending an evening of looking at a painting or show and then strolling over to the Gafford to have dinner, they will do one or the other but probably not both. The first thing they should have done is given the committee the amount they were willing to spend toward health care. Superintendent Millay gave a very good presentation about why some of our students excel and others do not. It passed 3-2 with Powers and Anderson dissenting. To read more gohere. It seems to be a better use of resources now that the superintendent directly reports to the board instead of being an independent elected official. The board decided not to decide at this meeting but for the district to go out and negotiate with the carriers. Board members said they were impressed by Millay's "fresh ideas" and described him as a "progressive" with "a lot of energy" who would bring positive change to the community. These parents and the broader community are stakeholders. He claims I want the notoriety of attacking him. This group of items will be woven into the 2021-22 Operating Budget that the Board has been working on for the last three months at Budget Workshops. Yet to some extent, she doesnt get the depth of the problem. Anderson spoke up and said there is no reason for people to act this way. He had taught college courses on education and was a mentor to other district superintendents. When making motions and seconds, rarely does anyone clearly spell out what is being voted on. All of this complicates bussing patterns. Now we are going to layer on one more thing to remind children of how dangerous their world is now.