Wednesday, March 27, 2013
What should happen to underperforming schools in Pinellas County?
A proposed 'Parent Empowerment Act' has raised concerns with multiple members of the Pinellas County School Board who say the bill would hurt the school district. The bill, according to TBO.com, would "allow parents to request that school districts rehabilitate schools that earn consecutive failing grades from the state instead of leaving the decision up to the school board; in many cases, that would mean converting the schools into charter schools." In an interview with TBO, school board member Chairwoman Carol Cook said the proposed legislation is more harmful to the district than it is helpful to parents. “We aren’t just a bunch of yahoos that have been elected; we are constitutional officers and we are responsible for the education …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
For every five books that a student read, they were given an entry to the bike drawing at 17 participating Pinellas County Schools.
A few lucky students at 17 schools throughout Pinellas County were given bikes today as part of the Horace Mann Insurance 'Bike for Books' program. The program, according to a news release from the Pinellas County School District, encourages reading by giving student an opportunity to win a bike. For every five books that a student read, they were given an entry to the bike drawing. According to a news release, there is a drawing for each semester at participating schools with one bike for a girl and one bike for a boy. Starting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, representatives from Horace Mann Insurance and the school district visited 17 Pinellas County schools including: Sign up for the Dunedin Patch email newsletter to get more top headlines …
Monday, March 4, 2013
The camp is set up for children between ages 5 and 12 during spring break for Pinellas County Schools.
Spring Fling Camp is set at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, the city announced Monday. The program, which provides a "safe, structured environment" for children in kindergarten through 12 years old during spring break for Pinellas County Schools runs Monday, March 25 through Thursday, March 28, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the city says. Activities include crafts, indoor games and outdoor kickball, archery, trail blazing and more. Campers are asked to bring a non-perishable bag lunch, water bottle and close-toed shoes. Cost is $70. Extra rec is available for early morning and late afternoon hours of 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. for an additional $20. For more information, call 727-738-2920. Get more local headlines …
28.0199
-82.784602
Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
550 Laura Ln, Dunedin, FL
/articles/spring-break-camp-set-at-mlk-rec-center
1838577
/locations/8936668
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Steven Beaty and Agnes Thomas were honored for their "outstanding dedication, commitment and support" Tuesday by Pinellas County Schools. Here's a quick look at why their service is so valued.
Pinellas County Schools says two Dunedin volunteers, along with 12 others from the area, stand out for their commitment and dedication this year. They were announced at a Feb. 26 school board meeting. And one of the "2012-13 Outstanding School Volunteers" will be selected from honorees in each category — youth, adult and senior — to represent Pinellas County in the state recognition program during a celebratory breakfast at Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater on April 25, a news release from Pinellas County Schools says. In Dunedin, two volunteers made the list of honorees. The following is a list of the Dunedin honorees along with remarks about their contributions from Pinellas County Schools. Steven "Steve" Beaty, a volunteer at …
27.997378
-82.775504
Dunedin Elementary School
900 Union St, Dunedin, FL
/articles/two-dunedin-honorees-among-outstanding-school-volunteers-in-pinellas
944337
/locations/8898685
28.02861
-82.77165
Dunedin High School
1651 Pinehurst Rd, Dunedin, FL
/articles/two-dunedin-honorees-among-outstanding-school-volunteers-in-pinellas
1837734
/locations/8898686
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Dunedin and Pinellas Schools officials are now on the same side in a fight for about 50 San Jose Elementary students who may have to cross State Road 580 to get to school next year. Officials are readying to battle the state.
Dunedin and Pinellas Schools officials are now on the same side of a fight for about 50 elementary students who may have to walk across State Road 580 to get to school next year. Now city and school officials are preparing to take the busing battle to the state level. And Dunedin's list of allies is growing, City Manager Rob DiSpirito said during a recent commission meeting. "We've got some ammunition," DiSpirito said. Dunedin leaders publicly criticized Pinellas County Schools officials for "bureaucratic silliness" in January for their plan to discontinue transportation for about 50 San Jose Elementary students who, as a result, would be made to walk across the awkward-angled intersection at State Road 580 and Bass Boulevard. The plan …
Sunday, February 3, 2013
To make life easier for the parents in Dunedin, we publish the latest menus for Pinellas County Schools. Here's a look at Monday, Feb. 4 to Thursday, Feb. 28.
Trying to plan out school lunches? We've got menus of what's being served in the cafeteria at your child's school for the month of February. Check the Pinellas County School menus at:
Friday, February 1, 2013
City Commissioner Ron Barnette sends an email plea to Pinellas County Schools to reconsider a plan that forces some Dunedin children to walk across a five-lane state highway to get to San Jose Elementary next year.
City Commissioner Ron Barnette spoke passionately against a Pinellas County School Board plan to end busing for about 50 elementary students in Dunedin. The plan would force children to either find alternate transportation to school or to walk across State Road 580. He recently reinforced his position in an email plea to the School Board. Barnette's email exchange with Debbie Beaty, administrative assistant to the board, follows: Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:23 PM To: +Board Office Subject: A Dunedin Commissioner's Plea for Child Safety Dear Board members, I am Ron Barnette, a Dunedin City Commissioner, who is writing to PLEASE address responsibly our City Resolution sent to you regarding the continued safe bus passage for some 50 …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
"My God, if we can't figure out an effective way to communicate to a school board, how do we expect residents to?" Mayor Dave Eggers said during a Jan. 24 meeting at City Hall.
No one on the Pinellas County School Board seems to care, Dunedin officials say. Their concerns for children forced to cross a busy five-lane road because of the school district's decision to drop bus services next year may not be heard — not unless city leaders can sum it up in three minutes or less, a Jan. 23 city memo from Rob DiSpirito explains. "My God, if we can't figure out an effective way to communicate to a school board, how do we expect residents to?" Mayor Dave Eggers said during a Jan. 24 public meeting at City Hall. "We should be able to effectively get in front of our representatives." DiSpirito says that if city leaders can provide information to the school district before the end of the month, then their concerns would be …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
To make life easier for the parents in Dunedin, we publish the latest menus for Pinellas County Schools. Here's a look at Jan. 28 to Feb. 1.
Trying to plan out a week of school lunches? We've got menus of what's being served in the cafeteria at your child's school for the week of Monday, Jan. 28 to Friday, Feb. 1. Check the Pinellas County School menus at:
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Dunedin commissioners are reviewing a resolution against the Pinellas County School Board's plan to stop busing elementary students across State Road 580 at Thursday's public hearing at City Hall. Discontinued busing could cost taxpayers up to $56,000 a y
Dunedin taxpayers could be on the hook to shell out an extra $56,000 a year because the Pinellas County School Board refuses to bus students across State Road 580. The school district's plan to stop busing about 50 elementary students deemed close enough to walk seems to defy common sense and undermine public safety, commissioners said, picking it apart during a Jan. 10 meeting at City Hall. Dunedin leaders are expected to formally oppose the school district's plan on Thursday. The move would save the Pinellas School Board about $28,000 a year — the cost of one bus. After city leaders called it "crazy" and "bureaucratic silliness," they vowed to "fight the fight" for roughly 50 San Jose Elementary students who would be forced to either …
28.028712
-82.781934
San Jose Elementary School
1670 San Helen Dr, Dunedin, FL
/articles/dunedin-leaders-to-challenge-pinellas-schools-on-student-safety
943902
/locations/8666403
28.012849
-82.785374
Dunedin City Hall
542 Main St, Dunedin, FL
/articles/dunedin-leaders-to-challenge-pinellas-schools-on-student-safety
944000
/locations/8666404
Bob Gallo
10:25 am on Thursday, March 28, 2013
Anyone who thinks a converting an underperforming public school to a "charter" school will improve academic outcomes is misinformed. Charters do not necessarily outperform public schools and in some cases underperform public schools. If this was really about parental control of childrens' educations than how about parents holding parents accountable for actively participating in their children's … more ›