"The Hinshaw and Culberston report, which was released in July, found that the district could not pair Advanced Placement classes with an honors class during the first semester as had been the practice for years. The district paired AP classes to ensure students received instruction all year, but the report found four students were earning different credits when they were attending the same class."

this is why Baker was fired?

YES, Mimibuck...

NOW, Thompson has turned this community UP SIDE DOWN.. and we as a community can do nothing about it. NOVEMBER will not get here too soon for me.. I will vote in this coming election just as I have for the past 25 years.

4x4 is the better schedule compaired to the 8x8... I just wished my child was graduating this year... NOW, she will have a third schedule change in 4 years.... Thank you LINDA ABBOTT

How much more insanity can we take?

Yes, mimibuck. It was such a CRITICAL issue that Mr. Donovan had a special meeting so they could fire Mr. Baker. Here we are 8 months later and the issue hasn't been solved. What a travesty!

Why is it up to Thompson to place the schedule issue back on the board's agenda? Does a board member not have the right to place an item on the agenda?

It appears that the school board does not follow the same rules of orders that the other government boards use.

At the very least this latest change is nothing more than payback from Thompson to the teachers, students and parents who dared to challenge his desire to change the high school schedule.

This proposed schedule was not the intent of the school board decision from that meeting a month ago and now there will be three different schedules in three years. Great.

"Richard Calabrese said he was concerned about the effect on the students who will have three schedules in three years."
"Calabrese said he thought the district should move to a seven-period day next year and use the money they would save for teacher salaries."

Don't those two statements seem to contradict each other? The second one sounds like a blantant attempt at butt-kissing to me.

Mr. Donovan's statement also confuses me. I watched the meeting and I thought the vote (albeit confusingly stated) was to keep the current block for another year. I guess they should watch the video and then they would know for sure what was said. Would that be too easy?

Don't expect too much out of those two beenthere. They don't even seem to understand what they are voting on half the time. Just watch the meetings. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

These folks are just too much. I watched Mr. Donovan's tap dance with Jeff Lytle on tv the other night. He was trying to throw out the same stuff. You are sure correct swfl_ff. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. They are going to run this system into the ground.

Withers again is giving bad advice to the board. They have every right to request a reconsideration. How many blunders from Withers are we going to have to put up with before the board gets smart and fires him?

I think Dr. Thompson is using control tactics to get what he wants. The Board voted to keep block, thinking they were keeping it exactly the same, which was what was said at the Board meeting. Thompson has changed it to making the students take 8 classes per semester, which of course, will make everyone angry and force the Board to ask Thompson to re-visit the high school schedule. This will probably end with the 7 period day being put in affect in 08-09 instead of 09-10.
I have an idea. The 5 million they will save in going to a 7 period day could be used towards getting rid of Thompson and then many qualified people who are being canned could keep their jobs. They could put in Eric Williams as Superintdent.
They should hold the Dixie Chicks to their contracts though so if they wanted to follow Thompson they would have to break their contracts and not get any bucks or stay here without him and finish out their contracts, leaving him to move on without them.
Oh what a tangled weave when we practice to deceive.

Did anyone else here that Baker wants to run for the Board? If this school system isn't already a circus, then that would definitely make it one. The ex fired Superintendent serving on the Board with at least two of the Board members that fired him, along with making decisions with the Superintendent that took his place.

I haven't heard that, stormie2. I do know that Baker would win a seat if he ran. Most believe he got the shaft. He's certainly well known. Shoe in, I believe is the term.

I heard Baker was in seclusion somewhere along the Laos/Cambodia border.

Please do the rest of us that support the school board and Dr. Thompson a favor, pull your kids out of school, quit your jobs, and move out of town.

This is unbelievable. Who exactly works for who? Could someone please explain to the public what the function of the Board is if all we see and hear is that the superintendent has complete control and that he has to bring things to the board for a vote. If you have a concern why is it that you as a board cannot discuss an issue , make a motion and vote on it? The tax payers seem to be paying for a Board that has no power!!!!!!!!

I heard that Scott Lepore is considering running for the Board....

" It ain't over 'til it's over"
Yogi Berra

When I watched that board(bored) meeting, I thought we were going to be on the 4x4 block schedule for the '08-'09 school year. Now all of a sudden, we are on this alternating 8x8 block schedule and all the principals are championing it as if it is the greatest thing since sliced bread! Let me tell you this- All the principals were strongly URGED to support Colonel Thompson's command! Again- his mantra/motto is " you are either with me or agin' me". If you are agin' me, start looking for another job in another district"! If the principals want to keep their jobs for next year they will go along with whatever the " BIG BOSS MAN" wants !

Don't forget to put air conditioned domes over the fields.

Just when I think this can't get anymore out of control....it does. Donovan's interview with Lytle on Sunday pretty much sealed his reputation as being the village idiot, this whole mess is pathetic.

Well, interesting! Eight months later and the problems increase rather then decrease!
Steve Donavan talks about being concerned the community is aware of what the Board is doing, well, I find that very interesting! THE BOARD HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING,
We have 3 "outsiders" totally in control of everything and they have NO vested interest in our DISTRICT!
Thank You Calabrese Abbott and Donavon for the most expensive mess in the history of Collier County!

Naplesaka, I was born and raised in Naples as well and my family has been here since 1950, plus I happen to know exactly what I am talking about, unlike speculators like yourself. Get with the program and be a leader instead of joining the flock of sheep that graze here.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Having Baker on the board would truly be entertaining to say the least. As much as I am not a huge fan of Baker I have to admit him being elected would add a different dimension to the big picture.

As long as Baker had two other votes Thompson could find himself out of a job. The only problem would be that we would end up have to pay off his contract along with Baker's not to mention pay for yet another new superintendent. Not a good move considering the financial picture.

In the least Baker's presence on the board would make thing real uncomfortable for Thompson, the chicks, Donovan and Calabrese.

The board meeting will be standing room only. You could sell tickets to that show.

CaptSam;
When we watch the bored meetings, I have everybody watching count how many times Donovan says "um". So far his best was 36. That was the night they voted on the block schedule.
Maybe we could turn it into a drinking game. Everytime he says "um" , everybody has to take a shot.
;-)

For those of you that cannot understand Naplesaka, I will be happy to translate for you. "Baaaaaaa Baaaaaaa"

This Board is lame! Are they going to re-visit this issue over and over and over each month? Leave it be and quit jacking these kids around.

Everyone just needs to learn one quick lesson: Life isn't fair. Remember when you were little and you thought when your parents punished you, that they did it because they were just being mean, but it was actually because they cared about you. This is exactly the case with Dr. Thompson. This man is going above and beyond, dealing with all the whiners and complainers, just to make sure that this school district really doesn't run into the ground. If these changes aren't made people and everything stays the way it is now, there will be NO money in a couple of years. Now, think about it. Would you rather have a few changes now and start saving money, or would you rather kep trying to live up to the persona that everyone who lives in Naples is filthy rich and bankrupt your school district? To me, it sounds like the solution should be common sense.

Wow, for an "outoftowner" you are very smart! That's a first for us! I will see if we can get you a "Honorary Native" designation from the County Commisioners. Welcome!

Score Thompson good - 3
Thompson bad - everyone else

I would give anything to see Baker on the school board. Could you imagine how miserable Calabrese, Donovan and Thompson would be to have to spend the rest of their terms looking at and working with him. I am sure it would be a disaster, but it already is so what do we have to lose. It would definitely be intertaining.

Hey, "outoftowner", why don't you do what your name states and get out of town, go back to where you came from. If you don't live here and have to deal with the issue at hand then mind your own business. Don't tell us how to run our town and we won't tell you how to run yours!

POV:
Do you think they will include him in the 3AM phone conferences??

Now Now Cracker, Outoftowner is the only one here besides myself that has a clue of what is right. Maybe we need more "outoftowners" with no bias, without blinders, and an agenda to help those of you without an understanding about whats real and your own little fantasy world where pigs can fly and the tooth fairy still visits.

I am from Rockford…. and I would very much enjoy seeing Baker on the board…LOL!

Oh trust me Radio, I do have a clue of what is right and know what Naples does not need is more outoftowners telling us how to run things. We did it fine before y'all came and will do fine when y'all leave.

Are you smoking some of the artificial turf that the board wants to put down on the football fields?? Tooth fairies and pigs flying...wow, what fantasy world did you come from?

I think it's too soon to tell whether Thompson is actually doing a good job or not. One thing I think we can all agree on though is that he has chosen a poor way to go about it. You do need to communicate and have some charisma in that role I believe. You have to be out in the community showing them some respect not in your bunker at the admin center all the time (dugout denny, I like that one).

I think he just has to realize that he's not in the Army anymore and has to learn to work with people rather than just issue orders and use fear and intimidation. Just my 2 cents.

Cracker, actually being a native of Naples, I do know for a fact that we did NOT do things fine or this county would not be in the trouble it is in now. Taxes too high, school system in shambles, a real estate crisis, and Fifth Avenue and Third Street are now a ghetto where rich people go to eat. That's why I like Dr. Thompson and his ideas. We need fresh faces from different places to help us see how WE have caused our own problems!

Foxhole Denny... that's probably why he hit the proverbial glass ceiling in the Army.

Yeah, I'm not 100% sure, but if you're a West Point Grad, and put your full time in the Army, and a decent soldier. You should for sure be full Colonel by the time you retire. Must not have been that decent a soldier.

Being a native myself, I have to disagree. The influence of board members, councilmen and commissioners who have come from out of state goes back decades. Those are the ones to blame for the way things are. They moved to town and wanted things changed to suit their needs. Things were so much better when Naples was in its infancy.

There are many ways to save money and implement change in a positive fashion. Poor leadership is creating a disaster in this county in more ways than one.

Well Cracker, if my memory serves me right, WE voted the council and commission into office. Suck it up and accept the blame. WE created the problems here, and it's up to us to fix them.

Maybe you voted them in, but I didn't.

I will agree with you that the problems need to be fixed, because it's only going to get worse.

Oh now you are admitting you don't vote Cracker. In that case you don't have any right to say anything. Shame on you!

No, shame on you for not being able to read! I never said I don't vote, I stated "Maybe you voted them in, but I didn't". I have never missed a vote in this county. I just don't vote for every idiot that comes along.

Parents, save yourselves and your childern, dual enroll them at Edison. They will receive a better education, real college credit and the FTE money will go to Edison. If we all did that the problem would be solved. No FTE money for CCPS, no need for incompetent overpaid board members, administrators, or teachers at the highschool level.

Cracker no need to be so defensive just because you cannot face the reality or responsibility of your actions. Do you really expect me to believe that everyone you have voted for has lost? If that is the case, maybe its time for you to retire to North Dakota and raise sheep. You would feel right at home with the sheep. A follower instead of a leader.

You need help Radio, I think you have a sheep fettish! Baaaaa Baaaaaa sheep man.

You make me so hot when you "Baaaaaa" Cracker and you sound so realistic!

Why don't you two stop your bickering you're like a couple of 5 year olds.

Thanks Naplesaka. And yes he does make the rest of us look bad. Not all Naples natives have sheep fettishes.

My Goodness, I do not disagree that Collier County WAS a great place to live, and my family has been here for more than 60 years. My point is WE are responsible for the changes here. WE sat by and let it happen and now WE must take responsibilty! By the way, just to show you that I am taking responsibilty, plans are in the works for me to run for Mayor of Naples in 2020.

Hey Cracker, I think Radio has a lot of issues. After reading some of his posts, he likes to attack people.

I get the point you are trying to get across. The way things have changed in Naples are not for the better.

Yes I do have issues, especially with people that sit and complain how bad things are and do nothing to change it. I am person of action not words. Show me the action and just maybe I might show you some respect. Until then, stop wasting my precious blogging space!

Wow....cat fights.

Does anybody remember Clyde Quinby???

He was a "superintendent" of our schools.

I think things were alot better back when he was in charge, and yes I know that was a long time ago. What happened to that kind of leadership?

Good for them to reconsider...why wouldn't they? What is to gain from this? If you are going to do the block then why not keep it the same?

Radio- What actions do you contribute other than blogging on NDN all day everyday?

Native, I remember Clyde Quinby. He served during the late 70's and did a great job. That's what I'm talking about.

better " rally" the kids again and have them attend the next meeting! The current school board would fight over whether the toilet paper in the restrooms should be over the roll or under the roll ( I'm and over the roll person myself)!

Hearing y'all refer to Dr. T as a sheepherder makes me realize that what he need to do is get the flock out of here.

Now that there's funny GoodSense!

Why thank ya, cracker!
I also grew up right near here on the West Coast of Florida. I remember the '70's.
Didn't they fire a whole bunch of teachers here for holding a strike then?

RadioNews is so out of touch with reality. If he/she really has lived here since 1950 and can not see that Thompson is the new village idiot then he/she needs his/her head examined.

CCPS is a nation wide disgrace to the education community and to the residental community of Naples.

The decisions of the Board and the new dictator do not have the best interests of educating children in this community at the forefront. It is a bunch of adults that have tried to make themselves look better by attempting to make other people look bad. It has caused a tremendous amount of destruction to schools, families, and employees and there have been no gains or benefits. The only thing that sadly has been made evident by this mess over the last several months that the number one reason ALL of these people are supposed to be in the position they are is for the education of children and that focus has been blurred by deception.

It would be worth a little egg on their faces and have the current board fire Thompson because he has clearly failed in his duties, and move forward. But because of the power struggle at the kids expense, we will have to wait until we get a new board, because rest assured the next board will send the current superintendent back to whatever hole he crawled out from.

ALL of Collier County should be ashamed this has gone on. Maybe the punishment is falling home prices, people trying to escape in droves, illeagals taking over, crime rising, and the reputation of Naples being flushed down the toilet.

naplesjeff -

Just how has Dr. Thompson failed in his duties? Especially when he hasn't been given the chance by the teachers and a vast majority of the community to do them.

The way that he was brought into the community aside (because it's a tired argument, and most people already agree it was handled badly), he really has done the best job that he can with the horrible situation that he inherited from his loser-predecessor Baker and his cronies on the old School Board.

When an educational system is as broken as this one, the only way to fix it is to make hard and unpopular choices. And, the person making those choices is rarely, if ever, looked upon kindly while they are being made. It often isn't until years later that the good they did is not only realized, but appreciated.

So, let's hear the list. Please, elaborate and tell me what horrible situations Dr. Thompson has created and what terrible wrongs Dr. Thompson has done to the Collier County Public School system during his brief tenure as Superintendent that he is actually personally responsible for, and that he didn't inherit from Ray Baker and the old School Board?

I'm willing to bet it's a pretty short list.

Right on GatorHater07!! Naplesjeff.. can't think of anything?? Notice that you have responded to GatorHater07 request!

I'm sorry... I meant to say that you HAVEN'T responded!

Let's see Gator, where would you like me to start? How about the fact that he brought two people in here to replace other people without even taking the time to evaluate the current administrators...revisiting block scheduling which only three years ago caused great strife in our community... teacher morale is the lowest in decades... principals are being coerced into agreeing to things that they wouldn't usually agree to... principals and assistant principals are losing their jobs left, right and center... teachers who had stellar observations last year are suddenly not up to snuff and are being practically blackballed from teaching in Collier County ever again... teachers are being told what to teach, when to teach and how to teach it...would you like me to go on?

can someone explain chatty kathy curatolo, this women votes one way and the next meeting votes another. This women needs anger management classes big time, yet no one has called her on it, this town has no idea the infomation behind the scenes that promote the actions of Mr. Thompson, or the three board members. Mr. Donovan has to be very careful of the information he provides due to the lawsuit by Baker and his hotline Attorney Withers. What you read in the paper isn't anything close to the truth. Remember the hot line has been cut since baker was removed to lytle and lewis, their inside sources are gone. Their lies against Calabrese were exposed on the dave elliott show and lytle went into a melt down! NDN rag has shown that it hold information or ignores it all together. There is always two sides to every newspaper story, you will only get the most sensational side!

unimpressed, keep it coming. They asked for a list and you're giving it to them.

The truth hurts, huh guys?

I was here during a mid day break, and came back tonight to find my comments have been deleted by "staff", even tho there was no profanity whatsoever.

So here we go again:

Thompson is a fraud, and a fool that happens to be smarter than the Linda/Charlie, Calahuge or Donodumb group, because he sucked them into firing Baker and hiring him.

Vote the Abbotts out of office this fall.

Freedom of speech you say. Maybe not here.

I have sat quiet for a long time, reading blogs from time to time and all the insults about my husband, Steve Donovan. I can sit quiet no longer. Many of you insult his intelligence, call him GED Steve. This is a big insult, as for your information he DOES have a high school diploma, and I will be happy to send you a copy of it if you will identify yourself! You all hide behind these made up names, because you are too cowardly to come forward with your comments. My husband works extremely hard for the School Board, many nights I retire for the evening and he is still either answering emails or going over board packets. My home phone rings daily with parents, teachers (yes, we do get calls from Anonymous Teachers) and he takes the time to speak with each and every one of them! He is out of town on school business several times a year, and attends meetings at the Dr. Martin Luther King building with staff, parents, as well as regular scheduled school board meetings, as well as visits to schools. He spends alot of time away from our family. Time that he can not recoup. And he also has a full time job with Collier County as a paramedic, with many nights only getting a couple hours of sleep. Until you walk a mile in my man's shoes, you should not ridicule the work that he does. For the most part it is thankless. Union reps forget how hard he worked in the past when former Board members offered them a 1/2 of 1% increase in salary, and he Mrs. Abbott worked to get them a 2%! He is very supportive of teachers, and always has the best interest of students in mind. We still have a son in high school, so it is very personal what happens in the schools. Mr. Sowestfla1975 especially is very insulting, you should ask yourself how YOU would feel if someone talked about YOU like that! Steve is a great guy, compassionate and considerate. As one other writer stated, he is unable to comment on the Baker case because of the litigation. That does not make him stupid. That makes him considerate of the law. And he will continue to be considerate of the law. Please stop the verbal abuse of the Board members and stick to the issues. You should take the time to become more educated about what is going on, rather than slinging the filth that is written here. Thank you to the supporters, I can tell you we appreciate your kind words.

I was a brand new teacher at IHS under Clyde Quinby. Not long after I started, he came in during a routine (Yes, ROUTINE!) visit. He knew my name, and even some students' names. He knew how to shmooze...and when he put forth a plan or change most teachers, admin, and parents SUPPORTED him. He took the time to build support, to know him collegues, and to know the kids, and he reaped the benefits. Perhaps he would offer to come back and tutor the new administration!

If Thompson is doing such a terrific job, gatorhator, answer this: exactly how many parents, teachers or community members has he asked to provide input on any decisions he has made? What the school district needs now more than ever is healing, yet Thompson has shut down all two-way communication. If he can't relinquish his total control strangle hold on the school system, it will implode. Other school officials from around the state have already labeled our board and administration as "troubled." This can't go on. Students here deserve better.

Is anyone really surprised that the move is being made from the 4x4 to the 8x8 alternating schedule?

Thompson's reason for pushing 7 periods was to save money by increasing each teacher's student load, allowing them to eliminate about 84 teachers at the high school level. When the board voted to keep block they were not specific about what form, which allowed themselves & Thompson to relieve some of the intense pressure that was being put on them by the community while still attaining their goal of staff reduction. The 8x8 alternating schedule removes 1/2 of the planning time that teachers currently receive, forcing each teacher to teach an additional class. This will easily allow for a significant reduction in teachers at the high school level all across the county. Looks to me like Thompson won a sly victory, even though he didn’t get everything that he wanted – at least not this time around.

"How about the fact that he brought two people in here to replace other people without even taking the time to evaluate the current administrators" - Frequently done when a new "boss" takes over, particularly when changes are needed. If the people in place aren't doing the job, replace them with people who can. This is a prime example of him doing the job he was hired to do, and (except for the two people he brought with him) he inherited the current administration from Ray Baker. Next?

"...revisiting block scheduling which only three years ago caused great strife in our community" - Based upon how Collier County Public Schools rank statewide, the block schedule apparently isn't working. This again is a problem that he inherited from Ray Baker that needs to be addressed. Next?

"... teacher morale is the lowest in decades..." - Due, in large part to their feelings that they are being undercompensated. This is a problem that Dr. Thompson inherited from Ray Baker and the old School Board that negotiated the current contract package with the teachers' union. Next?

"...principals are being coerced into agreeing to things that they wouldn't usually agree to..." Prove it. According to available facts, the principals are agreeing of their own free will. These principals were put in place by Ray Baker. Dr. Thompson is trying to work with them to enact nececssary changes. Next?

"...principals and assistant principals are losing their jobs left, right and center..." - Goes back to my ealier comments about a new boss taking over and replacing less effective people with more effective ones, and that fact that these people were put into their current positions by Ray Baker. Dr. Thompson is trying to work with what he was given. Next?

"teachers who had stellar observations last year are suddenly not up to snuff and are being practically blackballed from teaching in Collier County ever again" Probably a bit of an exaggeration, but okay. Again, these people were put in place by Ray Baker and were being evaluated by supervisors put in place by Ray Baker. Dr. Thompson is coming in and making his evaluations on his own criteria. Right or wrong, that's the "new" standard, and it's different from the old one. Someone who may have been stellar under Baker's system may or may not be under Thompson's. Next?

"... teachers are being told what to teach, when to teach and how to teach it" - That's called "standard of instruction", and that's Thompson's job to define and dictate. Part of improving the school system will be establishing uniformity across the instruction processs, which will enable the system to be more effectively evaluated. If everyone is teaching the same thing the same, that's easier to do.

Very impressive list. However, nothing that you listed is a situation CREATED by Dr. Thompson. It is a situation created by Ray Baker and INHERITED by Dr. Thompson, that he must now try to rectify as he attempts to improve the educational system for our children.

McLady - I will agree completely that the students of Collier County deserve better than they are getting. But, their situation is not going to improve if things don't change.

The public school system of this community is horribly broken, and Dr. Thompson was brought in by the School Board to fix it. And, fixing it requires that changes, some of them probably significant, be made. A large part of the problem with the current system is that a large part of the public and the teachers' union don't want it to change. But, without change it's not going to get better. The very definition of "futility" is "doing the same thing the same way every time, and expecting a different result."

So, which tactic is going to get the results that the School Board is looking for: Someone who comes in and does exactly what the teachers and the public want them to do, regardless of what may or may not be best for the School District? Or, someone who comes in does exactly what is best for the School District regardless of what others around him are saying?

Like I said, the best choices are often the most difficult ones, and they are rarely popular at the time they are being made. And, it takes significantly more leadership to make the right decisions under intense scrutiny and criticism than it does to kowtow and do merely what is popular with the majority.

Gator,

You are either one of Dr. Thompson's pawns or you are just being completely naive. Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?

unimpressed - Do you believe everything being spewed by the teachers' union?

Gator I have no union contact. My information comes from the media and talking directly to community members and teachers...I am curious how you seem so authoritative on issues surrounding CCPS if you also have a full time job ouside the district??????????