HNS REPORTS---DECEMBER 31, 2009
FOX VS. BRIGHT HOUSE IN SUDDEN DEATH COURT FIGHT
The Orlando Sentinel reports that a judge on Thursday denied a request from a prominent Orlando attorney to keep the Sugar Bowl on Bright House. Instead, the Sentinel reports that the fate of the University of Florida's bowl game on Bright House Networks is up to the cable company and Fox. Football fans who subscribe to Bright House's service and want to see Tim Tebow suit up for the last time will be forced to find alternate places to watch the game or buy electronic equipment to retrofit their televisions.
Fox and Bright House have been at an impasse over how much the cable provider will pay for Fox channels. The current agreement between the two expires at midnight Thursday, and Fox has said that it is not optimistic that an agreement will be struck in time so its channels will continue to air on Bright House.
The judge on Wednesday sent Orlando attorney John Morgan's request that the court order Fox to air the game on Bright House to federal court in response to a Fox request, but a U.S. District Court Judge sent the case back to the state court later in the day.
BROOKSVILLE-EVERGLADES FLIGHT APPARENTLY BROKE NO RULES
Another Cessna 425 As more information comes out, it's now apparent that the pilot who took off from Brooksville Wednesday and was forced to land his Cessna 425 at a remote Everglades airport by military jets broke no laws or aviation rules. According to Wendell Stephens, Supervisor at American Aviation, the fixed base operator at the Hernando County Airport, this was the sequence of events Wednesday afternoon:
The owner and pilot was a French citizen identified as Jean-Claude Courtois who was licensed to fly the plane. An FAA certified instructor who flew with the owner/pilot recommended that he not fly the plane because he could not communicate in English with anyone on the ground or in the air. This was explained to the pilot through a translator, and the pilot became indignant and took off in the plane anyway.
American Aviation reported this to the FAA in Tampa, who advised they had no authority since he had not broken any laws. FAA Tampa advised American Aviation that if they felt it was a security concern they should notify Tampa Airport Approach which they did.
There's no official information on what happened from that point, although it appears that the lack of flight plan or contact with air traffic controllers apparently aroused official suspicion, leading to the forced landing. Federal rules do not require a flight plan or air traffic control contact so long as a pilot is not in designated controlled airspace areas.
Jean-Claude Courtois was reportedly questioned by authorities and released after the forced landing at the remote Dade-Collier Training Airport in the Everglades of south Florida between Miami and Naples.
HERNANDO BEACH MAN CHARGED AFTER FLEEING FROM DUI ACCIDENT
A man whose blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit allegedly fled the scene of a two-car accident Wednesday in Spring Hill. An arrest affidavit says 61-year old Brian Ray Husson of 4075 Flamingo Blvd. in Hernando Beach was involved in the accident at Spring Hill Dr. and Barclay Ave. Witnesses told deputies that Husson failed to yield at the intersection and turned in front of another vehicle. The affidavit says Husson fled the scene in his Chevrolet Suburban while EMT's tended to the other driver's minor injuries. Husson was later located at a Hernando Beach residence and reportedly failed sobriety tests. Breath samples at the Hernando County Jail returned .16 and .157 readings for blood alcohol. Drivers are presumed intoxicated at .08. Husson was charged with DUI with damage to persons or property and fleeing the scene of an accident with injuries.
BROOKRIDGE BURGLARY CLOSED WITH ARREST OF HUNGRY SUSPECT
Sheriff's deputies say an 18-year old man found a key to a Brookridge home, let himself in, took some money and a gun, cooked hamburgers and eggs, used a computer and phone, then locked up on his way out. An arrest affidavit says Jacob James Comeau of 7489 Country Club Drive was arrested several hours later at Weeping Willow and Webster Streets. He was charged with armed burglary and booked into the Hernando County Jail.
NEW LAW AIMED AT REPEAT ACCIDENT DRIVERS
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reminded motorists Thursday of a new law that goes into effect with the new year. Effective January 1, drivers who are found to be at-fault in three crashes within a 36 month period will be required to successfully complete a Department-approved driver improvement course that includes behind-the-wheel training and an assessment of their driving ability.
The new law will count at-fault crashes as far back as 2007, so after January 1 the Department will notify any driver who causes a crash and has at least two at-fault crashes in the preceding 36 months. The affected drivers will then be responsible for completing an approved course within 90 days in order to avoid the cancellation of their driving privilege. Each course will include a minimum of 16 hours, to feature four hours of behind-the-wheel training.
CROOKS ON CAMERA - STEALING FROM WAL-MART
Part four of our six-part Year in Review series focuses on schools. The first big continuing story is the departure of one school superintendent and the search for a replacement.
ALEXANDER'S TENURE NEARING AN END?
School superintendent Wayne Alexander says he plans to stay in Hernando County until the end of his contract next year, but school board chairperson Dianne Bonfield may have something to say about that. At Tuesday night's meeting, Bonfield expressed frustration with Alexander at the end of a discussion on the lawsuit by two Nature Coast students from Pasco County for reinstatement. She said it might be best for Alexander to leave sooner rather than later. No vote was taken, although Bonfield would appear to be a third vote in favor of ousting Alexander, along with Pat Fagan and James Yant, who previously called for his firing over the superintendent's search for a new job in New England. Earlier during a board workshop, members chose a citizens committee to review the process of finding a new superintendent to start next year when Alexander is scheduled to leave, and they also agreed on a timetable for filling the job by mid-year 2010.
NEXT STEP IN ALEXANDER SAGA: EARLY EXIT?
The St. Petersburg Times is calling for the departure of School Superintendent Wayne Alexander in an editorial for Thursday's paper amid indications that Alexander is in discussions with the school district's lawyer on the terms for leaving. The editorial cites reports from teachers and concerns of School Board members about apparent implementation of the controversial zero grading policy revealed by Hernando News Source in June. After a public outcry, the School Board rejected the policy, only to discover that it was based on a system already in use in some schools. The issues surfaced at the end of Tuesday's board meeting, when Chairperson Dianne Bonfield indicated she no longer thought Alexander should stay until the end of his contract next year. Two other board members had previously supported Alexander's termination on news he was actively seeking another job in New England.
ALEXANDER PACT OK'D, INTERIM SCHOOL CHIEF CONSIDERED
Hernando County School Board members approved an agreement with Superintendent Wayne Alexander Thursday that calls for his early departure on September 11. At the same special meeting board members also agreed to put off a decision on an interim superintendent until next Tuesday when they hope to interview potential candidates. Alexander's agreement pays him more than $14,000 in salary and benefits for leaving nine months early, due to loss of board support. Chair Dianne Bonfield said she thought former employee and long-time district administrator Ed Poore would be a good candidate for interim superintendent while the ongoing search for a permanent replacement goes on. Other board members suggested recently appointed assistant superintendent Sonya Jackson for the interim post. Member Pat Fagan suggested former board member Jim Malcolm as well as local resident Lisa Hammond. Member Sandra Nicholson said she had a person in mind but declined to give a name. District lawyer Paul Carland said he would contact those named by board members and seek to arrange for interviews at next Tuesday afternoon's board workshop. Members said they wanted to have someone on board by Alexander's departure date, barely two weeks away, although there was some disagreement about whether the interim choice should promise not to apply for the permanent job.
MOMENTUM TO ELECT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT?
The elevation of assistant superintendent Sonya Jackson to the interim superintendent role, and the stormy two year tenure of departing superintendent Wayne Alexander, have some Hernando residents talking about electing a superintendent again. The school district went to an appointed leader about 15 years ago, along with most larger Florida school districts. But declared school board candidate Vi Coogler says the current district leadership issues provide an opportunity for those who want to go back to an elected superintendent to garner support. Coogler says he was not pleased with the board's actions this week and said he favored putting the elected vs. appointed issue back before the voters. He said if the school board won't take the initiative, the issue should be sent to the county commissioners for a referendum ballot. Coogler is running for the seat now held by Dianne Bonfield, who resigned the board chairmanship Tuesday night rather than sign the contract for an interim superintendent that she did not support. Bonfield has not yet formally declared a reelection candidacy.
JACKSON TABBED AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT...
SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR QUITS RATHER THAN SIGN CONTRACT
Bonfield and Jackson
Assistant School Superintendent Sonya Jackson was named as interim superintendent Tuesday with support from four of five board members, but dissenter Dianne Bonfield felt so strongly that the move was a mistake she later resigned as board Chair rather than sign Jackson's contract. The contract itself turned an otherwise routine board meeting Tuesday night upside down when members balked at the $117,000 salary she requested. After a recess, Jackson agreed to a $106,515 yearly salary, a 10% increase over what she was making as assistant, a post she has held for only two months. She will serve as interim superintendent until June 30, 2010, or until the board names a new permanent superintendent.
James Yant passes gavel to John Sweeney after Bonfield's resignation as chair
Bonfield argued vigorously that Jackson was too deeply involved in two investigations to serve effectively as interim superintendent. Even after it was clear that Jackson had the support of the other four board members, Bonfield insisted that her role in the Nature Coast Tech residency issue and in recommending the controversial zero grading policy change would compromise her effectiveness. At a Tuesday afternoon workshop, the board majority told district attorney Paul Carland to negotiate a contract. Then Bonfield resigned her chair position at the start of the evening meeting and passed the gavel to vice-chairman John Sweeney, pending a new board vote on a permanent chair at the September 15 meeting.
JACKSON TAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT REINS
Interim School Superintendent Sonya Jackson made her status official Friday by taking an oath of office and signing the paperwork that formalizes her assumption of the Hernando School District's top job. The brief signing ceremony was needed because Friday was the last day for outgoing Superintendent Wayne Alexander, and Florida law requires a district superintendent at all times. A formal swearing-in ceremony will be conducted next week at the School Board's Tuesday night meeting.
LOCAL CANDIDATES AMONG SCHOOL SUPT. APPLICATIONS
School district officials say 28 applications for the vacant school superintendent's post came in before Friday's deadline. Three are local...interim superintendent Sonya Jackson, current Hernando principal and former district administrator Ken Pritz, and former Hernando High principal Elaine Sullivan are seeking the job, along with 26 others, most from out of state but some from Florida. School board members have said they prefer a candidate with a doctorate, and less than half of the applicants have that advanced degree. A citizens' committee will meet Wednesday night at the school board offices to begin their evaluations and discuss how to make their recommendations to the board.
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH GROUP KICKS OUT 13 APPLICANTS
The search committee charged by the School Board with providing recommendations for a new school superintendent cut the field of applicants from 29 to 16 at its first meeting Wednesday night. One application was ruled out for being filed late, three applicants didn't meet the advertised job requirements, and nine others were set aside based on lack of top tier administrative experience. Among the candidates who won't be recommended are former Hernando High principal Elaine Sullivan and current Gulf High principal Steve Knobl, both for lack of work experience in top level district administrative jobs. The sixteen remaining include interim superintendent Sonya Jackson and current Hernando High principal Ken Pritz. The committee plans to finalize a short list of five to seven recommendations at a second meeting November 18.
SEARCH COMMITTEE NARROWS LIST OF SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES
A committee of citizens and school officials have pared down the list of applicants for new school superintendent to nine. Both local candidates, interim superintendent Sonya Jackson and Hernando High principal Ken Pritz, are on the list. The committee first noted the number of votes that each of 15 applicants received in each members' ranking of the best candidates. Only Jackson and Lee County Schools Human Resources chief Gregory Adkins got the votes of seven of the eight voting members. Pritz, Bryan Blavatt and John Phillips each got six votes. Blavatt was a 12-year superintendent of an 18,000 student system in Boone County, Kentucky, and Phillips has held administrative positions in Charleston, South Carolina, and in Atlanta. Other listed applicants are Jayne Risen Morgenthal, Arnold Spadafora, I.V. Foster Jr., and Rose Terri McSweeney. The School Board is free to choose any of the 28 applicants for the post when they vote after interviews early next year.
Here's a closer look at each of the nine:
S. Jayne Risen Morgenthal has a doctorate degree and was the superintendent of the Elizabethtown, KY, school district for a little over a year until she resigned after her Hernando application beame known. The district is relatively small, at only 2,000 students. She also apparently stirred some local controversy before the resignation, according to research by Search Committee Chairman Joe Vitalo, who reported that Morgenthal was under fire by some for not moving into the district as she reportedly pledged to do within a reasonable time after taking the job. Morgenthal was ranked as a top applicant by five of the eight voting members of the search committee.
John R. Phillips also has a doctorate degree. He has been a principal in St. Louis, an assistant superintendent in Kansas City, associate superintendent of the Charleston, SC, school district, executive director of a school reform group affiliated with the Atlanta public schools, and most recently responsible for university/school district partnerships for the graduate education program and clinical practice at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. Phillips' application package included a DVD with television news reports on some of his career highlights. Phillips was named by six search committee members as a top finalist.
Arnold Spadafora retired recently as associate superintendent for Schenectady city schools in New York. His resume says the district had more than 10,000 students. His cover letter's return address is San Antonio, in Pasco County. He does not have a doctorate degree. His resume says his most recent work experience was as a security officer for the NFL during the Super Bowl in Tampa earlier this year. Spadafora got only three votes from the search committee.
Bryan A. Blavatt was superintendent for Boone County, KY, schools for 12 years until his retirement last year. Blavatt, who is 62, was named Superintendent of the Year in 2007 by the state superintendents' association. He does not have a doctorate, but he does present the most superintendent-level experience of any of the applicants. Boone County schools have an enrollment of about 18,000. The budget was $128 million. Blavatt writes in his cover letter that "since my retirement, I am really bored and miss the challenges of being a school superintendent. I retired too early." Six committee members thought Blavatt's name should go to the school board.
I.V. Foster, Jr. has a doctorate. He is currently superintendent of Prairie-Hills School District 144 in Markham, IL. The district is K-8 only, with 3200 students in eight schools and 350 employees. Before his four years in Markham, he was an assistant superintendent for secondary education for a 9800-student district in Rock Island, IL. Foster's cover letter says the Prairie-Hills district in suburban Chicago is 88% African-American. Foster was named as a top candidate by five of the eight voting committee members.
Gregory K. Adkins is a the Chief Human Resources Officer for Lee County Schools in Ft. Myers. He has been the chief negotiator for collective bargaining agreements in the district since 2002. He has also served as employee relations and contract management director, as well as principal and assistant principal in two Lee County middle schools. He has a doctorate degree from the University of Central Florida and got his masters at the University of South Florida. The Lee County district has 103 schools, 79,000 students, 12,000 staff members, and a budget of more than $1.6 billion. Adkins says he is very familiar with Hernando County and describes himself as an avid cyclist and triathlete. Adkins was one of two applicants to win votes from seven committee members.
Kenneth D. Pritz is principal of Hernando High School and former district director for facility and support operations. He managed a $250 million capital outlay budget during the three years he was in that role. For three years before that, he was director of school services for the district. He has worked in Hernando County as a teacher, principal and administrator for almost 30 years. He doesn't have a doctorate degree, but his letters of reference include recommendations from former school board members John Druzbick, Donald Hensley and Jim Malcolm, as well as from former superintendent Wendy Tellone. Pritz had six committee votes.
Rose Terri McSweeney has a doctorate degree and currently serves as deputy superintendent for the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District in New York. She has held administrative positions in three Long Island school districts for the past eight years. She also applied for the assistant superintendent position in Hernando last spring and says in her application that her family is relocating to Florida this year. McSweeney got votes from five of the search committee members.
Sonya L Jackson is presently serving as interim Hernando County school superintendent. Prior to her appointment as assistant superintendent and interim superintendent this year, she was director for school services and accountability and before that coordinator of staff development. She came to Hernando in 2004 after serving as a principal and teacher in the Putnam County school system for 15 years. She does not have a doctorate degree. Interestingly, her list of references also includes Dr. Wendy Tellone, but unlike Pritz Jackson's application package does not include a letter of recommendation from the former superintendent. She got seven committee votes.
FACTOIDS
Of the nine finalists recommended by the search committee:
2 got the votes of seven out of eight voting members.
2 are currently employed by Hernando County schools.
5 have doctorate degrees.
3 are from Florida.
3 are African-American.
None of them are guaranteed even an interview, since the school board reserves the right to talk to and hire any of the 28 candidates who submitted a timely application.
SCHOOL BOARD PICKS SEVEN FOR SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEWS
Hernando County School Board members picked six of the nine superintendent applicants recommended by a search committee for interviews at a workshop on Tuesday. They added one more that the committee didn't recommend and told staff to set up interviews for the week of January 11. A previous board was criticized for bypassing search committee recommendations two years ago when departed superintendent Wayne Alexander was hired.
Jackson
The two local candidates, interim superintendent Sonya Jackson and Hernando High principal Ken Pritz are on the interview list.
So are John Phillips from South Carolina, Jayne Risen Morgenthal and Bryan Blavatt, both from Kentucky, Gregory Adkins from Lee County, and the addition to the list, Aaron Mackey from Ohio. Jackson, Blavatt, Phillips and Adkins were on the interview list for all five board members. Pritz and Morgenthal were interview picks of four of the five members.
SCHOOL BOARD INVITES PUBLIC TO SUPT. CANDIDATES RECEPTION
Here's an invitation to the public from the Hernando County School Board...the board is currently in the process of selecting a new Superintendent and will be hosting a reception for the candidates on January 11, 2010. This is an opportunity for employees and community members to meet the candidates. The reception will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the School Board Room located at 919 North Broad Street in Brooksville, and refreshments will be served.
The other continuing schools story involved Nature Coast Technical High School, where a problem with Pasco students attending contrary to magnet school policy led to a superintendent's departure and litigation, while two teachers---the football coach and band director---were forced to resign for extracurricular involvement with female students. Here are our reports:
SCHOOL BOARD RELENTS, PASCO SENIORS TO STAY AT NCT
School Board chair Diane Bonfield, who voted earlier Tuesday to keep all Pasco students out of Nature Coast Tech, changed her vote at Tuesday night's regular board meeting. As a result, three students who would be Nature Coast seniors next fall will be allowed to return, despite their Pasco County residence. However, the board confirmed a prior decision not to grant any other waivers from Board policy by voting down a proposal to allow Pasco juniors to attend as well.
In a special meeting at noon Tuesday, Board members stumbled through three votes before rejecting appeals by ten Pasco County students to let them stay at Nature Coast Tech. The ten were among 19 out of county students discovered at the magnet school recently in violation of board policies. About a dozen parents and students listened quietly while the issues were discussed, but several erupted in anger after the final vote and complained about not being allowed to speak.
The board first voted down a motion from James Yant and supported by John Sweeney to allow the ten students to continue at Nature Coast while adding ten additional slots for Hernando County students from the 163 names on the school's waiting list. Then a motion by Pat Fagan to allow three seniors to be to finish out their high school years was also voted down. A third motion to uphold the board policy against out of county students at magnet schools passed only after long deliberation by Fagan before he reluctantly supported the measure. Board members Diane Bonfield and Sandra Nicholson were adamant in discussion of all three motions that the board's rules were not followed and they should grant the appealing students no relief, but Bonfield's chage of heart will allow the three would-be seniors from Pasco to finish next year at Nature Coast.
FORMER NCT BAND DIRECTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX CHARGES
Four days before his scheduled trial on charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, the former band director at Nature Coast Tech pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of sexual relations with an underage student. 43-year old Timothy Brightbill will be sentenced August 20. He was arrested seven months ago and charged in connection with two incidents of sex acts with the 17-year old girl and later resigned his position with the school district. Judge Jack Springstead could send Brightbill to prison for up to 30 years.
LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SCHOOL BOARD OVER NATURE COAST DECISION
Clerk's records show a lawsuit was filed Friday against the Hernando County School District which is believed to be an action seeking reinstatement of an underclassman to Nature Coast Tech High School. While the case file will not be available for review until Monday, the action names Sandy Noble and a juvenile identified only as J.A. as plaintiffs. Attorney for the plaintiffs is Bruce Snow, who attended the July 28 School Board meeting with a client who was one of several Nature Coast students who were told they would not be allowed to return to the magnet school because of their Pasco County residence. Snow told Hernando News Source last week that his client had not yet made a decision to sue the School Board at that time, but that if a suit was filed, it would likely request an injunction to require the board to allow the client to begin attending classes with other students when school starts next week. He also said he believed the Board's decision to allow Pasco students who would be seniors this year to return, while rejecting underclassmen, was unfair and potentially illegal. Snow expressed the hope that the filing would not be necessary but said if talks with the School Board's lawyer were unsuccessful the case would likely be filed during this past week.
SCHOOL BOARD READMITS PASCO STUDENTS IN VOTE TO SETTLE LAWSUIT
The Hernando County School Board voted Monday to let all 15 Pasco students who sought variances to attend Nature Coast Tech back into the magnet school. The vote came in a public meeting following a private session with the district's general counsel and a litigation lawyer. The discussion made it clear that the lawyers had advised that the board faced potentially costly litigation in which the outcome was not certain. Though the first vote was to accept a settlement that readmitted the two lawsuit plaintiffs, a motion that was opposed by Chairperson Dianne Bonfield and member Sandra Nicholson, the move to readmit the others followed, again passing 3-2. Finally, the board voted 4 to 1 with Nicholson dissenting to remove the cap for Hernando students currently on the Nature Coast Tech waiting list, a number estimated at 65 to 85. Bonfield explained her affirmative vote as a matter of making up to Hernando students for the address snafu that allowed the Pasco students to attend in the first place. The two students who sued said the Board's decision to let in seniors-to-be but not underclassmen was unfair and illegal.
Litigation lawyer Lisa Augspurger did not publicly address the reasons why three members felt the lawsuit needed to be settled. Plaintiffs' attorney Bruce Snow had claimed the Board was bound by the addressing errors that allowed numerous Pasco resident students to attend over the years, and that the vote in June to deny policy variances for underclassmen only violated several provisions of constitutional law. The vote to settle provides for dismissal of the case and cancels a court hearing that had been scheduled for Tuesday. All board members weighed in with comments, ranging from Pat Fagan's concern with the cost of litigation and James Yant urging the board to "do a justice to the students, not injustice," to Bonfield complaining about being "strong-armed" into a settlement, to Nicholson's motion which failed to open enrollment at Nature Coast to everyone. But John Sweeney probably had the best summation, calling the Nature Coast issue "a no-win situation."
STUDENT AFFAIR NETS BAND TEACHER NINE YEARS IN PRISON
Former Nature Coast Tech band director Timothy Brightbill was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison Wednesday on his guilty plea to having a consensual sexual relationship with an underage student. Circuit Judge Jack Springstead listened to arguments by Brightbill's lawyer James Campbell for a downward departure from the minimum guidelines sentence and a response from prosecutor Brian Trehy before handing down the decision. Campbell noted that Brightbill had lost his teaching license, his house was being foreclosed, and he was considering bankruptcy. Trehy argued for prison time based on a "betrayal of trust" in the midst of public concern about teacher-student sex. The maximum sentence was 30 years, and the nine years and two months that Springstead handed down was the minimum mandatory sentence under the guidelines. The 43-year old Brightbill was supported by his wife and a handful of students and colleagues who urged leniency. The victim, who was 16 when Brightbill began what Trehy called a year-long seduction and who is now 18, was not in the courtroom, although her father spoke briefly and entrusted the sentencing decision to the judge. Brightbill was arrested on New Year's Eve when the victim's mother discovered the pair together in bed.
Brightbill did not react visibly when the sentence was handed down, but he did pause for a brief final contact with his wife Kerry before he was escorted by bailiffs from the courtroom.
SCHOOLS OPEN FOR NEW YEAR
Hernando County schools opened for a new year on Monday. There were no immediate reports of problems, as students returned amid changes in leadership at some schools and questions about enrollment levels at most, especially at Nature Coast Technical High School. Nature Coast is one of five schools with new principals for this year, and the only high school. The leadership change was made after a series of incidents that brought the magnet high school unwanted publicity last year, ranging from a football brawl to a band director's conviction for sexual acts with a student, and the ongoing controversy over Pasco students at the school despite magnet policies limiting enrollment to Hernando residents. In resolving a lawsuit by readmitting Pasco students, the School Board also voted last week to let in Hernando students on the Nature Coast waiting list, a number that could be as high as 140. New principal Toni Ann Noyes and school district administrators say they will await the results of the 10-day student count to evaluate any further steps regarding Nature Coast. Noyes has said she's optimistic that the campus can accommodate the extra students, even though the school was already officially over capacity before the School Board's action.
NATURE COAST TECH: MORE ISSUES THAN MISSING DOCUMENTS
School Board officials say serious constitutional issues of due process and litigation costs were significant factors in the decision not to respond in court to Pasco students seeking readmission to Nature Coast Tech High School. While some media reports focused on the handling of documents, which may or may not have been consistent with Florida public records law, School Board attorney Paul Carland says the constitutional issues were important factors as well. Bruce Snow, the attorney for the two students who sued to get back in the magnet high school after being told they could not return, argued that the board's strict adherence to statutes on hearing procedures deprived the students and their parents of constitutional rights. Carland admitted that the constitutional argument might have been difficult to argue against. But faced with headlines about "shredded" documents, officials have reportedly promised an investigation, even though most documents relating to students have disclosure exemptions and all public records are subject to retention schedules. Florida law generally allows shredding as a means of disposing of exempt documents which are no longer legally required to be kept.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that a judge on Thursday denied a request from a prominent Orlando attorney to keep the Sugar Bowl on Bright House. Instead, the Sentinel reports that the fate of the University of Florida's bowl game on Bright House Networks is up to the cable company and Fox. Football fans who subscribe to Bright House's service and want to see Tim Tebow suit up for the last time will be forced to find alternate places to watch the game or buy electronic equipment to retrofit their televisions.
Fox and Bright House have been at an impasse over how much the cable provider will pay for Fox channels. The current agreement between the two expires at midnight Thursday, and Fox has said that it is not optimistic that an agreement will be struck in time so its channels will continue to air on Bright House.
The judge on Wednesday sent Orlando attorney John Morgan's request that the court order Fox to air the game on Bright House to federal court in response to a Fox request, but a U.S. District Court Judge sent the case back to the state court later in the day.
BROOKSVILLE-EVERGLADES FLIGHT APPARENTLY BROKE NO RULES
Another Cessna 425The owner and pilot was a French citizen identified as Jean-Claude Courtois who was licensed to fly the plane. An FAA certified instructor who flew with the owner/pilot recommended that he not fly the plane because he could not communicate in English with anyone on the ground or in the air. This was explained to the pilot through a translator, and the pilot became indignant and took off in the plane anyway.
American Aviation reported this to the FAA in Tampa, who advised they had no authority since he had not broken any laws. FAA Tampa advised American Aviation that if they felt it was a security concern they should notify Tampa Airport Approach which they did.
There's no official information on what happened from that point, although it appears that the lack of flight plan or contact with air traffic controllers apparently aroused official suspicion, leading to the forced landing. Federal rules do not require a flight plan or air traffic control contact so long as a pilot is not in designated controlled airspace areas.
Jean-Claude Courtois was reportedly questioned by authorities and released after the forced landing at the remote Dade-Collier Training Airport in the Everglades of south Florida between Miami and Naples.
HERNANDO BEACH MAN CHARGED AFTER FLEEING FROM DUI ACCIDENT
BROOKRIDGE BURGLARY CLOSED WITH ARREST OF HUNGRY SUSPECT
NEW LAW AIMED AT REPEAT ACCIDENT DRIVERS
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reminded motorists Thursday of a new law that goes into effect with the new year. Effective January 1, drivers who are found to be at-fault in three crashes within a 36 month period will be required to successfully complete a Department-approved driver improvement course that includes behind-the-wheel training and an assessment of their driving ability.
The new law will count at-fault crashes as far back as 2007, so after January 1 the Department will notify any driver who causes a crash and has at least two at-fault crashes in the preceding 36 months. The affected drivers will then be responsible for completing an approved course within 90 days in order to avoid the cancellation of their driving privilege. Each course will include a minimum of 16 hours, to feature four hours of behind-the-wheel training.
CROOKS ON CAMERA - STEALING FROM WAL-MART
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| The subjects pictured above are suspects in a theft that occurred at Wal-Mart, 1485 Commercial Wy., on Tuesday, 12-15-09, at approximately 11:00 a.m. Both subjects left the area in the above pictured vehicle, possibly a Dodge Ram. If you recognize these subjects, notify District 2 Deputy Noberini. If you wish to remain anonymous or to be eligible for a reward, call the Hernando County | |||
Part four of our six-part Year in Review series focuses on schools. The first big continuing story is the departure of one school superintendent and the search for a replacement.
ALEXANDER'S TENURE NEARING AN END?
NEXT STEP IN ALEXANDER SAGA: EARLY EXIT?
The St. Petersburg Times is calling for the departure of School Superintendent Wayne Alexander in an editorial for Thursday's paper amid indications that Alexander is in discussions with the school district's lawyer on the terms for leaving. The editorial cites reports from teachers and concerns of School Board members about apparent implementation of the controversial zero grading policy revealed by Hernando News Source in June. After a public outcry, the School Board rejected the policy, only to discover that it was based on a system already in use in some schools. The issues surfaced at the end of Tuesday's board meeting, when Chairperson Dianne Bonfield indicated she no longer thought Alexander should stay until the end of his contract next year. Two other board members had previously supported Alexander's termination on news he was actively seeking another job in New England.
ALEXANDER PACT OK'D, INTERIM SCHOOL CHIEF CONSIDERED
MOMENTUM TO ELECT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT?
The elevation of assistant superintendent Sonya Jackson to the interim superintendent role, and the stormy two year tenure of departing superintendent Wayne Alexander, have some Hernando residents talking about electing a superintendent again. The school district went to an appointed leader about 15 years ago, along with most larger Florida school districts. But declared school board candidate Vi Coogler says the current district leadership issues provide an opportunity for those who want to go back to an elected superintendent to garner support. Coogler says he was not pleased with the board's actions this week and said he favored putting the elected vs. appointed issue back before the voters. He said if the school board won't take the initiative, the issue should be sent to the county commissioners for a referendum ballot. Coogler is running for the seat now held by Dianne Bonfield, who resigned the board chairmanship Tuesday night rather than sign the contract for an interim superintendent that she did not support. Bonfield has not yet formally declared a reelection candidacy.
JACKSON TABBED AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT...
SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR QUITS RATHER THAN SIGN CONTRACT
Bonfield and JacksonAssistant School Superintendent Sonya Jackson was named as interim superintendent Tuesday with support from four of five board members, but dissenter Dianne Bonfield felt so strongly that the move was a mistake she later resigned as board Chair rather than sign Jackson's contract. The contract itself turned an otherwise routine board meeting Tuesday night upside down when members balked at the $117,000 salary she requested. After a recess, Jackson agreed to a $106,515 yearly salary, a 10% increase over what she was making as assistant, a post she has held for only two months. She will serve as interim superintendent until June 30, 2010, or until the board names a new permanent superintendent.
James Yant passes gavel to John Sweeney after Bonfield's resignation as chair
Bonfield argued vigorously that Jackson was too deeply involved in two investigations to serve effectively as interim superintendent. Even after it was clear that Jackson had the support of the other four board members, Bonfield insisted that her role in the Nature Coast Tech residency issue and in recommending the controversial zero grading policy change would compromise her effectiveness. At a Tuesday afternoon workshop, the board majority told district attorney Paul Carland to negotiate a contract. Then Bonfield resigned her chair position at the start of the evening meeting and passed the gavel to vice-chairman John Sweeney, pending a new board vote on a permanent chair at the September 15 meeting.
JACKSON TAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT REINS
LOCAL CANDIDATES AMONG SCHOOL SUPT. APPLICATIONS
School district officials say 28 applications for the vacant school superintendent's post came in before Friday's deadline. Three are local...interim superintendent Sonya Jackson, current Hernando principal and former district administrator Ken Pritz, and former Hernando High principal Elaine Sullivan are seeking the job, along with 26 others, most from out of state but some from Florida. School board members have said they prefer a candidate with a doctorate, and less than half of the applicants have that advanced degree. A citizens' committee will meet Wednesday night at the school board offices to begin their evaluations and discuss how to make their recommendations to the board.
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH GROUP KICKS OUT 13 APPLICANTS
SEARCH COMMITTEE NARROWS LIST OF SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES
A committee of citizens and school officials have pared down the list of applicants for new school superintendent to nine. Both local candidates, interim superintendent Sonya Jackson and Hernando High principal Ken Pritz, are on the list. The committee first noted the number of votes that each of 15 applicants received in each members' ranking of the best candidates. Only Jackson and Lee County Schools Human Resources chief Gregory Adkins got the votes of seven of the eight voting members. Pritz, Bryan Blavatt and John Phillips each got six votes. Blavatt was a 12-year superintendent of an 18,000 student system in Boone County, Kentucky, and Phillips has held administrative positions in Charleston, South Carolina, and in Atlanta. Other listed applicants are Jayne Risen Morgenthal, Arnold Spadafora, I.V. Foster Jr., and Rose Terri McSweeney. The School Board is free to choose any of the 28 applicants for the post when they vote after interviews early next year.
Here's a closer look at each of the nine:
Arnold Spadafora retired recently as associate superintendent for Schenectady city schools in New York. His resume says the district had more than 10,000 students. His cover letter's return address is San Antonio, in Pasco County. He does not have a doctorate degree. His resume says his most recent work experience was as a security officer for the NFL during the Super Bowl in Tampa earlier this year. Spadafora got only three votes from the search committee.
I.V. Foster, Jr. has a doctorate. He is currently superintendent of Prairie-Hills School District 144 in Markham, IL. The district is K-8 only, with 3200 students in eight schools and 350 employees. Before his four years in Markham, he was an assistant superintendent for secondary education for a 9800-student district in Rock Island, IL. Foster's cover letter says the Prairie-Hills district in suburban Chicago is 88% African-American. Foster was named as a top candidate by five of the eight voting committee members.
Gregory K. Adkins is a the Chief Human Resources Officer for Lee County Schools in Ft. Myers. He has been the chief negotiator for collective bargaining agreements in the district since 2002. He has also served as employee relations and contract management director, as well as principal and assistant principal in two Lee County middle schools. He has a doctorate degree from the University of Central Florida and got his masters at the University of South Florida. The Lee County district has 103 schools, 79,000 students, 12,000 staff members, and a budget of more than $1.6 billion. Adkins says he is very familiar with Hernando County and describes himself as an avid cyclist and triathlete. Adkins was one of two applicants to win votes from seven committee members.
Kenneth D. Pritz is principal of Hernando High School and former district director for facility and support operations. He managed a $250 million capital outlay budget during the three years he was in that role. For three years before that, he was director of school services for the district. He has worked in Hernando County as a teacher, principal and administrator for almost 30 years. He doesn't have a doctorate degree, but his letters of reference include recommendations from former school board members John Druzbick, Donald Hensley and Jim Malcolm, as well as from former superintendent Wendy Tellone. Pritz had six committee votes.
Rose Terri McSweeney has a doctorate degree and currently serves as deputy superintendent for the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District in New York. She has held administrative positions in three Long Island school districts for the past eight years. She also applied for the assistant superintendent position in Hernando last spring and says in her application that her family is relocating to Florida this year. McSweeney got votes from five of the search committee members.
FACTOIDS
Of the nine finalists recommended by the search committee:
2 got the votes of seven out of eight voting members.
2 are currently employed by Hernando County schools.
5 have doctorate degrees.
3 are from Florida.
3 are African-American.
None of them are guaranteed even an interview, since the school board reserves the right to talk to and hire any of the 28 candidates who submitted a timely application.
SCHOOL BOARD PICKS SEVEN FOR SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEWS
Hernando County School Board members picked six of the nine superintendent applicants recommended by a search committee for interviews at a workshop on Tuesday. They added one more that the committee didn't recommend and told staff to set up interviews for the week of January 11. A previous board was criticized for bypassing search committee recommendations two years ago when departed superintendent Wayne Alexander was hired.
Jackson
The two local candidates, interim superintendent Sonya Jackson and Hernando High principal Ken Pritz are on the interview list.
So are John Phillips from South Carolina, Jayne Risen Morgenthal and Bryan Blavatt, both from Kentucky, Gregory Adkins from Lee County, and the addition to the list, Aaron Mackey from Ohio. Jackson, Blavatt, Phillips and Adkins were on the interview list for all five board members. Pritz and Morgenthal were interview picks of four of the five members.
SCHOOL BOARD INVITES PUBLIC TO SUPT. CANDIDATES RECEPTION
Here's an invitation to the public from the Hernando County School Board...the board is currently in the process of selecting a new Superintendent and will be hosting a reception for the candidates on January 11, 2010. This is an opportunity for employees and community members to meet the candidates. The reception will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the School Board Room located at 919 North Broad Street in Brooksville, and refreshments will be served.
The other continuing schools story involved Nature Coast Technical High School, where a problem with Pasco students attending contrary to magnet school policy led to a superintendent's departure and litigation, while two teachers---the football coach and band director---were forced to resign for extracurricular involvement with female students. Here are our reports:
SCHOOL BOARD RELENTS, PASCO SENIORS TO STAY AT NCT
In a special meeting at noon Tuesday, Board members stumbled through three votes before rejecting appeals by ten Pasco County students to let them stay at Nature Coast Tech. The ten were among 19 out of county students discovered at the magnet school recently in violation of board policies. About a dozen parents and students listened quietly while the issues were discussed, but several erupted in anger after the final vote and complained about not being allowed to speak.
The board first voted down a motion from James Yant and supported by John Sweeney to allow the ten students to continue at Nature Coast while adding ten additional slots for Hernando County students from the 163 names on the school's waiting list. Then a motion by Pat Fagan to allow three seniors to be to finish out their high school years was also voted down. A third motion to uphold the board policy against out of county students at magnet schools passed only after long deliberation by Fagan before he reluctantly supported the measure. Board members Diane Bonfield and Sandra Nicholson were adamant in discussion of all three motions that the board's rules were not followed and they should grant the appealing students no relief, but Bonfield's chage of heart will allow the three would-be seniors from Pasco to finish next year at Nature Coast.
FORMER NCT BAND DIRECTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX CHARGES
Four days before his scheduled trial on charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, the former band director at Nature Coast Tech pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of sexual relations with an underage student. 43-year old Timothy Brightbill will be sentenced August 20. He was arrested seven months ago and charged in connection with two incidents of sex acts with the 17-year old girl and later resigned his position with the school district. Judge Jack Springstead could send Brightbill to prison for up to 30 years.
LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SCHOOL BOARD OVER NATURE COAST DECISION
SCHOOL BOARD READMITS PASCO STUDENTS IN VOTE TO SETTLE LAWSUIT
The Hernando County School Board voted Monday to let all 15 Pasco students who sought variances to attend Nature Coast Tech back into the magnet school. The vote came in a public meeting following a private session with the district's general counsel and a litigation lawyer. The discussion made it clear that the lawyers had advised that the board faced potentially costly litigation in which the outcome was not certain. Though the first vote was to accept a settlement that readmitted the two lawsuit plaintiffs, a motion that was opposed by Chairperson Dianne Bonfield and member Sandra Nicholson, the move to readmit the others followed, again passing 3-2. Finally, the board voted 4 to 1 with Nicholson dissenting to remove the cap for Hernando students currently on the Nature Coast Tech waiting list, a number estimated at 65 to 85. Bonfield explained her affirmative vote as a matter of making up to Hernando students for the address snafu that allowed the Pasco students to attend in the first place. The two students who sued said the Board's decision to let in seniors-to-be but not underclassmen was unfair and illegal.
Litigation lawyer Lisa Augspurger did not publicly address the reasons why three members felt the lawsuit needed to be settled. Plaintiffs' attorney Bruce Snow had claimed the Board was bound by the addressing errors that allowed numerous Pasco resident students to attend over the years, and that the vote in June to deny policy variances for underclassmen only violated several provisions of constitutional law. The vote to settle provides for dismissal of the case and cancels a court hearing that had been scheduled for Tuesday. All board members weighed in with comments, ranging from Pat Fagan's concern with the cost of litigation and James Yant urging the board to "do a justice to the students, not injustice," to Bonfield complaining about being "strong-armed" into a settlement, to Nicholson's motion which failed to open enrollment at Nature Coast to everyone. But John Sweeney probably had the best summation, calling the Nature Coast issue "a no-win situation."
STUDENT AFFAIR NETS BAND TEACHER NINE YEARS IN PRISON
SCHOOLS OPEN FOR NEW YEAR
Hernando County schools opened for a new year on Monday. There were no immediate reports of problems, as students returned amid changes in leadership at some schools and questions about enrollment levels at most, especially at Nature Coast Technical High School. Nature Coast is one of five schools with new principals for this year, and the only high school. The leadership change was made after a series of incidents that brought the magnet high school unwanted publicity last year, ranging from a football brawl to a band director's conviction for sexual acts with a student, and the ongoing controversy over Pasco students at the school despite magnet policies limiting enrollment to Hernando residents. In resolving a lawsuit by readmitting Pasco students, the School Board also voted last week to let in Hernando students on the Nature Coast waiting list, a number that could be as high as 140. New principal Toni Ann Noyes and school district administrators say they will await the results of the 10-day student count to evaluate any further steps regarding Nature Coast. Noyes has said she's optimistic that the campus can accommodate the extra students, even though the school was already officially over capacity before the School Board's action.
NATURE COAST TECH: MORE ISSUES THAN MISSING DOCUMENTS
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