Pam Everett expressed concern about the letter from Gus Guadagnino on social media which stated, “Yesterday I was made aware that the 2015-2016 preliminary district and school grades were posted on the Florida DOE school grades webpage. As a current member of the HCSB, I am calling on every educator, parent, and student to come together as a unified voice to let our legislators and the FDOE stop using our children as test pilots for their standards assessment of the FSA.” Everett asked, “If the HCSB is opposing retention of 3rd grade students, why have we not heard about this yet?” .
Danielle Underwood stated she was also concerned about the retention of 3rd grade students and discussed a current lawsuit involving students from 10 counties, including Hernando. The lawsuit contends that retention based upon the test scores is unconstitutional. The attorney representing parents from the 10 counties is considering seeking an injunction to allow the students to progress to 4th grade in August. Parents whose children were being retained were notified in June, which is the reason for the injunction.
Underwood discussed the Gofundme account started by Spring Hill Elementary principal Michael Maine. The purpose of the fundraiser is to pay for a floor scrubber machine because the budget doesn’t allow for the purchase of the machine. In Underwood’s opinion, it makes the district look shameful. Underwood asked if the principal received permission for the Gofundme account and why the HCSB could not afford to keep the schools clean.
A third concern was ethics, as discussed during the workshop earlier in the day. Underwood asked when the HCSB would begin to hold teachers and staff accountable for their ethics. She recommends a dispute resolution process be developed which would allow the parent to have input and provide for a mediation to resolve the problem.
Underwood asked the HCBS when they would begin holding themselves accountable for things that occur in the district. Everyone blames it on “the higher ups,” she stated, and sends the parents back and forth between the district and individual schools. Underwood believes there is a desire to remove her child from the school rather than provide the needed help for her child. If that is truly what the school wants, then Underwood feels the district should pay for her child to attend the private school of her choice.
Anthony Palmieri stated the district does not seem to be making progress toward the goal of having an “A” district. “It appears that on the way to an ‘A’, we seem to have run into a dead end,” he said. In comparing school grades from 2005 and 2016, Palmieri stated that in 2005 there were five schools that earned an “A” grade, and now there are three. In 2005 there were 12 “B” schools, but there are seven now. This year there are 13 “C” schools, as compared to only eight in 2005. In 2005 there were no “D” schools, but there is one now. Palmieri stated that according to the explanation given by the HCSB this is due to the change in the State’s rating system. However, some schools have not changed their rating, and asked if there is some other reason for the change in some schools but not others?
Michael Angelo Gordon, candidate for school district 4, thinks there should be someone on the school board who will be a leader and stand up to the Superintendent with a dissenting voice. There were several points Gordon wanted to address. First, he said, staff should not be in fear of losing their jobs if they speak out and teachers should be able to manage their classrooms without fear of retaliation. Second, the school board should make Hernando schools better and safer by instituting a bullying policy which will allow victims to defend themselves without punishment. Third, Gordon believes that students on the honor roll all year should not be retained because their parents opt out of the testing. Fourth, bus safety is a concern to Gordon and wants a return to the bussing system of four years ago, where children were safer.
Gordon stated there are three types of leaders: those who choose the right people for the tasks when they delegate their authority when it is necessary to get the job done; those who roll up their sleeves and dive right into the work, setting the example for those working beside them; and those who control by fear, using their authority for revenge.
Ramon Gutierrez advocated for Ms. Underwood due to what he described as the school board penalizing Underwood and issuing a trespass warning at Chochachatti where she cannot step on the grounds. “We are the people. We pay your salaries,” Gutierrez reminded the Board, stating he wants the HCSB to lift the trespass notice as she is just a concerned parent.
Gutierrez also acknowledged that the schools need money. He noted his opponent for state representative has voted for two bills (HB 7043 and 7029) which involve Common Core in college and diverting funding for private schools, making public schools compete for those funds.
Karen Jordan, PIO for the school board, gave Gutierrez the amount the HCSB spends on utilities between WREC and Duke Energy, just over $6 million. He suggested looking into solar panels and the possible revenue that could be gained from the energy produced. Gutierrez believes that this would allow the district to pay the teachers higher salaries, pay for programs for students, and purchase a scrubber.
Jimmy Lodato congratulated the Board and the finance department for coming up with a balanced budget for the upcoming year. Spring Hill Elementary Principal Michael Maine was commended for engaging the community to buy the floor scrubber and Lodato stated he contributed to the account.
Lodato referenced an article in Tampa Bay Times by Barbara Behrendt which stated “Man Claims LaRocca Ruined His Marriage.” LaRocca, a wrestling coach at Springstead High School who is running for a seat on the County Commission, states the relationship was consensual. Lodato, who is campaigning for same seat on the BOCC, suggested the HCSB should investigate the allegations and determine whether or not they are true. According to Lodato, if true, then LaRocca violated trust and makes the district vulnerable to sexual harassment lawsuits. If there are policies in place to address these situations then they should be followed; if not, then they should be implemented, Lodato stated.