The Informal School Board Meeting is a time for board members to discuss concerns with one another that are not necessarily brought to the regular board meeting. This week’s meeting touched on thankfulness for staff who pulled together during Hurricane Hermine, the recent election, and proposals for the legislature.
Gus Guadagnino brought up the negativity toward the School Board, and to Superintendent Dr. Lori Romano in particular, that exists in Hernando County. Guadagnino stated there are concerns because of the sudden departures of the Deputy Superintendent and the principal of Moton Elementary.
Rather than bring in a neutral party or group to improve the district’s image, Board Chairman Matt Foreman hopes that the 360 program, once fully developed and implemented, will help the district combat the negativity by getting to the root of the problems that exist in the district. Foreman stated that he has noticed the “ramping up” of negativity this election cycle, which has spilled over into the citizen comments during Board meetings.
“When you’re dealing with people’s children,” Foreman said, “there’s naturally going to be some tension.” The lawsuit regarding the FSA testing for 3rd grade students, and the appeal that has been filed, may also be a factor in the negativity.
Guadagnino believes a “false sense of us against them” has been successful in stripping away any pride in the educational system in place in Hernando County. “Do you know,” he said to Romano, “that if you last there, if they don’t drive you out in two years, that you would be the first – the longest – superintendent in this county for 27 years?”
“Yes,” Romano replied. “It speaks volumes.” She cited increasing graduation rates, decreasing dropout rates, maintaining a district-wide B average, and no budget cuts this year, as reasons to be proud. However, it is a minority of residents who persist in the negative communication.
“At some point, this community needs to come together,” said Romano. Only then will great things be accomplished for the students and teachers. “Someone has to take a stand to be able to take our schools back,” she said, and said that it will have to be the School Board members and the Superintendent and her team, who will take that stand.
The decision to close schools during the inclement weather from Hurricane Hermine was an example of the need for the community to “trust the leaders”, which used protocols and worked with districts in surrounding counties to determine when to close the schools in order to keep the children, teachers, and staff safe.
Addressing Moton Elementary, Romano said her team had visited the school the week before and thought that the principal had been making positive changes. Getting the resignation letter from a principal she supported and felt had the experience to lead the school, came as a shock to her. In 3 ½ years, Moton has had three principals, two who were removed due to performance issues.
“When you have 3300 employees that come to work every day in the district, there’s going to be non-renewals and turnover,” Romano said. Personnel changes in surrounding school districts are not highlighted in the media, she said, but it fits the narrative the media wants to portray in Hernando County.
Romano continued, “We need to get back to the business of running the school district, not what’s on Facebook or social media, or whatever it is that dictates how this district runs and functions. We have to know what we stand for, and stand for it. And that’s doing what’s right for kids.”
Focusing on what is right in the district is taking a backseat to judgments and criticisms, particularly at school board meetings. “I’d like to see the personal attacks go away,” said Johnson, while Guadagnino was more concerned about the impact on the teachers and students whose moment in the spotlight for their achievements is robbed by all the negativity.
Foreman stated during the public comment time, individuals have the right to express opinions, but he draws the line when they curse and make disparaging personal remarks toward individuals. He admitted that confidentiality about students and exceptionalities makes it difficult to respond.