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Monday, March 26
Letter from Parent in the OCSB district
by
Mary Jo
on Mon 26 Mar 2007 09:42 AM EDT
The March 15, 2007 Orlando Sentinel commentary by Tammy L. Carter article on Hungerford Prep (in the Good Living section) struck a nerve. Here is another situation where the school board is not listening to what the parents and students want. I realize this is a C rated school, but I personally measure schools by more that just FCAT scores.....there are many reputable private and Christian schools that would probably not score an A rating on FCAT, it does not mean the education received is any less desirable. What does rank important to me is how the parents and students feel ... more »
Thursday, March 8
Closing Schools? Never Mind
by
Mary Jo
on Thu 08 Mar 2007 03:57 PM EST
The Orange school district's controversial plan to consider closing or merging nearly two dozen of its smaller elementary schools has been put to rest, at least for now.
Superintendent Ron Blocker announced Monday that closing or combining any of the schools wouldn't help the district shed its old federal desegregation court order. And that had been the point. So he won't recommend the board do anything with the 21 schools, ... more »
Response from School Board Chairperson
by
Mary Jo
on Thu 08 Mar 2007 08:23 AM EST
Thank you for copying me on your update. Just one thing that may need a little clarification, our school board frequently encounters “controversial issues” and I don’t want everyone to think that every time we encounter a controversial issue we will have a community meeting. There simply are not enough hours in the day- depending on what you consider “controversial”.
I think this is very important. If, in the future, the superintendent recommends that we close or merge a school, that recommendation will be made to the board in a public meeting (work session) with supporting data. If at ... more »
Community Schools OPen for Time Being
by
Mary Jo
on Thu 08 Mar 2007 08:06 AM EST
Dear Communities, Thank you for reading all of our email alerts over the last 5 months. We realize that it may have seemed like too much information at times, but our goal was to both info and generate widespread interest and concern about this issue of crucial concern to the well-being of our children and our neighborhoods. Several important decisions were made in the last two days: OCPS Superintendent Ronald Blocker announced at a press conference (a transcript of the entire press conference is available on the savecommunityschools.com website) on Monday, ... more »
Tuesday, March 6
Transcript: OCPS Briefing March 5, 2007
by
Mary Jo
on Tue 06 Mar 2007 03:31 PM EST
OCPS Press Briefing Superintendent Ron Blocker re: small schools merging 03/05/07 It’s very clear that the idea of achieving unitary status has generated quite a bit of interest in the community; in various communities, over the last couple of months, so I thought it would be good if I gave you a sneak preview of what I’m going to be recommending to the Board tomorrow afternoon. The district is seeking relief from a Federal court order for allowing discrimination and inequitable conditions to exist in our schools prior to 1971. To prove to the court that Orange County Public Schools ... more »
Sentinel Reports: School District to Seek Other Options
by
Tom
on Tue 06 Mar 2007 09:41 AM EST
School district to seek other options in desegregation Erika Hobbs
Sentinel Staff WriterMarch 5, 2007, 2:50 PM EST Orange County school officials will not merge several small, inner-city Orlando elementary schools, under a highly controversial plan the district thought last year would propel them toward a release from a federal court order to desegregate its schools. Superintendent Ron Blocker, however, did not rule out the possibility that some of the schools could be closed or consolidated later if other research showed the district could save money by doing so. At a 1 p.m. news conference today, Blocker said that ... more »
OCPS Press Release
by
Tom
on Tue 06 Mar 2007 07:49 AM EST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE or more information, contact: Dylan Thomas/407.317.3368 March 5, 2007 Schools will not be merged or closed in unitary status solution Orange
County Public Schools Superintendent Ronald Blocker revealed today that
he will not recommend the school board merge or close any schools in
order to satisfy a federal court-imposed desegregation order. Blocker
said, “This was an exercise staff took up with its expert legal counsel
and presented to the school board – in the sunshine - back in October.
We wanted to see if merging small schools could facilitate our filing
for unitary ... more »
Orlando Sentinel Reports on Desegregation:
by
Tom
on Tue 06 Mar 2007 07:46 AM EST
Desegregation oversight may end for schools
Orange nears a deal with the NAACP and could be out from under federal scrutiny within 6 months.Erika Hobbs | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 6, 2007
Officials
with Orange County Public Schools said Monday that they are nearing a
deal to end 45 years of federal court supervision over the district's
efforts to overcome its segregated past.
The district is
negotiating with the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People to settle the lawsuit, first filed in the 1960s, that
forced the district to admit blacks and whites to the same ... more »
WFTV reports on School Closures
by
Tom
on Tue 06 Mar 2007 07:25 AM EST
Monday, March 5
March 6 - OSCB School Closure Recommendations Meeting!
by
Tom
on Mon 05 Mar 2007 08:47 AM EST
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 20077 marks the date for a board workshop on the controversial merging schools topic. Time: 4:30 p.m. Location: It is at the Educational Learning Center (ELC) at 445 W. Amelia in downtown Orlando. The evaluation has been completed and the
superintendent will be bringing a recommendation to the board so it is
CRUCIAL that you come prepared to show your position to SAVE OUR
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS! There is POWER in numbers! We are asking that you come and show your support for your school. Please wear your school's "pride" shirt and come prepared to take notes. The ... more »
Sunday, March 4
Electing Leader Might Get Schools On Track
by
Mary Jo
on Sun 04 Mar 2007 06:33 AM EST
Electing leader might get schools on track
by Scott Maxwell- Orlando Sentinel
Published March 4, 2007
Ask a dozen people to name the top leaders in Central Florida, and few will mention anyone who has anything to do with educating our children. That's not hypothetical. It's real. Each recent year, this column has asked more than a dozen of the most plugged-in and involved observers to rank the region's most effective leaders -- and never has anyone leading Orange County's schools made the cut, even though public education is considered one of the most important issues facing our community. There's ... more »
Friday, February 23
City Council Posts Their Thoughts on OCSB Proposed Ideas
by
Mary Jo
on Fri 23 Feb 2007 05:12 AM EST
Commissioner Patty Sheehan Orlando City Council, District 4February 6, 2007 To Concerned Parents of District 4 Children and The Orange County School Board: I have received many calls and e-mails regarding concerns over the possibility of closing community schools. In light of Superintendent Ron Blocker’s appearance at the Orlando City Council on February 5th, I feel it is imperative that I reiterate my concerns and pledge my support for keeping Orange County elementary schools located within our neighborhoods. Last fall, the School Board heard a staff proposal to close/merger some of the smaller elementary schools. Of the 21 schools ... more »
Wednesday, February 14
Orlando Sentinel Reports on OCPS and Concerns of Parents
by
Tom
on Wed 14 Feb 2007 10:11 AM EST
Orange schools ignore concerns, parents say. When a district and parents clash, the district usually wins -- up to a point, experts say.Erika Hobbs | Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer Posted February 13, 2007 Redrawing school zones can be confusing -- proposed boundaries for the Windermere area create an elementary school filled mostly with white students, send a neighborhood one block down from a new school to an older one miles away, and leave yet another campus half-empty. Parents say that though the Orange County School Board is set to vote on the Windermere plan tonight, district officials could have ... more »
Friday, February 9
OCPS schedules Unitary Work Session March 6, 2007!
by
Tom
on Fri 09 Feb 2007 03:12 PM EST
The OCPS school board has posted a work session on Unitary status to be held on March 6, 2007. The meeting will begin at 4:30pm. Although we will not be able to voice an opinion at this session, we can make a statement with our presence. This meeting is open to the public and we HIGHLY encourage you to make a way to be present at this meeting. Not only will this show support for your schools to your individual School Board Representative, it will also show a unity within our communities as the school board has probably not seen ... more »
Monday, February 5
City Council Requests OCSB to Present on Unitary Status
by
Mary Jo
on Mon 05 Feb 2007 06:31 PM EST
Orange County School Board Superintendent Ron Blocker made a presentation on unitary status as it relates to school facilities at today's (2/5/2007) City Council meeting. All seven City Council members asked Mr. Blocker pointed questions about their staff's proposal to possibly close some elementary schools. Listen to a replay of the meeting at 7 p.m. tonight on Orange TV . All of the City Council members mentioned how many calls, letters and questions that they had had from concerned constituents, so THANKS and keep up the good work. more »
Wednesday, January 31
Parent Letter About the Deligation Meeting
by
Mary Jo
on Wed 31 Jan 2007 10:46 AM EST
Lynn asked me to update you all on what was said at the Orange County Legislative Delegation Meeting held today.
Mary Jo Markel, who is one of the Pershing parents, brought the issue of school closings related to the Unitary Status Ruling, to the attention of this committee. She had three minutes to speak and gave the committee as much background information on the issue of the 21 schools that are up for possible closure. (She did an incredible job)
The Orange County School Board Attorney then spoke. He said that they were looking at schools that were "below operational efficiency levels" ... more »
Tuesday, January 30
Orlando Sentinel Reports: Schools challenged on Merger Plans
by
Tom
on Tue 30 Jan 2007 05:06 PM EST
Erika Hobbs | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 30, 2007Orange County school officials did not bow to lawmakers' demands to promise to preserve campuses in a controversial school-merger plan Monday, but in the end, legislators could get their way.
In the latest battle that pits politician against educator over the control of local schools, state Rep. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, called on the Orange County School Board to justify a plan to close and merge some schools and to promise not to sell surplus land to developers if it moves forward.
Orange declined to make promises, although Frank Kruppenbacher, the ... more »
Friday, January 26
Orange County Legislative Delegation Meeting: Monday Jan. 29, 3pm
by
Tom
on Fri 26 Jan 2007 09:05 AM EST
Save Community schools will be presenting the school closure/merger information to our local House of Representatives and Senators on this coming Monday afternoon. This meeting is open to the public and we are in need of YOUR PRESENSE at this meeting! We need at least 2 members from each school from the '21 school list' to be present to show your passion for this situation and for the children in our communities. We need to show a unified group who is coming together for a major cause. The meeting will start at 3pm on Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at the ... more »
Friday, January 12
Supreme Court Hears Cases related to Unitary Status
by
Mary Jo
on Fri 12 Jan 2007 12:09 PM EST
Here is some detailed information regarding the recent arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in two cases that dealt with school districts trying to maintain diversity. The outcome of these decisions may impact how OCSB goes forward with it's decision making regarding unitary status.Please go to:
http://www.oyez.org/media/item?type=audio&id=argument&parent=cases/2000-2009/2006/2006_05_915
to view the opening arguments against Unitary Status from the Supreme Court of the United States. more »
Meet the OCSB Members at a PTA Breakfast
by
Mary Jo
on Fri 12 Jan 2007 10:20 AM EST
OCCPTA LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST FEATURING GUEST SPEAKER LOU FREY
NOW
Friday, February 2, 2007
7:30AM – 9:00AM
Stonewall Jackson Middle School
6000 Stonewall Jackson Road
Orlando, FL. 32807$12.00 per person
Please view attached registration form for more information....
The Save Community Schools team HIGHLY encourages as many people as possible to attend. The City and County Commissioners will most likely be in attendance along with our School Board Officials. Take the time to share your concerns with them! more »
 1 Attachments
Saturday, January 6
Next Level of Letter Writing Campaign
by
Mary Jo
on Sat 06 Jan 2007 10:42 PM EST
The letter writing campaign is off and running. PLEASE continue to write to the OCSB members and state your opinion and solutions to the possible community school closure/ merger ideas. Currently, all homeowners need to write letters to their City and County Commissioners about this topic. They should also remain informed and updated about the communities in which they represent.
The County Commissioners are listed on the www.ocfl.net web site- email for them are as follows:
Commissioner Jacobs district1@ocfl.net
Commissioner Brummer district2@ocfl.net
Commissioner Fernandez district3@ocfl.net
Commissioner Stewart district4@ocfl.net
Commissioner Segal district5@ocfl.net
Commissioner Moore district6@ocfl.net
All may be written formally
201 ... more »
Thursday, December 21
Small School Operting Costs
by
Tom
on Thu 21 Dec 2006 08:27 AM EST
Here is an interesting chart showing annual operating costs for Orange County's small schools. The chart includes year schools opened, acerage, sales tax, student enrollment, operating costs per student, annual operating costs and special programs. more »
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