Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Prayers, Tears And Flowers
February 17, 2019
Alyssa Alhadeff. Scott Beigel. Martin Duque Anguiano. Nicholas Dworet. Aaron Feis. Jaime Guttenberg. Chris Hixon. Luke Hoyer. Cara Loughran. Gina Montalto. Joaquin Oliver. Alaina Petty. Meadow Pollack. Helena Ramsay. Alex Schachter. Carmen Schentrup. Peter Wang.
With heavy hearts, Florida paid homage Thursday to the 17 victims of the state’s deadliest school shooting with candlelight vigils, music and art to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Florida’s Old Capitol all week was bathed in a glow of orange, to serve as a “token of hope and a pledge that the Parkland 17 will not be forgotten,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said last month when she asked Gov. Ron DeSantis and her Cabinet colleagues to support the colorful tribute.
The governor and First Lady Casey DeSantis joined Fried, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, House Speaker José Oliva, Senate President Bill Galvano and dozens of legislators for a somber ceremony Thursday morning, as a National Guard member rang a bell 17 times.
The DeSantises later laid flowers at the Parkland school and attended a vigil at a nearby park where hundreds of other mourners prayed, wept and sang.
“On this solemn day, our state mourns the lives of the 17 souls lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School one year ago. Since that tragic day, the Parkland community has demonstrated tremendous courage and resiliency, reminding us just how strong and united Floridians can be in the face of such devastating loss,” DeSantis said in a statement. “We will never forget the heroes who risked and sacrificed their lives to protect others, nor the actions taken that day by first responders. Casey and I continue to keep the families and loved ones of the innocents who were lost in our prayers as we honor their memory today in a moment of silence.”
Andrew Pollack, whose daughter, Meadow, was among the slain students, stood behind DeSantis as the bell tolled in the Capitol courtyard.
For the grieving father, this Valentine’s Day didn’t carry any greater significance than any other day since the unthinkable happened.
“This is everyday life, for every parent who loses a kid like I did. We live it every single day,” Pollack told reporters.
SCHOOL SAFETY PROBE ORDERED
On the eve of the shooting anniversary, DeSantis — flanked by numerous family members of the Parkland victims — asked the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a statewide grand jury to investigate whether school districts are complying with mandatory safety measures designed to protect students.
DeSantis called the statewide grand jury “something real,” and said he intends the state to heed “whatever recommendations they have for us.”
Since taking office last month, DeSantis has taken a number of high-profile actions to address the horrific Parkland shooting.
On his first week on the job, DeSantis suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, accusing the law enforcement official of “neglect of duty” and “incompetence” related to the shooting. Israel is appealing the suspension, but a recently released report by a state commission found fault with the sheriff’s office’s handling of the attack by confessed gunman Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school with a long history of mental health problems.
Angry parents and other critics, including Pollack, also called on DeSantis to oust Broward County Superintendent of Schools Robert Runcie. But the governor said he does not have the authority to remove the schools chief because Runcie is an appointed official.
A statewide grand jury is “the best tool that we have” to explore possible wrongdoing by school districts throughout the state, DeSantis, a Harvard Law School graduate, said Wednesday. The probe will be at least the third statewide investigation into the Parkland shooting, which is also the subject of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement inquiry.
The governor asked the statewide grand jury to explore “whether refusal or failure to follow the mandates of school-related safety laws … results in unnecessary and avoidable risk to students across the state;” whether public officials committed — and continue to commit — fraud and deceit” by accepting state money conditioned on implementation of certain safety measures; whether public officials committed fraud by “mismanaging, failing to use, and diverting funds from multi-million-dollar bonds specifically solicited for school safety initiatives;” and whether school officials violated state law by “systematically underreporting incidents of criminal activity” to the state Department of Education.
Lawmakers last year created the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, which spent months investigating the shooting and issued a report in January.
But unlike that commission, the grand-jury investigation won’t be limited to Broward County or the events surrounding the mass shooting, the governor said.
“It is multi-jurisdictional. But I think it’s something that is warranted. I think it’s something that may lead to potential accountability measures by a grand jury. But it could also lead to, and I think it will, lead to recommendations about what some of the various school districts could do better. They can provide information to the state of Florida, and we can then take action,” he told reporters.
‘GUARDIAN’ PROGRAM COULD EXPAND
A Florida Senate panel responsible for shaping statewide education policies advanced a sweeping school-security package on Tuesday that would make it easier for districts to participate in a controversial “guardian” program and would allow classroom teachers to be armed.
The Senate Education Committee approved the proposal (SPB 7030) on a 5-3, party-line vote. The vote came after the panel agreed to amend the measure to allow law-enforcement officers to serve as school safety specialists instead of requiring school district employees to fill that role. The revised bill also would put school superintendents in charge of appointing “guardians.”
The school guardian program, part of a law passed in response to the Parkland shooting, allows school personnel whose primary duties are outside the classroom to carry concealed weapons after going through extensive training.
Under current law, county sheriffs must sign off on the guardian program for school districts to implement it. The Senate measure approved Tuesday would give school districts the authority to implement the program.
While most of Tuesday’s two-hour debate focused on the contentious guardian program, the proposed package includes an overhaul of other school-safety measures.
Senate Education Chairman Manny Diaz Jr., R-Hialeah, called the proposal “monumental” and said it was crafted to include most of the recommendations made in a 458-page report by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.
The commission overwhelmingly favored expanding the “guardian” program and recommended strengthening school requirements to report crimes and other safety-related incidents, as well as sanctions for superintendents who under-report such incidents.
“One year ago this week, we made a commitment to the students and families of Parkland that we would do everything in our power to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. … So I am very pleased this critical school safety legislation gets to the heart of the commission recommendations,” Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said in a statement.
But Sen. Bill Montford, a Tallahassee Democrat who is chief executive officer of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, questioned the policy of allowing armed teachers.
“We’re at the verge of considering a monumental change in public education,” Montford said. “We are shifting the mission of public education from being one of teaching to being one of teaching and law enforcement.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Ron DeSantis was among the many mourners who participated in memorials marking Thursday’s one-year anniversary of the state’s deadliest school shooting in which 17 students and staff members were slain and 17 other victims were injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “For today to be any different, it’s not. Every day is the same pain, from when you wake up until when you go to sleep.” — Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter, Meadow, was among the 14 students killed last Valentine’s Day during a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Two Wanted In Connection With Escambia County Homicide
February 16, 2019
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of two people wanted in connection with a homicide on Valentine’s Day.
Cordarin Simmons and Jesse Dontase Square are both wanted in connection to the murder of Willie Wilson.
Wilson was severely beaten at his home on Spink Lane Thursday morning, and his home was ransacked. He died a short time later at a local hospital.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Square or Simmons is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers (850) 433-STOP.
Child Involved In Tuesday 10 Mile Road Crash Passes Away
February 16, 2019
A 7-year old involved in a crash on 10 Mile Road Tuesday afternoon has passed away.
Saturday, the Florida Highway Patrol said Lillian Burdeaux succumbed to her injuries at Sacred Heart Hospital. Her mother, 38-year old Kelsey Burdeaux of Lillian, AL, and sister, 10-year old Elisabeth Burdeaux, were critically injured in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Kelsey Burdeaux of Lillian, AL, pulled her Toyota Camry from a stop sign on 10 Mile Road into the path of a box truck driven by 36-year old Fredrick Powell of Mobile that was traveling north of Stefani Road.
Powell did not have a stop sign in his direction of travel. He was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Charged With Choking His Wife
February 16, 2019
A Cantonment man is facing charges after allegedly attacking his wife.
Cedric Terell Gray, 22, was charged with battery and felony domestic battery by strangulation.
Gray became angry because his wife “was not doing what he told her to do,” according to an arrest report. He allegedly choked her before throwing her to the ground.
Gray told deputies that he was upset at his wife, but denied the accusation of violence. He was released from the Escambia County Jail Friday night.
Northview High Graduate Creamer Completes Basic Training
February 16, 2019
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tristen Creamer graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Creamer is the son of Tonya Gevedon of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, grandson of Lois Creamer of Century and husband of MacKenzie Creamer of Murfreesboro.
The airman is a 2018 graduate of Northview High School.
Century Tree Giveaway, Tree Planting Mark Tornado Anniversary
February 16, 2019
An Arbor Day Celebration and Tornado Remembrance was held in Century on Friday.
Free live oak, dogwood and maple trees were available. A “Purple Magic” crape myrtle was planted to mark the day in front of the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4.
Friday marked three years since an EF-3 tornado struck Century.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Alabama Man Passes Away From Injuries Received In Motorcycle Crash
February 16, 2019
An Escambia County (AL) man has passed away from injuries he received earlier this month in a motorcycle crash.
Michael Lynn Kite, 52, was critically injured when the 2003 Honda VTX1800 he was riding left the roadway and struck an embankment at 4:08 p.m. on February 3. Kite was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola where he died Friday from the injuries he sustained in the crash. The crash occurred on Alabama 41 at the 13.7 mile marker, about four miles north of Brewton.
Further information has not been released as Alabama State Troopers continue their investigation.
Tate Aggies Win District Championship
February 16, 2019
The Tate Aggies defeated Niceville 50-41 for the District District 1-8A championship Friday night in Niceville. It was the first district championship for the Aggies since 2010.
Tate advances to host Tallahassee Chiles in the Region 1-8A quarterfinals Thursday at 7 p.m.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
DeSantis Pursues New School Voucher Program
February 16, 2019
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday he wants to create a new “equal opportunity” voucher program to eliminate a waiting list of about 14,000 low-income students seeking to use state-backed scholarships to attend private schools.
The governor is asking lawmakers to create a “supplement” to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the state’s largest voucher-type program, which serves nearly 100,000 students but has about 14,000 others stuck on a waiting list.
“Let’s build on the success … and bring this to another level,” DeSantis said at an appearance in Orlando as he outlined the proposed Equal Opportunity Scholarship program.
In control of the governor’s mansion and the Legislature for the past two decades, Republicans have consistently sought to expand taxpayer-funded school choice programs. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, who is a national school-choice leader, was quick Friday to praise DeSantis’ decision to “empower students.”
“I applaud the governor’s leadership and look forward to the future where every hard-working family has the ability to choose a school that works best for their children,” Bush said in a statement.
But critics of having another voucher program in Florida slammed the governor’s decision.
“Let us be clear. Vouchers do not create choice for parents, but rather choice for private schools — they can reject students based on economic status, academic achievement, disabilities, English proficiency, immigration status, sexual orientation or even gender,” said Fedrick C. Ingram, president of the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union.
Since being sworn into office last month, DeSantis has taken steps that have drawn praise from Democrats, such as proposing a boost in environmental spending and seeking to lift a ban on smoking medical marijuana.
The voucher program announcement means the “honeymoon is over,” said Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo.
“It’s clear that Ron DeSantis intends to govern just as the Republican Party of Florida has governed for decades, by selling out Florida families and children to corporate special interests,” Rizzo said in a statement.
DeSantis told reporters on Friday he was aware of voucher backlash, but he praised the educations provided to low-income and minority students through the programs.
“Some people think we should not have the program, but my thing is, look at the results,” DeSantis said. He pointed to statistics that 70 percent of the students served by the Tax Credit Scholarship Program are Hispanic or black.
DeSantis’ proposal will need approval from the Republican-dominated Legislature during the session that starts March 5.
“We’ll be able to wake up in May and say, ‘Wow, we’re taking big, bold action here in Florida on behalf of our school kids,’ ” he said.
The new program in its first year would make scholarships available to about 14,000 students — roughly the same number on the Tax Credit Scholarship waiting list — and then increase by 1 percent of statewide public-school enrollment each year after that, according to information from DeSantis’ office.
Money for the program would come out of the state’s main public-education funding program. That could spur a legal challenge, as a Bush-backed voucher program was struck down as unconstitutional in 2006 by the Florida Supreme Court.
The Tax Credit Scholarship Program is structured differently, with state tax dollars not going directly to the program. Instead, companies can receive tax credits for contributing money to non-profit organizations that, in turn, fund the scholarships.
DeSantis said he wants the new program to provide vouchers that would be similar in amount to the Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
“But it will provide more resources for families to pick the type of education that makes sense for their children,” he said.
In making the announcement at Calvary City Academy in Orlando, DeSantis was joined onstage by parents who support the scholarship programs.
Shereka Wright, a single mother of two boys, said her children were bullied and not doing well in school before going to a private school.
“I chose private school because Simon and Jayden were struggling so much in their public school last year. They were getting Ds and Fs,” Wright said.
Living paycheck to paycheck, Wright said she applied for a tax credit scholarship but was put on the waiting list. She is making tuition payments to have her kids attend a religious private school but said, “I don’t have the money to keep up with the tuition and the school’s patience can’t last forever.”
“There isn’t enough funding for all the families in Florida who need these scholarships,” Wright said.
by Ann Ceballos, The News Service of Florida
Ernest Ward Students Place In Regional Science Fair
February 16, 2019
Two Ernest Ward Middle School students placed in the 2019 West Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair at the University of West Florida.
They were:
Kelsey Boykin- Chemistry
1st place Overall Junior Division
Dr. B.H. Daughdrill, Special Award ($50 cash and certificate)
Dr. John P. Riehm Memorial Special Award, ($50 cash and certificate)
Society for Science & the Public-Broadcom Foundation Special Award (Certificate, letter of invite to register for 2019 Broadcom Masters national competition, t-shirt)
State Fair Finalists – representing EWMS at Lakeland FL. , March 26-March 29
Boykin’s project “Rainbow of pHacts” compared the pH level of beverages such as cola, milk and apple jucice to determine which was the lowest (most acidic).
Judson Lee – Engineering and Material Sciences
3rd place overal, Junior Division
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Special Award ($25 gift card & Certificate)
REMG Aviation, Special Award, ($25 gift card & Certificate)
Lee’s project “Which Shape of Parachute is the Best?”. He hypothesized that a rectangular parachute would descend slower than other shapes. He discovered that a round parachute actually had the slowest descent velocity.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
