Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

[Rita]

Obviously, you have never worked for a government agency. I have see some of the return for FOI requests for other government branches. By the time I could get the answer to a simple question, I would be old and Grey. (as though I am not already )

The point is, the administration KNOWS and if they are not willing to simply SAY what they spent on what, then ipso facto THEY have something to hide. I don't know or care HOW much is mis-spent. It was enough to me to see two years of the Drama Department having to go begging for money and getting the kids (my daughter included) to sew and build the costumes for the actors because there was no money to even RENT them. What kind of "public" school is this? One where there is NO accountability, obviously. Better yet, the money that was taken in from the productions of the plays did not even go back into the Drama Department's budget!
The money that was taken in from "FAME" was used to pay "debt" from the yearbook for last year. THAT is why we have "No money" for play rights AND why a fine, upstanding and VERY caring teacher reached into his OWN pocket to try to come up with the money to to teach his class.

Our theatre dept. and improv group use performances as fundraisers to supplement their program. I couldn't fathom the the school getting the $$!

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[Jennifer Steele]

I think the is a 'don't ask, don't tell' understanding in place, so the Rep may not weigh-in on this.

For the play to be changed edited, I would think they would need permission from the writer. Maybe Seaside REP can comment on this. I'be been told that some of the plays which they perform do not even allow photos to be taken of the play due to copyrights.

I don't recall ever being in a performance in high school or college that wasn't edited in some way, large or small - one college director removed or replaced ALL curse words from the script of a Neil Simon play, and this was not a religiously affiliated school. I'm sure they did not have written permission form the author or publisher.

You're right, Skunkape - it is more of a don't ask, don't tell practice. I would bet that if the publishing companies really enforced copyright laws on educational and amateur theatres, they would lose the majority of their royalty income while having to increase their labor costs significantly.

The Rep does not make a practice of editing scripts.

 

[wrobert]

Obviously, you have never worked for a government agency. I have see some of the return for FOI requests for other government branches. By the time I could get the answer to a simple question, I would be old and Grey. (as though I am not already )

The point is, the administration KNOWS and if they are not willing to simply SAY what they spent on what, then ipso facto THEY have something to hide. I don't know or care HOW much is mis-spent. It was enough to me to see two years of the Drama Department having to go begging for money and getting the kids (my daughter included) to sew and build the costumes for the actors because there was no money to even RENT them. What kind of "public" school is this? One where there is NO accountability, obviously. Better yet, the money that was taken in from the productions of the plays did not even go back into the Drama Department's budget!
The money that was taken in from "FAME" was used to pay "debt" from the yearbook for last year. THAT is why we have "No money" for play rights AND why a fine, upstanding and VERY caring teacher reached into his OWN pocket to try to come up with the money to to teach his class.

Yes I have worked for a government agency. FOI requests are irrelevant in this situtation. FOI is Federal. You are making a request under the Florida Public Records law. It is very comprehensive. Responses are required. If not in a timely manner, a couple of phone calls will get you what you want and rather quickly. I run into this pretty regularly. But overall, Walton County is very responsive to requests for information. Google on Brechner Center and read their information. They even have a pretty good letter for requesting information.

In the last few years a school board member was actually arrested and jailed for refusing to provide public records she had in her possession. The regional DEP guy was fired and fined for requiring people to give identification when requesting public records.

Community activism does require an effort on the part of the community. Gathering the information with supporting facts is the only way you are going to stop this sort of thing. I can not imagine anyone currently sitting on the Walton County School Board condoning that activity.

 

[questor]

Our theater dept. and inprov group use performances as fundraisers to supplement their program. I couldn't fathom the the school getting the $$!

.

Everyone in the class was pretty much told that was why they had no money for anything. This is why, AT BEST, they are only able to put on one or two plays a year. The Drama Department is also one of the lowest classes on the totem pole when it comes to getting funded. Almost every other class gets prior consideration.
Even so, these kids worked their butts off trying to put together the BEST they could with what they had and they did a GREAT job. I saw the plays last year (WITH the simulated drinking, smoking, and "carousing" INTACT) and it was not until a "certain situation" arose that THIS year that this "outside group" was called in to disrupt everything.

It is sad to think that in America there are still people who will say "Do it MY way or you won't do it at all." WORSE, that they can get away with it!

 

[questor]

Yes I have worked for a government agency. FOI requests are irrelevant in this situtation. FOI is Federal. You are making a request under the Florida Public Records law. It is very comprehensive. Responses are required. If not in a timely manner, a couple of phone calls will get you what you want and rather quickly. I run into this pretty regularly. But overall, Walton County is very responsive to requests for information. Google on Brechner Center and read their information. They even have a pretty good letter for requesting information.

In the last few years a school board member was actually arrested and jailed for refusing to provide public records she had in her possession. The regional DEP guy was fired and fined for requiring people to give identification when requesting public records.

Community activism does require an effort on the part of the community. Gathering the information with supporting facts is the only way you are going to stop this sort of thing. I can not imagine anyone currently sitting on the Walton County School Board condoning that activity.

That you for your information. I will use it.
FOI, in my posts referred to Freedom of Information. The "F" was not meant to have a "federal" connotation.

But is it ENCOURAGING to say the least that people CAN and HAVE BEEN put in JAIL for misuses under the Florida Versions of this act.

 

[questor]

JUST FOR INFORMATION.

I just received a reply from my contact at the NWF Chapter of the ACLU. They ARE watching the proceedings here and already have another censorship case before The Eleventh Circuit Court

However, she added (and I quote) "I would love to sit and meet with you and other parents.

I don't know how to go about organizing this meeting and as I do not HAVE the benefit of what someone aptly call the the "Bully-Pulpit" used by the protesters. I can't just drag people in off the street and bus them to a meeting that they have no idea of what it is about and then tell them what to say. This Board is the only means I have of contacting any local parents or people who are REALLY involved. I am open to suggestions and I am sure Susan would love to hear from any of you who want to write, phone, or email her.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Could you parents get together and create an email list of all caring parents, as a way to send out group emails regarding the school stuff? Seems to me like any decent school operators would have email addresses of all parents and maybe even make those accessible to the teachers, so that teachers could regularly communicate with parents regarding test scores, homework performance, and behavior.

 

[Garbo91]

I'm new to this SoWal website and actually made an account just for this particular post.

Of behalf of my being new to this site I haven't yet been able to read everyone's posts so excuse me if I to repeat anything.

I'm currently a sophomore at SoWal High and am part of the 'Drama Herd.'
I've decided to state my peace on this subject....


I see nothing wrong with the play Blithe Spirit. Yes there are ghost and seance, but it's not considerd 'withcraft' in my opinion. Witchcraft is when you buy one of those books with the crazy symbols on the cover and sit in a little circle with your friends in the dark with a load of candles speaking in tongues. That's witchcraft. Not seeing a few things in a play.

As for the 'corruption of us children', I agree with Kase (who happens to be one of my bffl's ;] ), we are high schoolers. Young adults. On the brink of being an individual who lives on their own and has to make their own decisions. Not children who can hardly tie their shoes without the assistance of their parents. We should know by now the difference between truth and fiction.

There are many other things that I could go on and on about on this subject but don't have time for tonight.

Hope everyone has a beautiful day tomorrow :]]

 

[questor]

Could you parents get together and create an email list of all caring parents, as a way to send out group emails regarding the school stuff? Seems to me like any decent school operators would have email addresses of all parents and maybe even make those accessible to the teachers, so that teachers could regularly communicate with parents regarding test scores, homework performance, and behavior.

Yeah. It DOES seem like they would doesn't it? I wonder why they don't? Maybe because it would be more work for them. You can BET that if such a list EVER gets created it WILL be the work of the parents themselves. If you want to see some interesting opinions, go here:
http://www.greatschools.net/school/parentReviews.page?id=5277&state=FL

Odd that the school managed to get a 9 star rating from the site BUT the parents gave it a 2 out of 5. And ALL of the complaints are from POOR leadership and communication. Guess that says it all.

 

[questor]

..... Witchcraft is when you buy one of those books with the crazy symbols on the cover and sit in a little circle with your friends in the dark with a load of candles speaking in tongues. That's witchcraft......
:]]

Hmmm. Places where you read books full of symbols and sit in circles and speak in tongues....... WHY does that sound so familiar?
I think your post was GREAT!! When I read it I IMMEDIATELY could see where that kind of activity probably goes on!

You are an intelligent person and I wish you the best in life along with all the other students who are having to suffer with this!

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