New Teacher Merit Pay Details Emerge
November 19, 2010
The highly contentious teacher merit pay proposal that was shot down by Gov. Charlie Crist last spring has re-emerged, but with some preliminary concessions to teachers and also perhaps to Gov.-elect Rick Scott, who as the father of a special education teacher voiced concerns about the proposal’s fairness to some educators.
A draft of new legislation that would base half of teacher pay raises on student test scores, similar to the bill vetoed last year by Crist, is circulating among education advocacy groups in Tallahassee and potentially setting up a replay of last spring’s politically-charged debate over how teachers should be compensated.
But the new draft language contains some major concessions to the last year’s opponents and possibly Scott, who though supportive of teacher merit pay as a candidate, acknowledged he thought the original bill could have been improved. In particular, the new draft language directly states that teachers of students with disabilities would not be evaluated by their students’ performances on standardized exams, but rather on measures outlined in individual student education plans.
Special education teachers were a significant part of the opposition to the original vetoed bill, known as SB 6. Crist cited the issue – whether a teacher should be punished because their students had disabilities and had a harder time improving on exams – in rejecting the bill. That veto was one of a couple last year that solidified the break between Crist and the Republicans in the Legislature, resulting in Crist’s departure from the party at the end of the session.
Scott has mentioned his daughter’s career as a special education teacher throughout the campaign and said several times that he felt that any bill dealing with merit pay had to be fair to all teachers.
Trey Stapleton, a spokesman for the Scott transition, said Thursday that he did not believe Scott had spoken to anyone in Tallahassee about the pending new legislation, but that the issue of education and merit pay were at the top of his priority list.
“He’s very much into monitoring and ensuring that people are productive,” Stapleton said. “He’s definitely about accountability and holding people accountable.”
The original bill generated a mountain of controversy and infuriated teachers across the state who challenged the notion that their effectiveness should be based on students’ test scores. In particular, teachers questioned whether students with special needs or students of lower socioeconomic status, who might have a harder time learning, would harm a teacher’s earning ability – in turn, making it harder to find teachers willing to work with such children.
The bill also had significant political undertones. The proposal was a pet project of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s education foundation, the Foundation for Florida’s Future, and it was directly opposed by the teachers’ union, which largely funded Bush’s 2002 gubernatorial opponent Bill McBride. It was also sponsored by the head of the Republican Party, Sen. John Thrasher and supported by many Republican-leaning groups such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Florida Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Edie Ousley said that the Chamber expects to be fully involved in the issue again during the 2011 legislative session and that while the state has made strides in education reform, the state’s schools still were not good enough.
“The state has very strong English arts and math standards, good charter school laws and accountability standards,” she said. “But we’ve got a lot of work to do to make sure students are prepared for college and prepared for the workforce.”
The draft language also contains some other changes from the original SB 6. The bill vetoed by Crist required that the state hold back 5 percent of a school district’s budget to pay for the teacher raises. The new version being floated this week in Tallahassee says nothing about where the money will come from.
The new draft also addresses the issue of tenure, which underpinned the debate over SB 6.
Under the draft language, a newly hired teacher would be put on a probationary contract for one year, during which he or she could be fired at any time. Then for three years, teachers would be placed on annual contracts, where after the end of a school year, administrators could choose whether or not to renew the contract.
After those three years, a teacher is eligible for a professional contract, which runs for three years before the teacher is subject to renewal.
Newly elected state Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who is also executive director of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said a group of superintendents began meeting over the summer to discuss their own ideas for a merit pay measure. The group objected to SB 6, but has been generally in favor of teacher merit pay. It has not yet developed any draft legislation, but the group has also been meeting with Bush’s education foundation to discuss possible tweaks to the draft before it is officially filed with the Legislature.
“We knew this was coming back,” he said.
So far, no lawmaker has been officially attached to the bill as a sponsor, and Thrasher did not return calls seeking comment.
By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service Florida
Northview Awards Cross Country Runners
November 19, 2010
Northview High School’s Cross Country team held their annual banquet Thursday night, presenting awards to many members.
The following awards were presented:
- Jim Ross Memorial Award: Aaron Rausch
- Junmi Ross Award: Sara Killam
- Most Valuable Runner: Josh Scott
- Most Valuable Runner: Georgia Goetter
- Most Improved: Madalyn Coon
- Most Improved: Jacob Boswell
- Junior Chiefs: Seth Killam, Patton Goetter, Natalie Goetter, Bethany Reynolds
Pictured top: Members of the Northview High School Cross Country team. Pictured below: “Junior Chiefs”. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Poarch Creek Indian Pow Wow Club Performs
November 19, 2010
The Poarch Creek Indians’ Pow Wow Club performed Thursday at the Century Branch Library and Century Care Center.
Several dozen children enjoyed the performance at the library. For a complete photo gallery, click here.
The Century Branch Library and the other libraries in the West Florida Public Library system will be closed November 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Evers Named Transportation Vice Chair
November 19, 2010
Sen. Greg Evers was named vice chair of the Senate’s transportation committee on Thursday.
Evers represents Senate District 2, which includes portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He is a Republican from Baker. He previously represented the area in the Florida House from 2001-2010.
Talk Show Host Becomes Homeless
November 19, 2010
A Pensacola radio station host lived among the chronically homeless last weekend to get a better understanding of homelessness in Pensacola.
With nothing more than a backpack, bicycle and sleeping bag, Branden Rathert, host of “Pensacola Right Now” on NewsRadio 1620, set out to interview and live among the homeless people. His goal was to learn what it is like to be homeless in the Pensacola area and bring the story and reality to the community during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
“It was one of the most insightful experiences in my entire life, and I am excited to bring the story to the rest of the community,” Rather will share that story Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. on NewsRadio 1620 AM.
Following his weekend in a homeless camp by an area railroad track and eating with the homeless, Rathert said the stories of a great number of homeless people are the polar opposite of stereotypes.
“I did this because there are nearly 1,000 homeless people in our community largely ignored. I wanted to find out why they live the way they do and what factors led them to their lifestyle. I couldn’t just report on the story to bring it accurately to the community, I wanted to live it,” he said.
Rathert’s project was in conjunction with the EscaRosa Homeless Coalition.
Pictured: A composite photograph of radio host Randen Rathert as normal afternoon talk show host (left) and homeless man (right). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Goes For Quarterfinal Playoff Win
November 19, 2010
The Escambia County Blue Devils will take on Bibb County tonight in Atmore in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.
Escambia County is coming off a come from behind 22-21 win over Jackson last Friday night in the Alabama 4A playoffs. It was the come front behind story of the year for the Blue Devils as they recovered from a 21-0 deficit for the win. Rico Stallworth was the comeback king for ECHS as he ran for a touchdown and passed for another before throwing the game-winning 2-point conversion in the fourth.
The game kicks off at 7p.m. at Herbert Barnes Stadium in Atmore as first-year Head Coach Mark Heaton leads his Blue Devils against the Choctaws.
Lady Royals Beat Central 42-39 In OT
November 19, 2010
The Jay Lady Royals defeated Central High School Thursday in overtime, 42-39.
The Lady Royals will be in action again Friday at home against Rocky Bayou.
World Ford Fire Ruled Arson
November 18, 2010
The early Wednesday morning fire at World Ford in Pensacola has been ruled arson.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s office said Thursday afternoon that they believe the fire was intentionally set, and they are looking for assistance in finding the person or persons responsible for the fire in “Car City”.
The State Fire Marshal’s Pensacola Office of the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations (BFAI), along with the local Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were called by local fire authorities and are currently working the fire investigation. Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of the fire between 4:30 and 5:00 am Wednesday or who may have received information about the fire, is encouraged to call the BFAI’s Pensacola Office at (850) 453-7803.
The fire was reported just before 5 a.m. at World Ford in “Car City” on Pensacola Boulevard. Fire departments from as far north as Molino were dispatched after heavy smoke was reported to be pouring from the dealership’s service area and showroom. Both were heavily damaged by the fire, which was reported to be under control in about 20 minutes.
From the North Escambia area, the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to stand by for additional calls, and the Cantonment station was among the area fire departments that responded to the blaze.
Tipsters that provide information to the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office may qualify for a reward if the information leads to the arrest and conviction of an arsonist. he Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigation will accept anonymous calls.
For more photos from the scene, click here.
Pictured top: Firefighters work to extinguish an early morning fire at World Ford in Pensacola. Pictured inset: Smoke billows from service bays at the dealership. Pictured below: The interior of the facility was heavily damaged by the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Federal Agents Find New Mexico Man That Fled To Atmore With Son
November 18, 2010
A man that fled New Mexico with his 6-year old son earlier this week has been located in Atmore with the assistance of federal agents.
Jacob Heath Sells, 27, and his son, Damien Sells, 6, were located Wednesday afternoon in Atmore by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to Dan Trujillon, public information officer with the Las Cruces (NM) Police Department.
Trujillo told NorthEscambia.com that Sells left New Mexico with his son after being served with a summons establishing a physical custody and visitation agreement with his ex-girlfriend. Las Cruces Police detectives learned that sometime between Sunday and Tuesday Jacob Sells quit his job at a Las Cruces hospital and informed his son’s school that boy wouldn’t be attending classes because of an illness.
The search for Sells and the 6-year old focused on the Atmore area where Sells has relatives, the New Mexico policeman said.
A New Mexico judge had approved an emergency motion that granted Sells’ ex-girlfriend with temporary custody of their son, and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Jacob Sells.
But now criminal charges in New Mexico against Sells are expected to be dropped after Las Cruces Police investigators received information Wednesday that a court in Alabama had previously established a child custody plan.
“That warrant is expected to be quashed and the matter now appears to be a civil case,” Trujillo said.
Las Cruces is a town of about 90,000 about 45 miles of El Paso, Texas.
Fire Damages Home On State Line
November 18, 2010
An overnight fire damaged a home on the state line west of Flomaton.
The fire was reported just after midnight in the 500 block of Bridlepath Lane.
The first firefighters on scene reported heavy smoke pouring from the single story residential structure. The fire was brought under control by about 12:30 a.m.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Flomaton, Friendship, Lambeth, Wawbeek, Century and McDavid fire departments responded to the blaze.
Bridlepath Lane is located directly on the Alabama-Florida line, west of Flomaton and just north of Byrneville.