New School Board Members-Their Potential Impact

Although the seat for District 7 will not be decided until November, Nancy Robbinson will succeed me, basically by default, in District 6 due to my late decision to not run for re-election, and in Tuesday's primary, Vicky Bell was elected to District 4. Three new school board members can serve as a change for the good, and build on current successes, but that will depend on the governing style and philosophical priorities of these new members, and the leadership abilities of the new chair.

Over the past four years, I have seen two kinds of school boards in this country. The first is good. The second, frankly, is bad.....bad for children......bad for communities.

The first kind is made up of individuals who are thoughtful, rational, dedicated to rigor and high achievement for all students, and are wise, strategic stewards of public dollars. This kind of school board serves as a catalyst for steady, systemic improvement and reform. While being unafraid to shake up the status quo or hold vigorous debate, they work hard to make decisions that balance parochial interests with the greater good. Members tend to speak and be led as one voice, while they communicate honestly and openly about the challenges and triumphs in preparing students for the 21st century in a time when public education has become heavily politicized and heavily regulated.

The second kind of school board is another thing entirely. It is one that becomes dominated by a few members with a single issue or agenda, who tend to behave in shrill or counterproductive ways. The governing body slips into a pattern of discord as a minimum, or into a pattern of parochial or ideological decision-making at its worst. The inevitable disorder and dysfunction can take a school district swiftly backward.

I continue to work with Ms. Robbinson to acquaint her with the many complexities of public school districts in this day and age. I applaud Ms. Bell for her triumph. I wish both Ms. Keller and Ms. Christine Moore-Curtis well in their campaigns. I ask all of them to seek knowledge and understanding, to be rational and thoughtful, and to understand that all of Orange County's children are capable of high achievement and all deserve equitable access to high-quality, rigorous education.

I am hopeful that all three want to be instrumental in establishing the first kind of school board, and not the latter.......for the sake of our children's education and the health of our community.

New Florida Supreme Court Hearing Date for Amendments 7 and 9

The Florida Supreme Court has officially changed the date for hearing arguments challenging Amendments 7 and 9 to Wednesday, September 3, 2008, beginning at 9:00 am.

Update on "Flip" of Middle and High School Start Times, Constitutional Amendments and State Revenues for Public Education

On July 29, the Orange County School Board approved 5 to 2 the tentative 2008-09 District Budget. This budget essentially puts into place the "flip" of start times for middle and high school start times, approved by the majority of school board members in mid-May. Middle and high school principals, and their guidance and instructional staffs, have worked creatively and diligently to institute this time change. Community partners are working collaboratively to shift their schedules, and most families and parents are adjusting well. It is not going to be easy for everyone, but the more our children learn how to adapt to change, the more resilient and resourceful they will be. Also, the more efficient a school district is in non-classroom areas of the operational budget, i.e. transportation, etc., the more able school leaders are in keeping maximum dollars in the classroom. Protecting the classroom should always be the first priority, where all teaching and learning take place.

It is interesting to note that two urban school districts, Austin and Minneapolis, have late start times for their high schools. Both are top-notch public school systems, and their high school students are able to do all of the normal things that high school students do. In fact, in Minneapolis, high school attendance went up and tardiness went down as a result of the later start time. We are already seeing how the shift at our middle schools is reinvigorating and redefining after-school programs and activities, for the better.

In spite of the unwelcome intrusion of Tropical Storm Fay, the first week of school went smoothly. Principals and administrators are going to keep track of concerns about this change, and continue to make adjustments and seek new solutions. But, I believe that a school district's first responsibility is to educate its students. The other services and opportunities that round out our students' lives are the responsibility of us all. Cooperation and collaboration are essential in building the kind of community that we all seek. It is encouraging to see much evidence of both.

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Recently, Leon County (Tallahassee) Judge John Cooper declared that Amendments 7 and 9 (see last post) could remain on the November 2008 ballot. The ruling has been appealed by an array of opponents, and will be heard by the Florida Supreme Court on September 8, 2008.

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In a separate ruling, Judge Cooper removed the Amendment 5 "tax swap" from the November 2008 ballot. He deemed it confusing and misleading. Its supporters will likely appeal.

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Last week, the General Revenue Estimating Conference revealed that state revenues were projected to be even lower than previously estimated. Earlier in the summer, OCPS, and all public agencies, were directed to "hold back" another 4% of their 2008-09 budgets. As Governor Crist mentioned recently, this "holdback" will likely become a real cut. This is on top of the $70 million revenue shortfall that has already been felt in Orange County's public schools and school district departments. Florida has been on a downward slide in per-student funding and now rests in the bottom five.

The Florida Department of Education has determined that OCPS is an "A" school district. Everyone is very proud of this accomplishment, and it shows that administrators, principals, teachers and support staff squeeze every dollar out of the revenues available to them to educate our children.

Nonetheless......we all want our public schools to move from good to great. That requires stable, sufficient funding and progressive, supportive leadership at every level-local, state and national. Our students, with their diverse and complex educational needs, are being prepared for a very competitive global economy and all need relevant, rigorous instruction. This cannot be done on the cheap, and depends both on fiscal discipline and dedication to equity so that all students can succeed. I believe that it is the most vital investment a community, a state, a nation, can make. Not only for our children, but also for a healthy, diversified economy and vibrant democracy.