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Where they stand: Collier School Board candidates on failed accreditation
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The Collier County School District received a second warning from a team that is deciding on the district’s accreditation.
The team’s report recommends that the district’s accreditation remain on warned status, until a follow-up interview is done early next year.
The decision comes after the team spent two days in the district and found that the district’s biggest problem was with board governance, or how it operates and develops policy.
To improve, the board must allow administrators to make policy decisions without interference, according to the report. If it doesn’t improve, the district could lose accreditation.
If elected, candidates for Collier County School Board District 2 and 4 will inherit the accreditation issue. So the Daily News asked them how they would improve how the board operates.
District 2:
Foto cedida
Kathleen Curatolo
• Kathleen Curatolo (incumbent)
“As required by the accreditation team, a School Board self-evaluation was developed and completed. The board also participated in a training session on ‘School Board Governance’ in July. The board is exploring working with Florida Gulf Coast University to identify areas for improvement in conjunction with the development of a strategic plan to include board and superintendent goals and evaluation measures. ”
Foto cedida
Rick MacClugage
• Rick MacClugage:
“... I am willing to check my ego at the door, listen to other board members, public input and administration to resolve governance problems and offer real solutions to improve our accreditation. ... If elected, this is one of my first priorities. We must protect the integrity of the education our students have worked so hard to obtain. I believe training must happen.”
District 4:
Linda Abbott
• Linda Abbott (incumbent)
“... It is a matter of individual self-control to maintain respect for others even when issues are controversial or emotional. Board training and development is a continual process, but it is also a dynamic process due to the opportunity for new members every two years. Board members must take both personal and collective responsibility, putting politics and personal agendas aside, to achieve success in district accreditation.”
Adrienne Markopolos
• Adrienne Markopolos
“A comprehensive evaluation tool is needed and should be used quarterly to address any concerns in a timely manner. Additionally, training on governance and related topics should be required.”
Joe Paterno
• Joe Paterno
“I will immediately call for a mandatory training session for the superintendent and all School Board members. I would encourage the board to invite the Department of Education to provide training on all aspects of the state statutes governing Florida’s public education system. I will also recommend the board review the accreditation report and determine which recommendations have not been completed and to immediately come into compliance.”
Gary Smith
• Gary Smith
“Demand that all board members meet and act like adults by talking with one another. We would need to bring the policies that we think the board should pass, talk about each and every one, then decide ‘together’ which policies best meet the needs of (the school system). We need to have the superintendent set his goals based on the policies the board has set, review them and work “with” the superintendent to achieve the best result possible.”
Julie Sprague
• Julie Sprague
“I will model professional behavior and not tolerate disrespect toward anyone. I will encourage team-building exercises and further training on board governance. I will insist that Roberts Rules of Order be followed during board meetings. I will stay out of non-policy issues and let the principals and their staffs do their jobs.”
Mark Swanson
• Mark Swanson
“... My experiences as an educator, coach and businessman requires me to constantly collaborate with involved parties, negotiate in good faith, be open to compromise and then support decisions that achieve consensus. I will demonstrate this by example; once an issue is decided I pledge my support for the majority’s decision regardless of my initial stance on the matter.”
Comments
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I think Rick is more concerned about the sports programs, and how much weight his kid can lift in the school's gym as viewed on myspace pages many times.
Just say "no" to McClugaduh!
#1 Posted by beetlejuice on August 23, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Curatolo is much better. She doesn't have to like anyone! Sprague will stare down anyone that doesn't go along with raises or teacher issues. Oh ya, students too? Smith knows fishing? Has Paterno retired from Penn State? Swanson, do we really want a teacher on the board? You know I like Abbott! Vote for Markopolos we need a minority on the board!
#2 Posted by upnorth on August 23, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote out all of these incubents. This board is a joke.
#3 Posted by CELTLUV on August 23, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL celtluv!
#4 Posted by beetlejuice on August 23, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Markopolis at least says there should be an assessment tool to measure everything.
Finally a woman with a voice of reason!
Her earlier comments on privatization still tick me off though!
#5 Posted by beetlejuice on August 24, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A prominent local politician(not school board) recently told me that Julie Sprague was the sponsor of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Club at Gulf Coast High School. Does anyone have any information on this?
#6 Posted by K2of3 on August 24, 2008 at 12:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go to WWW.COLLIERCITIZENS4TRUTH.ORG for candidate surveys for the school board candidates. Also review the public record documents on the Sheriff's Candidates.
#7 Posted by Jama on August 24, 2008 at 1:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Julie Sprague, WHAT!!!!!! My eyes just bugged out?
#8 Posted by upnorth on August 24, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do have information on Julie Sprague's club sponsorship. She is NOT the sponsor of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Club. She is the sponsor of the Humanitarian Club, a club that she agreed to sponsor when a group of children were emotionally moved by the situation of child soldiers in other countries. She started the club in response to these kids' interest in humanitarian issues. THAT is the kind of educator and person Sprague is. She is NOT first and foremost for the teachers; she is for the KIDS. She has always understood and lived the Code of Ethics for Florida Educators:
"THE CODE OF ETHICS OF THE EDUCATION PROFESSION IN FLORIDA
(2) The educator's primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student's potential."
Julie Sprague's primary oncern is (and has always been) for the district's children. Why else would a humble, 30 year veteran teacher choose to run for an office that will require her to resign her position and take an enormous cut in pay?
Say what you will...Collier County needs a person with classroom experience on the board. It's an absolute travesty that our 5 current board members and our superintendent have no classroom experience as educators whatsoever. How many hospital boards have no medical professionals as members?
Julie Sprague is the ONLY choice for District 4.
#9 Posted by missymoo on August 24, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gay Club? I thought with the election of Charlie Crist that we had moved beyond these questions!
#10 Posted by dooley on August 24, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Another attempt to tarnish Julie Sprague, she has also been attacked as a militant feminist. Keep at it, it won't matter she is going to win no matter what
#11 Posted by Bagpiper on August 24, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Curatolo nor Ms. Sprague completed their surveys on Colliercitizens4truth... Hey they took my name!! OH well.
#12 Posted by ccpsparent4truth on August 24, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do we to have a club for a sexual preference? Can we please keep these "issues" out of our schools.
#13 Posted by Sanity on August 24, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Remove the sitting members of the school board, especially Curatolo. These people with an "I don't care what other people think" attitude just don't get the job done. Our school board has an us first attitude and not a children come first attitude and That why I say show them the door. I like Julie Sprague, at least she has demonstrated that she cares enough to get involved wqith the students.
#14 Posted by orbitmax on August 24, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You people are hilarious!!!
With actual issues and stated stance on the issues, I love the way people just make things up to try to further their agenda.
pssssssstttt.......
I hear Abbott tortures puppies.
;-)
#15 Posted by Optipess on August 24, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you would like to read a nice article and see a photo opt of Linda Abbott go to http://www.teamstermancollier.blogspo... !
#16 Posted by glassman on August 24, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
just ask Julie Sprague's former students about her and they will tell you they don't even think she likes kids! I heard it from MANY, MANY of her students. She will look out for the interests of the teachers only - not our kids. Mark Swanson will get my vote.
#17 Posted by catweirdo on August 24, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I BELIEVE IN GARY SMITH
#18 Posted by Kira on August 24, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thats a good video on the kids myspace dont know why that is even brought up its more than i can lift. i dont see rick their at all.
#19 Posted by insidetruth on August 24, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Inside: Which video are you referring too?
#20 Posted by ccpsparent4truth on August 24, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Who's the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him?"
―Obi-Wan Kenobi
#21 Posted by GoodSense on August 24, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#16 more slander, you know nothing
#22 Posted by Bagpiper on August 24, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the video of his son lifting its online its pretty impresive! someone said somthing about it and i saw the video a while back.
#23 Posted by insidetruth on August 24, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Julie Sprague was the sponsor of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Club at Gulf Coast High School"
Oh my God. Let's lynch people that are different than the backwards Republican southerner that you are!
I can't believe that would be an issue with ANYONE in this day and age.
#24 Posted by FreshFace on August 24, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know Abbott isn't my choice. She has been in power way too long and has tarnished this District too many times. I wish I had video of how she conducted herself when she hated White. Hey, like him or not, she was OUT OF LINE.
She was horrible to white's replacement and started rumors about his personal life. He got the hell out of dodge. SMART MOVE.
Finally...she got what she wanted and that was THompson. Her little pony show, "Should I or shouldn't I vote to off Baker" was hilarious to those of us that know her and her tactics
Perhaps she thinks her heart is in the right place, but she is a calculating, cruel woman when she doesn't agree.
#25 Posted by FreshFace on August 24, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, Missymoo!
Your post (#9) is one of the most intelligent I've read!
Sprague is the only candidate who is professionally sensitive to the accreditation team's major concern: the School Board "must allow administrators to make policy decisions without interference."
Sprague recognizes the dangerous "sub-text" of many of the recent Board decisions. She is the only candidate who staightforwardly addressed this issue: "I will stay out of non-policy issues and let the principals and their staffs do their jobs.”
Catweirdo: You suggest many of Julie Sprague's former students will "tell you they don't even think she likes kids!".
Have you ever asked a child, "What did you do in school today?" Do you always accept his or her response as indicative of the truth?
Catweirdo: You also suggest Sprague will "look out for the interests of the teachers only."
Instead of spewing vague, undocumented, unsupported "muck," check with any one of the Gulf Coast HS Medical Academy students who respects Julie Sprague enough to give up a weekend to volunteer with her at one of the Friends-Together, Lakeland camps for children infected with HIV. (Friends-Together, Inc. was organized by Cathy Robinson-Pickett (http://www.cathyrobinson.org/cathys_r...)who was awarded the 2004 Pediatric Nursing's Humanitarian Award.)
Julie Sprague models one of Ben Franklin's well-known aphorisms: "A cat in gloves catches no mice." How many School Board candidates, other than Julie Sprague, understand that to get the job done you may need to get your hands dirty--whether it be with "hands-on" involvement in district classrooms, in School Board meetings, or in Lakeland camps for children who may never get a second chance.
If you are truly concerned with or involved in the educational future of Collier's students, Julie sprague is the only District 4 candidate who may be more concerned and more involved than you.
#26 Posted by compteach on August 24, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
teachers are desperate to get Sprague in to further their insane quest for their raises - in a town hit harder than most of the country in job losses recently their greed is not something taxpayers are sympathetic to right now and MANY kids I know did not think she was 'pro student' at all. I think it's time the kids of this county had people making decisions that are best for them. I like the candidates who actually have one or two kids in CCPS or who are now in college etc but they are familiar with the system from a parent's point of view.
#27 Posted by catweirdo on August 24, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is hillariouly amusing. Don't you just love Toesmom? He/She has JAMA's number big time. Jama seems to have nothing but personal attacks, inuendo, hysteria and obvious panic. Toesmom, and Mothernature and some others (yours truly) have facts; facts presented in reasoned, logical and civilized fashion; facts that can be backed up with hard proof.
Ortino for sheriff. Get rid of the incumbents and the entrenched regimie of the former deputy who was forced to resign to avoid prosecution for willful violations of the Hatch Act.
Ortino for sheriff.
#28 Posted by W_Coyote on August 24, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
go to colliercitizensfortruth.com
you will be enlightened.
#29 Posted by W_Coyote on August 24, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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