Larry Hughes E-Newsletter

Below is a copy of the Larry Hughes E-Newsletter that I received today.

ref: Access 1.08.2008, much delayed.

Access

Edition #153, January 8, 2008


Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach.
Attributed to cynic HL Mencken.

Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach.
Aristotle

Next School Board Meeting is at 5:30 on January 22nd.

Brevard Public Schools is in the planning stages of redistricting to meet the Level of Service requirements of the Growth Management Legislation. Any movement of students is controversial, to say the least. Space Coast Jr./Sr. High has 37 portables and is one of our most overcrowded schools at 126% of capacity (Dec. 5, 2007 data). Parents are asking why additional capacity is not being provided in the area rather than transporting their children to Clearlake Middle and to Cocoa High which are under capacity. A fair question that unfortunately requires a lengthy response.
The North Area is declining in student population. This trend will almost certainly continue as the Shuttle and then the Space Station are retired and employment at KSC falls. We observed this in the 1970s at the end of the Apollo era before the Shuttle came on-line. Homes went into foreclosure and the student population declined so dramatically that schools were closed and converted to other use.
Revenues are declining. The State of Florida is projecting a $2.5B revenue shortfall which will impact public education and the fiscal ability to build. As property values fall as a result of the bursting real estate bubble, local property taxes will also fall.
When the Facilities Plan was put in place about 3 years ago, the Board decided (4:1) that all projects were of equal priority. As a result, North Brevard received 3 new football stadiums (Astronaut, Titusville and Space Coast) at a total cost of about $15M and 2 new performing arts centers (Astronaut and Titusville) at a cost of about $20M. And there were, to my knowledge, no complaints. They received gorgeous new facilities that will be used perhaps a dozen times a year. And some of their students will be transported 180 days a year for the foreseeable future. BTW, $35M would have built a nice middle school. Every choice has consequences.
Yes, Viera did receive a new high school. Unlike Space Coast, it was not an area surrounded by underutilized facilities. The construction of VHS significantly reduced student numbers at Eau Gallie, Satellite and Rockledge High Schools, bringing them closer to the Level of Service requirements. Like Space Coast, Viera has capacity in surrounding middle schools and, as a result, a middle school in Viera will be deferred.

I attended the Regional FIRST Robotics Kickoff recently at the Florida Institute of Technology. Brevard Public Schools was commended for being a national leader in the support of FIRST. FL Tech mentioned that fully 1/3 of their undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students had participated in the FIRST program. A hearty “thank you!” to the sponsors, mentors and volunteers that make this program possible.

On Jan. 19, Brevard Public Schools’ educational access channel will move from its current location on Bright House Networks channel 9, to Bright House digital channel 198. BPS-TV will be grouped with other government access channels such as Space Coast Government TV. Space Coast Government Television will relocate from its current locations, channel 1 on digital cable and channel 99 on basic cable, to cable channel 199.

The high risk investments by the State Board of Administration investment pool continues to hurt cities and some school districts that may have trouble meeting payroll. Lehman Bros. sold Florida more of the subprime-tainted securities than any other firm. “A month after completing his second term as governor last January, (Gov. Bush) formed a consulting firm, which in June was engaged by Lehman Bros. Bush also sits on the board of Lehman Bros. private equity unit.” (New York Times, January 2nd)

I join the League of Women Voters in opposing the January 29th ballot question on property taxes.

Litigation to watch – Wisconsin’s Johnson v. Burmaster pits Superintendent Burmaster and the 98,000 member teacher’s union against a virtual charter school created by the Northern Ozaukee School District in 2003. Michael Dean, general counsel of First Freedoms Foundation, Inc. says “(this) bellwether case … will determine whether nineteenth century concepts of teacher certification will stifle twenty-first century individualized instruction”. The crux of the union argument is that parents should not be allowed to participate in teaching their children as they are “uncertified”. Hello? (School Reform News, January 2008)

As I begin my 8th and final year on Brevard’s School Board. I plan to review the accomplishments and shortfalls of the District during that period. As it is my nature to focus on the work remaining to be done, I will devote most of my attention to those areas. Thus far, I have mentioned:
- Student Achievement, and
- Competitive Salaries.
Perhaps my comments will lead thoughtful candidates to propose meaningful solutions rather than trite sentiments.

Sex Education

I am very pleased that Brevard Public Schools has revisited the sex ed curriculum. This resulted in a true abstinence-based approach with accurate information provided by trained professionals consistently throughout the district. A big step forward.

At the same time, I am troubled by the national increase in teen birth rate (3%) in 2006, the first increase in 15 years. This may be a direct result of federal and state mandates restricting the dissemination of information on contraceptives.

At the same time, society seems to be sending a mixed message to our young women. Movies like “Juno” and the much publicized pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears may, arguably inadvertently, send the message that teen pregnancy is not only okay, but is hip.

Projections are that 750,000 teen girls will get pregnant in 2008. As a result, children will be raising children. Economically, the cycle of poverty will continue into another generation as teen parents have a difficult time continuing their education.

In Brevard, minorities are particularly impacted. A minority teen is 3 times more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease or to get pregnant as their non-minority counterpart.

Ignorance is not the solution to a problem we can no longer ignore. Every teen, male and female, needs access to accurate information on contraception and disease prevention. This position needs to be a priority for every church, charitable organization and political candidate in Florida and in the nation.

Okay. You’re looking for the bubble bath joke, aren’t you?
I’d hate to disappoint you, so here you are …
My mother, my sister and her husband all live in Georgia.
Why do Georgians eat beans on Saturdays?

Larry E. Hughes
Parent, Citizen
LarryHughes@OurFlorida.info
(321) 724-4203

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