I don't think any of them will be returning......

Which is it? Did he miss two board meetings or one board meeting. At the beging of the story one member says that he has missed two meetings and if he misses July 29th meeting it will be three meetings. But at the end of the story it says he has missed one meeting. Somebody needs to get their story straight. Or learn how to count. After all their on the school board.

sorry should have been mis not miss

How embarrasing. Our school board doesn't even have the ability to decide whether or not to contact one of their own memebers.

Try this...call him, or go see the sick man it's called compassion.

They just spent millions on video conferencing equipment. Use it!

Unfortunately for workers nowadays, employers would rather stay away from injured/sick employees then possibly violate any of the numerous laws of the books that state that an employer must stay out of an employee medical affairs.

Most companies today know little of the important details when a workers falls ill suddenly, such as when will they be returning to work, or if they will be able to continue doing the job they were hired/elected to do. HIPPA laws and such prevent employers from asking questions that need to be answered so that a company can plan for employee absences, or so that they may accomidate an employee when returning to work.

If you are ever out of work for an extended time, please contact your employer and keep them informed...it may not be that they don't care about you when you don't hear from them, but simply they are afraid to call and ask "How are you doing". Under certain circumstances they can be sued for caring, or being compassionate.

The country is not completely doomed, lets get back to basics. Do your part, keep people informed and we will all be better off.

That is the problem with this district...lots of hidden truths. I find it hard to believe that the board members would be breaking any law by talking to Calabrese. They are neither his boss or subordinates right?
Take him a lap top and hook up a video conference at the next meeting.

Let the man heal for pete's sake! He just a freaking heart attack.

He's a good example of "if you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen"!

He obviously couldn't take the "heat" of the pressure from the unions and buckled under, instead of standing strong for the taxpayers of the school district and doing the right thing for them and the students!

Kathy this is a disgrace! Rich just had a heart attack-let him recover-before you call the undertaker. And, you wonder why you have opposition in this race. Have a little class-

"rich just had a heart attack"...please. The slob doesn't take care of himself and paid for the years of over eating. And my buddy had a heart attack the week before and is back playing golf.

Get back to the meetings or give it up. For the Kids sake, let's pray he gives it up.

The board will function much better without him. It would have been appreciated had he mentioned his health condition before the election.

Wonder if he gets sick leave or personal days like the rest of us - if we don't work, we don't get paid - I'm sure that does NOT apply to superintendents, chicks, or board members!

Don't get down on K.C. for wondering if he's going to be back - that is the responsible thing to do - seeing as it has been six weeks and THREE MEETINGS (COW-6/17, RBM-6/19, and the upcoming July meetng which was moved to 7/29, so that he would have more time to recouperate). I agree, Kathy is the ONLY one on the Board with any sense, insight, brains or braun!

R.C. is paid to do a job - do it. Lets try not to compound the irreparable damage that has already been done. It is someones responsibility to share with the stakeholders the condition of the Board Member and his intentions - we do pay his salary, and all employees are expected to let their employer know their intent or medical condition. Dr.Googins??? Mrs. Calabrese? LOL

He paid the price for being a fat slob for so many years. Also, being a dirty, old, perverted man didn't help. Toss him out and get him replaced, along with the rest of them.

I'm not a cardiologist, but I think there has been ample time for Mr. Calabrese's physician to assess the damage and make a recommendation as to whether he will ever recuperate fully enough to assume his duties as a school board member - figuring in the amount of stress involved. He has probably given Mr. Calabrese an approximate time table for resuming his lifestyle. I don't think it is inappropriate at all that Mr. Calabrese share this information with the rest of the school board. I'm surprised he has not done it yet. If I was ill or injured, I would be expected to let my employer know if I would be able to return to fulfill my duties and provide an approximate time frame in which I would expect to return.
The school board members have much work ahead of them. They need to know if Mr. Calabrese is going to be able to participate.

I think that Mr Calabrese needs to update the board on his condition. If he needs some additional time to recover then fine just give them a time table for his return. If he cannot return to his duties with a reasonable time frame then he needs to do the honorable thing and step down so the position can be filled.

His prolonged absence will only complicate matters on an already dysfunctional board. With him gone many upcoming votes on issues could end up in a tie. That does not make for good business.

I shouldnt be stunned by some of these comments, but I am.

You all take being "haters" to a new level.

Think positively. Maybe this is his way of no longer supporting Thompson without looking like he flip-flopped.

K.C is only showing her true colors."SNAKE"

A. B. C.

Anybody But Curotolo

While I am NOT Mrs. Calabrese, my family continues to keep Mr. & Mrs Calabrese and the Calabrese family in our thoughts and prayers. Politics aside, it is a matter of showing compassion for a fellow human being. Something we could use a lot more of these days, in my humble opinion!!

I find this latest nastiness of Kathy Curatolo's to be close to an all time low!! She has absolutely no compassion, and her expression of well wishes are empty! This is especially clear, after viewing the tape of the last FBSA training session held shortly before Mr. Calabrese had his heart attack. As all board members were present, and in total contradiction to her rantings and preachings of the last 6 years of "Collaaaboration", "team thinking", and boardsmenship, she made it clear ad nauseum, that she has absolutely NO DESIRE to work on strengthening any relationships between her and her fellow board members or for that matter anyone that she does not like!

Is this what we want for another 4 years???!?? A Boardmember who will blatently seek to undermine, and disregard the people that she is suppose to work with? How can we as the public, teachers, students, and community begin to come together and work together for the betterment of Collier County school system and the education of our children, if board members are not even willing to do so!!

While I have not always agreed with Pat Carroll on her voting record and some of her past behavior, I must commend Mrs. Carroll for the strength, compassion, and decision making skills I have seen her display over the past several months!!

Happy 4th of July!

some people just don't know when to call it "quits" even when a massive/catastrophic illness has sidelined them. If he were a young man with many more years of necessary work in front of him before retirement, I could understand hanging on. HOWEVER, at his age, I would take this as a sign from a HIGHER POWER to SLOW down, smell the roses, and enjoy whatever time I have left with my loved ones. Not many of us get a second chance to realize what's really important in life- LOVE, FAMILY and FRIENDS! Ain't nobody ever said on his/her deathbed- " Boy, I wish I had spent more time at the office"!

Geez - It's only been a month? Dang, my wife was out of work for 6 weeks with pneumonia from her job and no one called for her resignation. Of course my wife didn't pose a threat to anyone like calabrese does Curatolo and also she never fired anyone just like he did superintendent Baker. Oh yeah, this has political revenge written all over it. There ain't no way I am voting for this witch. We need a whole new board. People who work on the problems this district faces and someone who unites the board and collectively brainstorms solutions not flies off the handle everytime they disagree.

A member of the school board is not that stressful of a job, unless other members are telling you how to vote. you go to the meeting, you listen and vote to what you feel ultimately is best for the children and you go home. what is so hard about that? however if how you vote causes undue stress from other members because you are speaking your own mind, then i guess you better stay home. or, maybe a near meeting with your maker puts a lot in a different light. remember, it's not good to lie and deceive when you are not a healthy person.

however, if you don't follow the rules and your maker is from rockford......well, i don't just know.........

Hey Naples - What is that supposed to mean. "however, if you don't follow the rules and your maker is from rockford......well, i don't just know........." You don't know and you will never know...get a clue.

I'm sure if the shoe were on the other foot and it was KC who had the heart attack, the attacks would be in the other direction. She would have the meetings scheduled around HER!! You people make me sick, let the man recover - it has been only ONE board meeting and come to think of it, I think KC has missed more than that!!! And to even think that it was the custodian issue that caused it, and to resort to name calling, may God forgive you!

I agree, the board members and their new leader should enjoy their little titles while they can. Come election time it will be a brand new bunch. To have this group of people representing Naples is a shame, and sickening.
As a community we need to be very hands on in the selection of their replacements.

Camera - what are you talking about, the board already revolves around KC's schedule. Every time a scheduling issue comes up, she is the first one to say, "That date just isn't good with me," "I don't have my planner in front of me.." How unprofessional is that?

Berry - I agree, come election day, this the voters will speak loud and clear: INCUMBENTS GO HOME!

firefly and camerman, you are right. You wouldn't think that people could stoop so low until you read some of these blogs. The guy is sick and Curatolo and her gang want to put the final nail in the coffin. These bloggers are the same old bloggers over and over again. They are Curatolo supporters and this is a good example of what a horrible things she and her friend are capable of. I don't think she will win though. I think see the hatred that comes from this group. I also have a good suspicion that muchwizernow is her campaign manager. She and her Chamber of Commerce crowd have got to go.

We all know that Donovan and Calabrese have spoken on the phone [at 3 a.m.]. Maybe Donovan could call Calabrese to ask how he is feeling and what his plans are for returning to work. It is unprofessional and inconsiderate to not notify your employer [the CCPS system and the public] of plans to return to important work. I understand that he had a heart attack in late May, but he needs to be clear with the people that he works with as to his timeline for returning to his job....or not....whatever the case may be. I also understand that this is not a full time position [even though the pay is the same as a first year teacher in the district], but it is still an important, public position to hold and should be treated with such respect.

for the $38,000+ benefits they get per year as an ELECTED official, they should be required to not miss more than 1 consecutive meeting without some sort of communication to the other board members and the citizens forking over the money. This school board is a joke!

throw them all out...none of them are any good

Sigh, maybe he will retire peacefully ,step down and ride off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.

I hope that he is OK!

Rumor has it that he went to Cuba and from there flew down to help rescue the Columbian hostages!

This is 37% believable!

August is the Primary!!!!!

November is the General Election!!!!!!!!!!!

I am voting for Mickey Mouse... only if he will FIRE GOOFY...

RC is in my prayers.. but I WILL NOT be voting for any current board members.

My guess is that he hangs on till after the election so they can see the makeup of the new board. Then, he will step aside and the forces that be will lobby Crist who to appoint.

Hey Tennpride #27, I'll give you instructions. If you read #25, #26 is a postscript. I guess I should have gathered all my thoughts before i hit 'enter'. I guess I should have had a clue that some readers 'need a clue'. But I guess I'm a snowbird and right now I am back about an hour from Rockford (Chicago GASP!) and my thoughts race a little faster than my typing. Anyway, sorry if I confused you.

Aren't most employees expected to keep their employer informed as to their status when they are out sick? In this case, the employee, Calagreese, works for the public and we have no idea when to expect him back on the job. This is made worse by the fact that he is getting paid anyway. He has unlimited sick leave and free health insurance!! Seems like a perfect opportunity for the groper to stay home, get paid, and do nothing.

On the other hand, the school board may be better off without him.

This all deals with ethics and integrity. As for his health we all wish him the best.

If the man doesn't take this as a sign from God to slow down, smell the roses, he is a FOOL!