I wonder who else they're going to call to testify? Hmmmm.

Is it time we petition the State Attorney or
another government official to review this case?

I successfully petitoned Governor Jeb Bush to
re-open the Stadium Naples case!

Should history repeat itself.

I love the spin that the NDN is putting on the depositions. I think it is a little over the edge to describe Mr. Walters, as a "board-Thompson go between". He stated in his depo that he was acting on his own accord when he visited Dr. Thompson in IL. I think a reminder here is that he is STILL a private citizen, who is guarenteed by the Constitution of this country to speak to any elected official he chooses. Just as anyone who has ever emailed, called, or spoken with any elected official and told them how they feel about an issue, or even been passionate enough to say, "You need to..." Does that mean that official will do what that person says? Does that mean that person has any POWER to direct that official or any other party involved to do anything? NO!

This whole thing has turned into nothing more than a vicious witch hunt! Before any of you jump down my throat at that statement, go check out the collier clerk of courts... http://apps.collierclerk.com/public_i...(S(uh4ldl55lt4cmqrt4ri34145))/CaseDetails.aspx?UID=112007CA0028100001XX&CT=CV

Look at all the PRIVATE CITIZENS, Baker and his attorney are going after NOW!! I wonder how many parents, teachers, or other citizens are now afraid to say ANYTHING for fear of repercussions such as a supoena!

Political speech is one of the highest protected forms of speech under the Constitution. I mean, Baker and Attorney Frikin, might as well begin to supoena every person who has ever said anything against Baker or how he managed this district when he was superintendent. Gee that might include some teachers, parents, maybe the lunch lady who made a comment to one of the board members while they were visiting some school.

This goes to unraveling the very fabric of our democracy! To be quite honest the NDN continues to perpetuate this with inaccurate statements, half truths, and sensationalism that is designed to do nothing more than to illicit sales.

Pay attention googins, You tout freedom of speech, yet Thompson is threatening anyone who so much as lets out a peep. It's not just Briscoe, either. I know several teachers who have been commanded to appear before the new super, and were told to bring their union reps.

Have you had enough? DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE @ colliervotes.com

yes, walters is a private citizen.a teacher, making teacher wages.i find it interesting that he would spend his own money, and time to vacation in that world vacation hotbed of rockford.anybody ever check to see if he was reimbersed for any expenses of this trip?
just a thought

RE: "Don’t close case on Baker's firing just yet"

I agree.

I am glad the Naples Daily News staff is interested in the new information now coming out.

I believe the State of Florida should likewise be interested.

Also, thank you, Naples Daily News, for allowing me to repeatedly post on your site the URL of my on-going parody blog.

For those interested in a laugh or two about this otherwise depressing matter, here again is my site:

http://www.lindaabbotsaysvisitrockfor...

FlCertTeach~
Do you still teach? Are you in Collier County? Do you play on your blog and write on the NDN during work hours when you should be teaching our children?? Just curious?

I agree with the paper. But the dispositions should go both ways. Right? How about sapenaing Baker and all his cronies? Lets see all his e-mails and phone records. And all the people who went to bat for him. Why were there all those people from the chamber supporting him? Lets get all the computer records and phone records form ALL board members. Lets see how much they remember. Lets see their phone records. Lets have ALL the information come out.

What stuns me is that this newspaper continues its own form of witchhunt. I just don't get it how an attorney, Batten, and the editors don't understand what "violation of sunshine" means. A private citizen can talk to as many board members as he wants, over and over again. That's no violation of sunshine - even though all of the above are putting out that "perception." What a way to sell newspapers. Batten, because Abbott talked to Thompson is no violation of sunshine. What a mess. I agree with you, Joe. Let's hear "all" the facts form "all" the parties. So far, this is all one-sided.

I AGREE!!
Where are the emails and phone records of Curatolo and Carroll? I can think of several private citizens that have ties to both of them too. I can also recall several occasions where it sure appeared to be some sort of collusion on the part of Baker, Curatolo, Carroll and others. I can even go back farther and point to events involving Dick Bruce, Carroll, Curatolo, Marlin, Baker, etc....

Some how this community and the NDN has selective memory on these issues.

Run, run for your lives!
Thinking of moving to Naples?
Run for your lives!

Got kids in school? If they spot another kid cheating, the superintendent will side-in with the cheater, even if the cheating means the law is being broken!
Run for your lives!

If your kid pulls a foolish prank, the superintendent will want him "expelled" destroying his life!
Run for your lives!

The school attorney will talk about "hanging your kid from the nearest tree!"
Run for your lives!

There are reports that the school attorney belonged to the League of the South. (Is this true?)
Run for your lives!

A school board member alledgedly molests a kid and then commits suicide!
Run for you lives!

A band director is doing jail time for fooling with kids!
Run for your lives!

A high school principal gets fired for "bad" behavior, (fooling with adults)
Run for your lives!

You talk to a school board member to report a crime.
You might be supoenaed!
Run for your lives!

If you talk to more than one school board member, you may be accused of violating sunshine and may be forced to give a deposition lasting hours!
Run for your lives.

If you travel to another part of the country and talk with another private citizen, you will be grilled, harrassed, and accused of violating sunshine!
Run for your lives.

Your local newspaper will report it like a tabloid.
Run for your lives!

This is Naples, Collier County, Florida.
Sounds like McCarthyism is alive and well.
Private citizens,
Run for your lives!

Dear Dr Googins,

Thanks for your questions. I am a currently certified Florida teacher and reside in Collier. I have outstanding credentials as an educator.

No, I do not work for Collier County Public Schools.

No, I do not work for the NDN.

However, I have written to the NDN, repeatedly, over the years, complaining bitterly about their failure to ever investigate all the fraud that I believe goes on by certain higher ups in Collier County Public Schools.

I think the NDN may finally be waking up.

Thanks for your interest in my life.

Sure, eco.

For four years, we saw an overwhelming consistant voting record of 3-2 with Bruce, Curatolo, and Carroll voting together. 3-2 NOT to bring Dr. Thompson back for another interview 5 years ago. 3-2 to do ANOTHER superintendent search that gave us short lived Dr. Marlin. For those of you with short term memories the search firm had also been directed to include Dr. Thompson in that search, they did not. 3-2 vote for Marlin's golden parachute contract. 3-2 NOT to do another search and hire Mr. Baker. 3-2 to approve Baker contract full of holes. The list could go on.... But when citizens questioned motives, spoke up, or asked questions... they were silenced, labeled as CAVE people, talked about in private meetings,that were NOT suppose to be private...
Now, we have a change of board members on the board, and while not as consistently, we have 3 board members who tend to think along same lines. Suddenly they are in collusion? Accused of violating sunshine laws?
Maybe we just need to have 5 different answers elected officials can give for a vote, rather than nay or yea. Or just question every time one member agrees with the other! OH wait, at one board meeting, Curatolo actually agreed with Calabrese... Maybe we should question them on collusion?!?!?! Get REAL!

I think Mr. Baker's attorney should subpoena all these bloggers, especially ecoterror. I bet he knows something. Heck, he probably talked to a Board member at least once, he should be convicted of sunshine violation according to Mr. Fridkin.
Oh, and while they are at it, make sure you subpoena flcertifiedteacher. If he or she knows so much about the fraud in this county and has notified the paper about it, we all should know about it as well, make it public. Or would that hurt Mr. Baker's case!?

Fedupinnaples:

If you have been in Naples/Collier County for any length of time, you would know that local government is full of fraud.

I have been here for nearly 40 yrs. we have had county commissioners go to jail, among many other county employees, either resign or go to jail.

CCPS had many issues over the year.. Remember Nelson...many issues there.. many people covered that up..

Collier County has a reputation for covering up many illegal things over the years.

Wow, the defensiveness pervading the previous bloggers is quite telling. No one needs to put any spin on the depositions -- any intelligent person can see what was going on. The more the whole crew deny any recollection of the shenanigans, the guiltier they look. These "Bakergate" players sound like Nixon and Clinton as their memories disappear once they are caught with their hands in the cookie jar. drgoogins, do two wrongs make a right in your book? Just because previous boards acted inappropriately, does that make it okay for these clowns to try to outdo their predecesors? Is it too much to ask for honest dealings from those in whose hands our children's education lies?

I for one do not remember things that never happened, especially a 3AM telephone call, unless of course it was an emergency of some kind (I would never remember if I talked to someone at that hour, I would think it was a dream)! I also dont remember things if they are not relevant to me at the time, and I am sure that these Board members and Dr Thompson have alot of things that they DO have to remember. If it never happened, or is not the truth, it is not worth remembering.
Ask Mr. baker if he remembers (without looking) how much taxes came out of his paycheck in 2006, or even what he gave his secretary for Christmas in 2006. Bet you he can't remember! once again, if it never happened, it is not worth remembering!

Who made this mysterious 3AM phone call anyway - was it Thompson and to who, Baker? The NDN doesnt mention anythng, maybe one of the TV reporters is hoping to spin a story out of that.

flcertifiedteacher - I LOVE YOUR BLOG -

Why, thank you so very much, stupidfried.

(I love that you took the time to tell me!)

I was thinking about it, and I concluded:

People must like this blog, because I sure do get a lot of hits on it. All day long, too, and from all over the country (and from out of the country, as well).

I just now updated it again. Scroll all the way down to the 2nd photo of
"2-faced Thompson."

Enjoy!

PS For those who need the URL to my parody blog:

http://www.lindaabbotsaysvisitrockfor...

PSS I meant to type: "stupifried"

(Forgive me!) :)

flcertified - stupid and fried - sometimes I feel stupidfried after a day at the office!!!! Again, thanks for taking the time to create/update the blog - I have shared it with countless people and all have enjoyed the bright spot and the laugh (sad but true) in the bleak outlook of what was once a great school district...... and now what a mess..... Keep it up.

Oh, and while they are at it, make sure you subpoena flcertifiedteacher. If he or she knows so much about the fraud in this county and has notified the paper about it, we all should know about it as well, make it public. Or would that hurt Mr. Baker's case!?
---------

LOL...I would happily - happily - tell you and everyone in this town all the h*ll the corrupt, and I do mean corrupt, school officials in this school district have put through over the past years.

Just make sure you have an extra large paddy wagon ready to take them straight to jail, because I really think that's where they all belong.

If I was ever in charge of this district, I would clean out that admin center from top to bottom - and every person making one cent more than the highest paid teacher would get their pay cut to below a teacher's pay. I would cut jobs, and tell those criminals, publicly: You've got 30 days to GET OUT OF TOWN and after that - I am coming after you.

I can guarantee you there are indeed a number of people who would pack up and leave.

Saving the taxpayers quite a bit of money, by the way.

But it's not easy when you are one of the little people and have no voice, and the only newspaper in town thinks anyone working in the admin office should never be made to answer questions.

Then, even if you have the money to get a high paid lawyer, look what happens: None of these creeps can recall anything under oath.

In a way, it is better to totally decimate them online, in public, on a blog, and just hang them up and out to dry while making others laugh.

They will get their turn. Believe you me, I haven't forgotten a thing they did to me. Or to others.

I'm really glad so many like my new parody blog. I wish I had more time to begin creating other ones right now, but I will wait for awhile.

As for the subpoena, don't stress out over the paperwork - just tell me the time/place to testify. I would be there. Truly.

It's amazing that after all these years I find there are actually people in this town who remember how much fraud, corruption and other criminal conduct has gone here already. If the NDN would only take people more seriously the first time, they would have a much fatter and more interesting newspaper to read. But, first, you have to be willing to investigate, and so far, that has not happened nearly often enough in this town until people are badly harmed. I know, I have been through it myself.

As have others. (And the criminals employed in this school district know it.)

http://www.lindaabbotsaysvisitrockfor...

At least I can still laugh. Thanks for visiting my blog everyone. I will continue to update it.

flcertified - stupid and fried - sometimes I feel stupidfried after a day at the office!!!! Again, thanks for taking the time to create/update the blog - I have shared it with countless people and all have enjoyed the bright spot and the laugh (sad but true) in the bleak outlook of what was once a great school district...... and now what a mess..... Keep it up.
---------

Thanks so much for taking the time to write. LOL...I like your screen name.

I will keep doing the blog; it makes me laugh, a lot, as well.

It IS the one bright spot in this mess. And, I know, believe me, I know - that many people are looking at it. Thanks for sharing it with others who need a laugh, too.

I am so glad I can still be the bright spot, even though I never dreamed in a million years that sharpening my online skills is what would help me keep the world a better place.

But, laughter IS the best medicine. Laughing at these fools, seeing them as they really are; well, who knew? How naive I was way back when I thought - I believed - they cared about students and children, and learning and teachers.

How silly I was. And, so sad, so sad sometimes to see -- to really see -- what goes on.

But, at least we can still see.

Thanks again.

For those just now tuning in: my parody blog about this school disitrict/mess
is here:

http://www.lindaabbotsaysvisitrockfor...