After last meetings union problems, he may have felt that his legs had been cut out from under him. There is such a thing as a basic education that should be universal for all students including those in vocational studies. What is a board member to do? STUART, Fla. Martin County School Board members Tuesday night voted on what became a controversial proclamation related to specifically recognizing the LGBT community in schools. All students registered with the district will attend class every day. I received neither the link nor as of 8 am on Friday (with my deadline at hand) the Budget Book and I have only four of the six evaluations. The only one that was a bit contentious was who should set dress code policies. A vanity project or needed housingwhat do you think? They will decide at a meeting next week. The motion passed 5-0. Ms. Roberts and other board members were asking the same questions. Without specifics, there is nothing that can be done. Teachers should have the right to negotiate the highest pay and benefits that they can. Martin County School District, also referred to officially as the School Board of Martin County, is a public school district that covers Martin County, Florida. Calendar; 2020-2021 School Calendar; 2021-2022 School Calendar; 2022-2023 School Calendar; Staff . Note: Correspondence sent to School Board members is subject to Virginia's Freedom of Information Act. He thought there needed to be an agent of change hired. It seemed everyone was in favor of Option B. What is Martin County trying to accomplish? Then there is the growing home-school movement where parents get to spend perhaps too much time with their kids. From the other perspective, many districts were attempting to stretch the funds over the two-year period, so it wasnt surprising that only 25% of funds had been expended when only 25% of the designated time (6 months of the two years) had passed. The old high school building which is celebrating its centennial in 2023 will be having its 202-year birthday. I fondly remember my father telling me when I was in High School that if I knew how a teacher voted, they didnt belong in the classroom. And the people agreed with me.. What he does not remember was the level of disrespect and animosity on the part of the people at the meetings that he sees today. From what I know of their recommendations, there was no change in elementary and middle schools and only slight tweaks to the high school boundaries with no student currently enrolled being forced to switch to a new school. Whether that means driving to Palm Beach or St. Lucie Counties to find school jobs or to begin in a new profession, this is how markets work. This content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. Name. The item was probably (though not always) at least briefly discussed at a workshop. It is up to the superintendent to carry out their policy within existing law. And without support of the community, it never will. Like so much of government speak, it is unintelligible. (You can find ithere. This is not the first time this board has looked at switching from a more traditional insured plan to one where the district is more at risk for losses. Martin County Schools. Most expressed that it was not the place of the public schools to speak to non-educational matters. Both Russell and Pritchetts campaigns were aligned withconservative political talking points that have permeated School Board discussions since the COVID-19 pandemic advocating for parental rights, as well as opposing mask mandates anddiscussion of gender identity and critical race theory,a college-level academic theory,inclassrooms. Now it is up to the voters. Those who are vaccinated will not be required to quarantine following contact with a positive case. She is a lone voice for facts that the other board members do not want to hear. The district does need to make sure that these children are taken care of psychologically, physically, and academically. It was not just the board that could not move onto other subjects but the public speakers also. It must be recited at the beginning of the day by all students unless a parent opts their child out and students must stand. Russell received $1,000 donations from a handful of political action committees, some associated with the Republican Party: Friends of Ron DeSantis, Best By Kids, John Snyder for Florida and Heavens to Oceans, which is associated with state Rep. Toby Overdorf. In her last election she beat incumbent Rebecca Negron which was no easy feat. Until then, lets put down our rhetorical weapons and return to our ploughs. You can read the brief one-page memohere, Board member Roberts did an excellent breakdown of elementary school population by race and ethnic group. St. Lucie district schools have been improving steadily over the years. If you are just a couple of kids that want to use an empty taxpayer-owned field on the weekend or after school, then you are out of luck. Yet what good are busses without drivers? Ms. Pritchett was the one that dug most deeply into this matter. How is something like this possible in Martin County in 2022? You can view the maps, options, and agenda item here. Perhaps it was discussed at a workshop, but it should have been clarified again here. Any additional legal expertise needed would be under the chief attorney. And I was a bit taken aback that the rest of the community did not come out and speak about this. Diaz is probably one of those students that some teachers wish were not in their class. If you are an organized sports team, then this agreement will be welcomed. The meeting was all about policythe present and future of how the Martin County School District will work going forward. Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes (2014 - present), Historical School Board Agendas & Minutes (Prior to 2014). The board also discussed a letter that was being sent to the governor regarding his press conference where DeSantis called out Martin County for not following the law. Superintendent Millay outlined his plan about how to move forward. Florida Blue the districts carrier for more than a decade, ranked first. It can be foundhereand then by following the tabs, you can see each grade level and subject matter. That would require much less time to change the facility from a middle school to a high school. The second is that they are expanding programs in career and technical education. Now that the legislature has adjourned, he will know more about which revenue streams will supply what funds. The board decided not to decide at this meeting but for the district to go out and negotiate with the carriers. Florida Republicans, including Gov. The Martin County School District will have its share of challenges in 2022. Federal and state law prohibit the District from disclosing student education records, which include any specific students identification or any discipline imposed. You can see the presentation here. If we continue to build facilities that are costing taxpayers millions for a shrinking pool of students without the needed innovation, we are doing a disservice. That probably has to do with their pedagogical Martin School District origins. 2016 Agendas. Martin County is not as vocal in its parents rights and school choice advocacy as some Florida districts. Peter Licata, from the Palm Beach County District, received 3 votes. WE all have teachers with Associate Degrees. The rest of the items in this group include a school psychologist, teacher professional development and resources, and accounting staff. There was an RFP where health insurance companies given specifications were to submit proposals to a selection committee who were also on the insurance committee. 2017 Minutes. Roberts was a good chair, and, in my opinion, she was the reason the sales tax referendum passed. He stated that presently they are 3 points short of that designation. The others simply did not want to have the presentations. Anderson expressed his outrage and that it was an insult that he or any of his colleagues would bow to pressure. In the past four years, Roberts was chair for two terms and Powers was chair for two years. I believe when each stakeholder--the administration, the teachers, the , Url: https://www.facebook.com/JenRussell4schoolboard/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebWelcome to the Martin County School District! In reviewing the Districts mission and vision statements, three inspirational words stood out to me as guiding principles for our work All, Dynamic and Excellence. The evaluations were of Dr. Millay, the superintendent, by the board. Again, in transparency, I am the only member of that committee not part of the district in any way. I think we may be closer with this generation of students than ever before. At times, they died to end segregation. Once again, congratulations to this chair and vice chair. I understand her desire to have the compelling presentations made but to what end. CFO Carter Morrison presented the 5thworkshop on the road to budget adoption. There also seems to be a shortage of teachers, custodians, bus drivers and any job category the district may have. Validation is important. You cant learn to be a pre-school teacher without the pre-school kids which explains the conversion of the classrooms. Their childrens education is no exception. He explained how the millage rate is controlled by the state. No one is ever God forbid mediocre and a dolt. A few days before the board met to evaluate Dr. Millayperhaps they should have waited until after this meeting to turn in their evaluations. I would just observe that may be true, but the parents of the children that will attend the charter do not believe that is the case. But, given changing parent and student preferences, there may be at least three school board votes to give something like that a try. I think there is agreement on that by all. I could not see anything being projected on the screen from my home computer, and the two Board Members that were participating remotely didnt have the information. This years graduations will also have optional masks for seniors and guests since they will not be returning to the classroom. It is an hour-long assessment identifying your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Accommodations are available for persons with special needs. will require all stakeholders working together towards a common goal. He was a mayor, naval officer, linguist, business consultant, scholar, deeply religious person and quite possibly could become a member of a Democrat administration. She has decided not to run for a second term. School employees everywhere have been complaining about their pay since the one-room schoolhouse days. What can be spent on transportation. The governor had given $1000 to all classroom teachers. I will be an advocate for them by listening to their concerns, and making sure they have the resources they need to succeed in the classroom. Not only by paying 4% more in claims than it collected but much more when you figure in the 20% in administrative costs assigned. I believe it might have been old friends from his teaching days that were asking why he wouldnt champion their causes. He gave them an update on the organizations activities. This meeting should have been reported to you in the last newsletter. I am no stranger to their cause and, in many respects, see their point of view. Located on Florida's pristine Treasure Coast, we proudly educate approximately 18,000 PK-12 students in our 12 elementary , Url: https://www.martinschools.org/page/about-our-district Go Now, Schools Details: WebMARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Home MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Educate All Students for Success We are now accepting enrollment applications for , Url: https://www.martinschools.org/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebRACE: Martin County School Board TERM: Four years DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES: Liz Bernstein, 37, Tequesta Jennifer Russell, 38, Hobe Sound. It was a complicated discussion to follow without the spread sheet available. About a third of her 180 students are attending remotely. Also added were Jensen Beach High School with 100 students at any grade level and South Fork with 90 students. So far this year, Florida Blue has paid 104% in claims. The committee met to consider options for that area. That shows an unusual fealty to the children of Martin County. As I wrote above, both Palm City and Jensen Beach are being built to accommodate students and teachers for several hours a day when school is in session. According to the districts website, Palm Beach has 22,600 employees. They have also had a citizens review committee that has audited the district. The other thing to note was Treasure Coast Classical added 149 students. "The board has worked very hard to make sure that the candidate that we bring to Martin County is someone that will help us move our school district forward and continue to educate all students for success and uphold the high standards of excellence that we've been endured for many, many years in our court," DeShazo said before Tuesday's meeting. Society has changed due to the pandemic and that included our schools. She will be missed. No hocus pocus his exact words in his own voice. The ultimate decision is the individual student and parent. Ms. Defenthaler has continuously taken a position regarding providing for the wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ students. It seems it is much more probable that a kid will be injured walking to school than being hurt by a gas leak. Interesting that the public schools would need to compete with those options. At this time, we anticipate at least a fifty percent reduction, and our best guess is between four and five million dollars that will be available for Martin County. That is a shame. The board has two redistricting matters to take up at the next regular meeting. CTE, once known as vocational education and before that as manual education, has been around since the mid-19thcentury. It was time once again to pick a health insurance carrier for district employees. The board has said that they do not have the funds to bus children that live less than 2 miles from schools. I wouldnt call it a courageous gesture by any means. The CRT bill, Parental Rights (aka Dont Say Gay) and the beginning of 12-year term limits for school board members were discussed along with more specific legislation. Millay has been superintendent for a little over two years. The board continued with their update of policies. The district is now opening most of their elementary, middle, and even a high school to open enrollment. If not, they would remain Capital expenses impacting the Capital Accounts Five-Year Plan due to the state at the end of the summer. Of course, all is predicated on whether Martin County becomes inundated with kids. Interestingly, it seems that enrollment is continuing to fall. It was seconded by Roberts. This was not affordable housing since rent levels were not discussed. The budget is worked out based on student numbers. It passed 5-0. When looking at the agenda one can (to borrow an expression) not see the forest for the trees.) The ballot will read as follows: Shallthe Martin County School Districtcontinuetheexisting ad valoremmillage up to one-half mill per year beginning July 1,2022,andendingJune30,2026, foressential operatingexpenses (School SafetyandSecurity, Mental Health Programs, Recruiting and Retaining Qualified Teachers and Support Staff, Professional Development, Academic Initiatives); providingcharter schoolsfunds proportionate to student enrollment as required by law with annual reporting to citizens. To those of you who are not government administrators, corporate vice-presidents for large companies, or army generals, it will seem like a foreign language. A new charter school, TechnoArts Academy, is opening somewhere in the Port Salerno area in 2023 or 2024. A motion was made by Anderson to issue the resolution. Martin Co. School Board selects new superintendent Search results are not intended as legal advice for you or your organization and are not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction. And to some extent it isexcept when it is not. The only thing that holds us together as a nation is a belief that we are all equal under the law and we must treat each other civilly. If that had happened this year, then if the millage passed, it would not become effective until the following tax year. In the District 3 race, Bernstein, a wellnessinstructor at her businessSoulful Elephant Yoga,raised $64,457 - the most cash collected in any of the Martin County School Board races. There were a few who spoke in favor of the proclamation who were mostly students. I hope the new Superintendent and the Board stop this all-too-often practice of not having agenda backup included. Two incongruous ideas followedthe district expects a 3% decline in student population next year and David L. Anderson Middle School could be the 4thhigh school in the district. Probably not in all ways except politically. The fundamental relationship between superintendent and board has changed. . Governor DeSantis may be trying to make districts obsolete. Students were not going to leave their existing classes and schools. Should she be disqualified because of it? As a taxpayer, I have been confused for years as to why school fields, gymnasiums and auditoriums are locked up for half the year. Our School Board Members are committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential. Some charters have students begin reading the Declaration and Constitution in the early gradesnot textbooks about the documents but the documents themselves. You can see the information here, IF YOU ARE NOT A SUBSCRIBER DO SO FOR FREE HERE. What is the reason for what looks like secrecy? It has been around since the 1960s but is a theory that a few law schools would touch upon and surely not Stuart Middle. (You can see ithere. I believe that local government is where most decisions should be made. And I applaud his efforts on this. Early on, Defenthaler suggested about diversity training for the board. School Board Member DiTerlizzi appears to have reached out to his old colleagues on the BOCC to come to a solution on new school settings for Palm City and Jensen Beach. The loss of demographic numbers to groups should not mean those groups flip out. Bernstein had backing from some local elected officials: Stuart City Commissioners Eula Clarke and Michael Meier, and former School Board member Victoria Defenthaler, who donated $250. While I do not think we should rush into Andersons transformation, if at some point a 4thhigh school is needed then I like the Anderson Middle idea. Perhaps, it was because the committee had not disrupted numerous lives. If another charter school were opened, you would probably see another 500 kids leave. Campaigns for public office benefit the most when community members join together to support those who share their values. Nancy Turrell, the director, estimates the cost of renovation with furnishings, etc. When Superintendent Millay was asked about it later in the meeting, he gave an explanation that one of the library lesson modules that students can access was about race relations. 2014 Minutes. Li Roberts said that the sequential subjects such as math are harder online. It was the equivalent of an A for the course. This was causing her difficulties in keeping everything straight. A couple of things happened to make collections less. To see the budget presentation and handouts please gohere. That is the result of rapidly rising supply and construction expenses. Governor DeSantis wants every new teacher to start at $47,500 and has allocated funds toward that happening. District 4. To read more gohere. She successfully campaigned with the message "every parent has the right to make education and health decisions for their children," and lauded academic excellence, student empowerment, parent collaboration and stakeholder engagement. It appears that we still have the scourge of demon rum in some school board members minds. An active shooter event would not be listed here because they have their own evacuation scenarios. How did this criminal behavior go on for almost a decade? He must live within the County. The same goes for remote learning as an option. Tony often goes the long way around to make his pointsand those points sometimes are then lost on his listeners. This resulted in a total of $2,482,998.60 as the first batch that would be coming from ESSER II. Website : www.martinschools.org School Board Latest News From The Feb 26, 2023 Edition SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 21, 2023 Dr. John Millay, Martin County's first appointed superintendent, surprised the board, staff, and citizens by resigning effective June 30 th. In the latter example, the student and parents may feel the score has been diminished when he/she is competing to get into college. Stuart commissioner, Martin School Board member not seeking reelection; others qualify for ballot, Florida school board races are supposed to be nonpartisan; keep them that way | Our View, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Slightly over 50% of all students receive free and reduced lunch. As part of Millays resignation letter, he listed many of his accomplishments as superintendent and they are impressive. Before returning to Martin in 2019, she was a senior economist at the Commerce Department in Washington. Each unit would be 1000 square feet. There had been a community committee to select and narrow the applicants for superintendent to a list of five. There were presentations outlining procedures for the new school year. I strongly support Governor DeSantis efforts to protect parental rights in education. For the less than two weeks remaining in this school year, it is not possible. All rights reserved. Anderson also mentioned that Critical Race Theory is not taught in Martin County Schools. I am not hiding. Confused yet? Perhaps with better outreach, a better outcome could have been realized. They vary from tony private day care to places like Gertrude Walden in East Stuart. Dr. John Millay, Martin Countys first appointed superintendent, surprised the board, staff, and citizens by resigning effective June 30th. Though money alone will not produce better scores either. Remember that these are projections and true figures will not be known until after school starts. We are deeply aware of the hurt and pain this photograph has caused our community, especially our Black American residents and students. She was cleared for full duty by the doctor. The Insurance Committee of the board meets monthly for most of the year to find plans that are good for board employees but also affordable for the taxpayer. Anderson said this has nothing to do with his personal views. John Millay, the former superintendent from Meade County Kentucky, received 2 votes. Even though he came from a loving home, he had some of the same issues expressed in the proclamation. That is the proper role for a union which is to provide for the welfare of its members. A quick peak at the district website would tell anybody that fact. Today the amount is $36,484,159 for capital outlays. What will be a test for Martin County is whether kids from the St. Lucie County district take advantage of open enrollment. Unlike Gaylord, his bosses are now the school board members. Greene County Schools will require masks to be worn for all staff, students indoors "Our numbers had been . It states how the district has implemented policies to conform with Florida and federal law. If you dont use it, the Bb footer will slide up. It may cut down on the misinformation that has been easily spreading when it comes to COVID. What we have adopted in Martin County is the old Sgt. Literature needs to be placed in context not only to our own time but the time in which it was written. Diaz took it upon himself to put on a non-sanctioned traditional prom for the seniors from the three Martin County high schools. Millay should receive credit for meeting the group on their home base. Perhaps there is a better and more professional way of handling these disputes. Roberts also came up with an Option 7. During comments, Vice-Chair Anderson spoke about being in a park and overhearing two mothers speak about how public school is not as good as private schools or charters. It has 4 Domains and 34 Themes. As the first appointed superintendent he would have been able to shake things up more than he has. Zen for dummies at its finest. This is an all-new process for Martin County after voters in 2018 decided to allow the school board to pick the new superintendent, according to the district spokesperson Jennifer Deshazo. They will be subject to the same protocols as employees and students. The education of the students was not to be discussed. The rest of her funds largely came from individual donors. Perhaps voters, while annoyed with bureaucracy, believe that teachers deserve to be adequately paid. The board and staff clap and take pictures. What is the timing of them? Carter Morrison becomes assistant superintendent of finance while Dr. Tracy Miller becomes assistant superintendent of academics. If I were rating Millay, I would give him an incomplete at this point. Superintendent John D. Millay and members of the Martin County School Board joined faculty, staff and students from South Fork High School in attending a groundbreaking ceremony for the new athletic complex, sports fields, chiller plant and HVAC system on March 30, 2022. with the state providing only the necessary licensing for teachers and facilities much as they do for doctors and hospitals now. It outlines policies and procedures. Anderson went on to say that he will get nasty and call me out by name, please do, it is Tom Campenni. For personnel expenses (additional instructional or support staff), employees must work first before payment, so those type expenses truly stretch over a scheduled time period. People fought hard to finally get the electorate to vote to do away with their collective ability to choose. Those are the funds that are part of the CARES Act funding for educational stabilization due to Covid. As the head of the Early Learning Coalition, she believes that pre-k teachers should have at least a bachelors degree. That shortage will not be easily addressed in the district or any place else. Will the students, taxpayers, and business owners get increased value? It should only be for a kid that is home sick so he can follow along and not lose instruction time. One such bright spot is that Martin County High School student Sophie Araque Liu was chosen as the national winner of this years Google For Doodle contest. Both women loaned their campaigns $1,000, according to election finance reports. With a new Superintendent being hired, they wanted to hold off as much as possible. Whether to wear a mask, have remote learning, or to shutdown are no longer in the hands of the locally elected officials. They also voted to keep the recommendations of the committee for school re-districting. You can read Ms. Roberts and the boards statement here, The board also approved their meeting calendar for 2022. Both were in Europe serving as ambassadors at the time. One of the sticking points was that Florida Blue had no cap in the 2nd year but United had an 11.5% cap. 30514Email:PowersM@martinschools.org, Village of Indiantown Chamber of Commerce, Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) Advocacy Committee, Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments, Area: District 3 - Hobe Sound, South County, IndiantownPhone: (772) 219-1200 Ext. So, when a meeting is now not televised, I immediately think that there is something trying to be hidden from the public. There are other provisions for reimbursement laid out in the contract which can be accessedhere. He had started middle school academies and was a managerial leader.