Wednesday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola

• Thursday, March 8, at 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption-Hunt Hall, 920 Via de Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach

 The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will consider action on the Pensacola Beach Master Plan at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers, 221 Palafox Place.

In October and January, GLA did its own assessment of VPK children below, meeting and exceeding expectations in: print knowledge, phonological awareness, math knowledge and oral language and vocabulary.

In October 2011, 84 percent of children were below expectation in print knowledge. In January the number decreased to 25 percent. Now, 47 percent are exceeding expectation compared to October’s 14 percent.

For phonological awareness, 78 percent were below expectations in October 2011. Now, it’s 44 percent, with 25 percent exceeding compared to 8 percent in October.

Eighty-nine percent of children were below expectations in math knowledge in October 2011. Since the New Year it has decreased to 38 percent. No children in October were exceeding, but now 31 percent are exceeding expectations in math knowledge.

In oral language and vocabulary, 65 percent of students were below expectations in October.  Now, that number is 11 percent.  Fifty-eight percent of children are now exceeding expectations compared to October’s 14 percent.

At last week’s meeting for GLA tutors, Melina Leonard, early literacy coach for Wee Read, presented these numbers to the group inside Lili Marlene’s during a luncheon held for volunteers. The positive changes resulted in smiles around the room.

“Call Channel 3,” a tutor called out.

But there’s still work to be done.

Katelyn Gillespie is a graduate student at UWF. She’s been working with the university on the ECARE Research Team as well as tutoring two four-year-olds, an African American boy and a girl of Asian descent.

Upon her first meeting with the kids she noticed health issues – one had rotting, black teeth. The little boy – “always dressed to the nines” Gillespie points out – mentioned the other day how he went to the park by his grandmother’s house and heard gunshots. Whether it was an imaginative story told by a four-year-old or not, the reality is that it’s believable.

“One day that’s going to be running their life more than learning ABCs,” Gillespie said of the scenario.

Tutors at GLA meet with the same student (or students) in 45-minute sessions. Shoebox-sized containers hold different books and activities that pertain to the books theme provide a loose lesson plan.

William Marchi decided to help after a recruiter came to his rotary meeting. His technique is to build on what a child likes to do and make learning fun.

“If I can inspire a student, that’s nice feedback,” he said.

Most of the time, the challenge is getting a four-year-old to focus.

“It’s been 30 years since I’ve had a four-year-old around,” said ECARE Board Member, Jean Norman.

From the advice of another, Norman sought out books based on her child’s favorite character – Dora the Explorer.

“I found four books at T.J. Maxx and sure enough she held the books and turned the page for me as I read them,” Norman said proudly.

Right now, there are enough tutors for children in the VPK classes at GLA. But while ECARE hopes to expand the tutoring system to daycares and schools outside of the GLA zone, more volunteers will be needed.

The average tutor at GLA is a white, middle-aged female while many of the students are African American. No one mentioned that fact at the meeting except for the one minority, Linda Moultrie, citizen case liaison in the investigations unit of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and school board member.

“It took me a long time to learn that it wasn’t ‘sammich,’ it was ‘sandwich,’” she said. “I know I’m a minority – I have to ask ‘Where are my people teaching our children?’”

A.K. Suter has 367 students. It’s enrollment is flat, despite allowing students outside of its attendance zone to enroll there. The school isn’t located in an out-of-way location without any other possible schools available. Yet Supt. Malcolm Thomas wants to replace it, at a cost $5 million more than Global Learning Academy–$17.2 million for over 800 students.

The decision does not make sound fiscal sense. $21 million for 367 students is a boondoggle, even if he can increase enrollment to 400.

Is there anyone on the School Board that’s fiscally responsible? Maybe the district has more capital funds that it really needs. If so, then it’s time to repeal the local option sales tax that we give the district.

The senate’s Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee considered Sen. Greg Evers’ S.B. 1158 and decided to temporarily postpone the proposal.

“The governor had some problems with it so we just TP’d the bill,” Sen. Evers explained following the committee meeting. “It’s probably dead for this year.”

Evers’ bill—along with Rep. Clay Ford’s likeminded bill in the House—would have made drilling on state lands—specifically Blackwater River State Forest in Santa Rosa County—more attractive for oil companies. Whereas companies must currently compete in an bidding process to drill on relevant state lands, the bills would have ensured a company that invested in seismic exploration was offered the drilling rights first.

Evers said he didn’t know if he’d float the bill during the next legislative session. The senator also said his bill’s death would have implications for Rep. Ford’s twin bill.

“If one don’t pass the other don’t pass,” Evers said.

Evers said that recent revelations of his personal land holdings—about 170 acres—in Blackwater River State Forest had no impact on the bill’s scuttling.

 Ms. Dough-Castro brings 22 years in communications experience, including 16 years in the public sector. Most recently, she was the Marketing & Communications Director for the City of Sunrise in Broward County, FL. She previously served as a public information specialist for the City of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and in economic development for the City of North Miami Beach, in Miami-Dade County.

 Since 2009, Ms. Dough-Castro has been working as a marketing communications consultant specializing in advising clients focused in industries such as water/wastewater engineering, law, government, construction services and land use development.

 Ms. Dough-Castro has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and is the author of industry articles on economic development trends in South Florida. In 2005, Ms. Dough-Castro was recognized for her public sector service with a John J. McCloy Urban Fellowship award.  The award was sponsored by the American Council on Germany and the National League of Cities.

 Ms. Dough-Castro will assume her new role as Public Information Officer for Escambia County on Tuesday, March 27.  Mr. Oliver says “I look forward to Ms. Dough-Castro being part of the senior management team in Escambia County and to the breadth of experience she brings to the County.”

Thomas will say that he can later retract it, but his goal appears to be to intimidate and deflate the teachers, parents and students at the school before they take the FCAT and to scare off anyone else who might donate money to the school.

I find it so hard to understand why he and the school board want to hurt these people so badly. Republicans, especially conservative ones, love charter schools. This one has all the ingredients to succeed, except a supportive school district. The Florida Dept. of Education likes A.A. Dixon and the team that they have put together for this school year. Thomas demands a one-year turnaround of Dixon, even though his turnaround of Warrington Middle is in its third year without any signs of success.

It’s time the community take a stand on A.A. Dixon and once again show Thomas and the school board that the school has broad support. Superintendent Thomas and board members Patty Hightower and Bill Slayton are up for re-election. Claudia Brown Curry filed on Feb. 13 to run against Thomas. Hightower and Slayton are unopposed.

Email Thomas, Hightower and Slayton and tell them to save A.A. Dixon. A petition drive has started and I’ve heard talk of a class-action suit being filed over the overall failures of the school system to serve the minority community.

For Subject use “Save A.A. Dixon” – you don’t have to write anything else. They will get the message.

Superintendent Malcolm Thomas
Official email:mthomas@escambia.k12.fl.us
Campaign email:info@malcolmthomas2012.com

School Board Chairman Bill Slayton
Official email:BSlayton@escambia.k12.fl.us
Campaign email:bjslay@bellsouth.net

Board member Patty Hightower
Official email:PHightower@escambia.k12.fl.us
Campaign email: phpenguin@cox.net

The statement is available at http://www.bjconline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4904&Itemid=112 .

The statement – organized and drafted by the Anti-Defamation League, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the Interfaith Alliance – says candidates should feel comfortable explaining their religious convictions to voters. But the statement warns against placing an overt emphasis on religion, as “there is a point when an emphasis on religion becomes inappropriate and even unsettling in a religiously diverse society such as ours.”

“Religion in Political Campaigns – An Interfaith Statement of Principles” has been endorsed by 14 national religious organizations, representing a diverse tapestry of America’s majority and minority faiths. In honor of the values of religious freedom and pluralism championed by the Founding Fathers, the statement was formally released just following the 2012 observance of Presidents’ Day.

“This statement of principles reaffirms our commitment to freedom of religion as enshrined in the Constitution, and our message to all candidates for public office is to set a proper tone where faith may be openly discussed, but avoid overt appeals for support on the basis of religion, or the denigration of another person’s views on the basis of religion,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “Candidates should reject appeals to voters that reflect religious prejudice, bias or stereotyping, and to avoid statements intended to encourage divisions along religious lines.”

“Candidates do not have to check their religion at the door of the offices they seek. But they need to understand that they serve people of other faiths and of no faith. Resorting to religious language that sets people of faith against each other harms political discourse and sows religious discord,” said J. Brent Walker, Executive Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

“I have been deeply disturbed by the disproportionate role religion has played during recent election cycles with some candidates seeming to be running for ‘pastor-in-chief’ rather than ‘commander-in-chief. Candidates are free to speak about their faith – if it’s important to them – as a way of giving voters insight on who they are, but a line is crossed when a candidate implies that they should receive your vote because of their faith. Religion is not a political football to be used by candidates for tactical advantage, instead It should be a force that brings diverse people together with mutual respect and understanding,” said Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance.

Because political candidates bear the primary responsibility for setting the proper tone for elections, the statement calls on all candidates for public office to:

• Serve and be responsive to the full range of constituents, irrespective of their religion;

• Conduct their campaigns without appeals for support based upon religion;

• Reject appeals or messages to voters that reflect religious prejudice, bias or stereotyping;

• Avoid statements, actions or conduct that are intended primarily to encourage division in the electorate along religious lines.

Endorsing organizations include the American Islamic Congress, American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Interfaith Alliance, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Hindu American Foundation, Muslim Advocates, National Council of Churches USA, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Sikh Coalition, Union for Reform Judaism, The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society, and United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries.

The Baptist Joint Committee(www.BJConline.org) is a 76-year-old, Washington, D.C.-based religious liberty organization that works to defend and extend God-given religious liberty for all, bringing a uniquely Baptist witness to the principle that religion must be freely exercised, neither advanced nor inhibited by government.

The event is a big fundraiser for the organization. Funds raised ensure that child victims of abuse and neglect receive timely, effective and streamlined treatment. The Gulf Coast Kid’s House facilitates a collaborative response to abuse cases, which allows medical exams, recorded interviews, prosecution and mental health counseling to be done in one child-friendly facility.

This “one-stop” concept reduces the trauma children experience and leads to better case outcomes.

To be a part of this year’s event, which will be Saturday, April 21 from 12 to 3 p.m., download your sponsorship or participation form at pensacolachocolatefest.com or call 595-5800 for more information.

“@MaryEllenKlas: Citing politics, House leaders back off immunity legislation: Minutes after the incoming Senate President said h… http://t.co/YVafNf2d”

“@Kriseman: Good news: @MyFLHouse Republicans back down on immunity bill. My colleague Rep. Steinberg was strong in cmte. last week, helped pull plug.”

I’m sure Sen. Gaetz’s letter helped kill it.

TO: All Senators
FROM: Don Gaetz, Senate District 4
DATE: February 20, 2012

Dear Colleague,

Last week the House Judiciary Committee reported House Bill 7123, which would clarify and codify an implied privilege against certain compelled testimony by legislators.

I respect the concerns of my House colleagues that the legislative process should be independent and that the threat of depositions should not be used as a bullying tactic against legislators who may take positions or cast votes on public issues that later could be subject to litigation.

Originally, the privilege question was raised by Representative Rick Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) who was ordered by a judge to give a deposition related to an online travel bill. While Representative Kriseman and I were on opposite sides of the online travel bill, I believe he was correct in refusing to sit for what he accurately called an “intrusive deposition” that breached the separation of powers doctrine.

Now, however, House Bill 7123 has become entangled in the debate on redistricting. Opponents have argued that the bill, if enacted, would be used improperly as a shield against exploring questions of legislative intent relative to the redistricting plans passed by the House and Senate.

The Senate has good reason to be proud of the open, transparent, and inclusive process which Chairman Weatherford and I and our committees followed in developing redistricting plans that earned the bi-partisan support of a majority of Democrats and nearly all Republicans in the Senate. Nonetheless, I always expected lawsuits to be filed by those whose political intentions weren’t satisfied by the maps the Legislature produced. Indeed, numerous times during our 26 public hearings across the state our committees were put on notice that there would be lawsuits by dissatisfied partisans no matter how the lines were drawn.

My view is there is already sufficient and substantial legal protection against “intrusive deposition” of legislators in matters of public policy. No additional legislation is needed and to attempt to enact a bill at this time allows it to be misconstrued by redistricting opponents.

Consequently, if the language currently in House Bill 7123 were to be considered in the Senate, I would vote against the bill.

Florida’s newly enacted congressional and legislative districts have been subjected to prolonged public scrutiny like never before. They likely will be subject to more litigation than ever before. As Chairman of the Senate Reapportionment Committee, I do not want to chance even an appearance that the Legislature is not fully willing and able to explain our plans to any court of competent jurisdiction.

Respectfully,

Press Release: Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR), a leading provider of wireless broadband services, today announced the opening of a new customer care center in Escambia County, Florida at 181 East Nine Mile Road. Employees relocated from the call center in Milton, Florida over the past several days.

“We chose this new location because it was the right fit for our employees in the Pensacola region who had worked in nearby Milton,” said Geoff Levy, Head of Customer Care for CLEAR. “The new facility provided the right square footage, set up costs, amenities and nearby restaurants for our employees. We thank the officials of Santa Rosa County for our long standing partnership in that community for the past 5 years and look forward to working with officials in Escambia County.”

As part of the moving process to the new facility, Clearwire donated 410 computers and monitors from the facility to the Santa Rosa School District.

“Clearwire has always been vocal that they feel our workforce is worth staying for,” said Dave Hoxeng, Chairman TEAM Santa Rosa EDC, Inc. “When we determined the existing Clearwire facility could no longer meet their needs, we looked region wide to identify one that would. We are pleased they are remaining here to allow their current workforce to stay intact. Clearwire continues to be an asset to this region.”

“We are glad that Clearwire has decided to continue to operate in the Escambia-Santa Rosa MSA,” said County Commissioner Board Chairman Wilson Robertson. “The region has a skilled and trained workforce that can ensure Clearwire meets the current and future needs of their customers.”

The new facility will house 110 employees full-time and will operate 24 hours a day 6 days a week.

Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc., has made a change of plans for the GoPensacola.com Fat Tuesday street party in downtown Pensacola, whereby all of the Krewe’s are once again offered the opportunity to bring their floats down to Palafox and Government Streets and line their floats up and have one last chance to throw beads and party with their Krewe around their float. This will resemble the 12th Night Mardi Gras kickoff event where there were 26 floats that came to be blessed and kicked off the 2012 Mardi Gras season.

Interested floats should contact the Pensacola Mardi Gras office by email at:
pensacolamardigras@gmail.com to receive instructions for Tuesday night. The amount of floats that may participate is limited and we hope that the best Krewe’s will bring their floats and Krewe’s out for one last chance to send off Pensacola’s 2012 Mardi Gras season.

Pensacola will send off the 2012 Mardi Gras season with a street party on Fat Tuesday, February 21st, beginning at 5:30pm. Palafox south to Government and Government east to Tarragona will close at 5:00pm and preparations will begin. Floats that participate will be brought onto Palafox and Government Streets beginning at 5:15pm. All of downtown Pensacola’s wonderful restaurants and entertainment facilities will be open and thriving. Specialty Center designation for this event will allow licensed establishments that sell alcoholic beverages to sell their drinks and have them taken into the streets. There will be entertainment in the street, including DJ Al, spinning the latest hits in his own high energy style.

Seville Quarter will host a Krewe only event beginning at 4:30pm where the King and Queen Priscus contestants and all Mardi Gras Krewe’s will start the celebration. King and Queen Priscus representing their Krewe will be crowned at the corner of Palafox and Government Streets at approximately 6:30pm.

Fat Tuesday and all of Mardi Gras ends at Midnight, as Ash Wednesday signifies the start of lent. Information may be found about Fat Tuesday and all other Mardi Gras information at: www.pensacolamardigras.com.

The announcement of which the board is whining was the one by the A.A. Dixon, an inner-city charter school, that Levin-Rinke Resort Realty has bought three buses for the school.The school district wanted credit for the donation and claimed the company had only paid for maintenance.

The truth is that Superintendent Malcolm Thomas and his staff had told A.A. Dixon that they would have to buy the school buses at auction. The price tag was $10,000, which the school had already placed on its January financials as a payable. Rev. Lutimothy May went out and raised the $10K based on that district’s demands—-something Thomas never thought he could do.

The amazing thing is the School Board and Thomas knew this. I was at the board workshop when they discussed the buses, their price and the challenges of getting trained drivers for the bus. A review of the tapes of the meeting will prove it.

What Thomas found out after that earlier meeting was that state law mandates that he give the charter school the surplus property. He had no choice but to hand over the buses–something that he didn’t tell Rev. May, the school board or the newspaper.

So what does the board do last Friday? Blindside and Chastise the African-America school principal. Thomas says nothing.

And Superintendent Thomas also tells the daily paper that he plans to give the charter school a 90-day notice that he will close the school at the end of this school year. The man is doing everything he can to sabotage that inner-city school with the help of weak compliant board and a daily newspaper that never verifies what he says.

As Senator Greg Evers’ bill encouraging drilling on public lands—specifically, in Blackwater River State Forest—heads to the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee tomorrow morning, the IN has learned that the senator owns property in Blackwater.

“Yes I do, I was born and raised on Blackwater State Forest.” Evers said. “Through the course of my life I have purchased some land on Blackwater.”

The Blackwater River State Forest has pockets of privately owned land. Evers ballparked his property holdings, estimating that he had around four parcels ranging between 25 to 75 acres a piece.

Evers’ bill, along with a twin bill from Rep. Clay Ford from Pensacola in the state house, aim to foster public-private partnerships with oil companies. While initially pertaining to all state land, the bills have been curtailed to only apply to Blackwater River State Forest.

The bills—S.B. 1158 and H.B. 695—would weaken environmental reviews, while assuring oil companies they would have first right of refusal on land they had invested the seismic work into. Currently, such land becomes available to the highest bidder, regardless of previous exploration.

Currently, Fairways Exploration and Production, LLC, is exploring the Conecuh National Forest across the state line in Alabama. Evers would like them to come on in to Florida, into Blackwater.

While a discovery of oil on nearby forest land in Blackwater might make plunging a well on his own land a much more realistic and attractive option, Senator Evers said the passage of his bill would not “enhace” his property holdings “one iota.” His argument is that he already has the right to drill on his property and that wouldn’t change with the proposed bills.

“I could already do that,” Evers said. “If an oil company called me and said, ‘Greg, I understand you’ve got 75 acres of land and we want to do seismic work on it’—I could already do that.”

Ford’s bill has a couple more committee stops before heading before the full house for a vote. Evers’ bill goes before the senate’s Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee tomorrow at 9:15 a.m.

——–

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced three reappointments and eight appointments to the Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council.

Sheila S. Hopkins, 62, of Tallahassee, is the associate director of the Florida Catholic Conference. She is reappointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2015.

Carl E. Reeves, 49, of Pensacola, is the pastor of the Greater Mount Lily Missionary Baptist Church. He is reappointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2015.

Arto Woodley Jr., 46, of Orlando, is the president of Frontline Outreach Inc. He is reappointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2013.

Kirt E. Anderson, 59, of Naples, is the pastor of Naples Community Church. He succeeds Juda Attkisson and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2015.

Charles L. Bender, 41, of Palm Beach Gardens, is the founding executive director of Place of Hope Inc. He succeeds John Brabson and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2013.

Julia W. Boyd, 52, of Lakeland, is the vice president of development and communications for Florida Baptist Children’s Homes Inc. She is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2012.

Rev. Stephen “Spike” Hogan, 53, of Jacksonville, is the lead pastor of Chets Creek Church. He succeeds Dr. Carolyn Stewart and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2015.

Matthew D. McCluskey, 28, of Jacksonville, is a missionary with Go To Nations. He succeeds Dr. Andre Esteves and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2013.

Cherron “C.C.” Newby, 51, of Jacksonville, is an instructor at the Clara White Mission. She succeeds Yvonne Sawyer and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2013.

Pam L. Olsen, 56, of Tallahassee, is the executive director of the International House of Prayer Tallahassee Mission Base. She succeeds Jo Ann Hill and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2013.

Charles J. Scriven, 79, of Tallahassee, is the minister of Corinth Christian Fellowship. He succeeds John Fogg and is appointed for a term beginning February 17, 2012, and ending July 18, 2013.