Collier County School District warned
By
Melissa Cabral, WINK News
Story Created:
Jul 21, 2008 at 12:16 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jul 21, 2008 at 7:40 PM EST
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - WINK News has learned new information about the accreditation status with the Collier County School District.
The Collier County School District will remain on warned status.
The report found the education system in place for students is good, the problem is at the school board level.
According to the report, district employees interviewed say the school board is dysfunctional.
The team found the district did not take measures within the last year to improve the effectiveness of the school board.
District administrators say they're confident the board will fix the issues.
Collier County Chief Instructional Officer Martha Hayes says, "We have every confidence the school board is going to do whatever they have to do to make this right with the accreditation committee."
However, the school board attorney says if the district does lose its accreditation it would not only hurt the reputation of the Collier County Schools in this community but also your child's chances of getting into a good college.
Board attorney Richard Withers says, "My understanding if you have two students in every other respect and one has a diploma from an accredited school district and one does not could make the difference."
School board member Kathy Curatolo tells us she's not surprised because the board didn't do what was needed within the last year to get removed from warned status.
Steve Donovan says he's disappointed but board members have acted unprofessional and immature in the past, but he vows to do everything he can to correct it.
Pat Carroll says she's concerned because six months will come quick, "We're on a time clock and it has to be taken even more serious."
The accreditation team is requiring the school board to:
- Identify strengths and weaknesses
- Develop a written plan for training board members
- Provide feedback on individual performances
- Work together more effectively
The accreditation team will be back in six months to review the situation. The group can decide to remove the district from warned status, place the district on probation, or pull the district's accreditation.
This accreditation group AdvancED represents 23,000 public and private schools and school districts in 30 states serving nearly 15-million students.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 12:25 AM Mary wrote ...
Please write to: http://www.flgov.com/contact_form Crist's email contact information
Monday, Jul 21 at 10:38 PM Betty wrote ...
This is a disgrace. It's sounds to me like our children will be punished for the School Boards lack of interest in education. I think someone needs to lose their job for this matter. I don't think this sounds legal. I will fight for my child's rights.
Monday, Jul 21 at 9:34 PM Ruby wrote ...
The so called administration get paid so much money to do nothing while the assistants and teachers do all the work with the children. You do not need so many working at the administration center doing nothing. They are the ones that need to be cut, that is why there are to many errors because there are to many people doing the same thing or handing it down to someone else to do.
Monday, Jul 21 at 9:14 PM Bytemeworld wrote ...
What is really sad is the School Board has known about this since May (2007) BEFORE the firing of Baker. There is a district in GA where the story is very similar except the community is taking action; demanding reform, contacting College administrators, etc. Here in Collier it's "let them eat cake." It's going to get worse, much worse.
Monday, Jul 21 at 6:49 PM Cathy wrote ...
When you take a look at all the mistakes in the article itself, you wonder where the paper's editors went to school. I recall that teachers did ask their union to petition the governor to remove the school board. You're right, Crist's answer was to "go to the polls and vote them out of office." The issues go far deeper within the human resources department also, with a rearrangement of how Worker Compensation claims are handled. Hence, the move to replace custodians with a private firm.
Monday, Jul 21 at 6:41 PM Deloris wrote ...
How pathetic is this! We all need to contact the Governor, for sure!
Monday, Jul 21 at 6:30 PM tlcteach wrote ...
The opportunity to vote them out is soon at hand!!Let's go citizens!!! Let's take back control!!
Monday, Jul 21 at 4:54 PM Thom wrote ...
As it concerns the county's custodial staff, "Remove the plank from your own eye before you try to remove the splinter from anothers."
Monday, Jul 21 at 4:37 PM will dooley wrote ...
Pathetic!
Monday, Jul 21 at 4:04 PM Rain wrote ...
The whole Florida School system sucks. If I had kids they would be home schooled
Monday, Jul 21 at 3:58 PM Bytemeworld wrote ...
I tried along with several others. I have been writing about this since last May (2007.) The Governor will not be stepping in. Take it up at the polls is the response I got from the Office of the Governor. "Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don't know and I don't care." Jimmy Buffet. BTW Florida Virtual School has accreditation and is free to all public, private and homeschool student in Florida. FLVS.net
Monday, Jul 21 at 1:30 PM AJ wrote ...
What a bunch of over-paid loons! Thanks guys for risking Collier's accreditation. I say, let's fire them all and start interviewing for a new board!
Monday, Jul 21 at 1:04 PM Sam wrote ...
I am shocked the citizens of Collier County hasn't asked the Governor to remove the school board & superintendants. Their actions have been a disgrace to the County & probably illegal on several, including the super's contract.
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