Orlando Sentinel put together this Q&A on the merit pay bill that recently passed the Florida Senate. My favorite: Does research show merit-pay plans boost student performance? Not necessarily. Several studies, most…
Blog stats still strong
This blog has had more visitors – both unique and total – for the first 19 days of this month than all of March 2010. Year-to-date the blog traffic is up 70…
Who guides Gov. Rick Scott
The St. Pete Times reports that Gov. Rick Scott is guided by three conservative think tanks: Cato Institute, Reason Foundation and Heritage Foundation. If you read the article, you will that big…
Truth about state pensions
Gov. Rick Scott wants the public to believe that teachers, law enforcement, firefighters and other public employees are getting rich off their pension benefits. The Miami Herald punctured that baloney in its…
Time for whistleblower policies
Daily News reports that in response to the bonus kickback scandal that led to the arrest of its sheriff and several high-ranking officials in his office, Okaloosa County officials have developed a…
Why did people move from Escambia to Santa Rosa?
Louis Cooper at the daily wants to know. Santa Rosa’s total population is 151,372, according to the 2010 census. In 2000, Santa Rosa’s population was 117,743—a growth rate of nearly 29 percent….
Weak editorials
I grew up in Greenville, Miss.–a town known for two things, cotton and its daily newspaper, The Delta Democrat Times. The paper’s owner, publisher and editor, Hodding Carter II, was known for…
Kudos for Pensacola guitar maker
St. Pete Times featured Kevin Burkett, owner and founder of Electrical Guitar Co. To date, he has produced and sold 522 guitars to legends such as Duane Denison of the Chicago punk…
Inside Tate Assault: Superintendent’s quotes
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas has told the daily newspaper that he has started an investigation into the Escambia County School District’s response to an alleged sexual assault by a 16-year-old boy on a…
DCF and victims older than 12
I did speak with Department of Children and Families about the reporting of child abuse. DCF generally doesn’t get involved if the victim of child-on-child abuse is older than 12, unless there…
Behind the scenes: Brownsville school deal
It may be premature to say the $1-million purchase of the closed Brownsville Middle School to George Hawthorne’s Diversity Program Advisors is over, but it’s one life support. Through a public records…
Buzz: Hayward to buy ‘green’ vehicle
The City of Pensacola is ready to announce the purchase of its first vehicle that will be powered by compressed natural gas. Goes well with our green issue.
D.C. teacher evaluation system
Washington Post: The District of Columbia’s new teacher evaluation system, IMPACT, is becoming a national model. Master educators observe, critique and evaluate teachers. Read more.
Senate proposes to suspend prepaid tuition
First it was reducing Bright Future scholarships. Now it’s the highly successful Florida Prepaid College program. What do Republicans have against college education? Read more.
Scott launches ugly website
It’s almost as bad as gulf1….not quite, but very close. Gov. Rick Scott brags he will give all the pension figures for state employees, but the spreadsheet only lists job titles, no…
Nine more dead dolphins found
Mobile Press Register reports: Nine more dolphin carcasses have been recovered in Alabama and Mississippi since Saturday, bringing the total for the two states to 62 since Jan. 1. Federal officials also…
Buzz: GOP Heaven
Local Republicans are giddy. In the next two weeks, locals can see, touch and hear Gov. Rick Scott, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield and Fox TV host Mike Huckabee. Local law enforcement…
Inside Tate Assault: Threats continue
The threats against the victim of the sexual assault at Tate High School will be allowed back on campus today, having served her suspension. I received an email late yesterday from one…
Student death at Tate High
NorthEscambia.com is reporting that freshman Gabe Carter (age 15), reportedly began experiencing a seizure in a classroom and collapsed. The freshman was transported from the school by LifeFlight to West Florida Hospital…
Bergosh defends Tate actions
Escambia School Board member Jeff Bergosh and, according to him, the School District attorney Donna Waters believe Tate High School officials were not legally obligated to report to Florida Department of Children…
