Making the Case for Hiring a Superintendent

[Bob Wells]

I don't think there's much argument with this person, they first stated that the county pays no money to charter schools which was quickly shown to be wrong.

I appreciate that but it's only fair to give them the opportunity to back up what they are saying.

 

[BJackson]

http://floridacharterschools.org/schools/taps/Manual_for_Financial_Reporting_09.pdf

 

[Bob Wells]

http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/CharterSchools20812.pdf

 

[Misty]

I know nothing about "this person who drove off the bridge,,,". What I do know is you keep saying that charter schools are a huge drain financially on this district which is just not true. As for mrs Hobbs quote, you have an unqualified person with a high school diploma who finds herself in the position of defending a huge shortfall at the end of the school who throws out 2 completely insane reasons. 1) substitute pay overages- subs are paid every month not at the end of the year so that makes no sense, and 2) charter schools- everyone knows fte counts are done in OCTOBEr of each school year so the district knew in October how many students were enrolled in charter schools so that makes no sense either. She is counting on people like you who believe that charter schools "cost the district money" to grasp onto that idea. Again, charter schools do not cost the district a dime. The district NEEDS them to serve populations they can't. I spent 14 years as a Miami-Dade county school district employee whose job was to review charter school applications and serve as a liason between the school district and the charter school, which included seeking out charter schools to serve our population when needed. They are not started by big corporations, they are started by parents and community members who see the need and want autonomy from the school board, which they DO have, but only after the school district accepts their charter which describes their plan for implementation. Look at Seaside charter school- the developers of seaside wanted a school to serve their community and parents and community members wrote a cnarter, the district approved it ( the district certainly could not have provided the infrastructure for a school for what started with 50 students) and the school thrives. It costs the district nothing and serves the community as intended. You seem to be so hung up on the guy on the bridge that its making you think charter schools are causing the districts problems. Look elsewhere and you might find the real problems!

No one said that Charter Schools were/are started by big corporations. What was said is that Walton Academy is run by the Rader Group which is a FOR PROFIT, PRIVATE company based out of Ft. Walton Beach whose employees include some rather shady individuals, one of whom (Ray Sansom) was charged with felony grand theft and conspiracy and later indicted with 2 others, Jay Odom and Bob Richburg and charged with official misconduct. Sansom is also linked to the Florida Taj Mahal scandal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Taj_Mahal_scandal.

I don't think that Charter Schools are causing the districts problems per-say but I do believe that if you employ/hire/elect individuals with shady reputations that have a less then stellar reputation handling/managing taxpayer money people do tend to get a little sideways. It also raises more than a few eyebrows and creates an environment of distrust.

My issue is also not with Ms. Hobbs. Hiring unqualified individuals with only a high school diploma is a district issue and one that should have been addressed eons ago. Anyone who has lived in this county for any length of time knows what nepotism is and how it works. We have all seen its disastrous results and the taxpayers are left holding the proverbial bag.

I also have no issue with Seaside Charter School. Had Walton Academy been developed (or more accurately the Rader Group) been as interested in developing a school with the same visions Seaside has endeavored to provide to its students rather than being a warehouse for everything that's wrong with public education, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation.

I'm not "hung up" on the guy on the bridge. I originally brought the story to these forums when the media failed to report a significant news event involving a Principal from what happened to be a Charter School in this county. Had it been a truly public school rather than one run by a private, for profit company the outcome may have been what the "cocaine teacher" got instead of the slap on the wrist it received. I do believe that teaching our children not to drink and drive should be taught by those who practice what they preach!!

"Lead by example!"

 

[beachmouse]

As someone whose parents were career educators in an appointed superintendent system, I will caution that the superintendent is often only as good or bad as the school board that selects them.

And I'm calling it now that if the vote goes for appointed, then Walton County will shortly have Superintendent Alexis Tibbets because she's had a chance to get her claws in over there.

 

[John G]

No Public Outcry and Scandal will prevent that.

Time to look outside the Magic Circle...

 

[Misty]

And I'm calling it now that if the vote goes for appointed, then Walton County will shortly have Superintendent Alexis Tibbets because she's had a chance to get her claws in over there.

You make it sound like it's a bad thing. What's your issue with Tibbets?

 

[sunny850]

Certainly the Florida Statute explains guidelines and the Florida DOE office of school choice page has a FAQ section that explains in simple terms how a charter school is run.
http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Charter_Schools/statutes_and_rules.asp

I was only trying to dispel Misty's myth that charter schools somehow "cost" the school district. I have no political agenda here. I just hate to see someone post something that is 100% wrong and they know nothing about. Perhaps misty knows something the state of Florida and i dont, but my Specialist Degree in Public School Administration and my 14 years of experience with school districts and Charter schools tell me otherwise.

Misty, these are YOUR words on this forum:

"What can be laid at a Superintendents feet (whether hired or elected) and the school board as well, is the amount of money paid to Charter Schools in this county with no accountability. Charter Schools are pretty much exempt from laws that govern public schools because they are operated by private Corporations.


Bottom line is all that money that Ms. Anderson tossed at Charter Schools that got the school district in the shape it is in...is gone...and the taxpayers have no idea what it was used for and the schools who received it don't have to explain themselves."

Again, I will tell you that Money is not paid to charter schools, and money is not tossed at charter schools by the district. You can either use this to educate yourself or continue to believe what you want. I am done posting to this thread.

 

[beachmouse]

You make it sound like it's a bad thing. What's your issue with Tibbets?

She's not the worst option but isn't necessarily the best option, would be the easy solution if the board didn't want to work too hard at going through the applications list, and has the usual regional political connections.

 

[Misty]

The Rader Group is an EMO (Educational Management Organization) operated by a PRIVATE, PROFIT SEEKING business. EMO's work with school districts or charter schools USING PUBLIC FUNDS to finance operations.
EMO's function differently from charter schools in order to carry "teaching children". Most charter schools are mission oriented, while EMO's and other FOR PROFIT institutions are market-oriented. FOR PROFITS exist in large part to fix educational market failures left by traditional institutions and they PROFIT by serving students that public and private NONPROFIT institutions ignore.

Again, Walton Academy is a taxpayer funded organization for profit.