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Friday, September 6, 2019

Jason Fischer turns his attacks towards superintendent Greene

Jason Fischer, Lenny Curry and Gary Chartrand routinely compete for who is the worst. Fischer today pulled into the lead and he did it on behalf of the other two.

Fischer amended his universally reviled J-1 bill which would have the school board appointed, to making the superintendent elected. Um, think about that, originally he thought elections were the problem and we needed appointments, now he thinks appointments are the problem and we need elections. He is a bad joke that unfortunately the people of Jacksonville have to endure.

From Florida Politics, 


On Friday afternoon, the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee planned to consider a motion to oppose proposed changes to the local school board.
But before they could do that, the bill was changed.
Ordinance 2019-595 would express opposition to a proposed “local bill” in the state Legislature that would allow the Jacksonville Mayor to appoint the Duval County School Board.
Hours before the meeting, the local bill proposed was changed. The new version scraps that and seeks an elected superintendent, a move that would align Duval with 41 other counties in the state.
Local Bill J-1 was drafted in August by state Rep. Jason Fischer, a former School Board member.
Fischer is an ally of Mayor Lenny Curry, and Curry wants an elected Superintendent — currently an appointed position.
Fischer explained the changes Friday, saying there was “no better way to strengthen voters’ voices and control over their local school system than to elect the Superintendent.”
Hahahaha, Jason said he cared about voters, oh boy I am just glad I wasn't drinking milk when I read that,
Jason doesn't care about anybody but himself, though he will do the bidding of Curry, Chartrand and others if he thinks it will get him somewhere. They think if the position is elected they can get some big dollar player in here to take the job, instead of somebody with expertise and experience, someone who will aid them with their agenda to privatize our schools. They are comic book villains  
Fischer is the worse and more and more people are coming to realize that.
One last thing, when we had a white guy super, one who cow towed to the city's elite, this wasn't a discussion and that should really tell you all you need to know.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

The state board of ed considering taking away more control from local school boards

There is not one educator on the state board of education. They lack any experience or expertise but that didn't stop them from being appointed to the board because here in Florida, the state board isn't here to help public ed, it's here to dismantle it.

Okay the article below is about a proposed rule to require school districts to get permission to change principals at certain schools, I have no doubt this is just a precursor to state takeover of schools, something the commissioner of education and board believe will hasten their privatization agenda.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2019/09/03/turnaround-schools-would-need-state-approval-to-change-principals-under-new-proposal/

Turnaround schools already have to replace teachers often given just days notice to do so forcing them to start year with subs or inexperienced teachers.

Now they want districts to get permission to change principals. How can this rule possible assist kids?  The answer is having Tallahassee control our schools does not help our kids because Tallahassee wants our public schools to fail to hasten their privatization agenda.

This is what the state constitution says about school boards.

Text of Section 4:
School Districts; School Boards
(a) Each county shall constitute a school district; provided, two or more contiguous counties, upon vote of the electors of each county pursuant to law, may be combined into one school district. In each school district there shall be a school board composed of five or more members chosen by vote of the electors in a nonpartisan election for appropriately staggered terms of four years, as provided by law.
(b) The school board shall operate, control and supervise all free public schools within the school district and determine the rate of school district taxes within the limits prescribed herein. Two or more school districts may operate and finance joint educational programs.[1]


Um notice it doesn't say school boards have to get permission to change a principal, and this is just one glaring example.

Yet Tallahassee strips away local control more and more and the courts now packed are helping them.


In Florida we aren't being led, we are being ruled and done so by interests who would destroy public ed and the teaching profession to the detriment of the state.  

Richard Corcoarn has selective accountability

The cabal that runs Florida Education system has selective accountability It's on steroids for public schools while charters and voucher schools barely have any.  You would think that when it comes to safety all the schools would be treated alike but not even there.

From the Sun Sentinel,

As Florida commissioner of education, and before that as speaker of the Florida House, Richard Corcoran has talked a lot about accountability. But he applied it selectively in the case of a charter school that failed to adequately protect its own students, in Broward, of all places.
The school failed to provide a safe environment for its more than 500 students on the opening day of school, as the law requires in this tense and troubling post-Parkland world.
As a result, the Broward school district took the unprecedented and correct step of seizing control of Championship Academy of Distinction in Davie after the district said the school ignored repeated warnings since April to comply with a state law and provide a school safety officer on Day One.
On Aug. 20, the day Broward took decisive action, Corcoran sent a letter to Superintendent Robert Runcie calling it “problematic for several reasons.” He recommended intermediate steps instead. Suddenly, accountability didn’t seem so urgent...
The tough-talking Corcoran issued another ultimatum to school districts on Holocaust education, hinting at financial penalties, after a controversy at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton in which a former principal said there was debate over whether the Holocaust happened. The commissioner has also suggested a possible takeover of struggling public schools.
Corcoran is the undisputed political champion of school choice expansion in Florida, to the detriment of public education, and his affinity for charter schools is well known. On his watch as speaker, charter schools first became eligible for construction money previously earmarked for traditional public schools. His wife Anne founded a charter school in their home county of Pasco, north of Tampa.
Hoo Boy
Okay
Deep breaths.
Friends accountability in Florida isn't about making sure things get done, money is properly spent and our children are taken care of. Instead its a weapon that Tallahassee uses to bludgeon public schools because they wish to seen them eliminated.
We can fight back or allow them to drown public ed in the bath tub, those are our options.

The state's voucher provider Step up for Students runs roughshod over the rules

A billion dollars that is what the state diverts from the treasury that would go to education to pay for vouchers.

Tens of millions, that's what they state started to spend straight from the treasury this year.

Where private schools that take vouchers might be good, we really have no idea because they are so lightly regulated and monitored.

We do know the accountability measures that are so important for public schools are practically non existent for voucher schools, despite them both being financed with public money.

Here is a great piece where you can learn more.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-schools-without-rules-story-gallery-storygallery.html

Step up for Students is the number one provider of vouchers in Florida and a scathing audit revealed they aren't very good at following the rules or spending the tax payers money. Who wants to bet Tallahassee wont care, because accountability is only for public schools.

Here is a brief summary provided by Accountabaloney

 Image may contain: text
https://flauditor.gov/pages/pdf_files/2020-020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2OCmt6aYPoRT9mZQ5ZLw_ThcaAWQ6MhBTVg-IBTquoh9zcl2KYOMSW84o

Sigh, why are some things required of public schools that choice schools are exempt from? Public schools experience accountability on steroids, while charter schools have a lot less regulations, while voucher schools have none.

Well friends, we don't need to ask why because we know, it's the destruction of public education and the teaching profession that Tallahassee wants and because of that organizations like Step up for Students can do as they want with nary a consequence. 

Florida's chair of the state board of education, Andy Tuck, doesn't believe in evolution

He doesn't believe in public education either and that's why his is on the state board but that's another 
story.

Um, it's 2019 right? Not 1719?  Okay, just checking.

From the I can't make this up file, one of the most important people in education, state board of education chair, Andy Tuck, doesn't believe in evolution. This is us, this is Florida.

From Florida Citizens for Science,

Florida has a new Board of Education chairman: Andy Tuck.
When the state science standards were rewritten in 2008, Tuck was vice chairman of the Highlands County school board. Several school boards passed resolutions opposing the inclusion of evolution in the new standards. Highlands seriously considered a resolution but eventually backed down. But Tuck did say this:
School Board Vice Chairman Andy Tuck said Thursday, “as a person of faith, I strongly oppose any study of evolution as fact at all. I’m purely in favor of it staying a theory and only a theory.
“I won’t support any evolution being taught as fact at all in any of our schools.”
Then in 2014 Tuck was appointed the state board of education. Reporters recalled his earlier stance on evolution and so decided to follow up with him now that he was at the state level. This is what he said:
“I’m not an evangelical right-winger,” he told me. “I’m not trying to get religion in schools.”
[…]
Tuck said his problem is that scientists can’t say for certain how the universe began.
“I guess the thing I struggle with is you’re teaching evolution to fifth-graders and you get done and one says, ‘Where did it start?’” he said. “And you say what?”
http://www.flascience.org/?p=3494

Um what?

Friends it hasn't been the theory of evolution for quite some time.

In some of the voucher schools, that Tuck also champions, they teach junk science like humans and dinosaurs lived together, and junk and offensive history, like Slaves with Jesus in their heart were free as anybody.

Tuck being in the state board, let alone the chair, can steer, policy, text books, and standards and for him to not believe in basic science is more than troubling.

But what is perhaps more troubling is how people are picked for the state board, and criteria number one seems to be how much you donated to the governor.

These are troubling times.

To read more click the links,

https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2019/08/08/florida-board-of-education-chairman-takes-beating-over-past-comments-on-evolution/

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20190806/cerabino-evolving-backward-in-florida-schools-with-new-board-of-ed-chairman  

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran straight up says he wants to destroy public education. I can't make this stuff up

Richard Corcoran is Florida's commissioner of education, not because he has experience or is qualified for the job in any way what so ever,  it's because he wants to destroy public education and whether it was by mistake or because he feels emboldened he admitted so.

From WFSU.org,

When Gov. Ron DeSantis named Corcoran to lead the state’s public school system, traditional school advocates worried about what it would mean. Florida had about 2.8 million kids enrolled in public schools last year. Now, though, Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna worries those fears are being validated.
“I met several months ago with the commissioner of education and he made no bones about it. He sees nothing wrong with cutting our traditional public school system by two-thirds.”
Corcoran wasn’t able to be reached for comment. A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education sent the following statement:
“Every parent deserves the opportunity to choose the educational environment that best serves their child, whether it is a traditional public school, public charter school, private school, magnet school, home education or virtual school. Since children have different learning needs, it is vitally important that parents and guardians have a wide range of available school choice options so they can make the best choice possible for their child."
Hardly a denial.
Corcoran would like nothing better than to see traditional public schools replaced with a hodge podge of charters and voucher schools and he could care less that those options are inferior, and exclude children.
Friends, we have to wake up the future of public ed and our children are on the line.  

Monday, September 2, 2019

Why the fight against a November Referendum vote? The opponents think it would pass

One of the reasons the mayor and city council have fought so brutally against the sales tax referendum is because they are pretty sure it would pass and they could not have that.

Revitalized schools and neighborhoods are to much of a threat to their plan to completely privatize Duval County. and they also know if they can run out the clock Tallahassee may pas some onerous law forcing a proportional split of any funds with charter schools.

They know the last two polls say there is between 56 and 70 percent support and they are quite wiling to sacrifice our schools and children upon the alter of privatization.

In the Times Union today the families at one Public School, Fishweir elementary said enough.
Fishweir Elementary School parents, speak out in support of facilities plan
We are parents of students who attend Fishweir Elementary School, and several of us attended the recent City Council meeting in which council members voted to withdraw the Duval County School Board’s proposed half-cent sales tax referendum.
City Councilwoman LeAnna Cumber kicked off the discussion by voicing her support for withdrawing the proposal. Cumber argued that the School Board has not been straightforward and noted specifically that Fishweir Elementary was not slated for upgrades until 11 years into the school district’s actual master plan.
Our own School Board representative, Charlotte Joyce, has likewise warned us that Fishweir will not be updated for a decade or more — as if that should diminish our support for the School Board’s plan to upgrade the district’s facilities.
We would like to state that we fully support the School Board’s plan and its timeline for building upgrades.
This isn’t about self-interest. This is about doing the right thing, which is why the sales tax funds should first be used to upgrade the schools that are in the worst condition.
We reject any attempts to divide us from our fellow parents across the Duval County Public Schools district.
And we reject any attempts to carve out a portion of the sales tax funds for charter schools on a per pupil basis.
The sales tax money should be used to bring the school buildings up to modern standards — and the charter school parents who live in our neighborhood agree.
The fact of the matter is that the voters have been and remain largely in support of the School Board’s plan. If only they were given the right to express this sentiment at the polls in November.
This letter was signed by more than 70 parents of Fishweir Elementary School students. 
Friends our mayor and city council are willing to fight against children and schools getting what they need so their mega donors can get paid millions in public dollars and we shouldn't forget that for a second. They don't care about kids, they care about dollars going into the pockets of charter school owners pockets. 

Sunday, September 1, 2019

The architect of the referendum crisis, Gary Chartrand's run of the mill civic engagement

There is no doubt that Gary Chartrand, who collects politicians like I used to collect baseball card is behind the referendum fight in Jacksonville. He has both an irrational hatred of public schools and love of charters.

The Ponte Vedra millionaire was on First Coast Connect a few weeks back where she asked him if he was using his out sized influence to dictate what was happening and he replied that he was engaging in just run of the mill civic engagement.

https://news.wjct.org/post/81919-democrats-call-investigation-mayors-office-jax-civic-council-cole-pepper

He is either dumb or he thinks we are.

Does the normal run of the mill citizen give over 50 k to the mayor or donate from four different accounts, or give to 9 different current city council members, because that's what Chartrand has done

Friends, does any of this seem like run of the mill civic engagement?


ypeDateCandidateOfficeContributor/VendorAmountCont Type/PurposeTypeOccupationAmendReport
ContributionQ3
Contribution6/26/2014Curry, Lenny-653Mayor
UNREASONABLE LEADERSHIP BOOK L
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckINVESTMENTM6
Contribution6/23/2016Jones, Warren-747School Board Dist 5
Unreasonable Leadership Book,
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Bch, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckBook SalesP1
Contribution7/19/2016Tison, Greg-735School Board Dist 7
Unreasonable Leadership Book,
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckEducationP3
Contribution3/30/2018Curry, Lenny-831Mayor
"UNREASONABLE LEADERSHIP BOOK
139 PONTE VEDRA BLVD
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckLAND DEVELOPMENT

TypeDateCandidateOfficeContributor/VendorAmountCont Type/PurposeTypeOccupationAmendReport
Contribution6/26/2014Curry, Lenny-653Mayor
CHARTAIR HOLDINGS LLC
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckINVESTMENTM6
Contribution7/19/2016Tison, Greg-735School Board Dist 7
Chartair Holdings, LLC
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach , Fl 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckAviationP3
Contribution3/30/2018Curry, Lenny-831Mayor
"CHARTAIR HOLDINS, LLC"
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckPROPERTY INVESTMENTSM3
Contribution4/16/2018Chauncey, Dave-840School Board Dist 6
Chartair Holdings, LLC
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckHoldingCompanyM4



TypeDateCandidateOfficeContributor/VendorAmountCont Type/PurposeTypeOccupationAmendReport
Contribution6/23/2016Jones, Warren-747School Board Dist 5
Messenger of the Truth, LLC
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Bch, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckDocumentaryP1
Contribution4/16/2018Chauncey, Dave-840School Board Dist 6
Messenger of the Truth LLC
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$1,000.00BusinessCheckOrganizationM4
Total Contributions$2,000.00
Total Expenditures$0.00


1/21/2015Gaffney, Reggie-684City Council District 7
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$500.00IndividualCheckSales andMarketingF2
Contribution1/21/2015Republican Party of Duval County, -551Political Party
Gary Chartrand
6600 Corporate Center Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32216-0973
$5,000.00IndividualCheckMarketing Exec.F7
Contribution1/30/2015Greater Jacksonville PC, Together For A-650Political Committee
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponta Vedra BLVD
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$25,000.00IndividualChecksales /marketingF2
Expenditure2/1/2015Holland, Jerry-582Property Appraiser
Gary R. Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$250.00refund partial contrib.Disposition of FundsTRQ
Contribution
F3
Contribution2/28/2015Bowman, Aaron-695City Council District 3
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Boulevard
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$500.00IndividualCheckCEOF6
Contribution
G3
Contribution.G5
Contribution8/12/2015Republican Party of Duval County, -551Political Party
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$5,000.00IndividualCheckMarketingExecutiveQ3
Contribution2/29/2016Grymes, Cheryl-733School Board Dist 1
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckSales &MarketingM2
ContributionM2
Contribution5/5/2016Yes for Jacksonville PC, c/o Eric Robinson, Treasurer-740Political Committee
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$25,000.00IndividualCheckSALES/MARKETINGM5
Contribution5/31/2016Tison, Greg-735School Board Dist 7
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach , Fl 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExecutiveM5
Contribution6/23/2016Jones, Warren-747School Board Dist 5
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Bch, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExecutiveof AcostaP1
ContributionP1
ContributionP3
Contribution8/8/2016c/o Vic Cirillo, Treasurer, Republican Party of Duval Co. Executive Comm. (PPEC)-722Political Party
The Gary R Chartrand Trust
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$5,000.00OtherCheckTrustAddP7
Contribution3/12/2017Salem, Ron-755City Council At Large Group 2
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualChecksales &marketingM3
Contribution5/18/2017Shine, Scott-759School Board Dist 2
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckBusinessExecutiveM5
Contribution10/25/2017Diamond, Rory-781City Council District 13
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, fl 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckRetiredM10
ContributionM10
Contribution10/31/2017Cumber, LeAnna-786City Council District 5
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckEXECUTIVEM10
Contribution1/20/2018Boylan, Michael-796City Council District 6
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckWholesaleManagementM1

M2
Contribution2/26/2018Conry, Rose-787City Council District 6
GARY CHARTRAND
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckEXEC SALES/MARKETINGM2
ContributionM3
Contribution3/30/2018Curry, Lenny-831Mayor
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExec Consumer GoodsM3
ContributionM3
Contribution3/30/2018Jacksonville On The Rise, -825Political Committee
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$25,000.00IndividualCheckCEO SALES/MARKETINGM3
ContributionM4
Contribution4/16/2018Chauncey, Dave-840School Board Dist 6
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckCompanyExecutiveM4
Contribution4/23/2018Shine, Scott-759School Board Dist 2
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Jax, FL 32082
$-1,000.00IndividualRefundCEO AcostaM4
Contribution6/11/2018Howland, Nick-848School Board Dist 2
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Boulevard
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32802
$1,000.00IndividualCheckBusinessExecutiveP1
ContributionM6
Contribution7/11/2018Hazouri, Tommy-863City Council At Large Group 3
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32223
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExecutiveM7
ContributionP3
Contribution7/31/2018Jones, Mia-859Tax Collector
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Boulevard
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExecutiveP5
Contribution9/26/2018Jacksonville On The Rise, -825Political Committee
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$25,000.00IndividualCheckCEO SALES/MARKETINGM9
Contribution10/17/2018Jones, Mia-859Tax Collector
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Boulevard
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$500.00IndividualCheckConsultantG6
Contribution11/29/2018Bowman, Aaron-924City Council District 3
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckRetiredM11
ContributionM11
Contribution12/15/2018Pittman, JuCoby-926City Council District 8
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Ave
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckBusinessmanM12
Contribution1/15/2019Freeman, Terrance-935City Council At Large Group 1
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExecutiveF2
ContributionF2
Contribution1/16/2019Jackson, Brenda A. Priestly-922City Council District 10
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Beach Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$1,000.00IndividualCheckExecutiveF2
ContributionF2
Contribution1/25/2019Jacksonville On The Rise, -825Political Committee
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
$25,000.00IndividualCheckCEO SALES/MARKETINGF2
ContributionF3
ContributionF3
ContributionG1
ContributionG1
Contribution3/22/2019Gettinger, Sunny-817City Council District 14
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Ponte Vedra Bea, FL 320821313
$1,000.00IndividualCheckMarketing CEOG1
ContributionG1
ContributionG2
ExpenditureTRQ
Contribution4/2/2019Hazouri, Tommy-863City Council At Large Group 3
Gary Chartrand
139 Ponte Vedra Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32223



$1,000.00Indi