Okaloosa County School District, Florida
From Sunshine Review
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Contents |
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Florida school district websites
[edit] The good
- School board members are listed with contact information. Meeting schedule, minutes and agenda available.[1]
- Budget is published.[2]
- Audits are published.[3]
- Vendor[4] and labor contracts are available.[5]
- Pupil progression plan outlines how students' academic performance is evaluated.[6]
- Information on taxes is provided.[7]
- Administrative officials are listed with contact information under respective department.[8]
[edit] The bad
- Does not provide information on background checks 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. [9]
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.
In Okaloosa County, the five school board members are elected in the general election for four year terms. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected annually by the school board every November. [10] The Chairman presides at all board meetings and can appoint committees, call special meetings and appoint committees. The Vice-Chairman presides over meetings in the absence of the Chairman, and performs any other duties of the Chairman as required by circumstances. [10]
The Superintendent will serve as Secretary and Executive Officer of the School Board and serves as chairman during organizational meetings until the organization of the School Board is completed. The Superintendent also has the authority to call special and emergency meetings [10]
Below are the school district board members: [11]
| Member | District | Term | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy Frakes, Vice-Chairman | District 1 | 3rd | 2010 |
| Chuck Kelley, Chairman | District 2 | 2nd | 2012 |
| Rodney Walker | District 3 | 4th | 2010 |
| Cathy Thigpen | District 4 | 3rd | 2012 |
| Howard Hill | District 5 | 4th | 2010 |
The Superintendent for the Okaloosa County School District is Alexis Tibbetts. [12]
[edit] School Budget
In 2008-2009 the school district budget for Okaloosa schools was $214,769,515, with about $87,781,000 (which amounts to just over forty percent) going towards teacher salaries.[13] The Governor proposed that the legislature require the Okaloosa School board to increase the revenues from local taxpayers. The "required local effort" was increased by 2.4% for an additional $2.1 million tax burden. [13]
Additionally, there are roughly 31,000 students enrolled in the district.[14]
[edit] Mill revenue
Below are the mill rates collected by the school district for 2008-2009: [15]
| Tax | Millage Rate |
|---|---|
| Required Local Effort Tax | 5.2720 |
| Current Operating Discretionary Tax | 0.664 |
| Capital Improvement Tax | 1.688 |
| Total | 7.624 |
[edit] Academic performance
[edit] 2007-2009
Below is a chart of the school's grade based on the student's performance of the statewide test called the FCAT.[16] To see results, click "show".
| School | Level | Grade: 2007-08 | Grade: 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addie R. Lewis Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Annette P. Edwins Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Antioch Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Baker School | Combination | A | A |
| Bluewater Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Bob Sikes Elementary School | Elementary | B | A |
| C. W. Ruckel Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Choctawhatchee Senior High School | High | B | C |
| Clifford Meigs Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Collegiate High School At Northwest Florida State College | High | A | A |
| Crestview High School | High | A | A |
| Davidson Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Destin Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Destin Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Eglin Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Elliott Point Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Florosa Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Fort Walton Beach High School | High | A | A |
| James E Plew Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Kenwood Elementary School | Elementary | A | B |
| Lance C. Richbourg Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Laurel Hill School | Combination | A | A |
| Liza Jackson Preparatory School | Combination | A | A |
| Longwood Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Lula J. Edge Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Mary Esther Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Max Bruner Junior Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Niceville Senior High School | High | A | B |
| Northwest Florida Ballet Academie | Combination | A | A |
| Northwood Elementary School | Elementary | C | A |
| Ocean City Elementary School | Elementary | B | n/a |
| Shalimar Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Southside Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Valparaiso Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| W. C. Pryor Middle School | Middle | A | A |
| Walker Elementary School | Elementary | A | A |
| Wright Elementary School | Elementary | A | B |
[edit] Class Size
The Okaloosa School District had $32.7 million allocated in 2008-2009 for Class Size Reduction funding, an increase of $4.8 million. [13]Because the school district is in compliance with class size reduction guidelines, it is able to use approximately $14.3 million in funds flexibly for programs including increased funding for small elementary and middle schools, intensive reading initiatives, classroom assistants, and single gender classes. [13]
[edit] Unions
The Okaloosa County Education Association (OCEA) is the teachers' union for this school district [17]
In July of 2009 the Okaloosa County School District and the teachers' union reach an agreement that teachers will receive a 1.8% step increase without a raise because of budgetary constraints. [18]
[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. [19] The results are included in Florida school districts lobbying totals. (For information on the project or to start your own, see the project page.)
Okaloosa County School District has two registered lobbyists with the Florida legislature and executive for 2009. [20] [21] It is represented by the lobbying firm Heffley & Associates:
| Budget year | Amount |
| 2008-2009 | $45,000 |
| 2007-2008 | $50,000 |
| 2006-2007 | $70,000 |
| 2005-2006 | $70,000 |
| 2004-2005 | $70,000 |
| 2003-2004 | $60,000 |
Since 2004, the school district has spent $365,000 on representation from the lobbying firm.
The school district pays membership dues to the Florida School Boards Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.[22] At one point, the school also belonged to a similar group, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, but terminated their membership in 2004.[23] Dues were $14,000.[23]
[edit] Most recent
In 2009, Okaloosa County School District has spent $45,000 on lobbying expenditures, comprised of a contract with Heffley & Associates.
[edit] Teacher controversy
[edit] Niceville teacher resigns
Dan Kaster, a teacher and swim coach at Niceville High School in the Okaloosa County School District, submitted his resignation on April 20, 2009 after a week-long investigation into allegations that he had engaged in inappropriate communication with a student.[24]
[edit] Teacher suspended for email use
Lisa Nall, a technology trainer and former Ruckel Middle School teacher, was suspended in April 2009 for five days for "inappropriate use of School Board time to conduct personal business". Nall allegedly used School Board time and e-mail service to invoice clients and direct funds for her side-line business as a sales rep for "Tastefully Simple" between September 2008 and March 2009.[25]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official website of the Okaloosa School District
- Local School Directory - Okaloosa County
- School Matters - Okaloosa County
- School Finder - Okaloosa County
[edit] References
- ↑ School Board
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Audits
- ↑ Awarded Bids/Contracts
- ↑ Contract
- ↑ Student Progression Plan
- ↑ Taxpayer Information
- ↑ Departments
- ↑ School board powers and duties, Florida statute
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 School Board Policy Handbook
- ↑ Okaloosa County School Board
- ↑ Contact Superintedent
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Budgeting Process
- ↑ Okaloosa County School District Information
- ↑ District Summary Budget FY 2008-2009
- ↑ Florida School Accountability Reports
- ↑ Okaloosa County Education Association
- ↑ Northwest Florida Daily News - "Okaloosa teachers get step raises only" - July 24, 2009
- ↑ Online Sunshine - Lobbying Information
- ↑ Florida Executive — 2009 Registrations By Principal Name
- ↑ Florida Legislature — 2009 Registrations By Principal Name
- ↑ Florida School Boards Association members list
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Okaloosa contract with Heffley & Associates, 2004-2005
- ↑ Northwest Florida Daily News, "Niceville teacher resigns amid allegations", April 20, 2009
- ↑ "School employee suspended for 'personal business' at work"
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