Ragle hosts meet and greet at Library, Oct. 22

[Teresa]

I understand it is not just Walton county - we have heard about these changes all over the country. But to see it happen first hand in our own system is still shocking. . I don't understand the model or how we have ended up with such a scheme. It just keeps gets worse in education.

 

[Bob Wells]

Tenure as I understand it was to take politics out of a teachers job and give them security as leadership changed in the schools. After Gov Scott took office removing tenure was high on his and the Republican Legislators list of things to do. Both Rep Drake and Rep Coley supported this. Much of the story that those seeking the change said it was because of poor student performance and that tenure did not fit the private sector model. IMO it was all about cost, even though there was a time frame between date of hire and tenure to weed out bad teachers they wanted to be able to attack teachers who cost them more IMO. Now look Gov Scott found he screwed up and is meeting with teachers and their representation to figure out how to fix education. Teachers in Walton County you are a large enough group to make an impact in this county and to really make a change in leadership with in the county.... It is your CHANCE to do it

 

[ann watson]

It may be shocking, but it's not a Walton County thing. The model wasn't designed to hire professionals for the short term only. Rather, it was meant to replicate the business model where employment is maintained based on performance. As with the business model, it is much less expensive to retain an employee than to hire and train a replacement. Therefore, the vast majority of teachers are continuously employed. When a teacher's annual contract is discontinued, there are very likely mitigating circumstances. Agree or disagree, this model isn't a Walton County idea. It is something that Walton County has had to comply with, as other Florida districts have, in order to maintain funding.

I'd like to know what the "mitigating circumstances" were in my case. I worked for 4 years with good evaluations and excellent student performance. On the last day of school in June, 2010 the principal very rudely told me that I was being terminated and to clean my room out. That's it. Perhaps the mitigating circumstances were that I was being paid a salary based on my experience and had I been renewed, the law at the time would have required that I be rehired under a professional services contract. There was not a reduction in personnel, and in fact the district hired more than 60 teachers. The teacher who replaced me was a girl from Washington county.

 

[meggiemom]

I find it shocking. What kind of business model hires professionals for the short term only? The profession of teaching is screwed.

I also have friends who teach in other counties and other states. But from talking with teachers, other counties don't find it necessary to strip hard working teachers of their dignity and self esteem the way Walton does. And in other counties, former teachers are given first consideration in hiring. Budgets are tight everywhere, but it isn't necessary for teachers to have to live in fear with no job security. And I suspect that the "model" that is mentioned is an excuse to hide behind the letter of the education law. BTW, I'm not voting for Don Gaetz or Marti Coley. I assume they played a big part in the education law that ended tenure and job security. Teachers and our children deserve better than what the current administration is giving them.

 

[Andy A]

Let me agree I was probably a little harsh in my assessment of the Florida education system in regard to the re-hiring of our teachers. It is not a good system, I believe, that only grades an educator on a one year basis. It needs to be changed and stringent reason for non renewal put into place. Thank you, Independent Thinker, for showing me the correct spelling of "straits". I thought at the time the spelling was wrong but was too lazy to look it up. I still hold to my belief that there is too much retribution against many for their expressed views whether they be political or otherwise.

 

[Teresa]

I'd like to know what the "mitigating circumstances" were in my case. I worked for 4 years with good evaluations and excellent student performance. On the last day of school in June, 2010 the principal very rudely told me that I was being terminated and to clean my room out. That's it. Perhaps the mitigating circumstances were that I was being paid a salary based on my experience and had I been renewed, the law at the time would have required that I be rehired under a professional services contract. There was not a reduction in personnel, and in fact the district hired more than 60 teachers. The teacher who replaced me was a girl from Washington county.

Thank you for sharing your story. Unbelievable.

 

[Independent Thinker]

For jdarg & stellablue1, no one said teacher annual contracts are only in Walton county. But generally speaking, in areas like walton county, with a small population, there tends to be a group of people who have always held the clout for how the county is operated. From what I've heard and seen, regardless of how good a teacher is, if they are not liked by the "political clicks" running the show it's likely they will be replaced by someone else that they can pay less. I don't have an answer for the best way to evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher. But it's obvious the one be utilized now is not it. Teachers around here have no job security at all, and people wonder why the educational system is failing.

 

[meggiemom]

The politicians love to say that eliminating tenure makes it possible to get rid of bad teachers. It seems to me that it's more of a scheme to get rid of good teachers who are paid too much. Obviously the teachers union in Walton County doesn't do much for it's members. A few people here have confirmed that by trying to make the case that inexperienced teachers perform better than experienced ones. I wonder how many phony "business models" use that policy?

 

[Hopelessly Hopeful]

Mrs. Ragle, I enjoyed meeting you. You really know how to throw a party! I was glad to meet other Republicans there who support you. Thank you for taking time to talk with me.

 

[Hopelessly Hopeful]

This is posted on Ragle for Superintendent facebook page.

WOW! As supporters, friends, and undecided voters mingled with Rosemary at the meet and greet on Monday the 22nd at the Coastal Branch library, a local musician just happened by and entertained the group. Great food, goody bags for the children, door prizes and impromptu entertainment - thanks Nancy!

All agreed that with two weeks left before the November 6 election, everything looks positive, especially since several Republicans visited wearing "Republican for Ragle" badges. Frank Day, candidate for county commission, and Danny Griffith, candidate for sheriff of Walton County, paid their respects.

Rosemary would like to thank everyone who helped organize the event. "I met so many new people who shared their thoughts with me concerning our school system. It was a great way to make new friends and share philosophy."