Read Emails To Superintendent About Obama Speech
September 7, 2009
President Barack Obama’s planned speech to American schoolchildren has generated numerous phone calls and emails to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and school board members. Excerpts of some of those emails are below, released under Florida’s public records laws:
- “I am very disheartened to learn that President Obama’s address will not be shown in our public schools. Whether one agrees politically with President Obama or not he is still the democratically elected President of the United States of America. Both Presidents Bush addressed school children and I am sure that their addresses were watched by our school children. I am embarrassed by the districts partisan views and lack of respect for the office of the Presidency. I voted for you, Mr. Thomas, I will not make that mistake again.”
- “It is my opinion that I should have sole discretion as to whether my children hear this closed circuit speech from President Obama. I did not vote for him and am leery of anything he may say…. If parents are NOT given the choice, I feel this is an infringement upon my rights and my children’s rights.”
- “We are concerned that his speech is going to be geared more toward his political agenda rather than a “Pep Talk” to encourage our children. We are very involved in our children’s education and do not feel that it is his place to dictate what our children listen to or study when it is mainly for his benefit.”
- “I am a registered Republican, and as such, certainly don’t agree with most of what passes as leadership from the current administration, but we should respect the office of the Presidency. The example that you are setting for the children is short sighted. I’m beginning to think we are in a district where students struggle because the leadership is less than adequate. To think that a 20 minute speech would take away from my children’s education is absurd. You are a little too full of yourself!”
- “Many children greatly admire President Obama and hearing him speak directly to them could literally change the course of their lives.”
- “The disrespect that the supperintendent is showing you is terrible. Do you have the title, but not the power? If a 20 minute speech is going to derail the school year, we need to pull the plug on public education in Escambia County.”
- “I would like to be notified by my child’s education system of any political brainwashing … I would like to know what Mr. Obama will deliver prior to allowing the message to be broadcast to my children.”
Paul Fetsko, associate superintendent for curriculum, sent the following email to all principals in the county:
Principals, we have had a number of telephone calls regarding the forthcoming television address scheduled for September 8th by President Obama. Specifically asking if we are going to cancel instructional activities to require viewing by our students. The answer is no. The districts’ recommendation to you is to permit the viewing by students who are in classes that have a direct academic connection to this event such as Civics, American Government, possibly SGA. Please remember that teachers must submit the media form to you prior the airing of this event. That form is available from media services and it documents the link between the program and the class objective(s). If teachers are unable to do this in advance the IT department will record the program so teachers may preview the content to determine if there are instructional ties to classroom objectives. Then teachers can play the program in it’s entirety or segments which correlate to the topic for that class. Again, you should not interrupt the instructional momentum at your site to view the speech if it is not directly aligned with the instructional calendars currently in place at your school. If you should have questions please contact this office or your level director for clarification.
Paul Fetsko
Comments on this article are closed. All comments about Obama’s speech should be made on the story here.
School Board Member’s Response To Obama Speech
September 7, 2009
Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh, has released the following response about President Barack Obama’s Tuesday speech to American’s public schools:
I do not speak for the superintendent, but since you sent this email to me I’ll respond as the constitutionally elected Board Member that I am.
I did not know about this event until Late Tuesday, and since then events have unfolded quickly. After I researched the plan for the speech Wednesday, I put an entry on my Blog about the event–as it is unprecedented, unique, and historic.
As I began to read the associated study materials on the Dept. of Education Website, I began to feel uneasy with it. Not only as a school board member–but as a parent of an elementary, middle, and high schooler in this district. What is the point of asking my 4th grade son to “write a letter to himself explaining how he can support Barack Obama”?? Seemed a little bit odd. I respect Barack Obama, I respect his office, and he is exceptionally articulate and intelligent. That said, I do not agree with many of his policies. His office is not releasing the speech in advance, and as a parent I ought to have the option of filtering what is fed to my fourth grader by a politician.
So yesterday I called Paul Fetsko, Superintendent of Curriculum, at 8AM, to express my concern and suggest that district Parents be able to, without penalty, “opt out” of the event if they so chose. Mr. Fetsko said to me that only certain classes would be watching the speech, and only if the particular course was directly alligned (curriculum wise) with what the President was going to be talking about. I subsequently attempted to arrange a special board meeting to address the issue, but as one board member and not the chairman I was advised by the board attorney that I could not call for a special meeting on my own.
I spoke to the Superintendent about this issue and he repeated what Mr. Fetsko had stated–that viewing would be very limited and that teachers that do show this to their classes will have to justify this to their site principals.
When I suggested to the superintendent that we send home permission slips and/or allow parents to send notes in with their children requesting that their children not watch the speech–that idea was met with resistance. When I suggested that we announce that no schools in the district would be showing the event live–rather the district would tape it and review for later use (with parent permission), that idea also met with resistance by the superintendent. So instead, we are giving nebulous guidance to our community about precisely the policy is–and frankly I’m disappointed by that.
The bottom line as I see it is that for the most part the district will not be showing this speech live, but that some teachers will have the lattitude to show the video. I’m certain that this video will be airing live in some schools, probably in more schools than district administrators realize, because it is an historic event.
But, on this particular issue, I believe that as a district we have done a poor job of clearly communicating exactly what the policy will be. I have fielded numerous calls and emails from parents, and I am trying to convey to them that the video would not be shown to a vast majority of students, but I cannot say that with 100 percent certainty based upon what I’ve heard the last 24 hours.
For this event, in my opinion, we should have put the parents more “in the loop” and let them decide— but we’re not doing that.
Thanks for the email.
Sincerely,
Jeff Bergosh
Comments on this article are closed. All comments about Obama’s speech should be made on the story here.
Labor Day Closings
September 7, 2009
The following will be closed for today’s Labor Day holiday:
- All county offices in Escambia and Santa Rosa
- All city offices, including Century and Jay
- Schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa
- All public libraries, including Jay and Century
- Florida state offices
- All federal offices
- All post offices
- No bus service from ECAT
- Pensacola Junior College
- University of West Florida
Trash Service
There will be no change in ECUA trash or recycling service. Most ECUA customers in North Escambia will have their usual Tuesday trash and recycling service.
23,000 In The Area Out Of Work
September 7, 2009
On Labor Day, the latest unemployment data showed that 23,069 people are out of work in our three county area.
In Escambia County (Fla.), the latest employment data for July shows 9.9 percent of the workforce unemployed, a slight decrease from the month before at 10.0 percent. That translates to 14,056 unemployed in the county.
In Santa Rosa County, county, the unemployment rate was at 10 percent, up from 9.7 percent the month prior. That equals 7,077 unemployed persons.
In Escambia County (Ala.), 13.1 percent of workers were out of a job, up from 12.7 the month before. There were 1,936 unemployed in the county.
Labor Day Rain?
September 7, 2009
There’s a pretty good chance of rain for your Labor Day.
Here is your official weather forecast:
- Labor Day: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
- Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
- Tuesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
- Wednesday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Thursday Night: Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%
Elmer Richard Mooney Sr.
September 6, 2009
Mr. Elmer Richard “Pop” Mooney, Sr., 82, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2009 at a Pensacola hospital.
Elmer was a native of Canoe, AL, a longtime resident of Bratt, FL, and a resident of Atmore, AL. He was retired from the Escambia County Florida Road Department after 30 years of service and attended the Presley Street Baptist Church. Preceded in death by his Parents, Jess and Evie Mooney, a Nephew, Darrell Roley and a Stepson, Wayne Powell.
Survivors include: his Wife, Mary G. Mooney of Atmore, AL; a Son, Elmer Richard Mooney, Jr. of Bluff Springs, FL; a Stepson, Billy Powell of Atmore, AL; 2 Daughters, Linda Gail Morgan of Bay Minette, AL and Betty Ann Dickman of Seminole, AL; five Stepdaughters, Mary Alice Turner of Flowery Branch, GA, Patricia Freeman, Linda Tyree and Glenda Bell, all of Atmore, AL, and Rita Faye Parker of Bratt, FL; 7 Grandchildren; 16 Step-Grandchildren; 7 Great-Grandchildren; 21 Step-Great-Grandchildren; a Brother, Lester Mooney of LaGrange, GA; and two Sisters, Glennie Mae Byrd of Atmore, AL, and Ethel Lee Martin of Bratt, FL.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Gilley officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Tuesday September 8, 2009 between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. at the Petty Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Back On The Chopping Block: Century Courthouse Slated For Closure Again
September 6, 2009
The Century Courthouse is back on the chopping block due to low utilization, with the clerk of the courts office set to be closed by the end of this month unless the funds are found to keep it open
Escambia County Clerk of the Courts Ernie Lee Magaha needs $65,000 to keep the office open. At best, Magaha’s office has told commissioners, the office conducts an average of one transaction per hour, in Century.
The commission expects an estimated $450,000 to be generated by increasing a surcharge on traffic tickets from $15 to $30. District 5 Commissioner Kevin White wants to see some of that money go toward keeping Century’s Billy G. Ward Courthouse open.
“I want part of that money to keep the Century Courthouse open, because under state statute, that money can be used for that,” White said, pointing out that the increased fines would be new revenue, not dipping into the county’s reserve funds.
“I understand that, and I agree with you on that,” Commissioner Wilson Robertson said.
But county finance officials say the $450,000 is already spoken for, and already written into the current proposed budget. They say keeping the courthouse open would mean cutting funds from some other department.
Commissioner Grover Robinson said he is opposed to keeping the office open due to the low transaction volume.
“It seems like an awful expensive thing to do,” Robinson said. “I understand and absolutely empathize with what is happening in the north end.”
Robinson said he believes the answer in North Escambia lies in the renovation of the old Molino School and the placement of county offices in Molino.
“People think that Molino is the north end of the county; you’ve got to go a long ways to get on to the other end of the county,” Robertson said, citing a high number of people in Century without transportation. “You are talking about a lot of people up there that absolutely have no transportation.”
“I believe that the Molino location will be the right location when we can have this, and we can have a better economy of scale and have people in a newer facility,” he said. “I do want to support that…I just don’t know that I can support the Century Courthouse.”
“It’s in Century where it is located now, right?” Commissioner Marie Young asked. “How far is Molino from Century?”
“Twenty-one miles,” White replied.
“You are not really serving Century in Cantonment,” Robertson added. “Have you stopped to think about what services that end of the county receives?
Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley pulled her office out of Century back at the end of May to save an estimated $200,000. She cited low utilization as her reason, and she consolidated the Century office with her office in Cantonment.
The clerk of the courts currently keeps two employees in the office in Century at all times, according to Deputy Clerk Lisa Bernau. One is a full time person and one is a part time Northview High School student.
“There is a security issue,” she said. “It is imperative for public service that you have more than one person available for safety reasons that probably are best not to do into in a public meeting.”
“One transaction per hour, I’m wondering how we can afford to keep that open,” Robinson said. “You are really offering absolutely nothing to that very end of the county. And I know a lot of taxes don’t come from there…I guarantee you if it’s all about who pays, there are a lot of these things be eliminating.”
White suggested that perhaps the clerk of the courts could keep the office open just a few hours per day a few days per week.
But Bernau said changing a courthouse hours requires Florida Supreme Court involvement.
The commission will revisit the courthouse closure at a public hearing at 7 p.m. on September 17.
Hundreds Turn Out For Bull Bash, Including Century Care Center Residents
September 6, 2009
Hundreds of people attended the second annual Bull Bash Blowout Saturday night in Flomaton, including several residents from Century Care Center. The bull bash was presented by the Tri Cities Rotary Club, MK Farm and Rafter L Farm. Some of the top bull riders from the Southeast were on hand to ride some of the meanest bulls the South has to offer, according to event organizers. The Tri-City Rotary Club’s membership area includes Flomaton, Century and Jay. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Online Audio: Listen To Entire Northview Vs. Graceville Game
September 6, 2009
Northview Chiefs fans can now listen to entire Northview football games here on NorthEscambia.com — the new official voice of the Northview High School Chiefs.
Join us each Sunday for a complete game playback from the Northview Chiefs. You will be able to listen to each game online, or even download the game to your MP3 player and take it with you.
The audio from Friday night’s win over Graceville should play automatically on this page. If it does not, click the play icon below.
To download the entire game (MP3 format) for your iPod or other MP3 player, click here.
NorthEscambia.com needs sponsors to make this broadcast possible each week. Email news@northescambia.com for more information.
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Free Fun: Labor Day Back To School Event In Molino
September 6, 2009
There will be a Back to School Kick Off on Labor Day Monday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Highway 29 in Molino.
The event tomorrow will offer games, a waterslide, songs and a family cookout. The entire event will be from 2 to 6 p.m. with the cookout from 5-6 p.m. The event is free and open to all. For more information, call the church office at (850) 587-5294 or visit aumcmolino.org.