School Board Election Politics - St. Pete Times

School Board election politics


For those who are interested, there are a few public comments about Ms. Kurdell that could have meaning - or not. I would assume that one could connect some dots - or not.

Relationships Are The Key To Education - or Business

In the Tribune we find:

Gorham Best Choice For School Board Change

As always, a public comment got my attention:

Posted by ( genewells ) on 10/14/2008 at 02:10 pm.

Your assesment of Kurdell is unfair. My personal experience has been a School Board Member that listens and acts for the community. When gunfire rung out at the old Rembrandt Housing Complex Kurdell was the first board member on the scene and taking action. She organized increased security at the school and ultimatley crafted the plan the created the land swap with housing authority that created better affordable housing and smartly acquired property right next door to Robinson High School for future expansion or new school site in South Tampa. We need Kurdell's experience, compassion and can-do actions today more than ever.

This comment jogged a memory of mine.

I don't know what all this information means.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4HPIA_en___US202&q=chet+luney

If one looks, one can find this:

Press Release

And then of course there is more public information:

HCPAFL.org SEARCH PROPERTY RECORDS [ LUNEY CHESTER M AND GWENDOLYN L ] FOLIO#018958-5092

And then on the HCPS website there is this:


"Assistant Superintendent for Student Services & Federal Programs Gwen Luney"

Superintendent's Office

Relationships seem to be a part of our public education system.

School Board election politics

School Board election politics


What has she done for us lately? No, not the Board. Her

Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal - Part Two On This Blog

Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal#comments#comments#comments#comments#comments#comments:

I think this has the most pages of public comments that I have ever seen. Gotta love it.


One must take note of the diatribe from both sides on this one. With the added notes from some another Tribune missive, the public comments are interesting. It is a true war of "parents and a few insiders" vs "district personnel and a few insiders".

I think we can agree that "monkey1" is an interesting contributor. As a ex-member of "Team Parents", I think "monkey1" fits the stereotype for "company person". On the opposite side of the octagon, we have " EWH", "pokethefire" and "lbw250" representin' the parents.

One has to read between the lines with intent when one reads these public comments. I always like to pay attention to what I don't read as well as what I do read. In other words, are accusations refuted or are they countered? I can see both sides. I have been there. I happen to know one of the key players in this arena. I am not divulging who it is nor which side they are on. I do respect this person, so I am interested in the outcome.

I wish I could hold a betting line on this one. I am betting that the Principal moves up. The parents will be left holding their angst. The next Principal can't lose.

Any takers?

Ellyn Smith, Ashley Smith, and a "Miffed Elia" - Relationships are Important

In today's Tribune, we see this statement:

" ..Smith could not be reached Tuesday night. Her husband, Ashley Smith, attended the board meeting but would not comment. He said his wife was at a PTA Board meeting."

An astute public commenter wondered "where did this statement come from?" How did the name of the husband of a principal just get thrown into this article as if he was pertinent to the issue? I know several principals, and I am quite sure that if their spouse turned up at a school board meeting, their name wouldn't be printed just because they were there alone. The public commenter (moi), asked:

"Posted by ( RLH ) on 10/08/2008 at 06:37 am.

The article doesn't say what position the husband, Ashley Smith, has with the school system."

And then there is this:

"Posted by ( Longball ) on 10/08/2008 at 10:42 am.

I know Mr. Smith use to be an administrator as well years ago, but I am not sure what he is doing now.
And he wasn't a strong administrator himself, so there could be some issues here with the Misses.

And finally, the lone comment that got my attention:

"Posted by ( pokethefire ) on 10/08/2008 at 02:52 pm. ...Now we'll see if things change! Superintendent Elia seemed miffed that she had to deal with this or that the issue was into the public view. .....

All can be read here:
Parents Critical Of Alafia Elementary Principal

This led to a little research, which now makes it all make sense of why there may be a lot more to this story than meets the untrained eye.

If we go to this link, the plot thickens:

Knowyourcandidates: STATE HOUSE 62

ASHLEY SMITH, 59, is a retired public school teacher and administrator living in Valrico. Smith began his teaching career as a social studies instructor at Plant City High. He has served as principal at Buchanan and Eisenhower middle schools and held assistant principal positions for almost 10 years at Armwood High. Before retiring in 2001, he also was president of the Florida Association of School Administrators from 2000 to 2001. A North Carolina native, Smith earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in administration from the University of South Florida. He served more than three years in the Air Force. He has lived east Hillsborough for 30 years. He and his wife, Ellyn, the principal at Seffner Elementary, have two grown children. ASSETS: house, investments. LIABILITIES: mortgage, car loan. INCOME: school retirement. WEB SITE: none.

Digging Up Bones

Click Here:
Latest News

This site covers a few of the exposed skeletons of the many-closeted HCPS.

I know, I know, they are just isolated incidents and broad brush attacks.

But just look at the message of power-by-any-means that these stories give when you put them all together.

Enjoy.

Complaint Alleges Hillsborough Withheld Services To Students

Complaint Alleges Hillsborough Withheld Services To Students: "The complaint alleges the students did not receive services such as counseling, social work or psychological help they were entitled to under federal law."

"The complaint alleges the students did not receive services such as counseling, social work or psychological help they were entitled to under federal law."

Could it be that few administrators recognize that "counseling, social work or psychological help" are related services?

(A) In general.--The term `related services' means transportation, and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services (including speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services, school nurse services designed to enable a child with a disability to receive a free appropriate public education as described in the individualized education program of the child, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services, except that such medical services shall be for diagnostic and evaluation purposes only) as may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and includes the early identification and assessment of disabling conditions in children.

IDEA - Building The Legacy of IDEA 2004

"Instead, the students were subjected to repeated disciplinary measures, including more than 10 days of in- and out-of-school suspensions, court referrals and undocumented, illegal removals from school."

I wonder if anyone in the HCPS knew about these concerns:

"Elia said she was surprised when she got notice Monday of the upcoming news conference because she was not aware of the concerns."

Motel Special Ed: Complaint Alleges Hillsborough Withheld Services To Students