Local Teachers, Union File Federal Lawsuit Against Performance Pay Law
April 17, 2013
Seven teachers –four from Escambia County — and their local unions filed suit Tuesday to block the state’s landmark performance pay law, continuing a three-year-long battle over how educators should be compensated.
The federal lawsuit, which is also backed by the National Education Association and the Florida Education Association, says that some teachers’ rights are being violated because they are being assessed based on students that sometimes aren’t even in their classroom — a byproduct, critics say, of the law’s requirement that test scores account for a part of educators’ pay even if there are no state exams in that grade or subject area.
The four Escambia County teachers teach at Ransom Middle School, Tate High School, Pensacola High School and West Florida High School. The Escambia Education Association is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit.2
“These participating teachers have (had evaluations) based on the test scores of students they do not teach or in subjects they do not teach,” said Andy Ford, president of the FEA.
The union has been fighting the performance-pay law since the first version was introduced in 2010. In addition to tying teacher’s compensation more closely to student achievement, the measure did away with employment protections commonly referred to as tenure.
The union convinced then-Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the bill after the 2010 legislative session.
Since Republicans pushed it through the Legislature again the following year and Gov. Rick Scott signed it, the FEA has also tried to overturn the law in state court by arguing that it violates teachers’ collective-bargaining rights.
Those involved in the lawsuit said they were as interested in getting lawmakers to rethink the law as they are in persuading the courts to strike it down.
“We’re hopeful that this lawsuit will be a catalyst for legislative action,” said Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the FEA.
Both the House and the Senate have worked on legislation this year that would require educators be judged only on the achievement of students they teach, though some critics said they’re skeptical that the new legislation goes far enough. The House Bill (HB 7141) is ready for the floor, while the Senate version (SB 980) has two committee stops left.
In a statement responding to the lawsuit, Education Commissioner Tony Bennett referenced those bills.
“There is currently another piece of legislation (HB 7141/SB 980) under consideration in the Legislature that would make improvements to the Student Success Act, including ensuring that teachers are evaluated only on the students and subjects they teach,” Bennett said. “The legislation would also provide that teachers could not be eligible for a performance pay system until an appropriate assessment for their students and subjects is in place.”
Escambia Set To Lower Speed Limit On Nearly Two Dozen Roads
April 17, 2013
The Escambia County Commission is set to reduce the speed limit on nearly two dozen roads in the Cant0nment area.
The speed limit will drop from 30 to 25 miles per hour on the following:
1. Sundance Lane, from County Road 97 to west end of roadway;
2. Sundial Circle, from Sundance Lane to Sundance Lane;
3. Booker Street, from Muscogee Road to end of roadway;
4. Quarters Road, from Booker Street to end of roadway;
5. Booker Lane, from Booker Street to end of roadway;
6. Booker Avenue, from Booker Street to end of roadway;
7. Robinson Street, from Booker Street to Washington Street;
8. Sheppard Street, from Booker Street to Washington Street;
9. Calloway Street, from Washington Street to end of roadway;
10. Ellington Street, from Booker Street to Washington Street;
11. Webb Street, from Booker Street to Muscogee Road;
12. Griggs Street, from Booker Street to Washington Street;
13. Ransom Street, from Booker Street to Washington Street;
14. Washington Street, from Robinson Street to Ransom Street;
15. Carver Street, from Webb Street to end of roadway;
16. Copper Ridge Drive, from Pine Forest Road to end of roadway;
17. Windmill Circle, from Copper Ridge Drive to Copper Ridge Drive;
18. Rock Hill Court, from Windmill Circle to end of roadway;
19. Winterset Drive, from Windmill Circle to end of roadway;
20. Copper Ridge Circle, from Copper Ridge Drive to Copper Ridge Drive;
21. Copper Ridge Court, from Copper Ridge Drive to end of roadway; and
22. Copper Ridge Place, from Copper Ridge Drive to end of roadway.
The county commission will vote on a resolution Thursday night to approve the speed limit reductions. The lower speed limits were requested by local residents, and the requests were evaluated by the county’s Transportation & Traffic Operations Division.
After the appropriate speed limit signs are installed, the resolution authorizing the changes will be forwarded to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Florida Senate Passes Texting While Driving Ban
April 17, 2013
Texting while driving in most cases would be illegal in Florida under a bill passed Tuesday by the Senate and sent to the House. The measure has some exceptions that would allow drivers to text or email while stopped, such as at a red light.
The bill would make the infraction a secondary offense, meaning police officers would have to stop drivers for something else before ticketing them for sending or reading texts or emails while operating their car.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously, a remarkable amount of support for a measure that while proposed in recent years had never gotten through a Senate committee.
Its sponsor, Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said the bill has overwhelming support among the public, and noted that Florida is one of only five U.S. states that doesn’t have some sort of ban on texting while driving.
“We lose about 11 teenagers a day (nationally) thanks to texting while driving,” said Detert.
“This bill is long overdue, we’ve lost too many young people, and too many people in general on the streets of Florida,” added Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale.
A penalty for a first violation of the prohibition would be a $30 fine, plus court costs that vary around the state. A second violation within 5 years of the first would result in 3 points o the driver’s record plus a $60 fine plus court fees.
The bill is backed by AAA.
“In the last three years alone, more than half of all states have enacted text messaging bans for all drivers,” said Kevin Bakewell, vice president of the auto club. “AAA is encouraged by the recent and rapid progress toward our national campaign goal of passing texting bans in all 50 states.”
A similar bill has also moved through the House this year, in contrast to previous years when it was bottled up in committee. The House bill is on the floor calendar for that chamber.
By The News Service of Florida
Area Mourns Sudden Death Of Retired Assistant Fire Chief (With Arrangements)
April 17, 2013
Atmore and surrounding communities are mourning the loss of a longtime fireman who passed away suddenly Tuesday afternoon.
Atmore Fire Department retired Assistant Chief Mike Staples began his three decade career as a fireman and worked his way up through the ranks to assistant chief. He retired in August 2012.
He is survived by his wife and his children.
A wake will be held Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Mayberry Funeral Home in Atmore. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Fellowship in Atmore, with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Pictured: As assistant fire chief, Atmore fireman Mike Staples supervises a live burn exercise. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Moye, McCall Named Northview Prom King And Queen
April 17, 2013
Seniors Blake McCall and Maranda Moye were named the 2013 Junior-Senior Prom King and Queen last Saturday night for Northview High School. Courtesy photo by NHS Tribal Spirit for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Area Remembers, Prays For Boston
April 17, 2013
Residents across the area remembered Boston Tuesday and the tragic bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday. Pictured top: The 17th Avenue train trestle in Pensacola, commonly known as “Graffiti Bridge”, was painted with the message to “Pray for Boston”. And flags across the area were lowered to half staff upon an order from Gov. Rick Scott, including the Byrneville Community Center (pictured below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Falls In District Tourney; Jay Advances To Finals
April 17, 2013
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell in the District 1 Class 1A softball tournament Tuesday, while the Jay Lady Royals advanced to the finals Thursday night.
Northview lost 7-1 to Chipley, a team the No. 1 seed Lady Chiefs had defeated twice during the regular season.
The Jay Lady Royals beat the Lady Gators of Baker 6-1. Syndney Lowery allowed jut three hits in seven innings on the mound. Taylor Moore went 4-4, Ashlynn Geck went 3-3, Olivia Wright was 2-3, and Camille Driver was 1-4 for Jay.
The Lady Royals will play the Baker Gators at 6 p.m. Thursday for the District 1 Class 1A championship.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Charged With DUI Manslaughter
April 17, 2013
An Escambia County man is jailed for the DUI manslaughter death of a Milton man Tuesday afternoon.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 23-year old James William Barclay was northbound on Hollywood Avenue when he failed to stop for a stop sign at Blount Avenue. His 1999 Jeep Cherokee struck a 1989 Honda Civic driven by 28-year old Charles Allen Snow of Milton. The impact forced Snow’s vehicle into a utility pole before overturning. After the initial impact, Barclay’s Jeep continued north and vaulted over Snow’s Civic.
Barclay climbed out of his Jeep and fled the scene on foot. Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Carr and his K-9 tracked Barclay and took him into custody nearby. He was transported to Baptist Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Snow was pronounced deceased following the crash. A two-year old toddler in his vehicle was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition.
After being released from the hospital, Barclay was arrested on multiple charges including DUI manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving with no driver’s license resulting in a death. Barclay was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $903,000.
Pensacola Wahoos Snap Skid With 6-3 Win Over Suns
April 17, 2013
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos offense awakened from its nearly weeklong slumber by pounding their way past the Jackonsville Suns 6-3 on Tuesday night in front of 3,358 fans at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
Pensacola rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to score six runs in their first three at-bats. In the last of the first inning, Donald Lutz launched a laser over the right field wall for a two-run homer, scoring Brodie Greene who had singled earlier in the frame. The blast was Lutz’s fourth of the season, the most in the Southern League in the young 2013 campaign, and it knotted the game at two apiece.
The Wahoos added to their lead with a four-run third inning against Jacksonville starter James Leverton. With one out, Ryan LaMarre and Greene singled before scampering home on a two-run opposite-field double from Bryson Smith to give Pensacola a 4-2 lead. Lutz was then hit by a pitch and after a lineout and a pitching change, Devin Lohman dropped a double down the left field line to score Smith and Lutz to give the Wahoos a four-run advantage.
That was more than enough for Pensacola starter Josh Smith (1-2) who had his best start of the season by giving up two runs on six hits over five frames. Smith’s lone mistake was yielding a two-out, two-run single in the first to Mark Canha to give the Suns a brief 2-0 lead. Smith was also able to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth by forcing Chris Gutierrez to pop up in foul territory to the catcher.
Jacksonville scored a run in the ninth on a single from Daniel Pertusati and brought the tying run to the plate with one out, but Lee Hyde struck out Derek Dietrich and Curtis Partch came on to earn his third save of the year by punching out Chris Gutierrez.
Leverton (0-1) picked up the loss in his first start of the season after his first three appearances of the year came out of the bullpen. The southpaw went just 2.2 innings, allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits. Jordan Conley, Scott McGough and Rett Varner kept Pensacola at bay the rest of the contest, limiting the Wahoos to just three hits over the final 5.1 frames.
The series continues on Wednesday night as Tim Crabbe looks for his second win of the season for Pensacola against Jacksonville southpaw Adam Conley. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Story by Kevin Burke
Pictured top: Donald Lutz smacked his league-leading fourth home run of the season on Tuesday night. Photo courtesy Emmele Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mary Ann White
April 17, 2013
Mrs. Mary Ann White, 70, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, in Century.
Mrs. White was a native of Evergreen, Ala., and a resident of Century for the past 49 years. Mrs. White was known for her beautiful flowers and her caring and giving spirit. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God. Her parents, Terry & Edna Lee; sister, Mildred Earl Lee; and brother, Terry Ceylon Lee, precede her in death.
Survivors include her husband of 50 years, John W. White, Jr. of Century; one son, Matt (Melissa) White of Crestview; two daughters, Angie (Brenton) Kelley of Century and Kimberly (Craig) Burkett of Byrneville; five brothers, Leon (Carolyn) Lee of Port St. Joe, Fla., Bobby Lee of Century, Paul Lee of Century, Thurston (Kathy) Lee of Moss Point, Mississippi and Lincoln (Bobbie) Lee of Moss Point, Mississippi; two sisters, Linda (Lee) White of Century and Darlene Lee of Byrneville; five grandchildren, Daniel (Nikki) Kelley, Trent (Konner) White, Jill (Jeffery Steadham) Kelley, Jonathan Burkett and David Burkett.
Funeral services will be Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 2 p.m. at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God with Rev. Shelton Kindig, Rev. Eric Bryan and Rev. Mike Daniels officiating.
Burial will follow at the Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Beulah Chapel Assembly of God.
Pallbearers will be Alton White, Darrel Simpson, Jimmy Flannigan, Burley Townson, Randy Murph and Monte Crabtree.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC is in charge of all arrangements.