I was surprised that with the Transportation management team now driving buses because of a shortage of drivers, the Board did not bother to first make sure that an all-out effort be made to find drivers. I do not see all the fear associated with whether that happens or not. Like Defenthaler, it is caught in a time warp where parents knew their place and educators were the only ones knowledgeable enough to call the shots. When you have nearly 2000 students clamoring to attend a TCCA charter school in a district of 18,000, there will be empty desks in the existing schools that the district controls. As a point of reference, CRT has never been part of any Florida curriculum. There is the option to home school and attend Florida Virtual School for those wanting that alternative. Dr. Millay was from Kentucky where he had been a superintendent and administrator. The committee will meet to consider options for that area before the boards next meeting. Does that imply he wants to meet me behind the gym? She claimed it was unsustainable. Should Martin County spend all that money on one more certificate program? And without support of the community, it never will. There were two things that were passed by the board at this meeting in a matter of seconds. He will receive an additional 7.5% of compensation to be paid into a deferred compensation annuity along with being in the Florida Retirement System. He mentioned that Licata said the plan should be to front load education in the early years to save the system on the back end. From 2009-2015 I worked as an analyst and research economist for the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. I can just hear board attorneys, district staff, and the board members themselves stating that they cannot comment on a pending matter before them. You can find the superintendents and school boards assessmentshere, Ms. Roberts put together a book of operating guidelines for the board. The Board meets on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 PM. The Arts Council is not going away. My objection to the two vacant classrooms being utilized for Pre-K, stems from the fact that MCHS and SFHS are currently over capacity. The Calculus Project was an initiative in several districts to encourage minority students to enter STEM career fields thinking that passing the Algebra I in Middle School would create the opportunity to take Calculus in High School and pave the way for a STEM career. It is not good succession planning for sure. Education is the foundation of our democracy and I believe it is our job as citizens of this great nation to ensure that we uphold the constitution and the right to public education. I dont want to get into the merits of the case. Those are the funds that are part of the CARES Act funding for educational stabilization due to Covid. They came to be part of the struggle. It seems she is caught in a different place in time. Students, teachers, employees all have a stake for success. Many teachers do not have the ability to work with individual students both in the classroom and at home. The state already dictates to districts how much millage to charge and recaptures part of it to distribute to other districts. I thought it especially interesting that he said that his tie and jacket come off. It will be a K-5 specializing in language arts. There was only one real topic for this meeting, and it wasnt on the agenda. I will be an advocate for students, parents, and teachers. It was nice to know that Millay may not agree with everything they do but is willing to exchange ideas. If an online student is struggling, then he should resume in-person classes unless the parents refuse. Children cannot be jammed into overcrowded classrooms because class size is determined by the state for every grade. There was some talk by Millay that other districts have these types of agreements but, as of this meeting, no one could name any. The CRT bill, Parental Rights (aka Dont Say Gay) and the beginning of 12-year term limits for school board members were discussed along with more specific legislation. While Item 4.02, which was approved on consent, calls for her to work under the supervision of a deputy superintendent. Our Services may display content that does not belong to Emerald Data Solutions or its affiliates. As the next few months progress, the district will know more and more about what mandates the state will dictate including how much to spend on categorical lines such as textbooks. The governor had given $1000 to all classroom teachers. That may solve the affordability crisis for 24 new teachers. Not all allegations are true, so if a complaint is made, the district should follow up with the initiator to tell him/her what action was taken if any. We continue to militarize schools and education. The estimated cost of this is $395,000. It looks as though she believes the board has strayed from its prime responsibilities. There seems to be no limit to the amount of personnel needed. Apparently so does Tony Anderson. Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, Director of Personnel & Exceptional Children, Licensure Specialist-HR Administrative Assistant, Director of Career Technical Education & Instructional Technology, Director of Family/Student/Community Connections, Public Information & Community Engagement Coordinator, 252-792-1575 cell 252-217-7905, 252-792-5067 office 252-217-3057 cell. He brought up the desegregation of the school system in the late 1960s in Martin County. Today, different Florida districts are using a scale of 5, 6, or 7 and weighting the averages. She was surprised that parents would resort to Facebook groups to find out what is happening at the District. In the scheme of things, it was the minimal amount of disruption to the fewest students possible. My impression is he thinks that Defenthaler is correct, but he realizes the uselessness of fighting. I received neither the link nor as of 8 am on Friday (with my deadline at hand) the Budget Book and I have only four of the six evaluations. There is true over capacity in the system. This is another contentious subject. One speaker said the principal had changed Mr. The presentation which was given to the Board in handouts was not part of the agenda packet. The board has asked for more information. Speakers also referred to Critical Race Theory and how it shouldnt be taught. Once discussion was held, the workshop was adjourned, and a special meeting began. Interestingly, it seems that enrollment is continuing to fall. There is such a thing as a basic education that should be universal for all students including those in vocational studies. Even at this juncture, the school board members during their comments were still in shock at the end of the meeting. Eight years of being on the firing line is a long time. The state is making more and more conditions where parents can become involved in their childrens education. I do think the Board, staff and all students would be served by diversity training. I understand the need to provide a safe environment when schools are in session. He cannot be a slacker and have been accepted to one of the service academies. Powers supports the millage because if it does not pass, she said the district will be at an extreme disadvantage in attracting employees. Currently, the elected Superintendent functions as a co-equal. When security is considered, the only possible available site would be on the headquarters site on Federal Highway. During the meeting, each Board Member explained his/her rationale for their choices. Things have changed and Covid has accelerated the pace of that change. There were no new reasons offered as to why an immediate change in policy is warranted. Those PTAs have agreements with the School Board regarding those existing playgrounds. Martin County citizens, students and district employees owe her thanks for placing herself in the hot seat. The third was to require teachers to turn on passive non-interactive cameras in their classrooms to allow quarantining students to view the lesson while at home. That makes far more sense than the way the district is organized now. Both Florida Blue and United Health Care representatives spoke at the meeting. SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET MEETING JANUARY 25, 2022: CFO Carter Morrison presented the board with very early numbers regarding next years budget. Victoria Defenthaler continues to want the county health officials and Cleveland clinic to address the board. There was some concern about car lines and parking. Cindy Pearson is a Jacksonville native who attended Duval County Public Schools K-12. Will the voters renew the half mil? That cant be either. Our workshop last evening was to have a meaningful discussion regarding the ESSER II money that is currently being planned for. If their board were as involved as Martins is, they would do nothing more than act as a big HR department. This was referred to several times by this years Florida legislature when legislators were dismayed to find large pots of money unclaimed by districts. The district is not in the rental apartment business. If you are just a couple of kids that want to use an empty taxpayer-owned field on the weekend or after school, then you are out of luck. DiTerlizzi also expressed his doubts. Christia Li Roberts Area: District 1 - North Stuart, Jensen Beach Phone: (772) 219-1200 Ext. Another good idea. For some time, I have written about the lack of agenda items having any sort of backup. Though money alone will not produce better scores either. All literally means all it means every Martin County student will be equipped to reach their highest personal potential, including our most vulnerable populations. She was nave enough to believe that personalities would conform to what the Florida School Board Association states are the roles and responsibilities of superintendents and school board members. It is my honor and pleasure to officially introduce myself to the Martin County School District community. This is obviously incorrect. Note: Correspondence sent to School Board members is subject to Virginia's Freedom of Information Act. With the placing of new security officers, are our children going to be any safer? Title: Board Member Board Members. , Url: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/2022/07/17/tcpalm-editorial-board-recommendation-martin-county-school-board-races-our-view/10049808002/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebMartin County School Board District 1, 3 and 4 seats up Schools Details: WebSeats for Districts 3 and 4 are contested, but District 1 incumbent and School Board Chair , Url: https://schoolslearning.info/martin-county-school-board-elections/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebCity Commissioner Mike Meier and District 3 School Board member Victoria Defenthaler are stepping away from their posts in September and November, , Url: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/2022/06/17/deadline-passes-2-officials-martin-county-not-seeking-reelection/7635154001/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebDistrict 3 252-792-7711 [emailprotected] Why I Serve Gene Scott District 4 252-217-7843 [emailprotected] Why I Serve Renee Purvis Vice-Chair District 5 252 , Url: https://www.martin.k12.nc.us/page/board-of-education21 Go Now, Schools Details: Webmartinschools.org. Greene County Schools will require masks to be worn for all staff, students indoors "Our numbers had been . During this meeting, a board member brought up that the school district was mentioned during Governor DeSantis press conference for the signing of the Parental Rights bill into law. Vote to protect our democracy, and to keep Martin County Public Schools excellent for ALL children, vote for Liz Bernstein for District 3 School Board on August 23rd. After graduating from MCHS in 2002, I attended the University of Central Florida and received two Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees: one in Economics and one in Finance. I am not going to go through every page of the budget presentation that was shown. Anthony Anderson loses Martin County School Board to Amy Pritchett, Jennifer Russell takes District 3 Thomas Weber; Melissa E. Holsman 0:00 0:48 MARTIN COUNTY Voters Tuesday selected. Vouchers are one way to ensure that choice will be an option. Perhaps two board members never completed the evaluations and returned nothing to the district, that in and of itself would be something to know and report to you. The discussion about providing housing for teachers is a good example. At these meeting, we hear about a students scholarship or that a sports team did well. Morrison is working on a budget book that will be on the website and will promote transparency. Ms. Defenthaler gave high marks to Millay but had criticism for some of her other board members. During public comment, several members of the public made remarks regarding things that are untrue. Later in our discussions, we added an item on the top of page 6 addressing instructional needs at Port Salerno Elementary which is a challenging population which has been a priority of the Board to address. Even though he came from a loving home, he had some of the same issues expressed in the proclamation. She mentioned no school or classroom where this was occurring. The ultimate outcome will be in their hands. It may be time to have a legal department headed up by a chief attorney that reports to the board much as the county attorney reports to the BOCC. Change is always hard to sell. One of the sticking points was that Florida Blue had no cap in the 2nd year but United had an 11.5% cap. According to statute, public charters need to receive the same percentage of funds based on their student bodies from the district. The board needs to decide whether the attorney and the legal department should be outsourced, in house, or a combination. Greg Black of Waypoint Strategies, the boards lobbyist, brought the board up to date regarding the bills that passed in Tallahassee. The Martin County School Districts reputation for excellence is a testament to your commitment to the well-being and academic success of children. Millay reaching out shows that he too understands this not only as an educator but also as a parent of three. He once again attacked me for being inaccurate and deliberately lying about things he has said during his comments. Contract negotiations will now begin with Millay, which will go before the board for final approval. That means as circumstances change the percentage could be lower but never above a mill. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The board has indicated they want to do an RFP to see what is best. Millays preliminary estimates suggest that it would cost about $165 per foot to build. And it didnt much matter that Bernstein and Anderson both natives of Martin County - outraised and outspent their winning rivals by thousands of dollars, according to county election finance reports. The other was a half mill increase for property taxes for four years. Pages Four and Five outline Capital expenses (mostly computers and safety/sanitation) totaling $2,604,541.00 which may be eligible for reimbursement. On December 9th, the Martin County Sheriffs office arrested a school employee for soliciting nude photos from female students for money. Board Members - Martin County Schools She successfully campaigned with the message "every parent has the right to make education and health decisions for their children," and lauded academic excellence, student empowerment, parent collaboration and stakeholder engagement. More:Stuart commissioner, Martin School Board member not seeking reelection; others qualify for ballot, More:Florida school board races are supposed to be nonpartisan; keep them that way | Our View. He was not yet ready to discuss the results. Both were in Europe serving as ambassadors at the time. quarantined by DOH must remain home and access online assignments by signing into ClassLink. He stated that while parents are important, they are not the only factor. He claims I want the notoriety of attacking him. Please call 219-1200 X-30222 for assistance. It must be more than one minute but no more than 2 minutes. That is the result of rapidly rising supply and construction expenses. I dont want to surprise anyone but there are Martin County students that are not heterosexuals. The people who work in a place like Gertrude Walden are mostly not college graduates. But communitymembers encouraged Anderson to give it another shot, he said, tochallenge the rising wave of opposition. How proud he is having been born here. There was not a mention of that at this meeting by her or anyone else. Volunteer with Amy as she steps up to defend our parents and children in Martin County Schools. That program was open to Martin County residents because the St. Lucie district was far from capacity. The district believes it will be $147 million that will be spent in district-controlled classrooms for 2022/23. You can read the entire presentationhere. We are known as a donor county. Yet this deed should outrage every resident regardless of color. This must be the focus of the public schools! To see the budget presentation and handouts please gohere. As of November 17th, Dr. John Millay has become the first appointed superintendent in the county. The unions are not doing that to foster good government. Until then, lets put down our rhetorical weapons and return to our ploughs. Well Mr. Anderson this figment has certainly bore down into your brain. We are proud of what we do. Parental involvement goes hand-in-hand with supporting our teachers. Coordination between entities who might be duplicating services is not highly prized in Martin County. When I was on the advisory committee to pick the first appointed superintendent, Dr. Millay was not on my final list. Martin County School Board District 1, 3 and 4 seats up for election There was even discussion about opening Jensen Beach High School to St Lucie County students to fill the seats. We need to stop doing things with a 1960s perspective rather than the perspective of today and more importantly what is needed tomorrow. Martin County School Board Member District 3 I would propose to make it a high school focusing on academics for those students looking to go to college. What about the other three elected members? It had to do with the racist post of six Hidden Oaks students. Yes, charter schools receive a portion of those funds in a manner determined by the Florida Department of Education. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent by districts building schools that ended up vacant. The district already owns the land, utilities are in and there would be no impact fees or building fees. Now we are going to layer on one more thing to remind children of how dangerous their world is now. And you don't know until the results come out, she said. He said that I was self-appointed and sat in the meeting taking down notes on a laptop. There are other provisions for reimbursement laid out in the contract which can be accessedhere. Li Roberts nominated Anderson and made the motion that was seconded by Powers. Board members said they were impressed by Millay's "fresh ideas" and described him as a "progressive" with "a lot of energy" who would bring positive change to the community. The statewide assessment tests will be given, and the students must come into the schools to take them. They are starting from different bases. How would you expect that district to flourish if you remove the patron organization? Excellence is what we will strive for, knowing that success has no finish line. The district cannot teach anything that is against state guidelines. Early on, Defenthaler suggested about diversity training for the board. It has never been taught in the schools and never will be taught in the schools. Yet to some extent, she doesnt get the depth of the problem. All the numbers are in the presentation attachedhere. To do that, she suggested partnering withvoluntary pre-kindergarten programs and early- learning centers to focus on reading skills from a young age. In the latter example, the student and parents may feel the score has been diminished when he/she is competing to get into college. (You can listen to his remarks by going to the meeting on YouTube and they begin around the 19-minute mark here). This very important factor is something that most of the public has not grasped. They now own their decisions and their implementation. Her report was primarily one detailing what the district has accomplished since she became superintendent in 2012. It looks like training in welding, nursing, and HVAC will be expanded. Because of COVID, the district endorsed senior celebrations at the three high schools that were anything but traditional. I remain passionate about student achievement, equity and access, the professional growth and success of faculty and staff, and empowering families and the community to become full partners in the educational experience offered in our schools. Didnt that strike anyone as unusual and odd. Campaigns for public office benefit the most when community members join together to support those who share their values. The Insurance Committee of the board meets monthly for most of the year to find plans that are good for board employees but also affordable for the taxpayer. I feel very privileged, excited, and humbled for the opportunity to serve as your Superintendent of Schools. Presently, the board will continue mandating fully masked students, teachers, and personnel through the end of this school year. Some excel and take advantage of all that is offered. The Board meets on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 PM. Our schools should stick to the fundamentals like reading, writing, and arithmetic, and leave the political agendas out. I am a mom and former assistant school administrator who cares deeply about our education system. You can read the brief one-page memohere, Board member Roberts did an excellent breakdown of elementary school population by race and ethnic group. The entire budget next year is nearly $487 million. Maybe they are sometimes worried about their next election but most of what they do is because they have no choice but to follow the law. We have confirmed that no school personnel were involved in or knowledgeable about the students planning, photographing and posting of the picture on social media. Where did the children go? Anderson, a retired teacher, would often spout that he was on the teachers side. Jensen Beach High is expected to have less than 90% of capacity next year. I think Anderson is right, but if the board is telling Millay to hire someone, then of course he is going to do it. The district is now opening most of their elementary, middle, and even a high school to open enrollment. It tells you that it is open and friendly. Will the students, taxpayers, and business owners get increased value? She will explain how you or your business will be featured in the newsletter and on our websites. What is Martin County trying to accomplish? St. Lucie district schools have been improving steadily over the years. Martin County School Board - Friends & Neighbors of Martin County Superintendent John D. Millay and members of the Martin County School Board joined faculty, staff and students from South Fork High School in attending a groundbreaking ceremony for the new athletic complex, sports fields, chiller plant and HVAC system on March 30, 2022. It is about the public, his constituents. . A great place for a new building would be at the old high school site. I made decisions every day for our students and staff regarding the curriculum, hiring decisions, managing employees and operations, and budgeting. It was seconded by DiTerlizzi. He had a fresh perspective and was forward-thinking and inclusive. Facebook; A; A; A; top > About Us > Board of Directors. "There is such a thing, but that's at a higher level graduate law.". Knowing that we have more than that number of students and expecting an award amount at half of that $8.59 million, this number would be determined at a later date. Is there any wonder that Mr. Anderson already has an opponent in his upcoming race, Amy Pritchett. What is the psychological effect of all this on the kids? Sounds simple to mewhich means it will never be tried. He had already raised $12,500 and were looking to have $100,000. Now it is up to the voters. Agreements must be signed, insurance certificates exchanged, and most importantly money paid. "I would like to see a lot more collaboration between the parents, the teachers, the administration," she said. No school board member addressed that comment as to whether it is true or not and if the change was made it was for that purpose or for some other reason. The second was payment for Covid-related sick days. Unfortunately, that result was often unrealized (often because of a lack of a mentor for the student). It passed 5-0. I said that may be a good idea if the drivers are residents of the village or western Martin County. One thing is certainthere is money coming in from the additional millage that was approved four years ago. They plan on submitting a final site plan next year. The district will be applying for funds to hire a data scientist to help formulate plans going forward. I cant remember anything like this occurring when I was in middle school. 1049 students have left the District and 15,449 have enrolled. Li Roberts said that the sequential subjects such as math are harder online. This is an all-new process for Martin County after voters in 2018 decided to allow the school board to pick the new superintendent, according to the district spokesperson Jennifer Deshazo. We dont need to reinvent the wheel. Teachers and others are getting paid extra money and benefits and are refusing to agree to a simple thing like flipping a switch so that quarantined students can participate in the learning process. Schultz credo of keeping your eyes down and seeing nothing. After the COVID-19 pandemic created friction between the School Board and parents, he didn'tplan to run again,he said. At the district fine tuning this is a continuing project. For some reason when it comes to public employees, politicians (board members are elected) believe they need to be more accommodating than in the private sector. Nor can I believe it would be done when my own kids were middle schoolers. A while ago, Chair Roberts asked Dr. Millay and staff to provide information about how many more district employees had been added over several periods of time. Dr. John Millay, Martin Countys first appointed superintendent, surprised the board, staff, and citizens by resigning effective June 30th. At this meeting, teacher after teacher took to the podium to complain bitterly about their pay. As Ms. Defenthaler said, she wants to see the ROI for this work. From what I know of their recommendations, there was no change in elementary and middle schools and only slight tweaks to the high school boundaries with no student currently enrolled being forced to switch to a new school.