“Tell the Collier School Board to Clean Up Its Act” and “Sweep Away Secret Deals.”
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You'd have to first sweep out a lot of people at the top, beginning with this new superintendent.
Just my opinion.

I've recently added new sections to my parody blog about this mess in CCPS:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

This line has a funny phrase; I've made it all caps:

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They are also upset at WHAT THEY CALL “secret deals” being made by the school district’s administration.
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Well, what would ANYONE call it?

This is a superintendent with a SECRET background, as NONE of his background was actually reported by this newspaper or anyone else (though it's now on my parody blog, if you're interested).

This is a superintendent who thinks his PUBLIC SALARY is a SECRET, as he told teacher Tom Briscoe.

This is a superintendent hired in SECRET, beginning, it seems, with a SECRET meeting with a teacher Terry Walters (and NO COMPETITION).

This is a school board with members who talk on the phone at 3AM IN SECRET with each other and Terry Walters.

This is a school board with a member, Steve "No Show" Donovan, who failed to show up for a deposition, leaving his testimony a SECRET.

SECRET! SECRET! SECRET! SECRET! SECRET!

Yeah, those union people sure are wacky calling this superintendent's current secret dealings
"SECRET" - LOL...

If we lose our jobs we will lose our house! What about the other 50 adults living with you, don't they work? Maybe turn some of the chevy's in the front yard into mobil homes?
drink beer and complain about America, in front of school, is this still a drug free zone?
Aren't these custodians suppose to be working?
Tell school board to clean up its act! Phase 1- get rid of 250 deadbeats! Now schools will be clean for our kids.

Be nice.
People are concerned about the future. Teachers, construction workers, plumbers, everyone. The Teamsters are just using the media and scare tactics to gain new members. The workers that are actually worth saving will surely have a job. The dead beats that the CCPS couldn't get rid of will be gone. The Teamsters will not win this one. Remember, all of us are having a tough time now. Difficult times bring people closer. The Teamsters will try to divide the community to get to thier goal.
So will FLCertified.

upnorth--either you are an bottomhole or are very sarcastic. I hope it is the latter...

It is not proper to paint everyone with the same brush upnorth. There are many good employees who will be affected by this. Not just deadbeat illegal scum as you would have us believe they all are. Certainly there are some that would fit your description, but your broad generalizations are not the mark of a mature adult who can see all sides of a situation.I feel sorry for you and many others in this so called community who allow your prejudice to blind you to the good folks out there.

One other thing to consider here...What will be the impact on the FTE money the district receives when the 250 custodians move away from Collier County to seek other employment? Don't forget that they too have children in the schools. What is the over all impact on student enrollment and the federal/state funds received for that enrollment when the children of these custodians have to leave this area?Has anyone given this any consideration? One student over his or her time enrolled in CCPS represents a enormous amount of funding? Given this fact how much would that savings of 3.5 million come to minus those funds? Would it be as much a savings in the long run? Like a corporation that is headed for ruin our district leaders continue to be short sighted and panic.The CEO (Thompson)is awarded with a fat paycheck and generous benefits for running us towards ruin.TYPICAL!

The CEO (Thompson)is awarded with a fat paycheck and generous benefits for running us towards ruin.TYPICAL!
--------
Very true, and very sad. It's all too typical.

As for the person above who doesn't care if the superintendent is a fraud or not -- well, students and teachers may still care.

They may prefer to have someone who has a written application on file, actual degrees, and is here for a legal purpose.

Some people are still that crazy to want things like that.

Others, I realize, are just plain insane. A lunatic could be in charge of this school district, and that would be OK with most sheeple.

PS By "person above" I meant #4. To that person: it's ok if you hate my website. Plenty of people spend hours on it. It's amazing how much they find out they never learned from this newspaper. Or just plain funny.

upnorth: you remind me of a POS I flushed the other day.

seriously, your "I need attention" attitude isn't even as refined as a 10 year-olds would be.

that's all for now.

"but outsourcing custodial services would allow the district to save money while not sacrificing academic programs for students." Thompson said this.

Did he stop to think that many of those 250 custodians have children enrolled in our schools? No.Well, it is going to impact the students and the scademic programs. Also remember that the district is facing a budget deficit of over 19 million. 3.5 million is mere chump change compared to that. Sooner or later he will have to have the courage to make cuts in academic and extracurricular areas. Even if outsoucing would save a great deal in the short term, how much of a savings would that be if a employee who was not properly screened did something to one of our students?Like it or not he will have to look at cuts in other areas. He has done precious little to reach out to the community. His dealing with GCA gives a strong impression of improper conduct and a conflict of interest. If this firm is choosen that move will only serve to further erode the public trust. Rather than build trust and foster a partnership with this community he would rather serve his own needs and his own ego.

That is not leadership Superintendent Thompson. Where did he receive his officer training in the military? Certainly not from West Point! Those of us who were properly schooled in military leadership know that the troops who serve under a officer's command are of prime importance.

Thompson's superiors in the military were critical of his leadership. No wonder.

Argo,
On & on & on & on. Give it a break. Understand this. They have to have 250 or so custodians in the school district. Whether it is the same families or not, they will likely have the same 2.3 children/family.
Whether you like it or not, Thompson's resume is very impressive. He definitely is a grad of West Point, and an assistant professor there to boot. Being a retired military man myself, my sources tell me he is still very respected. Personal attacks and lies about him are very seemly. You speak about leadership. How about volunteering your time in the schools?

I AM SORRY, your right! I forgot that 250 custodians = would you say, about 1,000 kids? 2.3 kids/= AMERICAN FAMILY!
That means, less free school lunches, less free medical attention for all those babies and young children at our hospitals, all those free government subsidies, All that fuel for those chevy's, high demand for rice in our area driving prices up, did I leave anything out midwesterner? I am sorry that you don't have any of these problems in the mid-west. However, your mouth leads me to believe that you are a teacher, along with freshface!
So, lets see what do we loose, hospital employees, gas station attendants, school cafeteria workers, people at government positions, and most importantly TEACHERS! Hey, did you realize that most of the people I mentioned are minorities that do these jobs too! Finally, we take back Naples. I know its not right to say this, but I bet after you read this you will say maybe he's right? Save America, SAY NO, or nomas?

Sorry, support workers. Only tenured teachers with seniority have jobs for life. It doesn't make sense and is grossly unfair, but that's how the teachers and their union have managed to fix the game for themselves.

Let's hope that CCPS admin doesn't stop looking for economies after it outsources custodial jobs. Many, many colleges and universities are using part-time faculty. That's an option worth exploring.

Those of you who keep saying that these 250 people will find employment with CGA must be math impaired.

Take 250 people, multiply by 40 hours per week, then multiply by 50 weeks per year. That's 500,000 man-hours (apologies to the feminists out there).

Now, in order to save $3.5 million, you would have to save $7 per man-hour. How do you do that? Remember, these are not highly paid employees. Taking away ALL their benefits probably wouldn't even cover it. Yes, I know, we're all suffering, but I think this plan clearly reveals T as a heartless, lying illegitimate.

upnorth's comments reveal him for the ignorant, racist pig that he is.

Agro34116 -

First of all, the last time I checked, The United States Military Academy at West Point is considered to be one of the preeminent leadership schools in this country. Just getting admitted to this prestigious institution is quite an accomplishment in and of itself.

Second, you said "Those of us who were properly schooled in military leadership...". Where exactly did you get your military leadership training that you think it makes you superior to a West Point graduate? (I'm not saying that non-West Point grads of military programs can't be great leaders, but West Point sets the standard.)

Third, any "good" military officer not only understands that "the troops are of prime importance", he or she also understands that, in order to accomplish the greater goal, it will be necessary to make hard (often unpopular or hard to understand at the time) decisions and to sacrifice troops along the way. (And, if you were properly trained in military leadership, as you claim to be, you would already know that.)

Finally, the last time I checked, $3.5M was about 20% of $19M (18.4%, to be exact). That's hardly "chump change". How much better off would you be during these tough economic times if you could reduce your "budget shortfall" by 20%?

Sit down you little illegitimates and listen to me! Good, keep your teaching technics in the classroom, boy what a mouth! Read blog#14, Bramble has it right. Lets see this weekend when the custodians are picketing on the pier if their loyal union teachers help them out? I have to see all those minorities standing on the pier in beautiful Naples, and all those rich people looking at them, wondering if there is a boat coming to pick them up????? GOOD, will you be on the pier showing your support? You can probably do alot of name calling out there, also for the teachers who would like to participate with you?
Bring water, you will probably get dry mouth.

It is not just the custodians. Thompson is running roughshod over this district. If taking money from the classroom were the most important part of his concerns, then why did he command such a high salary, bring two high cost, not particularly intelligent (yet very loyal) dixie chicks, while we still have to maintain those they replaced on the payroll. The price for this is probably close to $3.5 million.

Thompson is firing competent principals and bringing in more and more of his Rockford cronies to replace them. He has brought a dozen or more people so far from Rockford. Let's take a investigative gander NDN at the cost of hiring these people and the toll his dictatorial style has had on the people he has had removed from their jobs.

Thompson told principals to choose which to keep and which to 'let go'; either their Assistant Principals or their program managers. Many people are being cut.

All of these actions have a very real impact on the classroom. The classroom is not an island; it is part of a larger community. These are not just numbers and dollars and cents, these are our friends and neighbors, people with professional careers.

One of the dixie chicks, Hayes, told a meeting of principals "You each have a target on your back". Who's the next to go and be replaced by a Rockford lackey? Our principals are professionals making $100,000 + per year.

Thompson made a huge error in not first accepting the idea that we could free up the building funds to use for balancing the budget before making the human sacrifices.

He is making bad choices without regard for the consequences. He is not creative. He is punitive and playing his fiddle with his Rockford buddies while the Naples professionals burn.

Yes, the union is using the press to further their cause. They don't have much choice since Unions in Fla don't have much strength. This is a right to work (or not) state. I saw union workers in another right to work state (Nevada) protest for 10 years, to no avail. The Company just hired people to cross the picket line. Having said that, when this does happen, let's hope the outsource Company coming in rehires the present custodial employees before looking elsewhere.

this is just a "Legal" way to rid the schools of over paid janitorial employees who have been there for years who now have vacation time and benefits up the ying yang.

in a couple years the CCD will say "oops, we made a mistake" and then hire all new custodians at minimal pay with little or no benefits which in the long run will save the schools millions.

its just a legal (politically correct) way of firing everyone without being sued

McGee,
Just FYI,
GCA is cleaning Edison Community College. They also clean Duval County Schools(Jax). It's not like they are new to Florida. They actually do work for over 85 school districts in the nation.
If more people would focus on helping our kids read and learn in class instead of worrying about operational issues, maybe more of our students would succeed.
Operational efficiency is only part of what we hired Thompson for. Let him do his job. The CCPS has been messed up for years.

A few things.

Upnorth. I guess I thought the Klan was dead, but you prove that theory wrong. You shouldn't be posting on here. I think you're mistaking this blog for a white supremacist blog.

WW2vet. How is Thompson such a great military man? He went to West Point and put his full time in and only retired a light Colonel. Obviously someone didn't like him much.

Third...Thompson must be the second coming of the messiah with all these people just coming to him out of the blue...Collier county admins, Custodial firms, what's next?

This is a keystone cops operation here in Collier County.

mngator - Not every West Point grad winds up with stars on their shoulders. Heck, for that matter, not every West Point grad winds up with eagles on their shoulders.

The higher you go in the military infrasructure, the fewer slots there are for people of the appropriate grade, and the people that already occupy those slots tend to be there for a while. (If you had any real military experience, you would know this.) For Thompson "only" to have made Lieutenant Colonel during his time of service has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not "someone liked him very much". Given "typical" Army promotion progression and availability of promotable slots, someone who "only" made Major in that same period of time should cause eyebrows to raise. Making Lieutenant Colonel in that span is fairly typical.

And, does it say WHY Thompson retired after that period of service, or merely that he did? There are many reasons he could have decided to leave the Army: It could be that he had had enough of the military and decided to get out. It could be that he was "promotable" (i.e. eligible to become a full Colonel) but that there were no O-6 slots available, so he decided to get out. It could be that he received a good "private sector" offer based upon his military experience, so he decided to get out.

Casting aspersions is easy when you don't really know what you're talking about.

With all due respect, UPNORTH... You are one scary person! I pray that if you have young children they don't grow up with the same hatred you have demonstrated through your words. While I could go on and on about your terribly racist comments.... it's simply not worth my time. There is no point in arguing with a fool!!

I personally like to see upnorth's contributions. He doesn't have the intelligence to hide his racism behind the facade of "I am not against immigrants just the illegal ones" like the rest of Collier County Republicans. He lays the Collier Republican heart out there for all to see.

You want to talk with Thompson? I read in the paper that he has a town hall meeting next thursday at the Ag Center on Immokalee Rd in front of the fairgrounds. 7PM. The people in eastern Collier will get a chance to meet him and ask the burning questions.

Open Mic on Tuesday May 27th at 5:30 PM. Call in and ask Thompson some of these DIFFICULT questions/concerns. The past 2 Open Mics have been pretty lame- very few callers. People are getting BORED with all this CCPS crap. Ask him directly if one of his " chicks" told the principals they had bulls eye targets on their backs. Maybe I will ask that question.
Also- does anyone know what Thompson's military retirement is per year. Not being a military person I have no idea what he gets from his military pension. Add that to his $ 240K CCPS salary and my guess is this guy is doing pretty darn good!

R post #10 - Where did he receive his officer training in the military? Certainly not from West Point!
-------

I agree. In addition to any other fake degrees he may possess, I am having a very tough time believing this guy is a West Point grad. I think he is a total fake.

And, if he is, then, as such, his days may actually be numbered.

I have a tough time believing an accrediting agency will put their stamp of approval on this district while he is in charge,

And, a tougher time believing Gov Crist will stand by and do nothing.

I think Thompson & Co., and these three school board members, may still be seeing their way to the door sometime in the near future.

There is no way such people can legally be in charge of a school district. This is complete chaos what has happened here.

To prevent it in the future, the school board needs to set criteria and procedures for hiring a superintendent that it may or may not have now.

Criteria #1 - any superintendent applicant must have at least 3 years teaching experience in a public schools in K-12.

That would have eliminated Thompson, as he would be ineligible.

And that criteria already exists in Lee County, and in most, if not all school districts in this state.

Does Collier have that criteria? If not, it needs to establish it immediately.

In the meantime, laugh it up with my new sections on this parody blog about the messa at CCPS:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

The Collier County School Board are the job's that should be outsourced and run by a private company. This is what's wrong with America hiring a private company whom will hire God only knows who and do away with honest hardworking peoples jobs. I say we pay the chiefs way to much for little or nothing. Throw the BUM's out!

RE post #31 - The Collier County School Board are the job's that should be outsourced and run by a private company.

--------

That is actually the sentiment of many school districts here in this country, and in Canada and elsewhere.

What they are doing is this: they ARE getting rid of their school boards.

They are replacing them with this:

a parent advisory council.

In others, with people who have CHILDREN in the school district, and who have a real reason to CARE about the school district.

Not like the clowns who typically run for school board, and have no real connection whatsoever to the district, and just want to win an election to start a political career, or pretend they are someone who knows something about education when they don't.

I believe that's what Collier should do -- get rid of the entire school board. Have 6 parents, 2 teaches, 1 students, and 1 position for anyone from the business community who wants to observe each meeting. There. Now you have people who know something about schools and education, and who have a reason to care.

Abbott/Calabrese/Donovan aka Clowns Incorporated, will, hopefully, be removed from this school board by Gov Crist.

Hopefully.

Here's a discussion about getting rid of school boards on Education Week:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/tb/2...

I posted a comment (no registration required).

Lots of interesting comments on this topic.

Here's the intro:

----------

Getting Rid of School Boards?

Collectively, the nation's nearly 15,000 local school boards face growing criticism and an array of challenges that have tended to weaken their traditional control over the schools in their communities.

Some critics call for abolishing school boards altogether. Others suggest that better training is needed for a task that has become increasingly complex and time-consuming.

Proponents, on the other hand, point out that school boards, whose members make up the largest group of elected officials in the nation, remain an important mechanism for giving citizens a say in how their schools are run. Getting rid of school boards, they say, would be a blow to democracy.

What do you think? Should school boards be restructured or abolished? Or are they essentially fine they way they are?

Here's a letter to the editor of the Ventura County Star in Camarillo, CA - sounds like it could be from a Collier citizen:

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:...

-------------------------

Get rid of school board

As a parent of a student in the Pleasant Valley School District, I have watched the school board make decision after decision with very little planning and preparation. In analyzing the issues, the only thing that is completely clear to me is that the whole process of school closures has been mismanaged from the very beginning. It has done nothing but leave parents, teachers and students angry and frustrated. This school board has managed to pit parents against teachers in a struggle where there will be no winners, only losers. We now have teachers protesting on sidewalks and parents keeping their kids home in protest. Our children deserve better.

As parents and teachers, we are not helpless in this process. I would urge all of the parents, teachers and registered voters to unite in making this the last term for each of these board members. These are elected officials who are entrusted to manage a school district with the goal of providing the best education possible to our children. This board should be replaced with people who understand the concepts of planning, preparation and, most of all, commitment to students and teachers.

As a community, we must demand more from our elected officials.

— Ryan Wright, Camarillo

Pssst, to the Naples Daily News:

Here is wild idea for you --

Why don't you ask your readers if they like the current nonsense that goes on in CCPS, and makes it the laughing stock of the nation, OR, if they would prefer a new system of governing the school district, such as the one I suggested above?

Maybe then this community could start to feel proud of its schools.

And it hasn't felt that way in a very long time, as you may have noticed. (Or, maybe not noticed.)

They still won't hire you. Please seek a mental health professional!

Don't justify Upnorth's dumb remarks. He should simply get back on I75 and go home. I am from the north a long time ago and most people up there are not as ignorant as he appears to be. And you can understand his prejudice against teachers since he obviously turned out the way he is from having bad teachers. Hey it happens, the world must have fools and he is doing his part.

Now for some intelligent remarks on this terrible idea from Denny Dumb. This was sent to me from a friend, who got it from another friend:

[The single most striking factor correlated with poor performance in school in Collier County is family poverty. If Dennis Thompson could stand back a little to see the big picture he might note that he is in a position to address this issue. If maximizing the ability for all children in the school district to learn is truly his top goal, and we sincerely hope that it is, (in spite of the numerous naysayers believing he is a carpetbagger, here for the money, and lacks the true wisdom needed to lead Collier County’s public schools), then here is an opportunity for him to choose wisely.

Custodians with 5 years in the CCPS system are paid less than $21,200 per year. That falls beneath the US official poverty guidelines for a family of 4. Custodians are paid $10 per hour with 5 years of service. Let’s take a look at some estimated numbers.

$5,250,000 annually (pay for 250 CCPS custodians at $10/hour)

$2,100,000 annual cost for employee health insurance ($700/month/CCPS custodian)

Let’s review how the private firm will save the district $3.5 million. The first savings comes from eliminating health care insurance: $2.1 million off the top by hiring the custodians as permanent part-time employees, not entitled to employer paid health care insurance.

SEE MY NEXT ENTRY FOR REMAINING COMMENTS

Is it really beneficial to the tax payers of Collier County to have 250 workers lose their health care insurance?

Next, the privatization plan will reduce the number of custodians by increasing the amount of square footage each will be responsible for maintaining. If they increase the amount of work for each custodian 125% then they will be able to reduce the number of staff by 25%. This means 188 people doing the work previously done by 250. The cost savings in wages here: $1.3 million.

Savings to CCPS: $3.4 million

If the private company hires all 188 people from among the ranks of the displaced CCPS custodians, that still leaves 62 formerly fulltime workers unemployed.

Does Collier County, in this best case scenario, benefit from sending 62 workers to the unemployment lines?

Finally, where is the profit for the private company? Paying wages of $10 per hour for 188 employees is about $3.9 million annually.

If they reduce the average wages of the custodians from $10 per hour to $7.25 per hour the cost savings is $1,000,000 per year. That is the profit margin.

Is Collier County really better off with families already living at the margin of poverty by having their wages reduced by 25%?

Where is the $3.5 million dollars that was formerly being spent in Collier County by the custodians going? Not only is the economy of Collier County losing this money, but the profits taken out of our economy are going out of state.

And finally, what happens to the school children of the custodians? The very children the superintendent is ostensibly here to support educate? These are the children already most at risk of failing in the schools. How is eliminating or reducing their family income going to help them Mr. Thompson?

This idea deserves an F.]

You NEVER get the same for less money. In the case of Thompson and his associates we are in fact getting LESS for more money.

To ww2vet -- My late dad, who served honorably in the US Air Force, thanks you for respecting me, a Florida certified teacher and a former Girl Scout. People like you really make our country great. Thanks again for your always so thoughtful and nice comments to me, on this thread, and every thread, from both my late dad and me!

PS To ww2vet, you might especially enjoy the section on my parody blog about Dennis Thompson's background and questions one should ask.

Scroll down on the left, to the graphic of the four students at their desks raising their hands. The word "OOPS!" is the first word in that section's title. Enjoy:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

With the high level of achievment which Collier County students (not including those who attend private schools), Thompson might be better off hiring a few more custodians to teach and clean the classrooms and pink slip some teachers.

FLcertified, if you spent as much time and effort into trying to find a job as you do constantly deriding school board members and superintendents (both Baker and Thompson), you might have more success. But, and I don't say this with any intention of being unnecessarily insulting, I don't think someone with your outlook on life--as it comes off in this blog--should ever get near a classroom. You spend countless hours attacking and mocking this administration and school board members, then when someone turns this around on you, you try to make them feel bad by bringing up personal troubles you've had in your life. It's ridiculous because, A). Bad things happen to everybody, it's part of life. B). You attack others with much more frequency then anyone ever comes after you. Kids don't need to learn about how to ridicule others, they don't need to learn about how bad the world is, and they don't need to learn how to play the victim card whenever someone responds to their attacks. They can learn that well enough outside of school.

Seriously, you are obviously a dedicated and organized person. You could channel your abilities towards more positive ideas and probably help a lot of people if you dedicated yourself to it. Because right now, reading your posts every day, it's just sad.

Enjoy my parody blog about the mess in CCPS:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

PS Also, see my posts #30, 32, 33 and 34, to learn something about real school districts -- since it's pretty clear no one running this school district knows anything.

And, laugh it up! Collier students are again BELOW AVERAGE in this state on FCAT! LOL! It's so funny, right?

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

PSS Oh, and for all those custodians thinking about moving here, with their kids, you might want to remember::

(1) Two class action lawsuits now pending, filed by parents of ESE students, against this school district:

http://www.collier-ese-reform.com/abo...

(2) WHITE CHALK CRIME, a new book by teacher Karen Horwitz, mentioning Collier County Public Schools as an example of a school district engaging in white chalk crime.

Available on Amazon.com and here:

http://www.whitechalkcrime.com/Buy.html

We teacher and parents who write books and parody sites and file lawsuits are called names on this Naples Daily News forum, because we are smart enough to see what is actually going on here.

Enjoy!

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

I fully realize my opinion is not always fact just because I want it to be!
So many blogs on school related threads are full of people who do not have a clue, yet they consider themselves an expert for some reason or another.
I am concerned about this issue for the people involved and our schools!
We could easily spend 4 million to say 3 million! add on's add up quickly!
I respect the Military and highly respect our vets however the thought that Dr. Thompson is so highly qualified because he was in the Military is very weak at best. We easily could have gotten someone more qualified and more experienced, his experience is far from massive and Rockford was very far from a success! This is not a personal attack nor is it intended to be, what it is, is the facts as my eyes see them!

Even the Naples Daily Snooze looks like it might be waking up, with editorials like this one:

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/m...

Editorial: State attorney should take another glance at process

Naples Daily News - 6:56 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Former Superintendent Ray Baker’s civil suit against the Collier County Public Schools for wrongful firing in July ended with a costly thud. Left unresolved was the fundamental basis of his complaint leading to the $555,000 settlement. That is, that a board majority of Linda Abbott, Richard Calabrese and Steve Donovan worked out of the sunshine of Florida’s open government and open records laws to bring him down.

One term of the settlement is that Baker now waives that claim.

But Baker is not the state attorney.

Steve Russell is.

Russell ought to take a look at the case in its entirety, including the civil-suit depositions from Abbott and Calabrese and a teacher [Mr. Terry Walters, Advanced Placement Social Studies Teacher, Barron Collier High School,] who relayed messages from Baker’s successor, Dennis Thompson. Individually and combined, the depositions outline a secretive, hurried atmosphere amid the kind of official business that the Sunshine Law was designed to keep out in the open.

Russell took a look at the case once, at the request of the School Board, and found no grounds to proceed.

Still, that was before the depositions were taken and came to light.

The idea for Russell to revisit the case is raised by a letter to the editor in today’s editions. It picks up on a vacuum of accountability noted and commented upon previously by this newspaper.

Timing can be everything. And the timing is right now to answer public questions about the legality of a process that has long been known by every other measure to have been wrong.

RE post #47 - Editorial by Naples Daily Snooze calling for a criminal investigation into how the Dennis Thompson, the current superintendent, was hired last August 2007

For the knuckleheads on this thread (and, thank you for identifying yourselves so clearly to the public by criticizing me), here are two of the major "errors" shall we say, to be polite, that was made in Thompson's "hiring process" --

(1) Usually, in a PUBLIC school district, the TAXPAYERS decide via their SCHOOL BOARD how much MONEY to pay the superintendent as a SALARY.

THEN, eligible people with real credentials APPLY for the job, at the salary DECIDED BY THE TAXPAYERS VIA THEIR BOARD.

But, with Dennis Thompson, someone was sent to "visit" him, and ASK HIM, HOW MUCH WOULD IT TAKE TO LURE YOU AWAY FROM YOUR JOB HERE?

(2) Meanwhile, this Dennis THompson had racked up negative press from coast to coast, from all sides of the political aisle, for all the stupid decisions he made as Rockford superintendent. (None of which was published or mentioned by the Naples Daily Snooze; you can see these articles on my parody blog.)

In other words, you would never ask this person how much he wants. At all. Nor would any PUBLIC school district ask that.

There is a lot wrong in how he was hired.

For those on this thread who hate it that I know anything besides how to post, too bad.

Reread the Naples editorial in the above post #47, or read about the class action lawsuits in my post #45, or the new book in post #45 WHITE CHALK CRIME mentioning Collier County Public Schools.

And, finally - grow up.

Laugh it all off by reading my parody blog! Here it is again:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

RE the Naples News editorial in the post above, calling for a criminal investigation into the hiring process of Thompson

Oh - and usually, there is MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE; and, employees WITHIN THE DISTRICT ARE ALLOWED TO APPLY, TOO.

Also, people hired in a PUBLIC school district are required to have a written, current, complete and true application on file. (Thompson does not, IMO. It is impossible. If he mentioned his actual background, he is ineligible as a new hire.If he omitted it, he could fired today for fruadulent omission.)

So, there is a lot of "weirdness," past and present, in this hiring process and in this new "superintendent" -- to say the least.

And, none of his background was covered by this newspaper in terms of mentioning the actual negative news about him. (And, there was A LOT.)

There was no sunshine. BUT, my parody blog is full of sunshine and laughs:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

Please check out my parody blog:

www.flcertifiedteacherneedsalife.blogspot

Bottom line, Teachers are scared! They can't justify the money they are making now. If they can do this too custodians then who next? I will vote yes for a 8% raise for teachers, but they have to forfit tenure! Do we really need teachers anyway, we have the internet. Pay teachers part time from their homes and teach the kids on those free computers? Since BCH is our best school for the rich and smart kids, they will have to buy their own computers, sorry! According to the teachers I am a racist, bigot,etc...maybe your right, but is it the truth? Will the nasty mouth, accusing racist teachers comments against white people any better? Will teachers potest with their union buddies?
And for our poor vets who died and were wounded protecting America, pess #1 for spanish, #2 for english! Anymore teachers with military news, please let us know. Remember, Thompson said if you want me it will cost you this much. And our board said OK! As far as principals go he is weeding out Baker deadbeats! Hope to see you swimming off the pier tomorrow with your minoritiy buddies, WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

Re post #47 - The Naples Daily News editorial calling for a criminal investigation into how Thompson was hired

If Thompson does get canned as a result of any sunshine violations found by the state attorney, here's some sunny news for him:

Rockford is now beginning a nationwide search for a new superintendent, to start in the 2009-2010 school year.

Rockford is keeping for next year the interim superintendent they had this year, and inviting her to apply for the job permanently.

Maybe Thompson will apply -- if for some reason his contract is found null and void here...

Here's the Rockford article:

------------------
http://www.wickedlocal.com/rrstar/hom...

[Rockford] School board votes to start superintendent search for 2009-10

RRSTAR.COM STAFF REPORTS
Posted Apr 08, 2008 @ 09:56 PM
ROCKFORD —

The Rockford School Board tonight voted 7-0 to begin a nationwide search for a new superintendent, who would begin in the 2009-10 school year.

The board also extended the contract of Interim Superintendent Linda Hernandez for one year and urged her to apply for the position on a permanent basis.

-----------------
Note to Naples "rockheads" -- see how some school boards do their business in the SUNSHINE, in VIEW of the public, like the Rockford School Board's decision to begin a SEARCH for a superintendent?

They did not send someone to another state to find out how much money the person wants, and then shut out all the other candidates.

They did not do what Collier did because:

What Collier did is NOT how a PUBLIC school district actually functions.

Here's another PUBLIC school district, in Ohio, doing its superintendent search business in PUBLIC (prior to firing all its janitors or doing whatever else) --

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Ca...

Local Headlines
• Massillon school board to discuss process for hiring new superintendent
-----------------

Massillon [Canton, Ohio] school board to discuss process for hiring new superintendent

UPDATE: 5:11 PM, Tuesday, May 20, 2008

MASSILLON The Massillon City Board of Education will hold an executive session at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the process for hiring a new superintendent.

No vote is expected.

Fred Blosser, the outgoing superintendent, retires after this academic year.

Blosser's original successor was Chris DiLoreto, who was hired in December by the school board.

DiLorteo recently resigned as the incoming superintendent and returned to the Jackson Local School District.
--------------

You'd never see this kind of stuff happening in COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: PUBLIC MEETINGS and PUBLIC DISCUSSION.

Here, we have 3 AM phone calls, no show depositions and a teacher who plays paper games with the sole superintendent candidate whose actual background is never made public.

Gee, do you think there is maybe a difference in how OTHER PUBLIC school districts function, and how this one functions?

And now we have protests by janitors and all kinds of other grief. Wonder why...

BTW, my posts here are in support of post #47 - The Naples Daily Snooze editorial calling for a criminal investigation of how Thompson was hired as Collier superintendent.

And, again, laugh it up, in the meantime, on my parody blog about the mess here in CCPS:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

Hey sowestfla,
Not that I disagree with your post, but if each custodian is required to perform 125% of their current job, the workforce reduction will only be 20%. Think about it, 4 people will be doing the work of 5.
I just can't believe that this move will actually save $3.5 million. The numbers don't add up. Don't forget, CGA has to make a profit too.

"The Rockford School Board tonight voted 7-0"

this is funny to me as didn't our CCPS school board propose 2 more? maybe 2 RSB members want to move to naples too? Thomson may think he can just appoint them. LOL

At the community college in my suburban Chicago district, there are three shifts of full time custodians. They pay these people about $10.00 to start but with excellent benefits and a state education pension. My friend has been there 3 years and makes almost $12.00 an hour. The majority of these people are minorities, being either Mexican, Polish and a few Asian (all legal). This is to keep themselves legal. They also hire an outside firm to supplement their permanent workers. This outside firm gets paid at least $10.00 an hour to supply people to the school. They pay these people $8.00 to start with no benefits. The company keeps at least $1.50 per hour per person they supply. Where is the savings? Seems like Mr T wants to bust the union. Of course you poor people do not have strong unions like up North. Sounds like a sweetheart deal with a kickback chaser. Mr 'T' may really clean up on this one. And by the time this is realized, he will be gone with a loophole which will allow him to keep his retirement deal from Collier County. Keep an eye on this guy.

FLcert teacher- I no longer read your blogs. My guess is a lot of other people don't read them either. When I see that they are penned by you I just "scroll on by". Is this what you do all day? Don't you have a job? How do you pay your bills? Do you still live at home with a parent(s)? Is this parent supporting you? I thought you were leaving town 2 motnhs ago! I'm with # 42 and # 50!

RE post #47 - Editorial by Naples Daily Snooze calling for a criminal investigation into how the Dennis Thompson, the current superintendent, was hired last August 2007

For those of you new to my parody blog (I know a lot of your returning visitors have read most of it by now), you might enjoy starting with the section titled "Two Essays by Dennis Thompson" -- scroll down on the left.

And, thanks for voting in the eight polls!

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

PS RE post #45 as well as #47 - For those of you thinking of moving to Naples, you might want to remember what I posted in post #47 - two class action lawsuits filed by parents of ESE students are now pending, and Collier County Public Schools is in WHITE CHALK CRIME, a new book by teacher Karen Horwitz (see post #45). Also, a criminal investigation of how the current superintendent was hired is being demanded by this very newspaper. See the links on those two posts #45 and #47.

So, hope this helps you out in making a decision about moving to Naples, especially if you are a janitor with kids.

There's lots happening here that some people on this thread don't want anyone to know about. But, now you know!

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

Had to glance in for the last laugh of the day. Upnorth: you are an idiot and someone I would enjoy running into some evening when I have some energy to burn. A very good friend is a 35 yr teacher and tells me about morons like you she has had in her classes from time to time. You must be about 5' tall, 250lbs, bald and even your Mom won't admit who you are.

But Flcertified you are just as offensive. Go find another paper to haunt the blogs please. The posting saying no one reads your dribble but you is right on. We all scroll right by it when knowing you are the author.

Denny the Fraud brings people like you forward, but that is no surprise being he has Linda/Charlie, Calahuge and Donodumb following his every word as well.

But Flcertified you are just as offensive.
-----
Yeah, the truth hurts, I hear ya. (See posts #45 and #47)

If not for my parody blog, how do you think anyone would have contemplated the notion that this new superintendent might be a fraud? Through the Naples Daily Snooze's early reporting back in August? Not hardly.

Having links to the parents of ESE students who filed two class action lawsuit, as well as the recent editorial by the Naples Daily News calling for a criminal investigation of how this superintendent was hired, posting links to Dennis Thompson's negative press that was never mentioned by the Naples Daily News -- and stuff like that -- sure IS offensive to those who want to stay stupid!

I guess that's why thousands of people are reading my parody blog -- apparently, not everyone in this town and elsewhere wants to stay stupid.

BTW, I do think it helps drive traffic to my parody blog the more you and others tell people not to read it. Here's the URL:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

Oh, also -- I suggested new visitors read the "Two Essays by Dennis Thompson" on the left side, by scrolling down, because email I receive via my blog says that's a favorite section.

Enjoy!

sowestfla1975, there is a saying "the farther north in florida you go , the deeper in the south you are". I think that is where 'Upnorth' is from. I read these hate filled blogs each evening, and when I lay my head down to sleep I'm glad I had a nice union job which afforded me the opportunity to retire and keep a home in Naples but return to the sanity of the midwest in the real 'up north'. Too much hatred in 'paradise' year round for me. A few of my retired teacher friends with second homes in Naples will totally agree with my feelings. Thank God for the unions. They keep the big boys in line. Mostly everyone including and especially teachers will agree with me. And as long as the teachers prove their worth by giving the children of our society a good education and key to a good future, let them have what they want by supporting the unions that fight for them.

flcertifiedteacher: people like you are the kind who helped make this country strong. I enjoy your blog and refer my friends to it. Keep strong! Remember, Mr 'T' would be swallowed whole up here in Chicago and most definitely in the surrounding suburban areas. Too bad he ended up where he did. Good luck and keep fighting the true American way!

To naples759 - re post #66 - Thanks so much. BTW, that's why I came back to post. I received a lot of email from people saying exactly what you did. Thanks again.

flcertifiedteacher: THANK YOU!!! A child would be very fortunate to have an educator such as you. Just keep 'Kicking butt and taking names!'.
On record: Your detractors are afraid of you!!!
Once again, the TRUE American spirit!

UPNORTH.........you are not from UPNORTH. Why do you bash your fellow District workers? Are you that unhappy in maintenance? Perhaps we can meet and discuss your humanity, what say you

I have no relationship the school district other than being a homesteaded Collier taxpayer, and a voter.
having visited the blog by FL certified teacher, my opinion is that this is information, art, humor and talent, I loved it.

Re post #70 - Thank you so much, MG.

I have just submitted my site for review by the
Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism:

http://www.j-lab.org/batten.shtml

They have a special Citizen Media award.

If my parody site wins, the whole country will be reading it. Hope so!

Thanks again for your kind comments, and for taking the time to post.

Here again is my site for those who have not visited it yet:

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

What say you bagpiper, I am not maintenance worker, I am a teacher. I can't you tell! I am just another whiner. Southwest, enigma, badsense, kept up the positive attitude towards white people, you know, board members, superintendent, me! Or is it you have no respect for authority? Are you just teaching for the f-cat money? God save our kids. Again, vote yes, 8% raise and forfit tenure! Good deal huh? I was the one one the pier holding up that sign. Where was my support staff? Why can't we all live just together, but as teachers say, lets on live in Golden Gate! Adios!

Thank you flcert. for making me aware of this editorial.

" a teacher who relayed messages from Baker’s successor, Dennis Thompson. Individually and combined, the depositions outline a secretive, hurried atmosphere amid the kind of official business that the Sunshine Law was designed to keep out in the open."

....I wonder....This liason between the teacher (as facilitator of a deal with the three on the board and Thompson)took place across state lines. This may in fact be a matter for federal authorities. Has anyone explored this possibility?Maybe we should contact the feds.

Re post #74 - ....I wonder....This liason between the teacher (as facilitator of a deal with the three on the board and Thompson)took place across state lines. This may in fact be a matter for federal authorities. Has anyone explored this possibility? Maybe we should contact the feds.

-----------------
I agree, but I have some other thoughts, too...

I am still wondering why the state attorney's office has failed to take any action in light of the new evidence that emerged from Baker's discovery phase and those depositions.

And, not knowing all the facts, obviously, I will just surmise: What if Linda Abbott is in the same political party as certain people in the federal govt? Is that possible?

What if one or more persons in the federal govt, who share the same political party as Linda Abbott, told her to tell that teacher to make the interstate trip?

Again, these are what if's. I realize the questions may sound totally crazy. After all, is it really possible Lind Abbott could be in the same political party as anyone in the federal govt? I mean, how crazy is THAT idea?!

And, finally, what if the reason Linda Abbott publicly stated that she KNOWS that teacher made the trip "on his own" is actually because: she knows SHE told him to go? What if she told a LIE?
I mean, is it POSSIBLE? That an elected official could tell a lie? To the public? And the very voters who elected her?

Because I am really stumped as to how she "knows" that teacher went "on his own" -- what if someone else told him to go? How does she KNOW that is NOT what happened?

In short, I do not know how useful it would be for the fed govt to become involved. Would it help? Would it not? I just don't know for sure.

I do know that I personally believe Linda Abbott IS a member of the same political party, and does talk to people in charge of our federal govt, and did lie when she said she "knows" that teacher made the trip on his own. That is my opinion.

I also think she told that teacher to go. Again, just a guess and my opinion and nothing more.

That's why I like the title of my parody blog so much:

Linda Abbott says "Visit Rockford!"

Because what if my title is actually correct?

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...

PS Thanks to the posters who recently wrote to me and to tell me they liked my blog! :)

I meant to say in my post above:

I am still wondering why the state attorney's office has failed to take any action in light of the new evidence from the Baker discovery phase and depositions -- AND, in light of post #47 on this thread:

the new editorial by the Naples Daily News now calling for a criminal investigation into the hiring of this new superintendent.

Re post #75 - And, again, I just want to point out that

I'm just expressing my opinion here.

Maybe what I am thinking Linda Abbott did -- LIE when she said she "KNOWNS" that teacher went on his own -- is a real stretch here...

I mean, has it ever happened before, in the history of mankind, that an elected official has lied?

RE post #74 (and my other posts above) - And, you know, maybe I am wrong about Linda Abbott. Maybe she really IS a mind-reader, and does "KNOW" that the teacher went to Rockford "on his own" -- and at NO ONE ELSE's suggestion. Maybe she "KNOWS" all.

And maybe Steve Donovan is also a mind-reader, and that's how he "KNOWS" no one on the school boad violated the Sunshine Laws. (Because if they did, they could be going to jail.) Maybe he, too, "KNOWS" all in terms of what everyone else is doing at every minute of everyday -- as he publicly claimed to know when he said he KNOWS no one violated the Sunshine Law.

So, maybe they all KNOW everything.

However, I still think you make a good point about the interstate travel fact in this matter.

And, still, the Naples Daily News is requesting a criminal investigation, and I am glad of that (post #47),
because I, too, believe there should be a criminal investigation into this question of how exactly this new superintendent was hired.

In the meantime, I will continue to laugh along with others at my parody blog about this matter -- and thanks to everyone who voted in the eight polls on my site (there's still to vote):

http://www.labbottsaysvisitrockford.b...