About time. How much money was wasted on this process? Public shame to the CCPS? Money that could have gone to the teachers.

These funds should come out of Abbot, Calabrese and Donovan's pockets.

These knuckleheads are responsible for this entire fiasco.

Oh and remember to vote all three of them back to the sandbox when they come up for re-election.

The only down side to settling this case is that if the depositions end we may never be able to prove if any illegal activities actually occurred. We may not have been able to prove anything as it was without knowing for sure just what was discussed on those 3AM phone calls but if this is settled we will never know.

Mean times Baker walks away with a pot of money and the school board members in question may have just gotten away with something.

I guess that is better than spending any more time and money on this. Now we have to work to take control back of our school system from those who wish to destroy it.

What would we have to do in order to be able to elect our next superintendent? Does anyone know the process?
I no longer want to put this critical decision in the hands of the board. Just look at our last few supers.....each was worse than the previous one, regardless of who comprised the board. This is just too big a decision to put onto the shoulders of a few individuals.

Trust me when I say; even with a settlement this will not be over. If I have to I will file with the State Ethics Commission as should as many people as possible. Go to myflorida.com and follow the prompts. It worked with John norris; it will work on EEHHHH Abbot and crew.

Yes indeed just checked on myflorida.com. All the information needed is there to get started. I will for one call and ask for the complaint form to be sent to me. Please, please do the same. As an injustice any where threatens justice every where.

You all had better hold your tongues. It ain't over till it's over. Why is it that Baker wants to settle so quick. Maybe there's more to come out. And maybe it's not good for Baker.
Maybe, just maybe. Who knows. We'll have to wait and see.
And we'll have to wait and see -- now, won't we.

If Baker settles this with out letting everything come out, he is just as bad as the others.

The full story needs to be brought to light.

Sounds like a good business decision with the insurance company projecting damages that could go thru the roof. Let's put this ugly chapter behind us. Pay him what the contract calls for and let's work on educational issues!

I agree! Let's bring it ALL out in the open! Let's supoena records from ALL board members, Baker, Fridkin, Withers, Williams, Labutte, Jansen, and all the people THEY have joint contact with. OH that would include the entire Chamber of Commerce!!

First Baker wanted trial by jury, would NOT accept trial by judge alone. Then, it was OH we will take summary judgement, or settlement. Gee wonder if he is spooked by something?!?!

From what I hear the best was yet to come. Maybe once he saw the long list of people, his attorney wanted to play witch hunt with, he decided, he would rather NOT have their testimonies come out.....

I say let it ALL come out!!

YES! YES!
Bring it all out! Depose Baker first! Then the idiot lawyer! Fricken and Withers too! Then the Chamber crowd! Then Anastasia and Drizella (Curatolo and Caroll) Then Williams! Then La Butt! Then Faerber's family and the kid that was molested! Then Miller! Then Bronson!
YES! Deppose them all! YES! Let's hear from all of them!
And then depose some more. Some that have info that aren't in the picture yet! YES! Let's see the whole picture!
Board members, do not settle until EVERYONE has their day in court!
Let's ear from everyone!
HA! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

We need to establish a "STUDENT BOARD.” These brilliant young students are the people of our future. They possess strong opinions, belief and goals that we must consider. They know, more than anyone of us, their educational needs, goals, and dreams in order to be all that they can be in order to succeed in their endeavors, especially in this troubled world. These high school students are so intelligent, non-biased, and only seek to succeed, yet they have no say. Is this the American way? Not to allow them their input. I bet you less than 10% of the school board and parents are able to score an impressive grade on the FCAT's never mind the SAT's and ACT's. We must allow them to make a difference. Please, let us all come together to allow them their voice in all Collier County school-related decisions.

Sounds like the heat has been turned up enough that Abbott et al want to sweep this one under the rug as soon as possible and settling up for what Baker wants is the quickest way to accomplish this.

The public is outraged by the incompetence and manipulative behavior of these no longer trusted so called public servants. The truth will out. The sooner the better. It is not just about the money; rather it is about the integrity of the school board. They must not get away with this.

conchsoup ---- you will eat those words.
Stay tuned to see who the real incompetents are!
Heck, there may even be some criminal behavior rearing its ugly head for us all to enjoy!
Who needs reality TV!
HA, HA, HQA, HA, HA, HA, HA!

Future School Board Candidates Should Be Required To Pass the FCAT to Qualify as Candidates.

Had that been the rule we would not be in this mess.

Hokerpoke, if I am not mistaken, it was not Baker who didn't want to settle, but the Board refused to negotiate - they thought they had an airtight case against him - Calabrese was certain that Mr. Baker had committed a "crime" and that the "crime" would be proven a dereliction of duties and Baker would be out on his butt - But, then the dirty deeds started to leak out and now the dirty-Board members are willing to settle and make this go away......

Rumor has it that Calabrese is going to quit - hmmmmm that would certainly be a positive thing for the Board - Don'tcha wonder if maybe he is starting to realize that he is NOT above the law... and the walls are closing in???? Bet he is thinking "time to get out of the kitchen, its starting to really heat up!.....??????

An elected superintendent would be the way to go... according to the state web site an elected superintendent's salary would be over $100,000 less than what we are paying "GOOFY"...

I know I would vote to change the way Colier County does business.

sailing by, you couldn't have said it better - God's honest truth!

I believe the voters of Collier County have seen enough to make a good decision in the next election and subsequent elections. This was a fiasco and an embarrassment to all thinking people of Collier County. The damage to credibility has been established and this will be the legacy of this board majority. Nobody has been fooled by all the red herrings thrown out by a very small group of misguided and destructive people.

Wait a minute, stupid! Where does it say that any one school board member wants to settle?
Withers, the illustrious attorney speaks for all the members. How's that? Let's see who will want to settle. Obviously, Faker does. Why?
How about the board members? You have an in? Why don't you ask them all? But then again, according to Fricken and others, that's a violation of sunshine.
NOT.

As I said before, it's not over till it's over!

I've never seen anything so out of control in my life....oh wait, the old County Commission was also wasn't it and what happened to them.....the same thing that needs to happen now.

And who in Naples got rid of Tom Constantine?

Will1313

I have to wonder why Baker's attorney is in a hurry to settle this, he was in such a hurry to have all these depositions, was even going to impose sanctions on Donovan for not appearing, something is fishy here. Maybe Hokerpoke and Fatlady know something, oh oh Mr. Fridkin are they violating sunshine since they agree on the same thing here??? Maybe....in fact, maybe YOU and Mr. Withers are violating sunshine. Should have your records subpoenaed, bet that would show alot.

Will1313 you are making me ill. You seem to applaud EVERYONE for School Board at some point, and now you claim to be the one who got rid of Tom Constantine (not even correct name, it was Tim), please....get a life and get off that weed you are smoking!!
By the way, nobody seems to miss your blog site at all..

Feduopinnnaples,

Yes!

Read the NDN timeline on the Stadium Naples
case and see whose name appears 4 times!

Collierblog.com was closed after 12,000 views!

Is the truth too close?

Wait a minute. Are you telling me that if I talk to more than one politician, I can get accused of breaking sunshine? I thought we had freedom of speech in this country and I could talk to as many people as I want, elected officials or not.
So they call it sunshine? Sounds to me like taking aways my rights. This sunshine thing is getting out of hand with all the accusations. Where is all the proof? Just a lot of accusations. What a place.

His name is Tim and Quail West information did him in. Again please contact myflorida.com key word ethics ask for the forms and file them.

Thompson was "the other woman" What type of divoce scenario can you imagine, where you actually marry the other woman?

The kids won't like it, the family won't like it.

This guy was dead in the water before he got a great, huge, contract.

Wasn't it W. C. Fields who said, "Never follow a dog act"?

NaplesBob: I will look into this ethics site. I am ashamed to say my sister teaches for such a District. She has managed to put all of this in some folder in her mind and marches into the classroom daily and does what she does best; educated children. I don't know how she does it, but I can see it's taking a toll on her over the past 5 months. I can't imagine having to admit you teach in this place.

and ps: WHEN ARE CHILDREN EVER DISCUSSED AT A BOARD MEETING? (OTHER THAN TO DO THEM IN FOR MOONING). Seriously? Aren't children the number one reason CCPS exist? YOu'd think it was for those yoyos to pretend to be someone important or something. Honestly, this sickens me. The children and the teachers are the ones suffering. No one else.

naplesbob:

Not a bad idea... for those who find government web sites just as inept as this school board here is the link to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/

and the required form; it can be downloaded.

http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/C...

Not a bad idea; how many of us are willing to take the time to file and let our voices be heard?

Oh and the usual suspects listing.... I assume we can use their contact information for addresses on the form.

http://www.collier.k12.fl.us/board/me...

Just remember that this whole flap is over a NHS student's parking space. There's nothing morally reprehensible with allowing students to take an AP course and calling its paired course by different names. If the student wants to learn the subject by reading with a certain teacher multiple times, that student should be accommodated.

No AP teacher does the same thing every year. Guidance schedulers should have a free hand to rename courses however they want to allow students to learn what they want from whom they want.

Parents and others who want to blow the whistle over evil practices in the schools and make such mountains out of mole hills ought to have their whistles confiscated.

Baker should not have been fired for allowing paired courses to be named a variety of things on students' transcripts. State officials should not have oversight in such matters (and perhaps students' parking spaces ought to be assigned under different criteria than class rank).

Furthermore, Mack the Knife needs to be taken to the border of the Collier County Line and told not to come back. Teachers haven't figured it out yet, but his cutting out the block for either of his other schedules will increase the number of students they have to teach per year by another whole class. How else remove 80 teachers?

Even though my principal has forbidden discussion of the schedule, nearly all my students irrepressibly report that they don’t want a schedule change. And with good reason. The block schedule helps them all—the high and low achievers, those in AP as well as remedial FCAT classes, those in JROTC and the construction academies, those in sports and academic clubs.

Our honor students need the 32 credits they now have to take AP courses, win scholarships and get into the competitive universities. But our ESE and lower level students also need the 87 minute block to work in cooperative groups and receive individual tutoring.

And all students deserve the opportunity to take as many classes as they can to diversify and pursue varied academic opportunities.

Some students even reported that if you cut electives like JROTC and the building academy they’ll drop out. These classes teach them citizenship, cooperation and respect. You can’t put a price on these life skills and character virtues.

With due respect to Ms. Hayes, then, the AP students are not the ones dictating the class schedule. All students benefit from the block schedule. It’s been working for over 15 years at our school because it offers intellectual diversity and educational opportunities for all—no exceptions. Keep it!

Nek: I can see how block scheduling would have with a "needy" class or even an honors class, but regular ed kids do NOT thrive under block scheduling. I used to teach 10 years ago where block scheduling was the norm in the burbs of Chicago. It sure helped me reach the at risk kids and allowed for my over achievers to excel, but the regular ed kids (those happy with a C or B) did the bare minimum and if you tried to push them further they wouldn't budge.

I do know that teaching back to back straight period classes is too much for a modern day teacher. There's just too much content to cover and too many kids lacking the basic requirements to learn. I give you all, those still teaching, all the credit in the world. I could NEVER go back to it (especially in Collier!!!! phew, Lord help all the Collier teachers and support staff).

The math seems pretty simple: 2 years salary at $207,000, plus 15% of the total towards retirement (because that is the annual cap limit for contributions to a retirement account mandated by feredal law), comes to $476,100 (plus attorney fees).

That's fair, because it's what he would have received if he had been allowed to finish his contract. Anything more, and Baker is simply being greedy. Period.

(And, this settlement should be paid by the School Board members originally responsible for negotiating Baker's "Sugar Daddy" contract.)

Write Baker a check, put this behind us, and let's move on...

Even if the depositions had continued, we would never have found out what was discussed during those 3:00am phone calls.

That's why Baker's attorney is so anxious to settle because he knows that the Sunshine Law violation part of his legal strategy is doomed, and has been from the start. Without a witness to what actually happened or some other sort of "smoking gun" evidence, that part of Baker's case never makes it before a judge.

And forget about getting the State Ethics Board involved, because they have already said that not enough evidence exists to warrant an investigation by their office, and that School Board matters are outside of their mandate.

I, for one, am anxious to just get this behind us and move on to something else. This whole mess is never going to be resolved to anyone's satisfaction. The only remedy we will ever have is not re-electing the people who got into this mess.

Nekayah -

Student parking passes should simply be assigned by class (i.e. seniors first, then juniors, and sophomores last) or by the order in which they are handed out by the school administration. It doesn't need to be any more complicated (or elitist) than that.

Getting rid of the block schedule can only benefit the students. How can giving them more classes be a bad thing? I'm confused by why teachers are against this, other than the fact that it means that they would have to teach a couple more classes every year (and, heaven forbid, we actually ask them to do what their getting paid for). Studies have shown that people (not just students, but adults, too) in an instructional setting only retain the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes of the material they are being presented. By that logic, shorter class periods mean that students would retain more of what they are being taught, doesn't it?

Any student who threatens to "drop out" if electives and extracurricular activities are cut to accommodate a different schedule probably shouldn't be there anyhow. School is about education, not about how many sports you can play or how many clubs you can belong to. There are plenty of community organizations that "teach" the same values of citizenship, cooperation, and respect as JROTC and the construction academies. (Civil Air Patrol, Collier County Sheriff Police Explorers, and Habitat For Humanity leap to mind. I'm sure there are others.)

AP Classes are simply a way of giving "the chosen" students preferential treatment at the expense of the rest of the student body. If those "chosen" truly want to excel and be competitive for entry into college, let THEM hire private tutors who specialize in that sort of thing. Then the teachers can focus their attention on where it is really needed, on the "regular" students who make up the vast majority of the student body.

I was surprised to read this article. I was hoping we would perhaps learn something more from this mess before it ended.

In any event, I updated my parody blog again about this matter -

http://www.lindaabbotsaysvisitrockfor...

Scroll down to the devil, and then the graphic after that.

Winkin Blinkin and Nod aren't worrying about Mr. Baker as much as they're worrying about the negative aspects of this litigation on their personal electability in the future and the continued focus on their past transgressions and just plain stupidity as long as this suit continues. For them the sooner it goes away the better no matter how much of our money it costs.

Watch Mr. Baker walk away with everything plus what he was entitled to under his contract while the 3 idiots claim victory that they saved us his expense reimbursement money. Hmmm perhaps Baker should take Withers along with him, but I sorta remember that the Board signed an equally stupid employment contract with him.

We have heard many objective comments concerning our new Administrator along with expressions of frustration. Dr. Thompson came to Naples with sincere intentions. Unfortunately due to a total lack of experience and ethics he supplanted two Administrators who had valid contracts and many more years of experience.

Thompson had to bring the 'Dixie Chicks' with him or he would have been a disaster. They are intelligent, experienced but may lack compassion for our kids.

This District has been plagued by a small group of over zealous desports who formed the Taxpayer Alliance Group (TAG) - familiar names, McShea, Walters, Black, Kish, Calabrese, Church, Kelly and a few others. They each had a personal vendetta against the system dating back to Dan White.

It is very difficult to write one positive action this group offered. Their victims are our kids.

Now we find ourselves with an Administrator who will be going thru on the job training in one of the most challenging and complex School Distracts in the U.S. His leadership skills and intelligence are above reproach. His methodology is highly suspect. His allegiance with Withers, LaBute and the very people who are causing most of our problems is very poor judgement at best.

So, my friends we have to unite and make every effort to guide, support and train Thompson to act in the best interests of our kids. Heads have to roll and the Taj Mahal needs a house cleaning. Keep the dedicated, efficient of staff and get rid of the Bureautratic leeches.

Whatever the settlement is, they need to deduct the costs of the stupid decisions that Baker made and cost the district money. Like the Sofos decision and others. By the time they do all of that Baker will be paying the district.
Don't get me wrong. I don't agree with the way the board got rid of him. But he did cost the district alot of money. And Withers needs to be the next to go.

Why do there people make so much money per year? This seems VERY high for a Government Employee. No wonder our Taxes are so HIGH

I heard linda Abbott on Mandy's talk show this morning on the radio. She said that this is not true. What gives?

Why do the board Members recieve paychecks? So many other counties and states have a non-paid Board. They are still elected but have a short term in office, also here's the kicker they have an interest in decision making!! They have children in the school system Or work in a field where they have contact with students in the community, Doctors, Dentists, church volunteers and the such. We have some tough times ahead as a county and they don't have what it take to get us through it!!!!

joespizza........... she was probably informed about it on wednesday but talked to a few people since then and simply forgot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, since this is a hotbed of superfluous supposition, allow me to add one more. Maybe the board is deciding to seek settlement because they don’t want the testimonies of Donovan, McShea and Charlie Abbott to ever see Hey, since this is a hotbed of superfluous conspiracy theories, let me add just the light of public scrutiny. After all, the other folks have not come off looking very virtuous. Isn’t mindless supposition a wonderful tool?

GatorHater07, I think we are gong to have to agree to disagree again today. I have known far too many hard working teachers. They really are remarkable in what they do. We’re close on a couple issues though. I don’t think a student should be so impulsive as to drop out over a schedule change but I can see a problem when they have trouble making up a class they may have failed. I also believe AP classes are a way to really challenge the “best and brightest”. After all, they are going to be the leaders that take good care of us when we are geezers. Oh wait; I may already be there Gator!

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

Sorry, lost in editing for the above statement.

beenthere, maybe that's the problem. You been there, but your gone now.
Mrs. Abbot said that she wants more despositions. She wants to hear from everybody.
I do too.

but it will do no good for Mrs. Abbott to hear from anyone because within a few minutes she "will not recall what was said!"

Actually, the problem was more that I thought had lost my sentence and retyped it. However, being gone from a place doesn't negate previous knowledge. I know what is good and what is bad for education. I'm sorry to say that Ms. Abbott has lost all credibility regardless of the platitudes she tries to make. Remember how often she tries to make it sound as if she is playing both sides. I admit that having "been there" may make me too close to one side at times but perhaps you are too close to the other side for a specific reason as well. There is simply no way the board majority receives my trust at this point. I don't believe they can even earn it back because they have shown such shoddy ethics during all of this. Whether it can be proven or not, just hearing them all say "I can't recall" is enough for me to make my decison. I would break bread with Ray Baker any day of the week. I would not care to be in the same room with the current board majority. We all have our opinions and I doubt that many of us will change them. I just know the quality of people to whom I choose to be exposed.

Good. Then just don't expose yourself to me.
Mrs. Abbot is sa terrific lady who everybody loves. You school types are not the onlyones to vote you know. She will win again. Everybody I know loves her.
You must be Ray Baker or the idiot lawyer.

No chance of that Joe. BTW, did you mean to make your comment somewhat of a double entendre? And I think these blogs show that not everybody loves Ms. Abbott. Perhaps you love her out of familial loyalty, as I notice she is always the focus of your comments. That is fine and would be a difficult position in which to find oneself. This has to be very hard for those in her life that do love her. If you aren't related, then you might just have a limited set of friends that see her in a different light than many of the bloggers. I don't hate Ms. Abbott, I simply don't trust her or her judgement since well before her memory problems. I don't want to limit my distrust to only her though. I also believe the other 2 majority board members have ethical problems.
I am quite proud of my service and record as a "school type". It was and still remains an honorable way to contribute to society. I am well aware it is not exclusive to that trait.
I seriously doubt that either Mr. Baker or his attorney are very interested in these blogs.

abbott is a laughing stock. Most of us that don't live in her district have known that for years. Joe, get your head out of your pizza sauce and seriously look at her. She is NOT all that.

Linda wants more depos, simply because more info can confuse more people, than are confused already. I met Linda long ago when I was on the Rep Exc Comm of Collier County; sooo I know. Just a big woman with a lttle power trying to expand it. Kind of like a female Rudy G., sad really. Seems she believes a dangerous mantra; An educated society, is a dangerous society.

teachtrouble is right on target. Withers cannot afford to have McShea deposed. She was and still is the catalyst to this mess. She and Linda were business partners. Dorene used her to do her dirty work. Too bad we cannot depose Withers. Another cover-up and the public be blasteded.

Sounds like an architect -- without a project that ever mounted to a hill of beans.

This board is a farce. Unbelievable......all of it.

straightalk you are unmentionable
HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!m HA!, HA!
Say it to their faces!
HA!, HA!, HA!, hA!, hA!
You will soon!
HA!, HA!, HA, HA!, HA!
Like depositions, do you?
HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!
You know them all - Thompson, LaBute, Withers, Abbott...........
They know you too!
Howdy Doody!
HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!, HA!

Last time I heard, the board did NOT want to settle! This whole settlement thing has come from Baker's camp. Depending upon the settlement request, I guess the board and insurance company will discuss the possiblity of settlement, so that this can be put to bed.

TO correct you StraightTalk~ Mcshea did NOT start this whole thing! This whole thing started when statutes were violated by BAKER and company, and he refused to correct the issues after being given 6 months to fix them. You can not have a contract that allows a person to break the law!!!

Where I come from, if I was told by my boss to correct something, and after being given 6 months to fix things, was found NOT to have fixed it, flat out REFUSED to fix things, and broke the law doing so.... I think my boss would fire me too!!

PS: I heard Linda Abbott on the radio this morning too. She WANTS the depositions to continue she wants the WHOLE thing to come out! I agree! But if you want ALL the story, then make sure amoung the deponents are Curatolo, Baker, Withers, Carroll, Williams, Jansen, Labutte, and throw in a few of their chamber buddies for good measure!

teachtrouble,

I Recall that Donovan proudly declared he had never violated the Sunshine Laws. If so what were Donovan, Calabrese and Shawn Black discusing at 8:15 a.m. on Nov 8, in the lobby of MLK? It does not take 15 minutes to great each other. When they saw they were being observed they beat a hasty retreat into the confines of the Inner Sanctum.
Depose Donovan - never - Not with Withers in Charge.

straightalk

thefatladysings

I did not know that you sang but your are overweight. Maybe you would like to repay my $1,500.00 which I will donate to Youth Haven. Your protege may not wish to return the campaiagn money. Before you criticize others, what have you accomplished in your lifetime? Enough said.

straightalk

Maybe Donovan was saying good morning, where I am from there is no law against that!!!
Sunshine violation if ONLY Donovan and Calabrese wer talking, ok if there is 3rd person present and they dont disciss board business.
Do you know for a fact that they werent exchanging pleasantries? They are all on friendly terms you know, Kathy C.