Charlotte County Public Schools, Florida
From Sunshine Review
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Contents |
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Florida school district websites
[edit] The good
- Budget is published.[1]
- School board members are listed with contact information.[2] Meeting calendar, minutes, and agendas posted.[3]
- Curriculum[4] and student progression plans available.[5]
- Provides link to FCAT data.[6]
- Administrative officials listed with contact information.[7]
- Labor contracts posted.[8]
- Background check procedures posted.[9]
[edit] The bad
- Site does not have a search function.
- Does not provide information on taxes, vendor contracts, audits, and how to make public records requests.
[edit] School board
The school board controls school property, establishes, organizes, and operates the schools of the district, including: establishing schools, adopting enrollment plans, providing for school elimination and consolidation, cooperating with school boards of adjoining districts in maintaining schools, maintaining the school year schedule and other more specific duties as outlined in the Florida statute. [10]
It operates, controls and supervises the district's public schools as well as determines the rate of school district taxes, with the option of two or more school districts operating and financing educational programs together. Below are the school district board members:[11]
| Member | District | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Swift | District 1 | |
| Alleen Miller, Vice Chair | District 2 | |
| Andrea Messina | District 3 | |
| Sue Sifrit | District 4 | |
| Barbara Rendell, Chair | District 5 |
The district's superintendent is Dave Gayler.[12]
[edit] Teacher Contracts
In November 2005, after years of disagreement over the little input which teachers were afforded in the decision-making process for the district, union leaders and school district officials came to an agreement requiring the two groups to meet at least once per month in order to discuss working conditions, school curriculum, and other items of interest to the school district. This same November 2005 contract also included raising the starting pay for experienced teachers from $30,600 to $37,440 over three years, as well as increasing the longevity pay for teachers who have been in the district for many years. [13]
During this same meeting, the school board unanimously voted to enact a 4.6% pay raise for themselves, meaning they will now earn $31,516 up from $30,100.[13] Until 2002, Florida school board salaries were set by the Florida legislature based on county population; but legislatiors in 2002 determined that Florida school board members would be allowed to determine their own salaries. Florida school board members earn, on average, the highest figures of any school board members in the country. [14]
[edit] School Budget
For the 2009-2010 school year, the Charlotte County School District Chief Budget Officer Fran Brasseur says she projects the budget to be approximately $133 million, down from $140 million for the 2008-09 school year.[13] This news comes after a state house bill announced its intention to cut $500 million from the state’s public school system overall, which equates to a 2 percent cut across-the-board for each public school in Florida. In Charlotte County, this 2 percent cut means a total $2.39 million reduction in funds.[15]
For the 2009-10 school year, however, Charlotte County has set its sights on cutting $9.5 million from the general fund – and looking accomplish this cut without affecting the district’s employment. To do this, the district will continue the recent hiring freeze it instituted, along with asking individual departments to cut their own budgets. Included in these cuts are a $529,000 reduction in instructional materials and a $22,000 cut in dual enrollment instructional materials.[13]
In June 2009, school board members proposed a quarter mill increase in property taxes, which would equal about $25 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. According to Superintendent Dave Gayler, the revenue generated by the mills would be placed in an emergency-situation fund, which would be used as a buffer for such situations as mid-year state budget cuts. Without this increase in mills, says Gayler, personnel layoffs will be inevitable. To put the proposed mill increase in perspective, without the quarter mill, the year’s increase would be about 1.14 mills, resulting in a millage rate of around 7.50. With the mill, the rate increase would be approximately 1.39, resulting in a district millage rate of around 7.75.[16]
[edit] Academic Performance
Below are the academic grades for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years from Florida School Grades.[17] To see results, click "show".
| School | Level | Grade: 2007-08 | Grade: 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte High School | High | B | D |
| Deep Creek Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| East Elementary School | Elementary | B | B |
| Kingsway Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| L. A. Ainger Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Lemon Bay High School | High | B | B |
| Liberty Elementary School | High | B | B |
| Meadow Park Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Murdock Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Myakka River Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Neil Armstrong Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Peace River Elementary School | Elementary | B | A |
| Port Charlotte High School | High | A | A |
| Port Charlotte Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Punta Gorda Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Sallie Jones Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Vineland Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
[edit] Unions
The Charlotte Florida Education Association is the teacher's union for this school district.
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying
Taxpayer-funded lobbying, public entities using funds to lobby for special interests, happens in cities, counties, and other entities. These activities are hard to track. The issues lobbied for may be diverse, but school lobbying typically deals with issues close to the school district or school board.
In July 2009, Sunshine Review submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to the 27 Florida school districts with lobbyists registered for 2009 with the Florida legislature. [18] The results are included in Florida school districts lobbying totals. (For information on the project or to start your own, see the project page.) Charlotte County Public Schools has one registered lobbyists with the Florida legislature and executive for 2009. [19] [20]
The school district pays membership dues to the Florida School Boards Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.[21]
See also Florida school districts lobbying, 2009.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Charlotte County School District official website
- Great Schools - Charlotte County
- Public School Review - Charlotte County
[edit] References
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ School Board
- ↑ Meetings
- ↑ Curriculum
- ↑ Student Progression Plan
- ↑ FCAT
- ↑ Directory
- ↑ Employee Contracts
- ↑ Background Check
- ↑ School board powers and duties, Florida statute
- ↑ School board members
- ↑ Supterintendent
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Teacher contract formalizes 'input'; The proposal requires teachers and the school district to meet monthly, November 3, 2005
- ↑ Board gives itself a pay raise; The 2.4 percent pay increase will raise School Board members' salaries to $29,584 a year, November 26, 2003
- ↑ Proposed bill would cut millions from local schools
- ↑ Board vocalizes support for school tax hike, June 10, 2009
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Online Sunshine - Lobbying Information
- ↑ Florida Executive — 2009 Registrations By Principal Name
- ↑ Florida Legislature — 2009 Registrations By Principal Name
- ↑ Florida School Boards Association members list
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