Education Boss Bennett Resigns Amid Grade Changing Scandal
August 2, 2013
Saying he didn’t want to be a distraction, Florida Education Commissioner Tony announced his immediate resignation Thursday amid a rapidly growing controversy stemming from his former job heading the Indiana education system.
Bennett, who during a news conference at the Department of Education called media reports out of the Hoosier State “politically motivated,” said Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Board of Education Chairman Gary Chartrand accepted the resignation.
“The decision to resign is mine and mine only because I believe that when this discussion turns to an adult we lose the discussion about making life better for children,” Bennett said.
Declaring that Bennett’s resignation “created an immediate danger to public welfare,” the Board of Education scheduled an emergency conference call Friday morning to appoint an interim commission.
Both Bennett and Scott recommended that Pam Stewart, chancellor of public schools, be named interim commissioner.
Stewart served as interim commissioner before Bennett was hired in December, a month after he lost a bid to be re-elected as Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction. Voters choose the Indiana superintendent, while Florida’s education commissioner is appointed.
Scott praised Bennett for helping with the governor’s legislative priority this past session of raising pay for teachers.
“He made a difficult decision today with the best interest of his family in mind, and he will no doubt continue to make a great contribution wherever he chooses to serve next,” Scott said in a release.
Bennett was the third education commissioner to serve since Scott was inaugurated in January 2011.
Bennett, who had no immediate plans for the future outside of a weekend with his family, said he made his decision so Scott, taxpayers, teachers and students wouldn’t be distracted by “the malicious, unfounded reports out of Indiana.”
Bennett has been engulfed in recent days in a controversy about whether he improperly changed a school grade to benefit a political contributor while he was Indiana’s education chief.
“Every minute we spend defending the credibility of your commissioner, because of what is said 800 miles away, is a minute we waste that we should have been thinking about educating children in Florida,” Bennett said.
During the news conference, Bennett reiterated his contention that he had done nothing wrong and he would request Indiana’s inspector general to investigate the allegations.
“I am fearless about what they will find,” Bennett said.
While running the Indiana schools, Bennett was noted for following the educational blueprint former Gov. Jeb Bush implemented in Florida, from the A-to-F grading system to expanding charter schools and voucher programs.
Bush on Thursday issued a statement that praised Bennett for his work in Indiana.
“Today, more Hoosier kids are graduating high school ready for college or a career and fewer are dropping out,” Bush said. “Last year, the parents of nearly 10,000 children in low-income homes were able to select the school that best fit their son or daughter. Leadership is doing what is right, knowing the results will follow.”
Patricia Levesque, chief executive officer of Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education, in the same release called Bennett “a good man and a good friend. Florida’s students will feel the loss of his leadership the most.”
Bennett’s downfall played out quickly in Florida.
The Associated Press, after obtaining candid emails between Bennett and his Indiana staff, reported Monday that Bennett and his staff “frantically overhauled” the Hoosier State’s grading system last year when it looked like one of his political contributors’ charter schools might get a “C.”
Bennett said Thursday there was a “statistical anomaly that didn’t allow 13 schools . . . to have their grade truly reflect their performance because they were unfairly penalized for kids they didn’t have in their school. That wasn’t rigging anything.”
On Thursday, the Indianapolis Star reported that Indiana wouldn’t have had to take over a pair of Indianapolis public schools if similar changes were offered to local district schools. The charter school alleged to have received favored treatment is called Christel House.
“The issue was similar in both cases,” the Star reported. “Christel House had recently added ninth and 10th grades, and (Indianapolis Public Schools’) Howe and Arlington had added middle school grades. The students who filled those seats posted poor enough scores to drag down the schools’ overall ratings.”
The AP reported that Bennett acted to improve the grade of Christel House, raising the school from a C to an A by removing the ninth- and 10th-grade scores. The Star wrote that the local public-school superintendent asked Bennett to remove the middle school scores, allowing the schools to avoid a state takeover, but “Bennett was unmoved.”
Teachers unions in Indiana have demanded an investigation of the A-to-F rating system, the Star reported.
Last month, in advance of the release of Florida school letter grades, the Florida board of education voted 4-3 to back a recommendation by Bennett to prevent drops of more than one letter grade due to changes to the accountability system.
Without the changes, state officials said, 261 schools would have received failing grades this year.
A trio of Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, and Reps. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, and Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, called on Bennett to resign due to the Indiana reports.
Florida Education Association President Andy Ford wrote Thursday that Bennett’s policies have had no value in advancing education.
“The resignation of Florida’s latest commissioner of education is another symptom of the mistrust parents, teachers and the public have in the state’s incoherent and unsound school reform and accountability policies,” Ford wrote.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Underway In Florida And Alabama
August 2, 2013
Back-to-school shoppers will get a chance to save some cash this this weekend with a sales tax holiday in both Florida and Alabama.
FLORIDA
From 12:01 a.m. Friday through midnight Sunday, there will be no sales tax collected on certain clothing items priced at $75 or less, schools supplies at $15 or less and computer priced at $750 or less.
For complete details, click here for a pdf.
ALABAMA
From 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight Sunday, Alabama’s four-percent sales tax is waived throughout the state while sales taxes levied by 274 cities and counties also will be waived on:
- clothing priced at $100 or less;
- school supplies valued at $50 or less;
- books that cost $30 or less; and
- computers and computer equipment with a selling price of $750 or less.
Atmore, Brewton, and Escambia County, Ala., will not participate and waive local taxes. Other towns, including Flomaton, Bay Minette, Foley, Gulf Shores and Mobile will take part.
For complete details, click here for a pdf.
Investigators Seek Person Of Interest In Monday Homicide
August 2, 2013
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a person of interest in a Monday homicide.
Investigators want to locate 36-year old Larry Huff for questioning in the July 29 homicide of 57-year old Jeffrey Weber, who was found in a room at the Homestay Lodge on Mobile Highway. Weber’s body was discovered by a hotel employee after he did not answer his door.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Larry Huff is asked to call he Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Pictured: Two different looks for LarryHuff, as seen in photos provided by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for NorthEscambia.com.
Tri-County 12U Competes In Softball World Series This Weekend
August 2, 2013
The Tri-County 12-U All Star softball team is competing in the 2013 World Series in Alachua, Florida, this weekend.
Friday morning Tri- County, the Alabama Babe Ruth State Champions, lost to Floyds Knob, Indiana by the score of 10-8. They will play Independence, Kansas, later today. On Saturday, they will face Ormond Beach, Florida, and Creeks, Florida.
Team members include Hayylee Watson, Avarie Jackson, Kendall Barrow, Kassadi Borders, Kolbi Bray, Malarie Foster, Olivia Cook and Katlynn Hobbs.
Pictured: The Tri-County 12-U All Stars Thursday at the 2013 Babe Ruth World Series in Alachua, Florida. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Begins Budget Setting Process
August 2, 2013
The Town of Century started their fiscal year 2013-2014 budget process Thursday with a special town council meeting.
Additional budget workshops are planned for Thursday, August 22; and (if needed) Thursday August 29. Both meetings will be held at 2 p.m. in the council chamber at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
The Town of Century’s budget for the current fiscal year is just under $2.9 million.
Northview Grad Nash Signs Division II Football Scholarship
August 2, 2013
Northview High School graduate Stetson Nash signed a football scholarship Thursday afternoon with NCAA Division II Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
Nash, 19, was a member of the Chiefs’ state championship team last year as an offensive and defensive lineman. Nash, joined by Northview coaches Sid Wheatley and Derek Marshman, visited several Arkansas schools.
“We felt like all along he could go and do great things in the classroom as well as in the game of football,” Wheatley said. “Harding has a great coaching staff and it’s a Christian school. Stetson will be a good fit.”
The 19-year old is expected to leave for Arkansas in about a week. He expects to play defense for Harding.
Pictured top: Northview grad Stetson Nash (seated) signs a Harding University Scholarship Thursday afternoon, joined by his aunt Linda Houston and (top, L-R) cousin Charles Houston, Jr., uncle Charles Houston and Christian Valasquez. Pictured inset: Nash is joined by Northview coaches Dereck Marshman (left) and Sid Wheatley. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Held For Col. Bud Day
August 2, 2013
Funeral services were held Thursday for Col. Bud Day, and American hero. He was 88.
Day was a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and command pilot who served in active service in World War II and the Vietnam War. Shot down in an air strike in North Vietnam, he was a prisoner of war for five years and seven months during which time he shared a cell with U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ).
McCain was among about 1,000 people that attended the funeral service in Shalimar. He was laid to rest at the Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.
Day is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received nearly 70 decorations, a majority for actions in combat. Day is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Pictured top: Funeral service were held Thursday for Col. Bud Day. Pictured below: Sen. John McCain and his wife Cindy pay their final respects. Pictured inset: The funeral poccesson passes along Bayfront Parkway. Photos courtesy WEAR and ECSO for NorthEcambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Library Reading Program Soars With The Blues
August 2, 2013
The Century Branch Library wrapped up their summer reading series Wednesday with a member of the Blue Angels team.
Jennifer Hoskins, a member of the Blue Angels’ administration team, read to the children. The 22-year old from Minnesota, has been with the Blues for eight months.
Pictured: Blue Angels team member Jennifer Hoskins and Century Library summer volunteers (L-R) Abby Hammond, Jessica Stacey, Daniel Lambeth and Anna Belle Barberree. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Knock Off BayBears 2-0
August 2, 2013
Having been dealt a pair of devastating one-run losses the last two days, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos responded with a 2-0 shutout of the Mobile BayBears in front of the 23rd sellout crowd of the season at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Thursday night. It was the third 2-0 shutout win of the series for Pensacola who took its first series in four tries against the BayBears.
Carlos Contreras spearheaded the shutout effort while picking up his first Double-A win in three tries. Contreras (1-1) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before yielding a one-out infield single to Ender Inciarte. The right-hander was able to work around the hit and work through six innings for the first time as a Wahoo. In total, he tossed six one-hit innings with a strikeout and two walks.
Lee Hyde came on to pitch a scoreless inning and a third to extend his scoreless innings streak to 28.1 frames before Josh Ravin picked up the final two outs in the eighth. Trevor Bell entered in the ninth inning and worked around a pair of one-out singles to nail down his 10th save in as many tries.
Offensively, Pensacola had multiple opportunities to blow the game open, out-hitting Mobile 13-4. However, the Wahoos settled for the pair of runs, the first of which came in the first inning on a Tucker Barnhart bases loaded RBI single. Pensacola left a runner on base in every inning except for the second before finally adding some insurance on a Travis Mattair solo homer in the last of the eighth. The home run was Mattair’s team-leading 13th of the year and 46th RBI, tying the single-season franchise record.
Bradin Hagens was the tough luck loser for the BayBears, giving up a run on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings to fall to 9-7 on the year.
The Wahoos now travel to Birmingham to face the Barons for the first time this season. Jon Moscot, called up from High-A Bakersfield on Thursday, will make his Double-A debut for Pensacola against Birmingham southpaw Spencer Arroyo (8-4, 3.16). First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday night.
story by Keving Burke
One Injured In Cantonment Wreck
August 2, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday on south County Road 97 near West Kingsfield Road. The driver apparently lost control and hit a brick mailbox, before drifting back across the road into a fence post.
One person was transported to a local hospital by ambulance following the 6:10 p.m. crash.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded to the accident.
Pictured: One person was injured in this single vehicle accident in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
