Education, not politics

Pasco superintendent candidate Stephen Donaldson (left), whose campaign slogan is "Education, Not Politics," is complaining that the Pasco school district has removed his campaign ad from the Mitchell High football program.

In a letter to Mitchell High principal Ric Mellin, which got sent to School Board attorney Dennis Alfonso, Donaldson said he had already paid for the ad, that he had not been told of any restrictions, and that "past booster advertisements have included political ads."

Alfonso and assistant superintendent Jim Davis told the School Board today that, when asked for direction from principals, they had recommended removing Donaldson political ads from all high school football programs. They referred to district advertising policy, which aims to steer clear of partisanship, and also to FHSAA rules, which prohibit "advertisements for political issues" but say "political candidates may be acceptable as sponsors."

Miscues could end up in team disqualification.

Said Davis (right): "We don't want football programs to be a venue for politics."

School Board members supported Davis' interpretation of the rules and instructed him to pass the message to all principals. Donaldson said in his letter that he plans to "submit this breach of contract to the Florida Elections Commission for clarification."

Donaldson faces incumbent Heather Fiorentino on Nov. 4.

Comments

[a teacher]

Give 'em hell, Steve!

[publicschoolteacher]

AS long as they refund his money, there shouldn't be a problem.

Shouldn't Donaldson or someone in his camp, maybe a campaign manager, have researched campaign rules/laws/ethics - what is allowed and what isn't? Oh that's right, he's new to this arena. Guess he asked the wrong person when he said he was told there were no restrictions.

Hope this is not indicative of the way he would run a school system - not checking out the facts and just making assumptions because that's how he saw "someone else do it in the past." E,3,d. from the FHSAA rules linked in the article pretty much spells it out in black and white!

[MS]

If Steve wins get ready for some more goofs. If he wins I can't wait to see all the complaints his teacher friends make about him and do everything they can to oust him. We need minimal requirements for this position.

[Concerned Insider]

Sounds like he is supporting local sports programs! It's up to the principals to make the call. Besides, the Mitchell principal has been out sick according to several parents? Guess it is politics! I'm also sure Heather planned and scheduled her fund raiser at Connerton tomorrow night on her own time and didn't use our school resources ...right. Get a grip Pasco County and get rid of this politician. Maybe the principals will have to give $500.00 bucks or risk their jobs!

I don't think anyone has a problem with supporting school athletic programs. I think the problem lies in bringing politics into the athletic program - but that's not what Donaldson's about, right?!?!? Don't know how much more you can mix politics and education by putting your campaign ad in a high school football program. Oops!

From article: "Alfonso and assistant superintendent Jim Davis told the School Board today that, when asked for direction from principals, they had recommended removing Donaldson political ads from all high school football programs."

What am I missing here? Either there is a district policy or not? Why would the school board attorney and an assistant superintendent be asking the principals for direction and recommendations if the policy is already stated. It isn't very clear in the linked "district advertising policy" but it's pretty spelled out in the FHSAA rules.

I think that I remember a Mike Fasano political ad in the Mitchell football program several years ago! Sounds like a double standard to me.

Here is what the FHSAA Rule says:

3. Advertisements for the following are prohibited:

d) Political issues;

5. While advertisements for political issues are prohibited by this policy, political candidates may be acceptable as sponsors provided no part of their political advertisements raise controversial political issues.

[patcon]

Actually, the link to "District policy" makes no mention of political ads or steering clear of partisanship. If you actually read the FHSAA document in the link it is only about BROADCAST policy and has nothing to do with printed programs. This is another example of Fiorentino misinterpreting and misrepresenting regulations.

The "goof" here is not Donaldson's, it is Fiorentino's. Donaldson saw a perfectly legitimate way to get his name in front of a lot of voters in a way which supports the schools. Fiorentino got miffed and is using her official position to pressure subordinates to take politically motivated actions for her benefit. That is not just a goof, it's a major ethics violation.

Looks like Steve Donaldson is about politics in education...hypocrite.

[interested parent]

Patcon, What does this have to do with Fiorentino? Sounds like Mr. Davis made a request for clarification to the SCHOOL BOARD and they said they didn't want to allow it. Looks to me like Mr. Donaldson and his pit bull defenders are quick to bring in politics. I don't think that is what I want leading my children's school system.

8:35,

Because Patcon likes to blame EVERYTHING on Fiorentino whether it is deserved, factual, justified, the truth, or whatever. He will ALWAYS find some way to twist and spin his rationale as long as he can bash the current superintendent! And you're right - it was a school board decision. Hmmmm, isn't Marge Whaley, Donaldson's biggest fan, still sitting in that school board seat for a couple more months?

[patcon]

interested parent,
Please tell me you're not so naive that you think that ANY high-ranking district employee does anything like this without at least permission from Fiorentino. And I suggest you reread the article - according to this report, Davis informed the Board of his decision (which was supposedly made in response to clarification requests from principals) and the Board "supported" Davis' interpretation. This support was,no doubt, based on the selective interpretation provided to them. Davis did not request clarification from the Board, he placed them in a position of either acquiescing to his interpretation or publicly reversing his decision.

[terminator]

it seems relatively simple:

either you have a district policy that prohibits political ads or you don't.

if you do, then it was illegal, if you don't then it wasn't.

if the FHSAA has a policy prohibiting political ads in high school sports programs then it's illegal, if they don't, then it's not.

this isn't rocket science folks!

Based on what I've read lately apparently there are several district employees who do things w/o running them by the Superintendent. Hasn't there been a slew of miscommunication messages coming out of the DO lately? Guess those peeps never ran things by her!

Ditto - Terminator!

[parent]

8:00,

You "think" or you "know." When you KNOW for sure, then why don't you post factually!

[Machiavelli]

Censureship is just that. Control! Control the message. Limit the freedom of expression. Stop the free flow of ideas and thoughts. Apparently this is how Ms. Fiorentino will attempt to get one over on us all. She has the power of the incumbancy. Her message can be pushed through because she holds the reins of power. But not Donaldson's message. What is Ms. Fiorentino afraid of...? Authoritarian totalitarian and Despotic regimes for millenia have used this political weapon of censurship as a wisely crafted political strategy for their own self interested purposes. I bet she read my book, "The Prince."

[Teacher]

8:53, I agree with you about Mr. Connolly as his words are as follows:

"This support was,no doubt, based on the selective interpretation provided to them. Davis did not request clarification from the Board, he placed them in a position of either acquiescing to his interpretation or publicly reversing his decision."

Let us all calm down for a minute. Do you really think that all candidates up for election, including the current Superintendent of Elections, Brain Corley, have gotten permission from property owners for placing campaign signs on their property around the county? Of course they have not. So, to me, in the grand scheme of things, making a donation to a school’s football team program is such a non-issue and not worthy of all the nasty venting that has already taken place on this blog.
Let us focus our energy on one of the most important things in our lives, the education of our children, and on who will be the best person to lead our school district for the next 4 years. We need to make our decision not based on whether or not a candidate placed an ad in a football program, but rather on the candidates’ positions, performance and experiences in their lives.

9:16,

Yeah, I love the way the words "no doubt" are thrown in there by Mr. Commolly. I wish I had that super power to make judgment calls like that and know the situation "without a doubt"!

[patcon]

Mea culpa, the use of the words "no doubt" was a bit over the top. But that does not alter the central point, assuming the article is a factual representation of the Board meeting.

According to the article, Mr. Davis did not seek clarification from the Board, but rather he and Board attorney Alfonso "told the School Board today that, when asked for direction from principals, they had recommended removing Donaldson political ads from all high school football programs."

It is also clear from the article that Mr. Alfonso and Mr. Davis were the source of the information on which the Board rendered its decision to support their decision. "They referred to district advertising policy, which aims to steer clear of partisanship, and also to FHSAA rules, which prohibit 'advertisements for political issues' but say 'political candidates may be acceptable as sponsors.'" It is not clear from the article whether the Board policy and FHSAA rules were presented in their entirety or whether selected portions were quoted without their full context. If you actually read the cited documents in their entirety, I believe you would be hard-pressed to think that these apply to printed football programs.

Yes, terminator, it IS simple.
The cited Board policy does NOT prohibit political ads.
The cited FHSAA rules do NOT apply to printed sports programs.

[Pete]

You guys all fell into Donaldson's attempt to attack Heather. This is an example of his politics...oh yeah, he says education, not politics.

Thankfully, some bloggers realize his weak attempt to grandstand this non-issue....get used to it if he wins.

[educationnotpolitics]

Did we already forget the phone call home to parents to get out and vote when Amendment 1 was on the ballot?

That was HF's request. So how is she immune to the district rules and Mr. Donaldson is not?

Oh yes, the power of the position.
Please Mr. Taxpayer, don't be so naive to think HF did not have some ulterior motive as did Mr. Donaldson. They are both using the same tactics, legit or
not.

Let's wait out the challenge to the issue.

[terminator]

don't forget Heather Fiorentino was one of the R wingnuts in Tally who gave us A1.
Now that the shoe's on the other foot she doesn't like the fit.
As an outsider, it appears to me HF is running scared and attempting to "misuse" her position while letting this Davis guy do the dirty work for her.
I'd vote for Donaldson if I lived there.

[JAMES MICHAUD]

Mr. Donaldson is the pot calling the kettle black. He is part of the old regime of John Long and Marge Whaley. The same regime that told administrators they had to donate to campaigns. Heather has made a commitment not to do that and hasn't. This is a prime example of why Mr. Donaldson should not be superintendent. Heather inherited John's people. They should go so Heather can do her job without being undermined.

[You know!]

I have been in charge of football program ads for the past 6 years at 2 different high schools. Not once was I ever advised not to accept political ads. I have in the past and did so this year as well. The only thing I was ever told was to keep out anything controversial (liquor ads, XXX facilities, etc..) In fact, to this date, not one principal has ever asked me to see the program before it gets printed. In some programs, HF gets her picture and a message printed because of her incumbancy. I think it would be fair to remove those ads as well.

I think that HF got "beat" to the punch and had Mr. Davis deal with it. The easiest way to rectify this is to give her the opportunity to buy ads as well. She would benefit and so would the schools from her contributions.

Why would HF be against money donations to the schools? No school money is used to make these football programs. They are fundraisers!

[dohomework]

And wasn't HF also part of the old regime herself back before her stint in Tallahassee?

Only veterans know that HF was a teacher under several old regimes as well.

Do your homework next time.
Oh that's right...you only give it you don't do it.

[patcon]

To those of you who accuse Steve Donaldson of hypocrisy for engaging in "politics" I suggest you stop and think for a moment. The very act of running for elected office is "politics". Do you want to condemn him for the simple act of running for office?

His slogan "Education, Not Politics" probably refers to the way he intends to operate the school system if elected, in contrast to the way he sees his opponent's motivation in her decisions in operating the schools. Clearly, the first step in this process is winning the election. One would hope that Steve Donaldson would run his campaign in a manner consistent with this lofty slogan and focus on winning the election by educating the public on who he is, what he stands for,and how he is different from his opponent. Part of this education process is getting people to know he is running. He lacks the incumbent's advantage of name-recognition and the ability to post all kinds of informational messages with his name and image prominently displayed, so he puts up signs and attempts to buy ads in football programs. Do you expect him to run an invisible campaign against a well-known incumbent?

And even though I believe his slogan refers to how he intends to operate the school system, I would be extremely disappointed if Steve Donaldson stoops to the kind of underhanded tactics we see in far too many campaigns. I do think it would be perfectly fine for both candidates to question the qualifications and actions of their opponent, provided this is done fairly and honestly.

[teacher]

Are you kidding me, Connolly? Education is NOTHING BUT politics from Tallahassee down. Why in the heck would you think for a second that Steve Donaldson is any different from anybody else having to deal with the political BS that will be handed to him from Tally of which he will have absolutely no control over a majority of???? Is he some super hero or something that will change the politics in Tallahassee where all this crap begins? Get real - he'll be dealt the same laws, restrictions, formulas, red tape, loopholes that every other school district/superintendent has to contend with and he'll make the best of it because his hands will be tied! So he can keep dreaming about keeping politics out of education. When he flies back to earth donning his red cape with the big yellow "D" on the front, maybe he'll get a smack of reality. Education = politics!!!

[patcon or Pat Connolly, since the cat is out of the bag]

No teacher, I'm not kidding, and I'm not an idiot. Yes, local educational leaders have to deal with the politically-motivated education decisions handed down by Tallahassee and Washington. What I mean, and what I think Steve Donaldson means, is that local education decisions should be based on what is best for the students and not is what is best for the political aspirations of the decision maker.

Maybe I'm a dreamer, too. Is dreaming so bad? I dream of an America where elected officials think first about what's really right for America, not what's going to get them reelected. An America where the voters want officials who tell them the truth and what they need to hear, even if it's not what they want to hear. An America where officials doing the right thing becomes what gets them the privilege of continuing to serve because voters finally get it. I don't want to live in a crumbling Roman Empire, ruled by politicians who'll do anything and tell us anything we want to hear just to stay in power. It's a big dream for America, but maybe we can start right here in Pasco County.

[concerned]

If some of you put as much passion in your teaching as you do writing on this blog, maybe there wouldn't be so many students graduating who can't spell, make change without the use of a calculator, don't know the geographic location of all 50 states, or the definition of a noun or verb. Let's try to keep our eye on the real prize, producing well rounded, educated, successful citizens.

[Minnie]

If the intent of School Board elections and the elections for Supt. were really meant to be nonpartisan 1) you would be required to register as such (like Judges), 2) no support or contributions from political associations/organizations should be allowed, 3) candidates will have acess to opportunities to meet with parents (the #1 customers of the system) during school sponsored events. What keeps them political is the absence of these opportunities. Candidates that have the good of the system at heart are forced to play political 'games' and are usually ousted out. So politicians will continue to prey on our schools for their personal gain unless the whole system changes (don't wait for it).

[publicschoolteacher]

Ha! If we breathed one word about how we REALLY felt about the system for which we work to our students (or our opinions on politics in general), parents would be beating down the doors of the district office demanding heads on platters!

And thanks to glorious LFS, my lessons are strictly confined to a particular format, which includes ZERO passion!

[patcon or Pat Connolly, since the cat is out of thebag]

concerned,
I can't speak for others, but I can guarantee you that the passion you see in my blog posts pales in comparison to the passion for education my students see in my classroom every day. And I do have my eyes "on the real prize, producing well rounded, educated, successful citizens." It's just that I see the best hope for that happening is with a different Superintendent.

pst,
I'm guessing the heads you refer to would be from "the big house", and that might happen, but I fear that some other heads might go first; especially, and rightly, if we cross that line.
Please don't let LFS drag you down. You can still find room for the fire and passion, even in something as confining as LFS.

Did you ever wonder that maybe Heather isn't beind this. Think about it, people. What makes Davis qualified for his position? Davis doesn't have any ethics as he is dating someone he supervises. Davis also doesn't have a doctorate so what really qualifies him to be an assistant super? We know these people keep Heather in the dark so they can get away with what they want. This is just a pure example of someone kissing up to his boss because he doesn't deserve his position. It is not Heather's doing, it is just a suck up doing it to keep his job. Sometimes I wish Heather would micromanage.

[Rae]

You've got to be kidding. Heather knows exactly what's going on and is willing to let others get "run over by the bus". And if she doesn't know what's going on, then there's another issue altogether. Give me a break...Davis is probably doing what he's told to keep his job. Other "regimes" may have asked for donations directly, which I think I'd prefer. Instead,HF invites her administers to a fundraiser, an underhanded way to pressure folks to give or face whatever consequences that may follow. Think about it!

Rae, even children know don't let mom and dad find out or they will have to openly reprimand me (even thou deep down they like it). This is the same case, just with adults. Davis knows to do things to help mom out, b/c if this was brought out, she'd have to step in (regardless if she liked what Davis did).

[Rae]

Looks like you may need to enlist the help of the Rescue Nanny. Don't you think that if children behave that way that somewhere along the line they were inspired to be underhanded by their parents, be it by word or deed. I must say your comment about "deep down they like it" is a bit disturbing. Spare me and leave Jim Davis alone.

Looks like your dating Jim too?

If "Davis is probably doing what he's told to keep his job" then he should speak up because the people need to know. If Jim Davis does speak up he will be able to walk on water, thanks to the whistle blower law. He could run for superintendent in the next election and win outright for speaking the truth.

[Rae]

That's your best shot? No, I'm not dating Jim Davis, too.My husband wouldn't like that. I agree that we need more people to speak up and tell the truth, but before Jim can "walk on water" he'll have to live through hell! Our "system" takes a really long time to work. Maybe he's got enough courage to speak out! Dunno,I don't know him intimately as you suggest. It would be refreshing though to see people stand up for what's right. Fear and reprisal keeps most from doing so.

[districtcoverstheira.....]

Whistle blower laws only apply to corporate America. At the district they give you an opportunity to "resign" gracefully...otherwise if you get "terminated" you lose all vested pension benefits....not the same as in corporate America..you can still take your 401k with you and fink on the boss....

This is a fact and many on the inside know of someone who it has happened to.

Joe Q. Public doesn't know half of what goes on inside the hallowed halls of the District's 3rd floor...

That's why when someone is promoted to their offices....it's called " going over the the dark side"

[Darth Vader]

But the dark side has cookies. Or haven't you seen the T-shirt.

Of course, as a Sith Lord,I kept a copy of the "read, then delete" memo as an insurance policy against the wrath of Emperor Palpatine.

[Luke]

Father, I know there is good still in you, how about sending a copy of the memo to the Times for their reviewing. Name revealing information redacted of course!