SUPERINTENDENT’S WEEKLY REVIEW

March 7, 2011

Legislative Session Opens

This week marks the opening of the 2011 legislative session, and numerous bills impacting education have been filed. We are closely watching the proposed legislation that deals with Performance Pay/Tenure as it will dramatically change the way teachers and administrators are evaluated and paid. Essentially, this bill requires school districts to evaluate and pay teachers primarily on the basis of student test scores. It also eliminates tenure and requires districts to create end-of-course exams for all subjects and grade levels.

In addition, we are monitoring the work of the Legislature as they prepare the budget for the 2011-2012 school year. Governor Scott, in his budget recommendation to the Legislature, proposed a 10% reduction in funds to schools. These potential cuts come on the heels of cuts in 2008, 2009 and 2010, which have resulted in our overall budget being reduced by 25%. During this time we have increased enrollment by thousands of students.

To understand the dramatic effect of this type of cut, we would need to lose 275 teaching positions or 344 overall staff positions to balance our budget. We certainly do not intend to take this drastic action; however, the impact of the Governor’s cut is over $17 million to our school district. We certainly hope the Legislature will restore our funding so that we can meet the needs of our students. I discuss both of these issues in my recent podcast, which you can access from our website.

I encourage all citizens, including staff members, to pay very close attention to what is happening during the legislative session and to become actively involved by expressing your opinion. Our children need your voice.

Executive Cabinet

Community Relations Update by Margie Davidson

Strategic Plan

The 2010-2015 Strategic Plan was approved by the School Board in December, and the Strategic Plan team members have put together a presentation to share with staff at each school during the

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next three months. High schools are scheduled for 7:45 a.m., middle schools for 1:30 p.m. and elementary schools for 2:30 p.m. The event should last approximately 30 minutes, with time for questions following. All presentations will take place on Wednesdays because of the early release schedule. The first presentations are scheduled March 9 at St. Johns Technical High School, Sebastian Middle School, Liberty Pines Academy and Timberlin Creek Elementary School. Communication with employees is the first step in the implementation of the new Strategic Plan.

SREY

The annual School-Related Employee of the Year Reception will be held on Tuesday, March 22 at First Coast Technical College (FCTC). The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with registration and photos of the nominees. A reception will follow starting at 6:15 p.m., and the program will begin at 7 p.m. Thirty-four school representatives, along with three district nominees, will be honored at the event. Each SREY will receive an engraved pen and certificate, and the district winner will be announced that evening. Their name will then be forwarded to the regional competition.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program/Volunteer Services

Volunteer Reception

The Annual Outstanding School Volunteer and Volunteer Coordinator Reception will be held on Thursday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at FCTC. Honorees will include Outstanding School Volunteers in the youth, adult and senior categories, plus recognition of the Volunteer Coordinators at each school. The district winners for the Outstanding School Volunteers in each category will be announced at the reception, as well as the Parent Involvement Award winners.

Chocolate and Beyond Gala

The 18th Annual RSVP Chocolate and Beyond Gala was held last month. This anticipated event included an abundance of chocolate, appetizers and various desserts from some of the area’s finest culinary artisans and restaurants. Proceeds from the gala help fund the upcoming Annual RSVP Recognition Luncheon. This is a once-a-year event which gives RSVP the opportunity to say "thank you" to its more than 650 volunteers by providing lunch, awards and door prizes. The luncheon helps volunteers get revitalized in order to continue meeting critical community needs in St. Johns County. This year’s event will take place on May 3 at FCTC.

Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is April 10-16. This is a great time for us to stop and thank our volunteers for their tireless efforts. Their contributions make a huge impact in the lives of our students throughout St. Johns County, and the service and time they donate is priceless. The School Board will be recognizing Annual Volunteer Week at its monthly meeting in April. The 2010-2011 Golden and Silver Schools will be recognized at the May School Board meeting for their commitment in the areas of community volunteer service, volunteer coordination and student volunteer service.

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St. Johns Education Foundation

Consortium Meeting

Members of the St. Johns County Education Foundation will be attending the annual meeting of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations scheduled this week in Tallahassee. While there they will be visiting legislators and encouraging them to continue to support the matching funds program available to all district foundations in the state. The SJCEF uses these funds to provide Horizon Grants for schools and teachers.

Take Stock in Children

Take Stock in Children will host its New Beginnings luncheon next month as four new students sign contracts for TSIC scholarships. This brings the total number of TSIC students in St. Johns County to 52. Students who meet the criteria are eligible for four-year college scholarships.

ON THE HORIZON

AYCA Nominations

Monday, March 14 is the deadline to submit nominations for the character education awards program established by Character Counts! of St. Johns County. The awards are part of the American Youth Character Awards (AYCA) program and recognize high school juniors and seniors who exhibit the Six Pillars of Character. The program is open to current juniors and seniors attending high school in St. Johns County. Nomination forms are available on the school district website at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/cc/nominations.

Approximately three percent of the junior class at each high school and one percent of the senior class will be honored at the Eleventh Annual AYCA Banquet to be held April 28 at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village.

STATUS REPORTS

School Board Update

The School Board’s monthly meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8 in the School Board Administration Building at 40 Orange Street. The agenda includes recognition of the Overall 2011 River Region East Science Fair winners, the 2011 Rookie Teacher of the Year and

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Teacher of the Year, as well as retiring employees. There is also a presentation on Legislative Day by Bartram Trail High School students. Action items include requests for approval of two budget amendments.

Did You Know…?

Students from Pedro Menendez High School’s Masonry Program, sponsored by Cemex, won the Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation (FMAEF) Masonry Showcase for the fourth straight year. Menendez competed against six other schools, Camden County High School, Bradford Tech, Suwannee Tech, Traviss Tech, Marion Tech and West Nassau High School. There were 33 students participating, and Jacob Fulford from Menendez scored the highest points, 957 out of a possible 1,000.

Ray Robinson from Jim Allan Masonry in Gainesville, the Winner of the 2011 Brick 500 (Best Bricklayer in America) and the 2011 National 2nd place Fastest Trowel Winner, was on hand to inspire the young masons.

Ten elementary schools from St. Johns County participated in the recent 14 th Annual Bag It Up Drive to benefit Goodwill Industries. Students were encouraged to generate more than 60% participation among their student body to be eligible for a two-hour Radio Disney party. Both Liberty Pines Academy and PVPV/Rawlings had 100% participation. Mill Creek, Durbin Creek and Timberlin Creek all qualified for a party as well. The event was co-sponsored by Radio Disney and Firehouse Subs.

The Character Counts! Pillar for March is Trustworthiness.

“Trust builds relationships. Relationships build people.”

Duane Hodgin

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