Taylor County School District, Florida

From Sunshine Review

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Taylor County School District is a school district in Florida. The school system has a total attendance of 2,893 students project for the 2009-2010 school year. The Florida Department of Education provides a list of past, current, and future school enrollment totals for each district.

[edit] Website evaluation

Main article: Evaluation of Florida school district websites

[edit] The good

• Elected and administrative officials are listed with contact information.^[1]
• Board meeting minutes and agendas available.^[2] Upcoming meetings posted on front page.
• Includes information on FCAT^[3] and link to school accountability reports.^[4]
• Labor contracts are posted.^[5]

[edit] The bad

• Vendor contracts are not available.
• Does not provide information on budget, taxes, audits, and background checks.
• Information not provided on 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. ^[6]

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.

The Taylor County School District superintendent in 2009 was Paul Dyal.

Below are the school district board members:^[7]

Member	District
Brenda Carlton	District 2
Kenneth Dennis	District 5
Danny Lundy	District 4
Mark Southerland	District 1
Darrell Whiddon	District 3

[edit] Teacher contracts

In July 2009, the school board appointed 40 annual contract teachers. Twelve of the teaching positions will be funded through federal economic stimulus funds. A total of 8 positions have been cut from the district for the 2009-2010 school year. The district will be receiving $3 million less in the upcoming school year compared to the 2008-2009 school year.^[8]

The 2006-2009 teachers contract between the board and the Taylor Education Association included: $1,962.00 in annual employee insurance benefits, a yearly teacher assessment, teachers that receive an "outstanding" rating are eligible to receive a 5% pay raise, etc.^[9]

[edit] School budget

The most recently compiled school budget report for the district totals $31,914,000, split into roughly four components:

• Instruction: $16,015,000
• Teacher Salaries: $10,732,000
• Pupils: $1,352,000
• Total Support Services: $11,055,000

Additionally, the total student population is 3,378.^[10]

[edit] Academic performance

The Steinhatchee and Taylor County middle schools have both maintained grades in the "A" and "B" range three years in a row, according to Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) test results. However, the Taylor County High School received a "D" grade for the second time in three years in 2009.

According to 2009 results, 86% of 3rd graders scores above the state average in mathematics. In reading, 66% of 3rd graders scored slightly below the state average. However, in regards to the federal adequate yearly progress (AYP), 65% of district students met the requirement in reading and 68% met the requirement in math.^[11]

[edit] 2006-2009

Below is a chart of the school's grade based on the student's performance of the statewide test called the FCAT.^[12]

School	Level	Grade: 2006-07	Grade: 2007-08	Grade: 2008-09
Steinhatchee School	Combination	B	B	A
Taylor County Elementary School	Elementary	A	B	C
Taylor County High School	High	D	B	D
Taylor County Middle School	Middle	A	B	A

[edit] Unions

The Taylor Education Association (TEA) is the teacher's union for this school district. The statewide teachers union is the Florida Education Association.^[9]

[edit] Lobbying

Main article: Florida taxpayer-funded lobbying

The school district pays membership dues to the Florida School Boards Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying association.^[13]

[edit] School choice

Taylor County School District is comprised of a head start program, pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school, however the district does not have any charter school options.^[14] The state of Florida has two enrollment policies: intradistrict and interdistrict policies. In other words, students can transfer to other schools within and outside of the district.^[15]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

v • d • e School districts in Florida Alachua • Baker • Bay District • Bradford • Brevard • Broward • Calhoun • Charlotte • Citrus • Clay • Collier • Columbia • DeSoto • Dixie • Duval • Escambia • Flagler • Franklin • Gadsden • Gilchrist • Glades • Gulf • Hamilton • Hardee • Hendry • Hernando • Highlands • Hillsborough • Holmes • Indian River • Jackson • Jefferson • Lafayette • Lake • Lee • Leon • Levy • Liberty • Madison • Manatee • Marion • Martin • Monroe • Miami-Dade • Nassau • Okaloosa • Okeechobee • Orange • Osceola • Palm Beach • Pasco • Pinellas • Polk • Putnam • Santa Rosa • Sarasota • Seminole • St. Johns • St. Lucie • Sumter • Suwannee • Taylor • Union • Volusia • Wakulla • Walton • Washington Special school districts Florida School for the Deaf and Blind • Dozier/Okeechobee School District • Eckerd Youth District • Alexander D. Henderson University School • Florida State University Schools • Florida A&M Developmental Research School • P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School

v • d • e Florida school system Overview: State board of education • Commissioner of education • Department of Education • School Choice • Evaluation of Florida school district websites • List of Florida school districts Organizations: Foundation for Florida's Future • Florida Education Association • Florida School Boards Association • James Madison Institute

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