Fourth candidate enters race to replace Starkey on Pasco School Board

When psychologist Steven Kanakis had trouble finding child care for his son with autism, he pushed for a seat on the Pasco-Hernando Early Learning Coalition to help improve the choices for families like his.

His son now attends third grade at Longleaf Elementary School, and Kanakis has seen things in the special education system he thinks need fixing. So he's cast his name into the increasingly crowded field for Pasco School Board District 4.

"I feel like disabled kids need a voice on the School Board," Kanakis, 46, said.

Kanakis would run against pastor John Tracy, retired court reporter Billie Kaleel and medical supplies firm owner Christopher Cooley for the seat, which Kathryn Starkey plans to resign in July in order to run for State House District 45. The nonpartisan race would take place in fall 2010 unless Starkey changes direction; the seat otherwise is not slated to come open until 2012.

Pasco principal files surprise retirement

John Shafchuk, who first joined the Pasco County school district in 1975, is about to serve his final day here.

Shafchuk, principal of Deer Park Elementary on Trouble Creek Road since 2003, caught folks off guard this past week by filing his retirement papers. He leaves at the end of the semester (officially, Jan. 6).

"I have enjoyed all the years I have been in education with the Pasco County school system," he said in his letter. "I will also miss all the excellent professionals I have worked with over the years."

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino said she expected to have a new leader for Deer Park for the new semester. She plans to advertise the position for interested applicants.

"He will be missed," Fiorentino said.

Pasco administrators get their raises

Despite pressure from the United School Employee of Pasco, including dozens of e-mails to board members, the Pasco School Board unanimously approved bonuses for all district administrators and other nonnegotiating employees late Tuesday.

The bonuses at one time were to be more than $900 — higher than the supplements that teachers and school-related personnel stand to receive if they approve their proposed contract. (The board approved the contract Tuesday, and USEP members are to vote Thursday.)

But superintendent Heather Fiorentino said she limited the amounts to the maximum levels that teachers and SRPs can get, funneling thousands of dollars into the SRP supplement package. SRPs are the lowest-paid employees in the district.

Board members said they were surprised by the opposition to administrator bonuses, noting that administrative raises have been lower than all others in the past several years. They added that the administrators work effectively and efficiently — the district has the leanest administration among its Florida peers — and concluded they deserve the extra pay.

Last year, no Pasco employees received a raise or bonus.

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Pasco board approves new school boundaries despite parent pleas

Parents from three Land O'Lakes communities urged the Pasco County School Board tonight to reject proposed attendance zones that would send their children to schools they didn't want to attend.

They walked away unhappy.

Altman takes chairmanship of Pasco School Board

Allen Altman, who has served as vice chairman of the Pasco School Board for the past year, rose to the chairmanship this evening on a 4-1 vote.

When asked if anyone opposed the nomination, Altman voted against himself.

"I think that can be stricken from the record," superintendent Heather Fiorentino said amid laughter.

The board then unanimously selected Joanne Hurley as vice chair. Outgoing chairman Frank Parker quickly rose from his seat, grabbing his nameplate and moving down the table.

"I am out of here," Parker said, grinning.

Altman thanked Parker for his year leading the board and then began the rest of the board meeting.

Failure to ratify contract could cost Pasco teachers, employees

It's not so much of a threat as a reality check. But the United School Employees of Pasco and the school district are making sure that everyone knows they might have to pay more for health insurance if they don't approve their tentative contract agreement this week.

Here's the situation.

The district's benefits package runs through December. Come Jan. 1, the price tag goes up by 13 percent.

The new contract covers the higher cost. The older one, which would remain in effect if the tentative deal falls through, provides that the district pay the lower amount. So if the sides don't ratify, and return to bargaining where impasse would be likely, "employees may be required to pick up the 13 percent increase to the benefits plan," the USEP notes in its latest newsletter.

The School Board is scheduled to vote on the deal tonight. The USEP membership vote comes Thursday, with results to be announced Monday. Stay tuned.

(Image from gconnect.in)

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Pasco teacher union opposes administrator bonuses

Pasco schools superintendent Heather Fiorentino has recommended one-time across-the-board bonuses for all district administrators and nonunion staff, and the United School Employees of Pasco doesn't like it.

In an advisory this afternoon, the USEP is urging members to ask the School Board to reject the administrator bonuses, saying the amount offered is too high:

"All administrators will be given a bonus equal to the top teacher supplement and [noninstructional non-bargaining employees] will get a bonus equal to the top [school-related personnel] hourly rate. The gross amount going to administrators and NNB employees will be about 10% higher to make up for the amount in [Florida retirement] that is being paid for teachers and SRP. The result is that ALL administrators will receive a bonus equal to $928, and ALL NNB will receive a bonus equivalent to $0.39 per hour."

Union officials say they knew Fiorentino wanted to give bonuses, but they never figured she would offer all nonunion workers the highest amount paid to teachers and SRP's, rather than an average.

The board will consider offers to both the USEP and the non-USEP staff Tuesday evening.

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Yellow Brick Road: Pinellas falls in the middle on classroom spending

Pinellas might spend more than most of the other big districts on general administration. But its own analysis shows that when it comes to in-the-classroom spending, its numbers fall in the mid-range.

Among the 12 biggest districts in 2008-09, Pinellas ranked at either No. 5 or No. 6 on “direct instruction,” according to its latest “Yellow Brick Road” report, which was posted yesterday. The numbers are taken from other districts’ annual financial reports, so it’s based on what other districts say about themselves.

Pinellas spent 62.78 percent of its general and special revenue funds on direct instruction last year, the report says. That’s not as good as No. 1 Polk at 64.41 percent, but it’s better than No. 12 Orange at 59.65 percent.

Hillsborough (No. 9) spent 61.83 percent. Pasco (No. 10) spent 61.35 percent.

Pasco schools see rapid increase in free meal demand

Today's story on the increase in students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch at Pasco County schools compares this month's statistics to those of September 2008.

The change has been even more recent, though.

As recently as January, many of the Pasco schools had yet to see the spikes they have experienced now.

Sand Pine Elementary, for instance, still had just 15 percent of its students getting the federal assistance. This month, it's up to 24 percent. Hudson High, at 46.5 percent in September 2008, had risen to 51.7 percent by January but still hadn't reached its current 59.8 percent.

The trends are the same at most of the schools. So don't let the stock market fool you. The schools are still feeling the punch of the economy.

Missed the school bus?

If your kids are outside waiting for a school bus that seems really late today, they'll be waiting for quite some time.

Hernando, Hillsborough and Pasco schools are closed today in honor of Veterans Day. So tell the kids to come out from the rain and have a little R&R.

Sorry, Pinellas. You're still on. Enjoy learning.

(Times file photo)

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Pinellas, Pasco school districts polar opposites on administrative costs

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the leanest district of all? As today's St. Petersburg Times story points out, it's not Pinellas, although Pinellas has dropped from No. 1 in top heaviness among the 12 biggest districts to No. 2 or No. 3.

The answer is Pasco.

Among the 12 biggest districts, Pasco spends the least on administration, at least by several ways of slicing and dicing. (We looked at general administration costs in the general fund and general administration costs in the general and special revenue funds combined.) Pasco is also the leanest of the biggest districts according to state calculations that factor in administrative costs at both the district and school level.

Today's story has a chart showing how Pinellas stacks up against the 11 other big districts. But for being loyal Gradebook readers, we give you a bonus: a spreadsheet that includes three other districts - Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota. Next to the big districts and other Tampa Bay districts, Hernando too looks very, very lean.

Cell tower opponents plan to keep an eye on Pasco plans

Meadow Pointe mom Susan Cali took her battle against a new cell phone tower at John Long Middle to the school's PTSA this week, but didn't gain much traction.

The group thanked Cali for her views, but took no action either for or against the tower, which is rising in a field behind the school. "We don't take a stand one way or the other," said PTSA president Stacy Krous, who added that she personally had little problem with the tower.

Cali left disturbed but undeterred.

Where would all the truckers go?

Pasco School Board officials are waving caution flags over the Florida Department of Transportation's plans to widen US 41 right outside the district headquarters.

The plan, it seems, would place a concrete median in the road at the location where delivery trucks come daily to the district warehouse. Trucks wouldn't be able to access the district if coming north on US 41.

Cars and smaller vehicles headed north would have to pass the district HQ by almost a mile and then make a U-turn to come back to enter the parking lot for the School Board chamber, employee relations and several other offices.

Pasco prepares to debate performance pay

With negotiations all over but the counting, Pasco County's teachers and school district administrators are making plans to get back to negotiating again.

Representatives from the district and the United School Employees of Pasco have told the Gradebook that they expect to get together after winter break to begin talks over how to implement performance and differential pay.

Pasco parents get no answers on school rezoning concerns

More than three dozen Pasco County parents turned out this morning to urge the School Board to reconsider proposed new school attendance boundaries.

They didn't get any relief. They didn't have their requests turned down, either.

Pasco aims to start 2010-11 school year a bit earlier

One of the perks of gaining "high-performing" status from the Florida Department of Education is a school district's ability to start classes sooner than two weeks before Labor Day.

That's exactly what the Pasco school district is contemplating.

The proposed 2010-11 calendar making its way to superintendent Heather Fiorentino for consideration would bring students back to school on August 16 -- three weeks before Labor Day.

That would allow students to get more class days in before the FCAT exam than in the current year, when Labor Day fell so late that students didn't make it back to school until the last week of August. Labor Day comes late again next year -- Sept. 6 -- leaving the district with much the same situation if it doesn't use its new status.

Assistant superintendent Renalia DuBose stressed that the calendar remains a draft proposal and that Fiorentino has yet to recommend anything to the School Board. She expected formal action before January.

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Parents protest cell phone tower at Pasco's John Long Middle School

Susan Cali, 46, greets parents in the car line and hands out fliers protesting a cell phone tower at John Long Middle School on Monday morning. Times photo/Brendan Fitterer

The Pasco County School Board approved a cell phone tower to rise at the rear of John Long Middle School back in early 2008. Since then, the number of complaints have been minimal.

Then construction began a few days ago. It's expected to be complete by mid November.

This morning, four parents showed up outside the school with signs reading "Stop the Tower" and "Education not Radiation." They handed out fliers decrying the cell tower to other parents who mostly reacted with surprise, as if this were the first time they had heard the plan.

Next up: Ratification for Pasco contract deal

It's official: The United School Employees of Pasco and the Pasco School Board have arrived at a deal. Everyone gets supplements, not raises and not step increases.

"We could not identify enough recurring dollars to guarantee we'd be able to continue to pay the health insurance next year" and also give raises, USEP president Lynne Webb explained. "That has always been a first priority not only for the union but also for the board."

District employee relations director Terry Rhum added, "The board and the superintendent's objective has been all along to continue to provide fully paid health insurance for the employees and to avoid layoffs. We've achieved that. We wish it were better."

Pasco employees, district reach contract deal

We've just received word that representatives of the United School Employees of Pasco and the Pasco School Board have finished their contract talks and arrived at a settlement.

The details aren't being made available  — sorry, we didn't make it to the talks, which began around 6 p.m., and the sides have agreed not to release specifics until they send out a joint statement in the morning.

For now, all we can report is that the last remaining detail dealt with money. The district offered to continue to pay full health benefits for employees, but did not provide raises in its proposal. The employees were given two options — a bonus or a supplement — to choose from.

We'll bring you the full information as soon as we get it.

Pasco School Board race draws its first official candidate

The election is about a year away. But with name recognition low, aspirants for Pasco County School Board continue to roll out their campaigns now in hopes of gaining some attention and, perhaps, momentum.

The latest candidate to emerge is Sallie Skipper, a New Port Richey lawyer and former campaign treasurer for superintendent Heather Fiorentino. Skipper filed her preliminary paperwork with the Pasco elections office late last week to seek the School Board District 3 seat currently held by Cathi Martin.

Skipper began introducing herself as a possible candidate earlier this month. She also had signaled her interest in joining the board back in the spring, when Martin announced (and later rescinded) her resignation.

"My experience as an attorney and trustee for a non-profit preparatory school, together with my efforts with the Pasco-Hernando Community College Advisory Board and as a new member of its Board of Directors, has given me a unique perspective on the difficult issues facing our school system today," Skipper said in a release. "My desire is to help bring a direction to our education system that will serve Pasco County today and in the future."

Martin has not yet said whether she will seek a fourth term.

Pasco school district resolves ESE complaint with the feds

Back in the spring, a Collier County-based group pressing for reforms to exceptional student education filed complaints against 64 of Florida's 67 school districts with the U.S. DOE Office of Civil Rights. The group raised concerns about how the districts deal with the education and discipline of students with special needs.

Specifically, the group alleged that the district had failed to put in place a system of safeguards protecting the students' rights.

During the investigation, Pasco officials volunteered to correct any problems in the district's due process procedures. The OCR accepted the agreement and said it would consider the case closed once School Board members sign off. That has been done.

The plan must be submitted by Jan. 12, 2010, and implemented within 60 calendar days of the OCR's approval.

"If the District fails to fully implement the Agreement, OCR will reopen the case and take appropriate action to ensure compliance," acting office director Cynthia G. Pierre wrote in a letter to superintendent Heather Fiorentino.

Pasco negotiators prepare for marathon session

After a week away, the bargaining teams for Pasco's School Board and school employees are making plans to return to the table tomorrow with a possible goal of resolving all the remaining issues left on the 2009-10 contract.

The big deal is money.

Superintendent Heather Fiorentino has put forth two lump sum proposals -- one a supplement that counts toward retirement benefits, the other a bonus that would pay out more but not be included in the retirement package.

United School Employees of Pasco representatives have yet to respond formally, although they have said the ideas need work. It's not clear whether they'll push for step increases, or try to massage the superintendent's offer into something acceptable.

Word is that time is of the essence. Payroll will need time to update everyone's data if it wants to get any added money out before winter break, if the sides can reach a deal. So the teams might just try to work through to the bitter end. They've stayed until 2 a.m. before. Stay tuned.

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Pasco School Board to superintendent: Set new priorities for capital funds

Pasco schools superintendent Heather Fiorentino and her staff spent nearly two hours this afternoon giving the School Board the details about how the administration sets spending priorities for the capital budget, which includes such things as maintenance and construction.

Board members then told Fiorentino that at least one of the recommendations for this year's budget — a multimillion-dollar administration building — needed to go, at least for now.

"There's never a good time to talk about doing it, but there's never been a worse time than now," vice chairman Allen Altman said.

Help Pasco schools count their pennies

The Pasco School Board is looking for seven people to serve on its volunteer Penny for Pasco oversight committee.

The committee reviews the district's expenses related to the revenue generated by its voter-approved 1 percent sales tax. Projects have included new schools and school renovations. In its most recent annual report, the committee praised the district as a good steward of the money.

Now it's time to rotate some of the members. If you want to serve on the committee, call Denise Janes for an application at (813) 794-2753, (727) 774-2753 or (352) 524-2753. The terms last two years, and begin in January.

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Pasco School Board to tackle its five-year construction plan today

When adopting the annual budget more than a month ago, Pasco School Board members blasted the administration for including $10 million for a new office building at district headquarters.

They didn't take the money out of the budget, though, saying the only number in the spending plan was on the bottom line. The details, they insisted, could and would be amended.

At 2 p.m. today, we'll see if the board holds firm or lets the matter continue to slide. The workshop agenda provides lots of time for district officials to explain their revenue and enrollment projections, and to discuss their recommendations. (Think Connerton's failure will get any attention?)

The last item is board input. Vice chairman Allen Altman has said he plans to bring a list of projects he would like to see given priority. That should juice the conversation and give his colleagues plenty of opportunity to give the superintendent some direction. Can't wait to see what that might be.

(Times file photo, construction of Rushe Middle School)

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USEP: District's pay proposal needs some work

The idea of paying an equal lump sum amount to Pasco school employees — whether a bonus or a supplement — isn't exactly what the United School Employees of Pasco had in mind for a contract deal, union president Lynne Webb tells the Gradebook.

In a recent survey of employees, "least favorite ... was a flat rate," Webb said. "They felt there should be some differentiation."

In other words, people who do different jobs should get different amounts. She equated the situation to raises, when the district has paid them. The district puts forth a pot of money and says it will cover an average raise of some percent, but not everyone gets the same exact amount.

"We are looking for more equity based on the work they do," Webb said. "We need to come to a meeting of the minds."

The USEP has yet to put forth a counterproposal to the district offer. Webb said the employees needed to see exactly what the district had in mind before putting anything to paper itself. She declined to reveal the results of the employee survey, saying it will guide the bargaining team's actions but not be available for public consumption.

Another hopeful announces for Pasco School Board seat

A third hopeful has cast his name into the ring to seek election to Kathryn Starkey's seat on the Pasco County School Board.

Christopher Cooley, co-owner and vice-president of Webco Dental and Medical Supplies in Hudson, filed papers with the Elections Office late Thursday. He joins pastor John Tracy and retired court reporter Billie Kaleel in the race for District 4, which will come open two years early as Starkey resigns to run for State House District 45.

“Obviously, the school board is facing a number of tough decisions with reduced funding," Cooley said in a news release. "I believe that if we remain tightly focused on the improvements and services that directly impact students and instructional staff, the quality of our schools can improve despite shrinking budgets."

Cooley is past president of the Suncoast Lakes Homeowners Association, which is fighting the school district over a proposed rezoning of students from River Ridge to Hudson High. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marines, and has made the news for helping his brother, a wounded Iraq War veteran.

Cooley is married with four children.

Pasco County Schools superintendent takes a pay cut

To answer some Gradebook readers who want to know, Pasco schools superintendent Heather Fiorentino has indeed taken a 2 percent pay cut this year.

In following newly established Florida law for elected superintendents, the School Board reduced Fiorentino's pay rate as recommended by the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations by $2,376. She now makes $134,401.

In 2008, Fiorentino earned $136,776.15.

Appointed superintendents do not face a similar mandate for pay cuts, although the Legislature did urge School Boards to reduce their top administrators' pay. In Hillsborough, superintendent MaryEllen Elia volunteered to reduce her $257,958 salary by 5 percent.

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Pasco puts pay offer for teachers on the table

Pasco County school teachers and the administration returned to contract negotiations this afternoon, with the expectation that the United School Employees of Pasco might put a pay proposal up for consideration.

Instead, it was the district team that released its offer.

Teachers would have two options to consider -- a bonus of $637.85 for each employee, or a supplement of $584.38 per worker. The main difference: the supplement might count toward retirement benefits and would be taxed as such, while a bonus would not.

The amount of the supplement or bonus would be the same for each of the district's 9,507 employees.

"Necessities cost the same whether you're in step 1 or step 26 of the salary schedule," district lead negotiator Kevin Shibley explained. "This is really an attempt to get something meaningful in the hands of all employees."

Union negotiators retreated to privately caucus on the proposal and determine how to respond. They announced they will not return to the table tonight.

Coming soon: a new assistant superintendent and communications director for Pasco schools

It has been more than three months since Pasco schools superintendent Heather Fiorentino dismissed assistant superintendent Ray Gadd and communications director Maureen Moore, and said she planned to take the two jobs in new directions.

Fiorentino has yet to announce her full intentions for each post. But she has told the Gradebook that each will be filled -- soon.

"We're going to be advertising shortly," she said of the assistant superintendent for support services job, whichhas overseen construction, maintenance, property, transportation and related matters.

Is USEP lowering expectations before heading to the bargaining table?

In advance of returning to contract talks this week, the United School Employees of Pasco delivered a four-paragraph update to its members. In it, the group lays down some broad hints that it has few expectations for raises. The administration has proposed one-time bonuses instead.

Consider:

"It’s been very hard to truly evaluate and consider compensation options when the USEP teams had no real specifics as to what the District was truly proposing. In addition, most of the financial discussions occurred prior to determining that the District will need to pony up almost $700 more per employee to maintain the fully-funded health insurance plan.

"Hopefully when the teams meet at the table this week, they can stop talking in generalities, roll up their sleeves and determine whether or not there will be a contract settlement. "

We still don't know how the USEP's survey on bonuses vs. pay raises went. Perhaps we'll have more details Wednesday afternoon when the sides get back together. Stay tuned.

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It's 8 a.m. Do you know where your children are?

If they go to school in Pinellas, Pasco or Hernando, we sure hope they're not sitting at a bus stop or outside a locked school door.

Don't forget, parents. Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando schools are not having classes today. It's the end of the grading period, and teachers are doing report cards. If you dropped your kids off for a regular school day, GO GET THEM!

As for all you Hillsborough folks, carry on. School is in session, as usual.

(Photo from sciencejunkies.com)

Do Pasco teachers want a bonus? Wait until next week to find out

It has been three weeks since the United School Employees asked members to offer guidance on whether to accept one-time bonuses, rather than push for annual raises, during contract negotiations. It has been more than a week since the survey closed.

Yet those of us who want to know the outcome have to keep waiting.

Former Pasco teacher who came to school drunk reaches deal with state

Kylene Nelson resigned her job as a Pasco County middle school teacher shortly after she was found drunk at school in March.

Now she has reached a settlement agreement with the Florida Department of Education that could see her back in a classroom after a lengthy suspension.

In it, Nelson agrees to have her teaching license suspended through June 2013. During that period, she may not be employed by any public school or hold any position that requires a Florida teaching certificate.

She may, however, renew her certificate in case she chooses to return to teaching after her suspension ends. If Nelson does go that route, she would face an additional three years of probation. Conditions would include substance abuse counseling and fines.

Nelson faced penalties up to full revocation of her certificate. The Education Practices Commission will take up the settlement when it meets later in October.

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Three charter school applications up for approval in Pinellas

Superintendent Julie Janssen is recommending that the Pinellas school board approve three new charter school applications at its meeting next week.

One is for a second Mavericks charter high school (the first one in Pinellas opened this fall in Largo). The other two are for new K-8 Plato Academy schools.

Pasco district officials recently recommended against a new Plato Academy in that district, citing concerns about the school’s budget, curriculum and student assessment plans.

Janssen was poised to recommend denial for another charter application – for the Richard Milburn Academy - but the item has been pulled so the applicant can revise, said board attorney Jim Robinson. A staff review of the application concluded there were deficiencies in many areas, including curriculum, governance and discipline policy.

A Richard Milburn Academy in Pasco closed in 2007 after being put on probation for concerns about finances and curriculum.

- Ron Matus and Donna Winchester, Times education reporters

Pasco School Board comes to understanding on policy question

In rewriting its policy manual, the Pasco School Board has continually stumbled over a line that says that policy shall not be begun or changed without the recommendation of the superintendent.

Members have argued that the board has the statutory authority to develop policy. If the superintendent doesn't agree with a board directive, they contend, he or she might simply ignore the board and the policy never could come into being.

"We may never get to fix it if there is a problem under that scenario. So why have the board?" wondered board member Kathryn Starkey, her sentiment echoed by others. "Where is the balance? I don't see a balance. I see a stalemate."

Consultant Dick Clapp, however, observed that Florida statute divides power equally between the board and the elected superintendent. In fact, he said, a statute states that the board shall "determine policies and programs," but "after considering recommendations submitted by the district school superintendent."

Pasco schools, student tops in statewide Green Schools Awards

The Pasco school district took top honors in Gov. Charlie Crist's Green Schools Awards during a ceremony late Wednesday. A Land O'Lakes High School student won the top student award, too.

The district, which routinely wins national honors for its conservation efforts, was recognized for its recycling programs, as well as its energy efficiency initiatives and its environmental education centers. The other finalists were Pinellas and Charlotte.

Land O'Lakes High IB junior Matt Mooney (shown) was honored for raising $12,000 with a can recycling program. The proceeds will be used to build a home for Habitat for Humanity.

The winners receive $1,500. Read about all the finalists here. 

"These awards spotlight the tremendous efforts of students, teachers and schools," sponsor Vincent M. Dolan, Progress Energy CEO, said in a release. "Alternative and green energy sources hold great promise, and we are investing in the minds that will help shape our energy future."

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And the biggest school district is ...

The annual rankings of the nation's largest school districts by population are out, and once again Florida stands near the top of the heap.

Four Florida districts — Miami (4), Broward (6), Hillsborough (8) and Orange (10) — make the Top 10. Fourteen are in the Top 100, second only to Texas, which has 18 on the list. The other Florida districts are: Palm Beach (12), Duval (21), Pinellas (23), Polk (31), Lee (39), Brevard (43), Pasco (54), Seminole (56), Volusia (57) and Osceola (79).

Whether this is a good or bad thing remains a question.

Countywide school districts like we have in Florida can theoretically save money by avoiding duplication of administrative resources and pooling purchasing power, while also spreading resources more evenly among poor and rich communities.

But they also can create widespread bureaucracies that aren't always in touch with local needs.

Each year some Florida lawmaker, usually from Miami, proposes that Florida allow voters to break up these giant districts. It never passes. Should it?

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Candidate for Pasco board surfaces at board meeting

Overheard at the Pasco County School Board meeting this morning:

"I'm Sallie Skipper, and I'm running for Cathi Martin's seat. I haven't announced yet. Well, I guess I just did."

Skipper, a New Port Richey lawyer who served as superintendent Heather Fiorentino's 2008 campaign treasurer, filed an application with the governor's office last spring when Martin had indicated that she might resign.

Martin stuck around, and her seat comes up for election in 2010. She told the Gradebook she had not decided whether to seek re-election.

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Pasco teacher to get back pay

Jeffrey Bush won his Pasco County teaching job back more than a month ago. Now he'll get his lost pay returned, too.

The Pasco School Board this morning rejected superintendent Heather Fiorentino's recommendation that Bush, who was accused of manhandling a student who made crude comments about his wife, not receive the nine months of pay he lost while suspended awaiting his disciplinary hearing.

"I don't believe we talked about the charging document," board member Joanne Hurley said. "And I do not believe the evidence supports those two charges."

Only chairman Frank Parker disagreed.

"He was suspended without pay. He openly admitted that he grabbed a student ... (and) dumped a chair," Parker said. "That's basically what the allegations were."

After the hearing, Fiorentino said she would abide by the result but still stand by her effort to fire Bush: "My job is to do what is right for children."

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Pasco board members cut their pay

The Pasco School Board won't be taking a $24 raise.

Instead, board members unanimously gave themselves a $1,294 cut, accepting the same salary as a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree.

"I just can't see and I can't do in good faith giving a raise to the board members when we have teachers out there who are working two jobs, cutting back," board member Cathi Martin said. "Maybe we'll get back on the right track soon. At that point I'd like to revisit the financial situation. ... And I would like that we put our teachers and SRP's first."

Contract negotiations are continuing, with no plans to give employees raises for a second straight year.

Board member Kathryn Starkey complained that the issue stirred up too much emotion among staffers and should never have arisen. That said, the board decided the best course of action was to defuse it.

The board's new pay rate is $36,420 per year.

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Florida school boards start setting their salaries

The law couldn't have been more clear for this year's budgets: Florida school boards should get paid the amount that the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations set or the amount of a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree — whichever is less.

That didn't prove a problem in Pinellas, where the staff determined that a beginning teacher's salary of $37,010 was less and simply reduced the board members' pay in the payroll system.

In Pasco, the administration decided to give board members an option.

Yes, the LCIR recommended board member pay of $37,738 is higher than the $36,420 salary of a first-year Pasco teacher, the staff noted. But if you annualize the teacher's pay to 245 days, as the FBSA has suggested, it comes to $45,525 — much less than the LCIR's amount.

Now it's up to the board to choose whether to take a $1,294 cut, or a $24 raise.

Board members don't seem to be biting. And that's a good thing, state Senate Education Appropriations chairman Steve Wise told the Gradebook.

"When we wrote the language, it was specific," Wise said. "Whatever the beginning salary was, the school board salary was not to be higher than what the (beginning) teachers get. None of this voodoo economics. ... Give me a break."

Pasco poised to reject Plato Academy expansion

Hoping to extend its reach, the Plato Academycharter school in Clearwater applied this year to open another campus in Pasco County.

After reviewing the school's application, Pasco district officials are recommending against the plan.

"It would not meet the criteria for the state of Florida," Nancy Scowcroft, Pasco's charter school office director, said of the application. "That's the first thing we have to determine."

Scowcroft said the district had concerns about the school's budget, curriculum, student assessment plans and other aspects of its education program. She suggested those must be fixed, and perhaps Plato Academy might apply again next year.

Plato Academy officials will have the opportunity to state their case to the School Board next week. 

Pasco schools cope with class size issues

Soon after the 20-day student counts were complete, Pasco school district leaders huddled to figure out whether they needed to make adjustments to meet Florida's class-size reduction mandate.

With teacher allocations tight and student enrollment a bit better than expected in some schools, the situation was clear: Some schools weren't even making a school average for class-size. (Among them, Wiregrass Ranch High, Gulf High, Smith Middle, Hudson Middle and a bunch of elementary schools.)

The recommended answer is to shift resources to get more teachers into those schools. That proposal goes to the School Board on Tuesday.

But is it the right approach?

Pastor announces bid for Pasco School Board

John Tracy, president of the Faith and Family Values Republican Club of Pasco County, announced on his blog late Tuesday that he will seek to replace Kathryn Starkey on the Pasco School Board next year.

Starkey, who ran unopposed for her re-election bid in 2008, plans to resign to run for the Florida House of Representatives. Tracy, an associate pastor at Hillsdale Baptist Church in Carrollwood, has publicly jumped into the running for her seat. One other candidate, Billie Kaleel, also has filed to run in 2012.

He's already got a Web site explaining his reasons for seeking election. Here's one key passage from the site:

"I believe that there is a battleground raging in our schools for the hearts and minds of our children. As a school board member I intend to protect the innocence and morals of our kids. I plan to work hard to see that the education they receive is historically accurate, excellent in quality, applicable in subject matter, and delivered in an optimal learning environment. Parents must know that their kids will be safe physically, intellectually, and morally.

"Students of every race, religion, and economic background should be confident that they will be treated equally by their administrators, teachers, and peers. Anything we can do to remove prejudices of any type will aid in a child’s success. A public school should not be a political stage, nor should it be a place to perpetrate religious and social dogma. It needs to be neutral ground."

Hillsborough has 14 top black students; Pinellas, Pasco each have one

Fourteen Hillsborough County students have been named National Achievement semifinalists, an academic honor that places them among the top black students in the country.

Pinellas and Pasco counties each had one student to earn that designation. Hernando had none.

See the complete Florida list here.

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Parents to Pasco: We're not interested in switching high schools

When Pasco County opens Fivay High School in Hudson next fall, the School Board will rezone about 1,200 students to fill the its seats. Other school shifts are planned as the boundaries move, to keep enrollments even.

At least one community says it doesn't want a change.

Parents in the Suncoast Lakes subdivision -- just off SR 52 west of the Suncoast Parkway -- plan to meet at their clubhouse tonight to talk about how they might persuade the board to not move their 57 high school-age students from River Ridge High, which they like, to Hudson High, which they don't.

"I can't think of anybody who is going to want their kids to be moved ... to an underachieving high school," parent Sergio Sierra told the Gradebook.

Speak out on proposed Pasco elementary boundaries

A committee of Pasco parents and educators met twice to hash out details for who will be assigned to attend the district's new elementary school in the Trinity/Odessa area.

Most of the students will come from Oakstead and Longleaf elementary schools, which have grown increasingly crowded since they opened. A group also will come from Trinity Elementary, because of the new school's location. (See the proposed map.)

Next it's parents' turn to weigh in.

The district will have a meeting to review the boundaries and take any suggested changes back for consideration. It's scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Oakstead Elementary, 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O'Lakes. The School Board has the final say, which is expected before the end of the year.

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Homeless in school: The numbers keep rising

We told you this weekend about the rising number of homeless students in Pasco County schools. Unfortunately, it's not a problem that's limited to Pasco County.

A fresh report from the Florida Department of Education shows that the number of homeless students across the state rose 20 percent in 2008-09 from the previous year, from 34,376 to 41,286. In the Tampa area, the numbers broke out like this:

Hernando: 156 in '07-'08; 207 in '08-'09
Hillsborough: 2,073 in '07-'08; 2,054 in '08-'09
Pasco: 1,599 in '07-'08; 1,815 in '08-'09
Pinellas: 962 in '07-'08; 1,870 in '08-'09

And they're not all the people you'd expect to see seeking shelter and food stamps.

Bonuses? Or step increases? Pasco union seeks input

As promised, the United School Employees of Pasco is seeking members' guidance before heading back to the negotiating table to talk money. It posted online surveys this morning (one for teachers, another for support workers) asking seven questions aimed at determining just how far to go in bargaining.

The questions begin with this doozy:

"The Superintendent states it’s not prudent to pay steps and service incentives (For those at the top of the salary schedule) because the financial outlook for next year is poor, and step costs recur each year. The Superintendent fears that if forced to pay step increases, the District might not be able to maintain the fully-funded benefit package and lay-offs could occur. If that were truly the case, which option would you choose?
- Pay step increases even if it risks fully-paid health benefits and jobs next school year.
- Pay one-time lump-sum bonuses to preserve fully-paid health benefits and jobs next school year."

USEP president Lynne Webb wouldn't even hazard a guess at how the results might come out after the response period ends in early October. "I'm not sure if the survey will give the (negotiating) teams the clarity they were hoping," she said. "Even our team members are divided."