TheLakeBlog.com

School Board Update

This message is from Cindy Barrow, Chair of the Lake County School Board. This message is NOT an official communication from the Lake County School Board. This message contains my thoughts and opinions

Dear Citizens:

I am proud to announce that our schools have raised $20,655.74 for the "Kids Helping Kids for Haiti" project. Our goal was $10,000.00 which would purchase 45,000 meals that would be packaged at the LASER office in Eustis and sent directly to Port-au-Prince and the village of Jacmel. Wow - did we exceed our goal! I am so proud of our community efforts to help our neighbors in Haiti! Thank you to the parents of our students who participated in this project and to community members who helped to package these meals.

Yesterday afternoon our board met for a workshop meeting and then for our regularly scheduled board meeting at 6:00 pm. We had a final approval of the redistricting effort for our new high school in Minneola referred to at this time, as "BBB High School". The redistricting process for this school has been one of the smoothest efforts to date. I believe that the community is so happy to have relief for crowding at East Ridge High School and South Lake High School that they are welcoming their students attending any of these schools with a more balanced student population.

District 3, largely Clermont and Minneola continue to welcome new students into our schools. Both of our new Elementary Schools are officially "over crowded". Grassy Lake Elementary School in Minneola is built for 950 students and now has 1,030 students. This school can not add portables as there is a "skink habitat" on the property that can not be disturbed per state law.

Saw Grass Bay elementary school in Four Corners was built for 938 students and now has 1,038 students. The School Board and community have worked diligently to get a traffic light at the intersection of 27 and Saw Grass Bay. Several meetings occurred with a DOT representative and officials from Lake County; however we do not have an operational light or any light at this time. I have been informed that since the last meeting there have been TWO severe accidents involving parents of students in the school. Thankfully, no students or siblings were harmed but one of the accidents produced a truck that had turned over. It is only a matter of time before some one is seriously hurt or we experience a fatality at this intersection. I will be working with the Principal and County officials to put together another meeting with DOT. The community needs to come together to support the safety of parents, students, and community members!

Last evening we welcomed a new Student Representative, Robert Logan Wilson from Umatilla High School. This young man's report to the school board was very impressive. He talked about officials from the state Department of Education visiting his school to ensure that teachers are using teaching methodologies to engage the students and ensure quality teaching. He was keenly aware of the goals for the school and the reasons for the visits. All of our Student Representatives this school year have been outstanding students with interesting reports for the school board! I have to thank School Board Member, Larry Metz for initiating this effort. Our board learns valuable information from these students.

Our school board also recognized the efforts of a new Elementary Mentorship Program which began in 2008. I have discussed my experiences as a mentor in previous updates. I continue to enjoy mentoring at Minneola Elementary School and believe that our program is unique as we work with elementary school students. Ms. Sherry Watts, and Ms. Susan Salazar represented Minneola Elementary School and two of our parent mentors were present as well. I am heartened by the dedication of these mentors to their students! We do make a difference.

Lost Lake Elementary school (another over crowded elementary school in Clermont) sent a letter to the school board from their SAC (School Advisory Committee). They requested that the board remove the Opt-Out option when schools implement a uniform policy. They believe that too many parents are using the opt-out and soon after a uniform policy is implemented, few students are in uniform. The board discussed the possibility of having an "Opt-Out" for religious purposes only and allowing schools to make this request of the board. The board could then vote on the school's request. We agreed that this is how we will proceed given the due diligence of our school board attorney's inquiry into the legalities of an opt-out for religious reasons only.

There appears to be a ground swell of parent and community support for a district wide uniform policy. Community support is what is truly needed if the board were to decide to implement a district wide uniform policy. Last month, our Student Representative from Tavares High School stated that he would support a uniform policy. He discussed his concerns about revealing clothing and the ease of choosing clothes in the morning if uniforms were mandatory.

Thank you for reading this update. Please contact me at: barrowc@lake.k12.fl.us with any of your thoughts or concerns. Have a great rest of your week and best wishes to our students who are taking the FCAT writes this week!!!

Sincerely,
Cindy Barrow

Will legislators gamble away state's future?

Source: OrlandoSentinel.com
Will legislators gamble away state's future?
Mike Thomas

COMMENTARY

11:58 PM EST, February 8, 2010

The newest plan to save Florida involves turning it into Nevada.

Roll those big, fuzzy dice.

Line the state with casinos, rake in the billions and live tax-free ever after. It's enough to make the conservatives in Tallahassee swallow their principles and sit down to deal.

It spares them from making responsible choices about taxes and budgets.

It would double down on everything that is wrong with Florida.

Let's see how the Nevada/Las Vegas gig is working out these days.

Here is an Associated Press story from Sunday:

"Nevada's budget is so far out of balance that by one account the state could lay off every worker paid from the general fund and still be $300 million in the red. The economic downturn has hit so hard that prisons may be closed, entire colleges shuttered and thousands left without jobs.''

Nevada relies on Vegas growth, Vegas tourism and Vegas sales taxes to pay the bills.

Now, just like here, people are bailing out, and Nevada is losing population. Foreclosures are so rampant that an economist predicted it will take 20 years for the real-estate market to recover.

Nevada has a 13 percent unemployment rate, the second-highest in the nation behind Michigan.

The Las Vegas school district is looking at firing 2,000 teachers.

Residents in Vegas are 50 percent more likely to commit suicide than people in the rest of the country. That risk goes down when they leave the city. Go figure.

Vegas is a mess. It's going to be an even bigger mess over time as gambling proliferates across the country, sucking away all but the high rollers from the Vegas strip.

And now a growing number of Florida legislators want to emulate the Vegas model. Rep. Alan Hays even wants socialized gambling, with the state owning the casinos. If Charlie Crist loses his U.S. Senate race, I can't think of a better door-greeter.

Hays says we could fund schools — just as we did with the lottery money.

And then in the next recession, we could legalize medical marijuana and Rep. Hays could set up pot clinics next to the casinos. Or do what a leading Nevada lawmaker proposed: slap a $5 tax on all acts of prostitution.

With gambling, Hays says, we could cut taxes. Shrink the tax base even more. Make us even more dependent on tourism. Keep those low-paying jobs flowing in. Make the next budget crisis even worse than this one.

These people are dangerous. There is no light at the end of their tunnel vision.

The politicians in Nevada actually convinced themselves that Vegas was immune to recessions. Now they know better. Last year, the casino owners blocked an attempt to raise taxes on them. So the state raised the hotel tax instead. It is a small drop in a big bucket.

The state never invested in its universities during the boom times, setting them up for a huge fall now.

"We have had a first-class economy and a third-class culture, and eventually a third-class culture will bring down a first-class economy," said James Rogers, the former chancellor of the state's university system.

Does all this sound painfully familiar?

Do you know what would happen if casinos were legalized in South Florida?

The tourism industry on Florida's west coast would scream about losing market share to Miami. So it would get casinos.

That dynamic would spread to the Panhandle.

And then it would infect the rotting tourism corridors of U.S. Highway 192 in Osceola and northern International Drive in Orange.

In looking at this phenomenon from a national perspective, analyst Nate Silver called it the "race to the bottom" in an Esquire magazine article. States are rushing to put up casinos to keep up with neighboring states. And they are beginning to cannibalize each other.

There is, after all, a limited number of saps in this world.

Silver reports that in Atlantic City, revenues were no higher in 2008 than they were 1986. In Mississippi, revenues peaked in 2000.

Isn't it amazing how much gambling has turned around Mississippi? And the benefits have spread to its neighbors.

A report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis says Mississippi is exporting bankruptcy. The dumb hayseeds in surrounding states are coming in, losing their money and then bringing their broke selves back home.

Yeah, boy. We need in on this action.

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 ormthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

Stimulus dollars save Lake school jobs

The Orlando Sentinel published an interesting story this past weekend on how federal-stimulus money received earlier this year saved hundreds of teaching jobs and created dozens of new positions.

The district will receive approximately $30 million and a large portion of that went to saving jobs, the School distric report indicates. About 300 classroom teachers and 10 teachers aids were able to keep their posts.

About 80 new positions were created - mostly related to literacy coaches, special-education teachers and "achievement" liaisons, the report indicates.

Said Lake School Board Chairwoman Cindy Barrow: "I am always concerned about jobs that we create to improve student achievement, and I absolutely hope that we can continue to retain these important positions." 

Here's a breakdown of most of the new positions created here in Lake:

•7 family school liaisons for $288,000.

•2 district-based instructional coaches for $94,000.

•8 literacy coaches for $752,000.

•1 homeless-project manager for $39,000.

•35 special-education teachers for $2.8 million.

•23 achievement liaisons for $1.7 million.

Read the complete Orlando Sentinel story at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/os-lk-stimulus-122709-20091226,0,3259391.story

Barrow becomes certified board member

The Daily Commercial

Barrow completes specialized training as school board chair

Barrow completes specialized training as school board chair

LARRY ELL

Staff Writer

TAVARES -- From board member to vice chair to chair, Cindy Barrow has played an increasingly significant leadership role on the Lake County School Board. Recently, that capacity was expanded with her completion of a specialized training course.

Barrow was recognized as a Certified Board Member by the Florida School Boards Association at the organization's Annual Joint Conference in Tampa.

"Being a Certified Board Member to me means that you have gone on to take all courses that have not only been mandated, but also recommended, by the FSBA," Barrow said, "so that you can perform your job at the highest level."

The distinction is earned by completing a minimum of 96 hours of training in 11 areas, which focus on the governance roles and responsibilities of school board members. Course topics include law, curriculum, leadership, multi-cultural diversity, student learning, school finance, community involvement, employee relations and current trends and issues.

"It just really runs the gamut," Barrow said.

The Florida School Boards Association says the breadth of such training is beneficial to school board members. While it may be voluntary, those who finish the program say it's necessary in helping distinguish their efforts and reinforcing their commitment to their school systems.

"The people who end up getting the Certified Board Member status are those who are really the most motivated to perform at top levels in their positions," Barrow said. "I don't know how I would perform my job without having the information that they provide."

Monday, December 21, 2009 - www.dailycommercial.com/122109barrow

Lake County graduation rates rise by 2%

December 7, 2009

A few months ago, the state revamped the way high-school graduation rates are calculated by removing GED recipients from the equation. Even so, Lake County's graduation rate jumped 2 percentage points last school year, according to a newly released report from the state Department of Education.

Seventy-seven percent of Lake kids who graduated in the spring got through high school in four years, says the report. Lake's graduation rate for 2008-09 would've been 4 percentage points higher — 81 percent — if it were calculated using the old method.

School officials statewide will have a keen eye on graduation rates this year because it's the first year the state education department will look at graduation rates when it calculates school grades.

Starting this school year, the FCAT will count for half of a high school's grade. The other half will be determined by such things as the graduation rate, how many students take advanced courses and how well kids do on college-entrance exams.

See the article at the Orlando Sentinel

School Board Update - Graduation Rates

This message is from Cindy Barrow, Lake County School Board Chair.  This message is NOT an official communication from the Lake County School Board.  This message contains my thoughts and opinions.  You may reach me at:  barrowc@lake.k12.fl.us.

 

Dear Citizens:

 

As you may have read in today's paper, the graduation rates for Florida public schools have been released.  Lake County is progressing as demonstrated by all three models.  Why are there three models?  We had been using Florida's own graduation rate criteria which included the GED exit option for students that may not graduate otherwise; however this year 48 state Governors meet to establish a national criteria which excludes GED diplomas.  The NCLB criteria excludes special diplomas for our challenged students. 

 

I do appreciate having a "model" that states will all agree on to measure HOW graduation rates are calculated.  As the criteria is different from state to state, it has been more difficult to measure our progress against other states.   Florida students, teachers, and families need to stay vigilant for students to obtain their high school diploma.  Studies show that the 8th and 9th grade years pose the most risk for disengaged students so we will continue to work toward keeping these students focused and interested in course work.

 

 

NEW CALCULATION:

NGA Graduation Rates (Excludes GEDs), 2004-05 through 2008-09

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
LAKE	70.6%	67.5%	69.5%	75.0%	77.00
FLORIDA	69.7%	68.9%	70.3%	73.1%	76.3

Florida’s Old Rate (Includes GEDs), 2004-2005 through 2008-2009

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
LAKE	72.2%	70.1%	73.5%	79.3%	80.8
FLORIDA	71.9%	71.0%	72.4%	75.4%	78.6

NCLB Graduation Rates, 2004-05 through 2008-09

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Lake	68.7%	67.0%	69.8%	75.1%	77.9%
FLORIDA	69.0%	68.3%	69.8%	72.8%	76.2%

Summary of all three calculations for 2009:

2009 Calculations	NGA	NCLB	Florida (old calc)
Lake	77.0	77.9	80.0
Florida	76.3	76.2	78.6

District Dropout Rates

Lake Dropout Rates	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
	4.5%	4.7%	4.5%	3.1%	2.9%

This past week, I attended the Florida School Board's Association Conference.  We have learned that the state greatly underestimated the number of students that have attended our pubilc schools this fall.  They believed that we would lose many more students than what showed up in our schools.  The increase number of students may be multi-factorial such as a large number of students transferring back to public schools that had been in private schools.  As a result of the underestimation of students, the state did not set aside the revenue to pay districts for the greater than anticipated number of students in public schools.  Therefore, the state will be making a cut to our revenue that will be taken from THIS school year's budget.

Lake County Schools built in an anticipated dollar amount for state cuts as we really try to be fiscally responsible so mid year cuts don't have to occur in our classrooms.  Our conservative budgeting makes our reserves look over inflated but when we return the money back to the state that we anticipated, our students and our teachers and support staff don't have to face mid year cuts and lay-offs.  It's a double edge sword as the district gets "dinged" by some for our larger reserves but the money we have set aside ensures less disruptions to students in the classroom.

The conference was chalked full of great information as there are many changes that our district faces as result of new state law.  Our high schools will graded differently this year.  Individual students will continue to receive their FCAT results at the usual time, but the actual grade for the high school will be delayed until November as opposed to being assigned during the summer.  Our high schools will longer be judged on only the FCAT but will include other measures as well.  The number of students taking and passing IB, AP, ACE, and Dual Enrollment Courses will now count for our grade.  Graduation rates will count as well.

Please remember to support our teachers.  They are working harder than ever before as they strive for excellence and are subject to many changes this year.  Don't forget to thank our teachers.

Thank you for reading this update!  Have a great weekend and enjoy your holiday events.

Sincerely,

Cindy Barrow

School Board Update 11/11/09 by Cindy Barrow

This message is from Cindy Barrow, Lake County School Board Member, District 3.  This message is NOT an official communication from the Lake County School Board.  This letter contains my thoughts and opinions.  Please feel free to e-mail school board related issues to me at Barrowc@lake.k12.fl.us

 

Dear Citizens:

 

Happy Veterans Day!  I hope that you were able to thank at least one Veteran today and ensure that your children know the importance of serving their country.  Yesterday I attended Minneola Elementary School's Veterans Day Celebration.  The children were precious and studious and patriotism is alive and well at this school.  We had many Veterans who attended this ceremony and they are to be commended.  Probably very few people know that my husband is a Veteran.  He served as a Major in the Air Force during Desert Storm.  I didn't have to go far to thank a Veteran!

 

This past Monday evening, the Superintendent along with the assistance of her staff presented an outstanding "State of the School Board" address to our citizens.  Prior to the address the board was blessed to have numerous schools present their talents in the "Showcase of Schools".  We had culinary arts programs make food, we had choirs sing to us, and we had poetry read to us.  We even had students tell us about their recognition by the Governor for their fitness program celebrate their goals and achievements.

 

Everything you ever wanted to know about benchmarks for student achievement, graduation rates, and our mission and strategic plan was displayed and discussed on Monday evening.  The presentation was very thorough and professional and I want to thank every school and all of our staff who participated.  Parents and SAC members also made this night a memorable event.   Every board member was proud!

 

Last evening, the board met at South Lake High School in a public input meeting on the rezoning of students for the new "BBB" High School that will open in 2011.  I have previously mentioned that the public input meeting held by the Rezoning committee went smoothly with only a few questions posed by the audience concerning either sports at the new school or rising seniors being allowed to attend their home school.  Last night we had only a handful of parents attend and speak to the board.  The issues were very similar.

 

Two weeks ago, I was notified by the Florida School Board's Association that I have completed the requirements of the educational program to become a Certified School Board Member.   When I have turned down your invitations to attend meetings because of my "conferences", these are the meetings that I was required to attend in order to achieve this status.  I have to thank the Florida School Board's Association for offering the training for board members to perform their jobs.  I have been exposed to a multitude of subjects including but not limited to: education law, education financing, FCAT changes, curriculum changes, technology changes, social changes, new and pending legislation, and advocacy.  I want to thank the public for allowing me to take advantage of the training opportunities presented by the Florida School Board's Association.

 

As always, our board is continuously managing our resources and attempting to ensure that our greatest expenditures occur in the classroom!

 

Sincerely,

Cindy Barrow

 

 

Invite: The Lake County School District Annual Address

 

State Senator Calls for Attorney General to Sue Governor and Legislature on Inadequacy of Education Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                CONTACT:    MICHELLE DeMARCO

October 6, 2009                                                                                  850.487.5833

 

 

SENATOR DAN GELBER CALLS ON FLORIDA’S TOP LAWYER TO FORCE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE INTO FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION

Urges Attorney General to file suit to compel constitutional obligations

 

 

TALLAHASSEE – Frustrated by a deaf ear to the plight of Florida’s struggling public education system, state Senator Dan Gelber on Tuesday called on Florida’s top lawyer to deploy the full weight of his office into legal combat.

 

“Our State Constitution provides that you are the "chief state legal officer" and thereby commands you to "exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by law,” wrote the Miami Beach Democrat in a letter to Attorney General Bill McCollum delivered Tuesday.

 

“It is in that capacity and pursuant to that authority that I request you commence a lawsuit against the legislature and the Governor challenging the adequacy of education funding in Florida.”

 

The move stems from a recent meeting of the state Board of Education where a majority of board members expressed concern that its proposed education budget is “inadequate” – a clear violation of Florida’s constitution. The board has time and time again su

bm

itted a proposed budget that's much greater than what is funded by the Legislature and approved by the Governor.

 

Citing a 1934 state Supreme Court decision underlining the obligations of an Attorney General “in the absence of express legislative restrictions to the contrary, to exercise all such power and authority as public interests may require from time to time,” Senator Gelber noted other cases which have upheld the AG's standing to bring lawsuits, and reminded the attorney general of his duty to protect the interests of the general public.

 

---MORE---

 

“If you believe an action of the state – in this case the passing of a budget that fails to adequately provide a high quality system of free public schools -- creates a constitutional violation, you are obliged to exercise the broad powers that rest within your office and would allow you to remedy the violation,” Gelber wrote.

“I believe it is hard not to find such a violation exists.”

 

Senator Gelber, an outspoken public education advocate whose children attend public school, also noted that where previous attempts to litigate adequate funding may have failed, the constitution has since been amended, paving the way for the courts to enforce the mandate.

 

“Florida continues to have one of the worst high school graduation rates in the nation,” he noted. “Further, in the wake of budget cuts an epidemic of violence has broken out including a few much publicized deaths and serious crimes that clearly impair the ability of our teachers and schools to adequately and safely perform their constitutional duty.

“While you could demur and, instead, hope that citizen groups take on such a lawsuit, it seems more appropriate that Florida’s Attorney General act to defend our citizens from violations of their Constitution.”

 

Last year, the Board requested for the 09-10 school year, funding of $21.5 billion. It received from the Legislature only $17.9 billion, which the governor approved.

 

This year, the Board is seeking $19.3 billion, an amount it labeled “inadequate.”

School Board Update - October 1, 09

Dear Citizens:

Board Meeting in almost three years of service.  I had flu like symptoms and figured that I had to practice what I preach (stay home when you are sick).  The previous week, I was on antibiotics for a throat infection and then went and got the regular flu shot on top of being somewhat under the weather.  My best guess is that my immune system was down and so the flu shot gave me some of the flu symptoms.  Anyway, I am feeling much better and I understand that the school board meeting only lasted an hour as the agenda was short.

This Saturday is our Rubber Duck Race for the Education Foundation.  It is our hope that every child in Lake County has a duck purchased on their behalf so that they have a chance of winning the grand prize – a Florida Prepaid Scholarship to College!  If you still want to purchase a duck, please contact Carman Cullen at:  Cullenc@lake.k12.fl.us

Since I wrote to you last, I have attended a “Wellness Committee Meeting”.  We received an H1N1 update – still no officially reported cases in Lake County Schools and we discussed our new wellness goals.  Our lunch menus continue to show improvement in adding fresh vegetables, low fat snacks, and whole grain foods.  My continued concern is the Governor’s 30 minutes of mandated exercise for elementary school children.  As these 30 minutes must be structured exercise activities, recess does NOT count as it is considered free play.  Some schools are using innovative ideas to get the children moving and excited to exercise while others are using a video that isn’t so well received.

Personally, I think it’s a travesty when children are stuck inside the school building all day long and are not exposed to the sun light.  Additional research on the lack of Vitamin D in the diet of our children and adults in America has recently been reported in the news.  The recommendation is to increase our calcium intake and also to get 10 minutes of sunlight per day.  Children need to be outside and they need a real break from academics so that they can refocus with better concentration and attention.

Yesterday I attended the Windy Hill Middle School SAC Meeting where uniforms were placed on the agenda.  I brought the result of Osceola County’s first year implementation of a district wide Uniform Policy.  The group was positive about the benefits of uniforms but worried that Lake County’s Schools “opt-out” policy would prevent full participation.  I pointed out that Osceola’s opt-out policy was for religious purposes only and that there had to be a note from the religious leader before a child would be allowed to “opt-out”.  This SAC will explore the topic of uniforms again next month when their Principal is able to attend the meeting.  During our discussion, I was asked to attend the Lost Lake Elementary School; SAC meeting to discuss this issue.  They have a uniform policy but participation has waned.

There are some new buzz words to get use to this school year and they are:  Differentiated Accountability!   What does this mean?  It means that teachers must gear their instruction to the individual student and demonstrate that they can effectively move the class along on a lesson without loosing students.  Students are tested more frequently to see if they have absorbed the material and if not, the teacher must target the lesson again and work with the child on their current level.  This sounds like what we have wanted to happen all along but the mandates take time to demonstrate mastery of differentiated instruction and the paperwork is enormous!  Most of the concepts that the state implements are great concepts but they do not take the time or effort to operationalize the steps involved to implement their ideas, and as in most cases, there is no extra money for these unfunded mandates.  Our schools will also be graded differently according to the Differentiated Accountability standards.

I am still waiting to meet my student as I have signed up to be a mentor.  My difficulty is finding a student with a lunch hour on Monday that still allows me to get to the school board workshops on time in Tavares.  I will remind everyone that if you would like to mentor an elementary school student, Minneola Elementary School and Grassy Lake Elementary School have a mentor program!  We could use your help and your support.

Thank you for reading this update.
Sincerely,
Cindy Barrow, LCSB member, District 3

This message contains my thoughts and opinions and is NOT an official communication from the Lake County School Board.