After the last board meeting I have not been able to stop thinking about the events that took place at the end of the meeting after public comment. I have heard from several people, including the press, and want to make a brief statement.
I have a phone call into the superintendent to address Tuesday's meeting. Because of sunshine I can't speak to the board about my concerns until the next time we are in a publicly noticed meeting next week. But it is my intention to raise my concerns at the first available opportunity. I have been an advocate for the 1st amendment for a long time and do not condone abridging any one's constitutional rights. I may not agree with what people say, but will fight for their right to say it. Please stand by for more on this issue.
17 comments:
Perhaps Ms Faliero should not be leading the Board. Something tells me she lacks the temperament and gravitas necessary to be an effective chair.
"Because of sunshine I can't speak to the board about my concerns until the next time we are in a publicly noticed meeting next week."
Unintended consequences.
There are some things that may be better off settled in private. This sounds like one of them.
I'm sure you will handle it with the necessary "sensitivity" but I can see it deteriorating into an episode of "Dirty Laundry".
Were do I send the "Tele"? ;>)
Sounds like your little organization has really lost it. Was it Ben Franklin that said, "Fish rot from the head back?"
I have heard two different reasons why Lee DeCesare was declared out of order at the last school board meeting. One I read about in the Tampa Tribune, which said she used a person's name and that was why she was proclaimed out of order and escorted off the premises. The other is stated on Lee DeCesare's blog, which says she was out of order because she went over the three-minute limit at the podium. Can you please clear this up and let me know which reason is correct, if either is.?
Visit a place far, far away where Free Speech thrives. Be sure to click on the videos to the left of the article.
Ms Griffin
I just watched the conduct of the Chair on the districts website. As a teacher in the county I must say that I am embarrassed by her behavior. The attack on Ms. De Cesar was obviously set up in advance. Note the directive from the lady "Chief Friedberg, do your thing".
How would you feel if I showed this to my civics class? Is this the kind of behavior we would want our students to emulate.
Please dont be afraid to challenge them. As far as I can see, you are the only one on the board with any courage and integrity. Perhaps I am wrong and other board members will speak out.
The Emperor Wears No Clothes"
Could you please get answers to these questions?
1. Was the Super aware of the collusion between the Chief Security Guard and Gavel-Lady?
2. My guess is that the SB atty. was notified prior to her antics. Was Sunshine violated as a result?
3. Did any other SB members know about her decision to squelch free speech? And if so, the possible violation of Sunshine.
I’ve always felt that all elected officials are simply an extension of the public. Therefore if the public gets three minutes to talk, so should the officials. If the public cannot use names, than neither should the officials. Regarding rules being made up as you go along, according to the new PR guy, "That is not a part of the official statement that she reads.” Does the Super plan to punish her for her free-styling of the official statement? If not, Gavel-lady has the latitude to do essentially anything she wants. If something about this is not done internally, it will most assuredly be done externally. All of these topics (public officials abusing their authority+ the alleged extra-marital affairs+ squelching of free speech) are just screaming for headlines and a very disapproving public eye. Please remind her to fix it now or it will be fixed by a most upset public. My guess will be a 1st amendment lawyer looking for the free press, the ACLU, or the local press will relish this story. Additionally, if Gavel-lady is so upset with the Beach-lady, then take it up in civil court. Prove that you have been defamed, or kindly do you job.
On another topic, since you have the Super’s ear… Does she think that the Springboard/School Board/College Board marriage to her own salary bonus passes the smell test? More and more of the curriculum is being tailored so that more students take AP classes/tests and as a result her bonus increases. How convenient. Teachers AP bonuses are capped and students must perform. For her to get her bonus, she has more students enrolling and her bonus increases. Am I the only one who sees this as disingenuous? Her bonus is with no regard to performance and is not capped (as a teacher, performance counts and bonuses are capped). Her own mandates and policies decree that she will be getting a bonus under the guise of the AP panacea. How lovely.
I suspect that either her bonus/AP scam/exam curving or the lack of free speech issue by Gavel-lady and Chief Security Guard will turn into a week-long (s)expose’ in one or both of the local papers. Both papers have taken to excoriating her on numerous topics. Whatever friends used to hide the 901 E. Kennedy dirty laundries don’t seem to be on the payroll any longer.
Thanks April, for truly being at our service.
Whoa! Jennifer...
Anyone who was watching is left bewildered...yet anyone who has been around long enough to know the system is only surprised that her loss of composure was "caught on tape". Egotistical - arrogrance and injustice towards anyone that goes against the grain, regardless of merit, is the norm. Welcome to our world! This is how the fear was born. All that is needed is to be witness to such behavior or directly receive it. It is much worse, by the way, without the camera rolling. Add to that, the pathetic joke that the office of "professional" "standards" is and it is no wonder that the dirty deeds and mismanagement and more go unreported...that is until now.
I am disgusted by the double standards and rule-with-an-iron-fist mentality of this superintendent and her board (save you and Valdes). I am in the process of crafting a fine, fine letter to Governor Crist regarding its abuse in power, as are others.
My points of contention:
6/7 schedule
SpringBoard
No-bid contracts
Violations of first-amendment
Mid-term curving
"Professional" standards
Particular members and person which I may not name per decree
A small light has come on in a dark, dark room... I do this for the students and their teachers...
Ms. Griffin
Do the other board member read your blog? I thank you for your efforts. BTW...I would have probably walked out of the "team building" silliness too.
When you run again, I will work to get you re-elected.
Finally a SB member who is willing to tell the Emperor that he/she is wearing no clothes.
Thanks you for all you do!!!
David
The Freedom of Speech should never be regulated in my eyes. That is what is great about the United States, but it looks like day after day more of our freedoms are being taken away.
We shouldn't have any restrictions on information available to the public. You wouldn't see any censorship on our site, http://Anarchology.org thats for damn sure!
So? Tell us. How did the meeting go?
Do you know anything about the formal complaint that has been made to the Gov.?
Do you know that teachers are not allowed to claim overtime? If they insist on claiming actual time worked they are only allowed "comp" time. Not an option of OT or "comp" time. Even more ridiculous is that you cannot take your comp time during class time?!...Which if you teach a full day leaves Never or more or less an hour here or there. If you have managed to rack up a 100 or so hours your are really screwed because you don't get paid out say at the end of the school year as one might assume. To top it all off, if you move from one site to another it does not carry. Oh, and if you retire or otherwise seperate...no pay either. Sounds like a case for Morgan and Morgan doesn't it?
Seriously. Did you know that? What do you think about it?
The school system treats its employees shabbily. Which is lower, pay or moral? It is too close to call.
Where in "Robert's Rules of Order" does the directive "Do your thing" appear? How embarrassing for all of you that this woman is even on the board.
Robert Stewart
Are you not commenting or posting comments any longer?
Ms. Griffin
I cant believe you complained about your child having his Playstation stolen. What was he doing taking it to school in the first place?
Surely you misspoke. Can you explain that comment?
Thanks
April,
Where are you missing amidst all this action? SpringBoard is a huge concern for educators. How does this align with our contract? Our First Amendment is being compromised. CTA isn't backing its teachers. The 6/7 isn't working. The midterm curves were never truly addressed. What about the treatment of Lee at the last two board meetings? What about no bid contracts? The list goes on and on... Do you know when the some SB members and Elia are going to be held accountable? Why are so many large decisions, such as 6/7 and SpringBoard being forced down our throats? Don't you find the implementations of SpringBoard to be a little socialistic? I want to see the research that PROVES that this is best for the kids, short term and long term... I believe it doesn't exist in a real way...
Thank you.
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