Filthy School
Graffiti covered the bathroom walls – which appeared to have been there for weeks, if not months.
The air condition filters in the rooms were covered with dust.
In April, Algebra teacher Tina D’Aversa commented on this blog: “My classrooms haven’t been cleaned in weeks. We have no toilet paper and I’m still teaching and my very blessed Algebra Students are learning Algebra at a high level of rigor. Attendance is not consistent but teaching is!”
Why this matters: I worry that the district administration will try to sabotage the charter school. Obviously, the Custodial Services Department let these students and teachers down.
The cleanest part of the school is the administrative offices.
Dig Deeper: I looked for the many innovations that the school district had heralded implementing at the school over the past decade and found few remnants.
One of former superintendent Malcolm Thomas’s innovative ideas was to create a Flight Academy at Warrington Middle in 2010. Assistant Superintendent Paul Fetsko – the current school board chair – signed off on the recommendation to the board. Read agenda item.
There is no Flight Academy at the school 13 years later. Another example of poor execution. And Malcolm Thomas never gave us any explanation for its demise.
Lost Souls
I also spent part of my day interviewing undocumented workers that live in fear of deportation under the new laws passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
They feel like they’re political pawns caught up in DeSantis’ presidential ambitions.
Wanting A Better Life: I talked to one mother with a special needs son who traveled from Guatemala in a shipping container without water or fresh air to find a better life for her child.
She carried her son in her arms as she was forced to walk 24 hours to the US-Mexico border. One man died of a heart attack during the journey and was left on the trail.
Trafficking: I talked to a Latino advocate who traveled to the border to pick up a young girl who had been raped and nearly starved to death.
She found her dressed in only a t-shirt and underwear and afraid of being deported.
Mass Exodus: The people I met have jobs – in construction, hospitality, transportation and more. Many are leaving and heading to North Carolina where they can have a driver’s license and not live in fear. Over 50 families from this area have left.
Wahoos Win
After tying the game twice on home runs from Dane Myers and Norel González in the sixth and seventh innings, the Blue Wahoos took the lead for good with a three-run eighth. Will Banfield delivered the eventual game-winning hit, a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the inning.
Why this matters: The Blue Wahoos increased their lead in the South Division to 6.0 games ahead of second-place Biloxi and Montgomery with 21 games to play in the first half.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Friday. First pitch from MGM Park is scheduled for 6:35, with a live broadcast beginning at 6:30 on BlueWahoos.com, the MiLB First Pitch app (radio), Bally Live and MiLB.tv (video).For more information, visit BlueWahoos.com or contact the box office at (850) 934-8444.