Every Child Matters. Every Child Learns. Every Child Succeeds.

BIg Food Vs. Big Insurance

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:48:00 +0000

A thought-provoking editorial. A new term----"foodshed," akin to a watershed. Local food network that facilitates better access to fresh food. Health insurers just may be encouraged to promote healthy living if they have to cover pre-existing conditions and can no longer scour unhealthy people from their rolls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/opinion/10pollan.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=michael%20pollan&st=cse

Paperless Teaching

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:08:00 +0000

This is a great blog for teachers (and students!) who want to go paperless and believe that social networking is a powerful tool for sharing information and ideas. There's no going back!

http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/

The Time is Now: Fiscal and Tax Reform

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:05:00 +0000

http://www.floridataxreform.org/index.html

New York Times-Immigrant Students in Public Schools

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:59:00 +0000

The huge diversity in our classrooms, as we have here in Orange County, presents many challenges, but also many opportunities if we value all children and consider each capable of success and deserving of an equal, empowering education.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/us/15immig.html?scp=2&sq=ginger%20thompson&st=cse

Enough is Enough

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:43:00 +0000

Thankfully, Floridians are waking up to that fact that our state leaders need to fix our shallow, unstable revenue base and invest sufficiently in K-20 education and other vital public infrastructure. Depending so much on sales tax for revenues, especially with the dozens of exemptions on the books, is not a sustainable way to fund the level and quality of public services that Floridians need now or in the future.

Further, recent efforts to destabilize Florida's property tax structure, depletion of reserve and trust funds, disproportionate allegiance to the low-wage industries of construction, leisure and agriculture, and political rhetoric that promotes a perception that government in any form is inherently "bad," have only exacerbated problems in what is already a weak fiscal underpinning.

Now, with Revenue Estimating Conferences continuing to paint a gloomy picture, steady population declines, complex demographic changes, and many public services in what can be described as crisis, the time is ripe to fix what is clearly broken. And this does not mean hiding behind stop-gap Federal stimulus funding and leaving it up to future leaders when circumstances will surely be worse.

What it does mean, to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities, is for Governor Crist and our state legislators to muster the political courage needed to develop pragmatic, long-term solutions. We will never have a 21st century economy and a well-educated, healthy populace without such responsible leadership dedicated to establish a strong framework for sufficient, sustainable revenues.

Holding New School Board Accountable: Equity for Evans High School

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:05:00 +0000

Let’s be clear about the facts-

Fact #1: Potential. I know our students at Evans. I admire and respect them. They are just as capable of success as any students in Orange County. They don’t need sympathy or charity. They need empowerment. They need the same kind of educational experience and opportunities they would have at any other high school. That is how they will be prepared for our diverse, competitive and complex world. Maintain those high expectations. Help them realize their potential.

Truth #2: Prejudice. Mayor Crotty and Commissioners Brummer, Stewart and Fernandez bowed to the politics of prejudice when they denied Superintendent Blocker’s plan, approved by the former school board, and supported by Principal Christiansen, teachers, families and community leaders, to rebuild Evans quickly and equitably on and next to its freshman campus. It was to be completed by this next school year. How unfortunate that adult agendas won out over children’s best interests. These elected officials used false and distorted arguments, did not follow their own comprehensive plan, and took our community back at least fifty years. It was an injustice. It was discrimination.

Now that this reality has forced Evans to be rebuilt on its main campus, it is the responsibility of many, but especially the school board, to do everything possible to remove the stubborn stigma of that location. A large burden of proof now rests on new school board members who agreed with the mayor and those county commissioners. You now should ask yourself as plans proceed, would I send my child to Evans? All board members need to ask themselves that. I used to. I know others did. It’s always the ultimate test.

Truth #3: Community Problems. Many are grateful to Sen. Sipliin, Commissioners Segal and Moore Russell, Chairman Cadle, Sheriff Demings, and the superintendent, Reverend Bracy, Police Chief Demings and others, for starting a dialogue to address the serious problems that plague Pine Hills and contribute so heavily to the stigma that Evans endures. But, it’s only a beginning. It can’t be window dressing and it must show measurable results.

Truth #4- Equity and students. New plans must provide the same conditions for success that the rejected plan did. It means an equitable facility built as quickly as possible. But this requires much more than bricks and mortar. It requires continued commitment and support for: rigorous advanced studies, including the newly accredited IB and fledgling Global Technologies programs, high-quality administrators, teachers and staff, and the same opportunities in the arts, sports and extra-curricular activities available in any Orange County high school. Only this will build the foundation and framework for success that can bring back families, attract a diverse enrollment, retain strong administrators, teachers and staff, and establish a vibrant culture of achievement.

Truth #5 - Equity and unitary status. This commitment to all levels of education may help achieve unitary status, but it has clearly been jeopardized by these politics of prejudice and by the fact that elected officials will still bow to them and force policies that can reinforce the marginalization, i.e. segregation, of schoolchildren and threaten the school board’s and superintendent’s ability to fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities to serve all students fully and equitably.

Truth #6- Burden of proof. I’m not alone in trying to see this end as a new beginning, and it’s clear that it will take the work of many within and outside Evans. I include myself in that work as a continuing supporter of Evans. Success can be reached, but, make no mistake, the stakes are bigger, the bar is higher, and the burden of proof is greater. Many are waiting to see the school board, specifically new members, reject the ugly politics that got us here and show that you understand your primary responsibility is to provide a full and equitable education for all students, regardless of skin color, native language, family income or zip code. Putting children’s best interests above adult agendas. In all times, but especially in these dire economic times, we can expect nothing less.

Address by Anne Geiger to OCPS School Board on issue of Evans High School
February 24, 2008

New Post on Sentinel School Zone Blog- February 13, 2009

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:19:00 +0000

It is clear that an on-line petition and other actions are in order to send a message to the new school board that the current schedule as approved by the former school board should remain in place. This start-time flip was designed as an operational efficiency, and has proven to be one in its execution. (It is also important that any academic benefits, as experienced in other school districts in the nation, are measured and reported.) Those who voted for it on the former school board, and those on the new school board who voted to maintain it, understood and respected this reasoning.

School boards' fiduciary responsibilities are serious and critical in all times, but especially now in this volatile economy with deep budget cuts expected for the foreseeable future.

While we should all be aggressive in asking our Governor and state legislators to reform Florida's tax structure to provide adequate funding for basic services, including public education, we should also aggressively demand that our school board members, all of them, fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities to maintain the fiscal integrity of our public school system, with or without Tallahassee having the political courage to enact meaningful tax reform. That means supporting all operational efficiencies that ensure maximum protection of our classrooms where teachers teach and children learn.

And while it is helpful to have committees to gather input, ultimately it is the school board's job to make responsible and rational decisions, not emotional or parochial ones, to benefit student achievement, the mission and bottom line of our public schools.

I felt this strongly while serving as a school board member, and I feel it just as strongly now as a citizen, taxpayer and parent.

Anne Geiger, OCPS School Board (2004-08)

Education vs. Ignorance

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Education is what empowers the American people to fuel and drive the engine of productivity and progress. It is the foundation of a strong economy, vibrant democracy and healthy society. It is the vehicle for achieving the American Dream.

Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Foundation and former president of Brown University and the New York Public Library-----

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Will Rogers------

"When ignorance gets started it knows no bounds."

Tom Brokaw------

"There is a place in America to take a stand: it is public education. It is the underpinning of our cultural and political system. It is the great common ground. Public education after all is the engine that moves us as a society toward a common destiny... It is in public education that the American dream begins to take shape."

Unitary Status in Jeopardy

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:18:00 +0000

It is worth sharing again this opinion piece that I wrote and was published in the April 1, 2008 Orlando Sentinel. Fresh concerns have emerged from the Orange County Commission's denial of rebuilding plans for Evans High School on its freshman campus (Commissioner Segal and former Commissioner Jacobs voted in favor of the plan; Commissioner Moore-Russell was absent) since this plan was a key part of the previous school board's efforts to achieve unitary status, approval by Orange County voters of a powerful districtwide elected school board chair who could dilute or distort single-member representation, attitudes of new school board members toward these two issues, and no visible signs yet from the new school board of the importance of unitary status. In these dire financial times, it is all the more important that the goals of unitary status-equity and justice- remain firmly planted. It is those goals that will help protect those most vulnerable in budget cuts- our children who live in poverty who lack the supportive networks and additional resources that help more affluent neighborhoods weather the storm and fill in gaps.

Until our school board, other elected officials and the community as a whole show commitment to equitable access to high-quality education for all students and no tolerance for marginalized or stigmatized learning environments, then perhaps we are not ready to be released from the babysitting mantle of the federal court. Vigilance and advocacy by those who care about justice and equity will be necessary during these uncertain times and as the outcomes of Evans and the elected chair emerge, and the influence of new school board members on policies and principles become more apparent.

UNITARY STATUS REQUIRES A UNIFIED COMMUNITY

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” -Maya Angelou, poet and author

With all the focus on building a  new Evans High School, the entire community needs to remember, as the Orange County school board  does, about the necessity to move beyond court-ordered desegregation and achieve “unitary status.” But, many may ask, is this really so important? The answer- Absolutely.

Most large school districts operating under court-ordered desegregation seek “unitary status.” Unitary districts have shown Federal district courts that their schools are no longer purposefully segregated by race, students have equitable access to a high-quality education, and policies are in place to promote diversity and address racial isolation. It is all about equity.

Numerous policies have emerged from the sometimes-turbulent efforts to desegregate Orange County’s schools over the last forty-plus years. Most have been beneficial; some have held unintended consequences. Intensified by demographic changes in neighborhoods, some schools actually have swelling percentages of minority, low-income students. The court pays particular attention to these schools, including Evans, Jones and Oak Ridge high schools, and a number of middle and elementary schools.

Intense, and sometimes controversial, plans are being proposed to bring better equity to these challenged schools. The Evans plan-bring in strong administration and faculty, establish a rigorous curriculum, including an International Baccalaureate program, and rebuild its facility swiftly in a more stable location-exemplifies efforts and investments that create conditions for a culture of achievement and greater diversity.

While such plans obviously can improve individual schools and move Orange County closer toward “unitary status,” how can this process be helpful to the whole school district and the greater community? The answer- a great deal.

The school board and superintendent consider achieving “unitary status” an opportunity to establish policies that ensure all schools, no matter where they are located or whom they serve, and all students, regardless of their race, ethnicity, socio-economic background or special need, are treated equitably. With 179 countries and 132 languages and dialects in our classrooms, half of students living in conditions of poverty, and a multitude of special needs among our children, equity is essential.

The community benefit is also clear. While serving its citizens equitably, a community will be healthier, and its economy will be stronger. When all children have the quality of education and opportunities needed for success, they are better able to pursue higher education, raise families, excel in their jobs, and be active citizens.

But equity is more than policy-making. As a value worth pursuing in Orange County, in spirit, equity means embracing our differences while seeking common values and shared goals. In action, it means mentoring, volunteering, providing additional and necessary resources, and supporting decisions that may stir the status quo, but ultimately are in the best interests of all children. Consequently, for our schools to be truly “unitary,” our community must be truly “unified.”

Recent Email to School Board on Decision to Reverse the "Flip"

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Dear School Board members,

I happened to have my television on today, and was glad that I did. I was able to listen to Ms. Robbinson, Mr. Blocker and Mr. Collins be interviewed on "Flashpoint" on the issue of the severe budget issues that OCPS is continuing to face. And severe they are, as Mr. Blocker and Mr. Collins described.

As a former school board member who voted for the "flip," (the flip of middle and high school start times) because it was a cost-efficiency and helped shelter the classroom from more painful cuts that they were already experiencing, I write to defend the decision as good precedent, and applaud Chairman Cadle, Ms. Flynn and Ms. Gordon on their votes Tuesday night to not end this effort. It was very unfortunate, although there was mention about the need for data and study, that new school board members casually reversed the "flip," and asserted that there were "other ways" to save money. That night, Ms. Robbinson inferred that those who had voted for the "flip" were negligent and amazingly used an analogy of a national tragedy that caused the deaths of Americans. It was not a negligent decision. It was a practical one that followed much thought and discernment. I respect those who disagree with the decision, but it was not negligent.

The "flip" has already saved the district over $700,000, and substantial capital costs. This kind of efficiency is cumulative; in other words, it saves money every year. This is the kind of efficiency that any private company would put into place without hesitation and make it work. What is most unfortunate is the loss of study to also determine any academic benefits of the flip, such as better attendance and lower tardiness in first and second periods in high school and reinvigorated after-school programs for middle schoolers. It also sends a message to the community- complain enough, and the school board will buckle. That kind of vacuum of leadership is not comforting, especially now.

On "Flashpoint," Ms. Robbinson asserted a populist approach. That can cause good will for a time for some in the community, but it strikes fear in the hearts of those who expect our school district to be governed with sound business principles. It is worthy and beneficial to bring in the community for input, feedback and ideas, but the job of a school board is to make rational decisions and demonstrate strong, principled leadership. Pure populism seldom leads to sound leadership in the long run, especially in tough economic times, because it is often emotion-based, and primarily focused on making everyone happy, seeking political cover or avoiding tough decisions. It can block innovation, create inequities, slow performance and lead to financial problems. It diminishes, and sometimes belittles, the great resources within the very organization that elected officials are supposed to be governing: the expert professionals in education, finance, operations and construction whose jobs are to manage and operate a large, complex school district. If it grows roots, it can discourage good candidates for new administrative positions from even applying in the future, and does not send a good message to our teachers.

In the New York Times this morning, columnist Thomas Friedman writes in reference to several large national issues, "If there is anything I've learned as a reporter, it's that when you get away from 'the thing itself'- the core truth about a situation-you get into trouble." I write now as a taxpayer, citizen and parent- "What is the core truth of a school board? What is the core truth of a public school district?" The answer to the first- setting and maintaining sound policies that ensure ethical frameworks, efficient operations and fiscal health to serve and protect the answer to the second -student achievement; teaching and learning in the classroom.

While politics are a natural part of human nature and human discourse, the populist and parochial kinds of politics can undoubtedly hold back communities and lead to decline in public institutions. And, while serving on the school board I developed a passion for serving children, I did not develop a passion for these kinds of politics that can stand in the way of serving children and the greater good.

My reasons for not running for re-election were strictly personal, and mainly irrelevant to my service on the school board. But, since my passion for serving children has not diminished, it may now be better used in advocacy for our children's best interests and strong, principled leadership by the school board and other elected officials in our community and state. I hold out hope that this vote was an anomaly and is not the beginning of a pattern, and that new school board members will seek to understand the complexities of public education, find shared values with other school board members, and work collaboratively, cooperatively and respectfully with each other and the school district's administrative team to maintain "A" level performance in academics, finance, operations and construction, and take it to the next level. Our children and community deserve no less.

----------

Additional note: There is great fear among teachers of the arts, world languages, Advanced Placement, career/tech and exceptional education. In such dire economic times, their positions and support positions will be even more vulnerable than they already are now if the new school board does not act responsibly and courageously. Deep losses in these areas affect not just the teachers, but, most importantly, it affects the full education of our children.

----------

New School Board-Cautionary Note

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:54:00 +0000

I attended the first meeting of the new school board, and there is reason for concern for the continued progress being made by Orange County Public Schools. In this time of enormous financial uncertainty, and a possible $100 million shortfall next year, new school board members made the rash, emotional decision to reverse the cost-saving flip of start times for middle and high school students. In spite of many speakers, and these board members themselves, asserting the need for data and study, they nonetheless went ahead and voted to reverse the flip. They casually dismissed the need to give it time to determine any academic benefits of the time change.

I'm not alone in hoping that there will be evidence of deeper understanding of the serious responsibilities of serving on the school board and the need for prudent, responsible and rational governance. The classroom must be fiercely protected always, but particularly in these financial times.

As one speaker said, this is not a game...........It certainly is not. It's serious business.

More Information about County Commission Denial of Evans High School Rebuilding Plans

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Following the unjust actions of the Orange County Commission, with the exception of Commmissioner Bill Segal and former Commissioner Teresa Jacobs, to deny the rebuilding plans for Evans High School, the burden now rests on the new school board as a leadership team, with the superintendent, to develop a solution that is in the best interests of current and future students.

This would have been resolved a year ago, and the new school would have been completed this next school year. What a shame that children were caught in such regressive politics.

The solution that is developed should be one that rejects these prejudices and adult agendas, embraces its relationship to achieving unitary status and its symbolism within the goals of unitary status, and responds to what it is and what it needs to become, not, through nostalgia, what it used to be. It should not be lost on anyone that the current plan remains the best option, and so any other options short of that will have a much higher hurdle of credibility to leap and much larger challenges to overcome to achieve the positive outcomes necessary for our high school children in Pine Hills.

Regardless of what the solution is determined to be, the burden also rests on Orange County government, and the City of Orlando government, to develop and implement a comprehensive plan of action to address the crime, decay, neglect, prejudice and apathy that plague Pine Hills. Orange County Public Schools, under Superintendent Blocker and the last school board, were very dedicated in investing in Pine Hills and other urban neighborhoods in Orange County through school campus renovations, placement of strong principals and faculty, establishment of rigorous academics, including seven International Baccalaureate programs, and expanding community and business partnerships to ensure that these schools are successful. For a community like Pine Hills, though, it requires everyone in collaboration and cooperation to make it a healthy, safe and vibrant community. It will require an earnest and sustained partnership between the school board, the county commission, city council, and both mayors, developed hand in hand with the community.

Knowing that there are myths, misperceptions and mischaracterizations still circulating about this process, as well as false linkages to the renovation of Edgewater, I offer the following facts:

The Evans rebuilding plan DID follow all county rules. The school district went BEYOND the rules and made many COMPROMISES in negotiations. The mayor and three commissioners who voted against this plan accused the school district of giving Evans less, but THEY were the ones who forced the compromises that their OWN rules, within the County's Comprehensive Plan, do not require. Although there is newfound trepidation about high schools in rural settlements, there is no current restriction on the books. Therefore, there was no problem when the land north of the freshman campus was purchased and no problem as it made its way through the county process. To prove this fact, the mayor’s staff always endorsed the plan because there was no rule that prohibited it. It only became a problem when one was manufactured based on “not in my backyard.” This is all public record.

Public comments by commissioners and others about “fears” of the campus "encroaching" on adjacent property are troubling. When did a school become a noxious use? Schools form the fabric of neighborhoods where teachers teach, children learn, sports are played, plays and concerts are performed, and families build community. Schools are not big-box stores. School districts are not developers.

Every school is unique. Within the overall scope and limits of the capital budget, the amount of money is not the point. It is how well it is spent and how it best serves students in each school. Plans for Evans and Edgewater reveal that. Rebuilding Edgewater in a different location, as was suggested last year and I fought against because it was NOT in the best interests of students, would have put the school AT risk. Rebuilding Evans on its freshman campus, another issue I fought FOR because it IS in the best interests of students, would take the school OUT of risk.

For three years, Edgewater’s projected budget was exorbitant. My concerns about these costs put me at odds early on with the Edgewater Task Force, a community group advocating for Edgewater's renovation. Despite this, care taken by me personally, and actions of the school board, facilities staff, architectural team, and the Superintendent's COVE committee finally contained it. Maintaining it will be necessary as the new school board monitors the capital program. (The Edgewater community has a campus design that should satisfy them and serve students for years to come. They should respect the need to protect its budget ceiling. The four plus acres along Edgewater Drive, and possibly the property to the north of Maury Road should be considered for surplus, and sold or placed in a ground lease at the most advantageous time to help replenish the district’s capital budget.)

While various cost-effective options were being explored for Edgewater’s renovation, protests erupted over one option that considered temporarily swinging students to the Evans main campus during construction. Their discomfort with the main campus was mirrored by Evans families who have transferred their children to other high schools for years.

These protests east of Pine Hills occurred simultaneously with protests from communities west of Pine Hills about the Evans rebuilding plan. They inferred, "Give THEM the same thing, but keep THEM over THERE." Combined, these protests deepened the stigma of the Evans main campus.

Short of the county commission reversing their unjust decision, which would be the right thing to do, if these politics force rebuilding on the Evans main campus, with 20 million more public dollars and three more years of construction, Orange County and City of Orlando governments would have to aggressively address the crime and decay in Pine Hills. It would require more than new buildings and more land. It would require more than a quick and efficient solution. It would require satisfying the goals of "unitary status." Students can no longer be marginalized.

I will continue to advocate, unfettered by politics, for the equitable treatment of our children in Orange County. The problems that we faced with the rebuilding of Evans should remain outside the school district and should be confronted head-on by those who choose to place our children first.

Opinion Piece in Orlando Sentinel on Evans High School

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:27:00 +0000

This opinion piece was published in the Orlando Sentinel today, November 14, 2008-

My Word: Anne Geiger
Politics hampered new Evans High

Anne Geiger
November 14, 2008

On Oct. 28, a great injustice was done.

Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty and three county commissioners turned their backs on thousands of needy students by rejecting the Orange County School Board and Superintendent Ron Blocker's plan to rebuild Evans High School on its freshman campus. The board followed every rule and jumped through every hoop. The mayor's staff consistently endorsed it.

Demonstrating courageous leadership, Commissioners Teresa Jacobs and Bill Segal supported the plan. (Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell was absent for the vote.)

In the 1950s, School Board member George Johnson II recommended that Jones High School be rebuilt in a more-suitable location for its students. Adjacent communities voiced concerns about increased crime and decreased land values. Sound familiar?

In defiance of this opposition, Jones got its school. Sixty years later, chillingly, these four public officials, instead of working with school-district leaders to serve children's best interests, pandered to adult agendas and empowered the politics of prejudice.

Furthermore, they took no responsibility for the crime and decay that stigmatize Pine Hills and marginalize its students at the Evans main campus.

So, for Pine Hills families, dreams for a new high school built quickly in the safer, more-stable, freshman-campus location were torpedoed along with an adult-education center more appropriately located at the main campus.

What now?

Those who rejected the plan set a bad precedent by overstepping their jurisdiction. They weighed in on education policy and ignored that every rule was followed.

Our quest for "unitary status" is threatened. Unitary status is achieved when a school district operating under court-ordered desegregation is free of conditions that marginalize its black students. Evans' enrollment is predominantly black.

Eyes turn to new School Board members. Will they embrace their constitutional responsibility to serve students equitably? Will they understand the importance of achieving unitary status? Their answers will be consequential, especially for schools serving minority and high-needs students.

The future is complicated further by a districtwide elected School Board chair, just approved by Orange County voters. Our children will need additional protections from the parochial and big-money interests that will seek to influence this powerful politician.

The Sentinel Editorial Board naively wrote that an elected chair might have been able to win approval of the Evans rebuilding plan. Such a cynical scenario places children as pawns in back-room political deals, and makes transparent rules meaningless.

Values are being tested. All children should have access to the best possible educational environment that prepares them for an increasingly diverse, complex and competitive world. We should have zero tolerance for efforts that marginalize any of them.

I speak for many who challenge the mayor and county commission to do the right thing and swiftly reverse this injustice and bad precedent.

Simultaneously, they should announce their plans to aggressively address the neglect, apathy and prejudice that plague Pine Hills.

We are better than this. Our leaders should be, too.

Anne Geiger is an outgoing member of the Orange County School Board, District 6.

Opinion Piece in Orlando Sentinel on Elected Chair

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:55:00 +0000

Opinion piece published in the Orlando Sentinel on October 21, 2008.

http://electedchairfacts.blogspot.com/

Be Informed: Districtwide Elected School Board Chair

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:36:00 +0000

There is an issue that is of utmost importance to the future of Orange County. It is the question of whether or not our public schools would benefit from a districtwide elected school board chair. (See my June 1, 2008 blog post.)

Voters need to be fully informed before going to the polls in November. A special referendum to decide this issue will appear on the November ballot.

This politician would have two votes in a tie, a violation of the democratic principle of one person, one vote, dilute the voices of single member districts, and potentially weaken accountability and transparency by blurring the lines of authority between the elected chair and our appointed superintendent.

Three studies have been done on this untested idea. None support it.

Learn the facts: Go to the links at top right of this blog-

"Elected School Board Chair Facts" and "Just Vote No."

Amendments 5, 7 and 9

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:00:00 +0000

This week, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously decided to remove Amendments 5, 7 and 9 from the November 2008 ballot. They believed that all were confusing and misleading to Florida's voters. The public education community was relieved because Amendments 7 and 9 would have opened the door to vouchers and diversion of public dollars to private and religious organizations and schools. Likewise, they were relieved that Amendment 5 will not appear because it could have dramatically destabilized state funding for public education.

It is undeniable that tax reform is needed in Florida, but recent efforts have not been reform. Amendment 1, approved by voters last year, was more tax relief, with some consequences that may actually exacerbate current tax inequities. Amendment 5 was not tax reform either, but rather a tax swap. But the drumbeat for tax reform has not gone away, nor has the desire for vouchers by some political leaders, religious leaders and private organizations. Efforts towards these ends can be expected at next year's and subsequent legislative sessions. Everyone who cares about stable and adequate funding for public education will have to remain vigilant as Tallahassee legislators gather, debate and craft public school and tax structure legislation.

Florida has traditionally been a low-wage, low-tax and, some would say, low-service state. There is a lot of talk about diversifying and deepening our economy, and there are some bright spots aimed toward that goal. However, to do that, our public education system must be first-rate, and not just in test scores, but in the level of rigor and the level of equitable access to that rigor. It also requires commitment to establish a strong framework for Pre-K-20 education, with the following foundations: equitable access, funding adequacy, legislative support, instructional articulation, institutional cooperation and collaboration, higher education capacity, and overall flexibility for education professionals to utilize well-conceived, well-researched best practices.

It will be necessary to cut through the chatter, often emotional and contradictory, and remember that high-quality public education capable of preparing all students for our global economy requires policies and investments that truly benefit our children, not politicians or special interests that do not have our children's best interests at heart.

These Political Times

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:44:00 +0000

Are we entering a new post-partisan time where elected officials work together for the greater good, take time to inform citizens about the complexities of policy-making, have a broad world view and seek our communities' better angels......... or................

Are we going to keep alive ideological divisions, perpetuate parochialism or short-term solutions, have a small world view and not effectively address persistent issues of poverty and inequity, particularly in urban America, where 60% of Americans live.

We are a dynamic and diverse country, changing at warp speed, as is our entire world. Serving this diversity and complexity is not easy. Leaders who listen only to some constituencies or serve some interests at the expense of others prevent our democracy from being completely fulfilled. And a narrow world view threatens our security and that of other democratic nations, and limits a thriving global economy.

We have a choice. We can seek the first or be satisfied with the latter. But to do the first requires courage and honesty in our leaders, high expectations, and a collaborative spirit that builds the kind of infrastructure, public and private, that maximize access to the education and opportunities needed to pursue the American Dream and maintain a healthy society.

I hope that everyone will seek the first, and not the latter. And I hope that everyone is discerning, thoughtful, open-minded and mature in their consideration of the choices for President, Vice President, and other national and local positions. It is important to read between the lines, get beyond the rhetoric, ask the hard questions, and expect solid answers. We are at a crossroads, a significant one. It is not melodramatic to say that our future hangs in the balance.

New School Board Members-Their Potential Impact

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:29:00 +0000

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

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:23:00 +0000

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

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:28:00 +0000

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.

More Information on Start Time Flip.....Tough Financial Times Ahead....Beware of Amendments 5, 7 and 9

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:40:00 +0000

A school board has two main priorities- ensure the school district is fiscally sound and protect the integrity of the classroom-where all teaching and learning take place. Without these, no vision of excellence can be fulfilled.

In Orange County, of every dollar, 80 cents is spent on teaching, transporting, supervising and counseling students, 12 cents on school facilities, 5 cents on library materials, staff training and curriculum development, and 3 cents on central and fiscal services, general administration and technology. Florida's Department of Education deemed Orange County Public Schools the 7th most efficient of all 67 districts, and the most efficient of large urban districts.

The cost-saving move to flip start times came out of the process to cut $70 million from the operational budget, due to state revenue shortfalls. Schools cut their budgets by 6%, departments by 7%. Hundreds of teaching positions were eliminated. A majority of board members voted for the flip. As one in the majority, I believed alternatives to the flip could involve more teacher cuts or fiscal imprudence, such as using contingency reserves for a recurring expense, such as transportation.

Recently, all public agencies were directed by Governor Crist to hold back another 4%. Ramifications of Proposition One have not yet been felt. It is predicted to siphon another $93 million out of public schools. Dramatic fuel and utility cost increases will continue. (The state funds just over 40% of school bus transportation costs for Orange County Public Schools.)

Decisions, whether majority or unanimous, are official decisions. The Superintendent, like a CEO, takes action based on official decisions. It is being carried out in a positive and productive manner. It has refreshed community partnerships and created an atmosphere of innovation and ingenuity.

To add more uncertainty, several proposed constitutional amendments are coming to the voters this November from the Tax and Budget Reform Commission, an appointed state board.

Amendment 7 seeks to strike Florida's Blaine Amendment, which forbids direct public funding of educational institutions with religious affiliation. This is a back door to vouchers. It is being challenged in the courts.

Amendment 9 would require 65% of funding to be spent directly on classroom instruction (leaving it up to the legislature to define it) and reverses prohibition of public funding of private school alternatives, i.e. vouchers, etc. This is also being challenged in the courts.

Amendment 5 alarms chief financial officers, superintendents and school boards the most. It would dismantle and destabilize public school financing by eliminating local property tax for schools and requiring the legislature to replace it with some combination of sales tax increase, elimination of sales tax exemptions, more cuts and/or other revenues.

Go to www.votesmartflorida.org for more information and www.myflorida.com to register concerns with the Governor and state legislators about adequate, stable funding for public schools.

It is going to be increasingly difficult to protect the integrity of the classroom. We need the community to accept these harsh realities and work with us as we strive to fulfill this fundamental responsibility.

School board candidates, and my successor, must become fully informed about these realities and Amendments 5, 7 and 9. The financial health and integrity of Orange County's classrooms will depend on sober, rational and courageous leadership.

Choosing to Serve our Children in New Ways

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

As you may already be aware, I will no longer be seeking re-election to the Orange County School Board. I will enter a new chapter in my private life and in public service to the children of Orange County.

I am thankful to the voters who in 2004 gave me this opportunity to serve. My platform at the time was to bring educational equity to our students and demonstrate fiscal stewardship. I will touch briefly on the hard decisions that I have made as I fulfilled those promises.

From the beginning, a top priority was the transformation of Evans High School. All involved in supporting and working for Evans have the expectation that the unanimous decision to rebuild on its freshman campus will be fully implemented. The students at Evans have waited long enough for an equitable and excellent education, and this plan is clearly in their best interests. I am confident that the County Commission will, this summer, give their approval.

I have worked diligently with district staff and architects to guide plans for Edgewater High School so that future students will benefit from additional land and a new campus within a budget that is responsible to the taxpayers. Even though strict fiscal discipline was applied, it is still the largest budget for a school renovation in the history of Orange County Public Schools. Future board members will have to remain disciplined as this project is further developed
while they simultaneously protect the promise to Orange County taxpayers to renovate all existing schools and build new ones. No school is more deserving than another. They are all equal in my eyes.

The decision to phase out the programs at Hungerford Preparatory was difficult, but necessary for educational and financial reasons. Many citizens and organizations are working collaboratively to arrive at good solutions for Eatonville’s schools and its economy. My successor will need to get involved and work with the many people and community leaders who are dedicated to the transformation of this historic and culturally significant community.

I have been a strong advocate for middle and high school reform, specifically the district’s League of Educational Excellence, and the district’s strategic plan and vision to be “the top producer of successful students in the nation.” As future board members become guardians of equity and excellence, they will need to protect these important initiatives. They are the foundation of educational success.

I also advocated for the 2006 school board policy to establish firm fiscal discipline within our capital program to use all available revenues in a manner that allows the renovation of all existing schools and construction of sufficient number of new schools in areas of growth.

It has been an honor to work with our incredible principals, teachers, parents, students and community supporters. The schools of District 6, and throughout the county, are excelling at an unprecedented pace. I have never met a more dedicated family of professionals who truly care about our children’s welfare, always seek to better themselves in their areas of expertise, and work tirelessly every day to educate our children to the highest levels.

It has been an honor to work with our visionary superintendent and his excellent administration. He is a nationally recognized leader of public school reform and a man of great integrity and intellect. He has not always enjoyed the local respect that he deserves and that which his peers experience in other large cities around the nation. He does not let that unfortunate reality stop him, though. He always puts children first and is not afraid to challenge the status quo as he and his team move this district forward.

It has been an honor to work with my school board colleagues, especially when we have stayed unified and shown principled leadership on the many and varied issues that have come before us. The ideal school board is one that serves the greater good, maintains the long view, and places priority on the integrity of the classroom, where all teaching and learning take place. At our best, this school board did just that.

I know that my decision has disappointed many, and delighted a few. But, timing is everything. This new path will allow me the freedom to seek new ways to advocate for justice and equity in public education. I will seek opportunities to combat efforts by special interests in our community whose agendas are meant to undermine our public schools and have little to do with children or education.

For a long time, I have followed this creed- Every Child Matters. Every Child Learns. Every Child Succeeds. I will always believe in the potential of every child, regardless of skin color, family income, place of residence, country of origin, social status, or special need, and that each has a right to an equitable and excellent education. Once acquired, an education can never be
taken away. It is the basis of a healthy society. It is the foundation of our democracy. It is, I believe, a creed worth fighting for.

I will continue to be publishing posts on this blog. It will continue to have information about my record, my positions, my passions. I will also maintain a website, and this blog, for advocating for our children’s education and providing information that is truthful and helpful to this cause.

While I still have a lot of work to do over the next six months, I will be meeting regularly with Nancy Robbinson, my successor, to bring her up to date on the many complex issues and serious responsibilities that are involved in serving on the Orange County School Board. She has assured me that she wants to serve with integrity and dedication, and will place priority on what counts most-the educational success of our children.

Thank you to those of you with whom I have worked and those who have supported me over the last several years. Your support means the world to me. Together we will build a better community.

Anne

The Stakes are High-Choosing Children over Politics-My Stand on the Elected School Board Chair

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:51:00 +0000

As a sitting school board member, who now understands the complexities and the great responsibilities involved in educating every child in our public schools, I took a stand well over a year ago against a county-wide elected school board chair.

Supporters are primarily those who represent special interests who seek to gain access through this elected chair to contracts in construction, food service, transportation, alternative education, supplementary education services, etc. They also desire this position as a way to promote more land development, reduce impact fees, take sales tax money away from renovation of existing schools to put toward new construction in developing areas, and keep portable classrooms on school campuses to boost capacity. Local political heavyweights are also seeking political access through this elected chair to the over 35,000 employees of the school district.

The community is being misinformed by being told that an elected chair can "bring more money" to Orange County Public Schools, when in fact public school systems are funded through an equitable state formula. They are told that an elected chair will be akin to a city or county mayor, when in fact school board members and superintendents in the state of Florida are constitutional officers, not local officials operating under local charters. Public school systems operate under a heavy mantle of state and federal rules and regulations; a reality that allows very little flexibility in local control. They are being told that this one person alone can create a new "vision," while intentionally ignoring that fact that the school district has a new vision to be "top producer of successful students in the nation" and associated strategic plan developed by the entire leadership team- the school board and superintendent's administration.

The community is NOT being told that there are serious constitutional issues being raised about this position as well as concerns about how this proposal was muscled through the legislature and signed into law as a proposal that only applies to Orange County, either through direct placement on the ballot by the school board or through citizen petition. They are also NOT being told that, if this position becomes a reality, legislators can easily change the language of the enabling law and make the position more powerful to further diminish single member representation and weaken the CEO role of the superintendent.

After doing exhaustive research, I learned that in no case did any study, any think tank, any expert educator indicate that adding more politics would improve public education. So, along with the factors that I have described here, I voted against placing this proposal on the ballot. The majority of school board members voted against placing it on the ballot. As other school board members stated, if I had chosen otherwise, it would have sent the message that I thought that it was an acceptable idea for voters to consider. In fact I strongly believe it to be a path to a "shadow, rival" superintendent, an avenue back to parochial politics- the kind of politics that created conditions that we are now trying to correct, a disabling power against healthy consensus decision-making, and a way to dissolve single-member representation and possibly minority representation.

Below are two of my opinion pieces on this critical issue. The first was published in March in the Orlando Sentinel. The paper declined to publish the second, but it is on the OCPS website and has been distributed in other ways.

My Position: Orange County voters should reject efforts to politicize education

The opportunity for voters to make a profound difference in Orange County’s future is rare.   It is in their power to kill a bad idea that would inject parochial politics into Orange County’s public schools and throw them into chaos.   The idea -- to create an elected school board chair that would violate the Orange County School Board’s constitutional responsibilities for consensus decision-making and obfuscate the superintendent’s constitutional responsibilities to equitably and fully serve all Orange County students and operate as chief executive officer-- into one horrible proposal the state legislature put into statute and the former Governor signed into law after being misinformed by its supporters.

Now this resolution may come to the voters and threaten the very legacy of education reform that the school board, superintendent, administrators, teachers, students, families and community partners have worked so hard to build.   Among accomplishments are the 300% rise in Advanced Placement enrollment, “B” rating by the Florida Department of Education, over 2/3 of Orange County schools rated “A” and “B” in FCAT performance, and new vision to be “the top producer of successful students in the nation.”

But what good are these accomplishments as a foundation for further progress if we go backwards to old-style parochial politics? And make no mistake, an elected school board chair would be under immense political pressure to trade those accomplishments for political favors, and is a shadowy path to a rival “elected” superintendent.   Schools in communities with less political clout would be at the mercy of this elected chair because of the political environment that is forcing its creation. That's no way to ensure that all students in Orange County get access to quality K-12 education.   What our public schools need now is stability.

Remember, voters eliminated the elected superintendent years ago and more recently chose single member districts to ensure better accountability and equitable treatment of all students and all schools. Core supporters desperately want this position, so the political deal making has begun to gain support among local power brokers along with a heavy dose of misinformation.    But that kind of behavior is politics, not leadership.   Leadership is looking past who gets what contract tomorrow. It's looking to the future driven by a strong economy built by an educated workforce.   

Orange County voters maintain high expectations for our public schools, and have stayed committed to and supportive of them. They also know that it takes the whole community to build and sustain great public schools. In their wisdom, they will no doubt see this for what it is- a ruse- and should reject this proposal and ensure there are great public schools for our children for many years to come.

(This was not meant as plagiarism, but instead to use the same argument made by the Sentinel editorial board on April 23, 2008 against an elected state education commissioner. Both K-12 education and higher education require less, not more politics.)

Anne Geiger represents District 6 on the Orange County School Board.

Elected School Board Chair Agenda Behind Criticism

The Sentinel editorial board has an agenda. They want a countywide elected school board chair in Orange County, an eighth member with double-vote privilege. Supporters desire another politician to “make deals,” gain political leverage via 23,000 employees, and diminish the superintendent’s CEO role. Editorials imply that our school district is inferior without such parochial politics.

Facts ignored: School board members and the superintendent are constitutional officers with definitive, statutory responsibilities. Orange County Public Schools is a high “B” school district, over 2/3 of schools are “A” and “B”, and our middle and high school reform initiative is a national best practice. A strategic plan is being developed to achieve our vision to be “the top producer of successful students in the nation.”

Fragile Evans High School is now being used in misleading, disparaging editorials to push their agenda. Designated an “F” school by the Florida Department of Education, Evans suffers from long-standing school choice policies allowing many high-achieving students to transfer. It sits in Pine Hills, an area experiencing demographic changes, poverty and crime. Pine Hills and Evans endure incessant ridicule. Students are marginalized.

Arriving in 2004, I found it unacceptable that Evans was near the bottom of the sales-tax renovation list. Superintendent Blocker, “Kat” Gordon and I advocated accelerating Evans and Oak Ridge high schools. COVE and the school board concurred.

Fifty-year-old Evans, typical of Florida’s aging schools, deals with mold, water penetration and flooding. It has received $4.3 million for upgrades and maintenance since 2002.

Further action since 2004: first-class administration, strengthened faculty, rigorous curriculum including International Baccalaureate and Global Technologies programs, and plans for a new campus built swiftly in a more stable location.

In 2006, COVE and the school board unanimously approved rebuilding Evans on its freshman campus and adjacent property acquired for that purpose. The school district entered the county process to gain approval for institutional use of the acquired property. School district and county staffs worked collaboratively. Planning, engineering and design work were performed simultaneously. There was no controversy. Planning and Zoning Commission gave the thumbs-up.

Evans’ replacement school within its attendance zone, on its freshman campus and on the edge of a rural settlement, would be located “where city services are already provided.” Urban areas surround the rural settlement in which private development is restricted. Based on these facts, it would unlikely “set the stage for more big-city sprawl.” Trees and retention ponds would provide buffer.

Mayor Crotty and three commissioners gave the thumbs-down, without explanation.

An editorial calls the school district a developer. Developers are private entities that generate profit. Public schools are part of vital community infrastructure.

Evans students are being sacrificed in this toxic political environment. Shamelessly, many opponents are using rural settlement as a proxy for racial animus.

That should be the subject of an editorial, but children’s best interests and ethical governance are not the agenda.

Anne Geiger represents District 6 on the Orange County School Board.

Decision to Flip Start Times for High School and Middle School

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:55:00 +0000

NOTE: The decision to flip start times for high school and middle school was a majority vote, and there are parliamentary standards and OCPS school board policies that define school board conduct regarding official statements and official positions. Based on this decision, the superintendent and principals are implementing this change in very creative and dynamic ways. In a public meeting this week, Florida Commissioner of Education, Eric Smith, complimented the school district on this decision for its potential fiscal and educational benefits.

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Thank you to all who have expressed their support for the decision to flip start times for middle school and high school. I recognize that there are many who are discouraged by my decision to support the superintendent in this recommendation, but I feel without a doubt that we can all work through this together and that we will be stronger for it.

This was not an easy decision by any means. I did not take it lightly and I did my homework. I read and answered all emails, considered all input from emails and conversations, met with the superintendent's staff, weighed all information, considered various scenarios, and requested that community partners be notified of a potential change, that principals be surveyed on positives and negatives, and that shared concerns be addressed. Finally, at the school board meeting held on Tuesday, May 13th, I considered the superintendent's proposal and listened to those who spoke both for and against it. I voted to support the superintendent's proposal. It was approved by a majority of school board members.

This proposal came out of the budgeting process in which all departments were required to make budget cuts or determine efficiencies. This is an efficiency because it saves tax dollars every year. Savings in non-classroom areas mean more dollars stay in the classroom- where all teaching and learning take place. Our first priority must always be education. Earning a high school diploma is critical to future success. The classroom therefore must drive all decision-making.

Faced with a projected $70 million revenue shortfall, the Superintendent directed every department to cut their budgets by 7%. Schools were directed to cut their budgets by 6%. Among large urban school districts in the state of Florida, we are the most efficient (FY 2006-07 Educational Funding Accountability Act Summary). Therefore, along with the many mandates and regulations, there is not much wiggle room in our budgets to make significant cuts like these. Over 600 of our newest teachers were not re-appointed. So while some think that we are cutting into "fat", we are actually cutting into "bone." This is the beginning of tough budgetary times, and I felt that the risk of what might be cut instead was too high. There was a suggestion that we tap into contingency reserves to cover what would be a recurring expense. This is not an acceptable business practice and I believe would be imprudent.

Although the overall class day length will not change, many high schools will have seven periods this year, and some will have a zero period (before the official start of school) so that students can accumulate credits and have more time for electives. While some school districts are cutting middle school and/or junior varsity sports, although some sports will have to make more adjustments than others, we will be able to maintain the integrity of athletics in Orange County. The arts are also being reviewed so that the integrity of chorus, band, orchestra and drama is also maintained. Clubs and other activities will be able to shift to morning hours as an option.

We currently have after-school programs in all of our middle schools through partnerships with Orange County and our municipalities. They, along with the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs, are aware of the shift and are working to adjust their schedules. This shift will probably mean that more children will be taking advantage of these opportunities. These programs include activities such as chess and domino clubs, science and math clubs, sports, arts, tutoring and homework help. Middle school sports and clubs that meet now in the mornings will be able to meet in the afternoons instead.

Change is difficult, but we have all seen in our lives that opportunities inevitably arise from it. I ask everyone to try to be positive and look for those opportunities. It is a good example to set for our children. They will see many changes throughout their lives and will need to re-invent themselves over the course of their lifetimes to adapt to our ever-changing economy and world. Let's support and empower them to use their natural ingenuity and team approach to offer their own creative and effective solutions to those already being developed in our schools.

On the home page of the OCPS website- www.ocps.net -find information about this approved change and this year's budget.

"The School Start Time Study effectively reveals that high school students can benefit from later school start times. While the concept that teenagers have a distinctly different sleep pattern was first recognized by medical research findings, it is only through examination of actual cases where these findings were used as a basis to change school policies that educators can understand the ramifications of making such a change. The case studies done by Wahlstrom and her colleagues (at the University of Minnesota) provide research-based information for school districts across the United States who are now seeking to make informed decisions for their own communities."

See http://cehd.umn.edu/pubs/ResearchWorks/sleep.html

Strong Leadership Needed in Tough Times

annegeiger@mac.com (Anne Geiger) — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:15:00 +0000

What is the condition of state funding for public education in the state of Florida?

Funding for public education in the state of Florida is declining. There have been recent changes in the tax structure, and more changes to be presented to Florida's voters in the November 2008 election. These are the result of intensifying political trends that will likely lead to long-term volatility in the flow of public funds to our public schools.

Our public schools are currently funded by property tax collected locally known as the "required local effort" (RLE) and state revenues (derived mainly from sales tax; there are hundreds of business and industry exemptions). These combined revenues are re-allocated to school districts by the state through an equitable formula within what is called the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). This is the first time in several decades that local revenues will surpass state revenues in support of public education, although the state constitution states that the legislature must provide adequate funds for a "uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools."

Lottery dollars, touted years ago as a supplement for public schools, were instead used as a replacement for existing allocations. In Orange County, lottery dollars now pay for approximately one day of operations over a year's time.

The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is an appointed state board that sidesteps the legislative process to bring proposed constitutional revisions directly to the voters. In their recent session, they reached consensus on a number of proposals. Two are related to public school financing-*Eliminate the "required local effort" (RLE) and require the legislature to replace it with a higher sales tax of up to 1 per cent, repeals of sales tax exemptions , budget cuts in other areas of the state budget, and/or other revenues. (Sales tax revenues are much more volatile than property tax revenues and there has not been much inclination to reduce exemptions.) *Require that school districts spend 65% in the classroom (to be defined year to year by the legislature instead of local school districts). (Orange County Public Schools is already very close to 65%, and is over 80% when school administrators, technology, professional development and other classroom-related allocations are included.) This will be tied-in the same proposal-to a provision to amend the constitution to allow public dollars to go directly to religious entities and sectarian institutions. (Opens door to publicly funded vouchers for parochial and private schools, without provision for accountability.)

These are very serious and challenging times. World-class, high-quality public schools require stable and adequate funding. When voters see such provisions on the ballot, it is essential that they be fully informed. Sometimes proposals sound good, but carry great risk for our children's education.

At this juncture, when our schools have made such progress, we need strong leadership to maintain our momentum toward becoming "the top producer of successful students in the nation." Intense focus on our strategic vision, ability to make equitable, fiscally responsible decisions and vigilance in protecting access to a rich, high-quality education for all children are essential. I have proven my ability to serve in this way, and pledge to continue to serve in this way as we move into these challenging times. I have developed the knowledge, experience, courage, passion and integrity to be the kind of public servant our children need on their side. I have fought for our children over the last four years, and I will continue to fight for them. Their education is too important, too critical, to do otherwise. Once a child is educated and has the spark needed for life-long learning, it can never be taken away.

We must all stand together to protect our children's education, and advocate for stable and adequate funding for our public schools. Our children deserve it, our economy needs it, and our society demands it. High-quality public schools are the foundation of our democracy. They are the vehicle for achieving the American Dream.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..."