Florida Supreme Court Digs Into Education Amendment
September 6, 2018
With school choice a hot-button issue in Florida, the state Supreme Court on Wednesday plunged into a debate about whether voters should cast ballots in November on a proposed constitutional amendment that could help lead to more charter schools.
Justices peppered attorneys on both sides of the issue with questions about whether the proposal, placed on the ballot by the state Constitution Revision Commission, would be misleading to voters. The League of Women Voters of Florida has challenged the proposal, contending it should be blocked from moving forward.
Ron Meyer, an attorney for the League of Women Voters, said people would be “fooled” by the ballot title and summary — the part of the proposal voters would see when they go to the polls.
“Our problem is that the voter presenting at the voting booth is not being told what’s happening here, is not being given an explanatory purpose,” Meyer said.
But state Deputy Solicitor General Daniel Bell disputed that the ballot title and summary would be misleading to voters.
“The only question before this court today is whether the ballot language at issue accurately and clearly discloses the chief purpose of the amendment … and we would submit that it does,” Bell said.
The state appealed after Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper ruled last month that the proposed constitutional amendment should be knocked off the ballot. In part pointing to the failure to use the term “charter schools,” Cooper wrote that the proposal “fails to inform voters of the chief purpose and effect of this proposal.”
The Supreme Court quickly took up the issue as elections officials prepare to start sending out general-election ballots to voters this month. With justices away from Tallahassee because of an educational seminar for judges, the court took the unusual step Wednesday of hearing arguments in a courtroom in West Palm Beach.
The 37-member Constitution Revision Commission meets every 20 years and has unique powers to place proposed constitutional changes on the ballot. But the education amendment comes amid heavy debate in the state about expansion of charter schools and voucher-like programs that supporters say give students more educational choices
The proposed amendment, which would appear on the ballot as Amendment 8, would impose eight-year term limits on school board members and would require the promotion of “civic literacy” in public schools.
But a third provision that drew the legal challenge from the League of Women Voters of Florida would allow the state to “operate, control and supervise public schools not established by the school board.”
County school boards and charter-school operators have repeatedly battled in recent years about whether new charter schools should be allowed. While the proposed constitutional wording does not specifically mention charter schools, it could open the door to the state allowing charter schools outside of the control of local school boards. Charter schools are public schools but are typically operated by private entities.
The Supreme Court, as is customary, did not indicate Wednesday how it would rule. But justices Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince asked questions that appeared clearly skeptical of the state’s arguments.
“My problem with this, and it was I think what the circuit court zeroed in on, is whether the ballot title and summary establishes the … true meaning of the amendment,” Pariente said. “It is pretty clear from looking at the briefs that the true purpose was to take away responsibilities from the school boards and transfer it to either the Legislature, the state, to a private commission.”
Justices are only supposed to determine whether the ballot title and summary would provide an accurate description of the proposed constitutional amendment to voters. They are not supposed to weigh the underlying merits of the amendment.
Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justice Alan Lawson took issue with the League of Women Voters’ arguments, with Canady suggesting that the group is opposed to the merits of the amendment — not the ballot title and summary.
“I understand you’ve got a problem with the proposal. I accept that, and I understand the policy reasons that people would have a problem with the proposal. … But that’s not a reason to keep the people of Florida from having an opportunity to vote on this,” Canady said to Meyer at one point.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Tropical Storm Damage Closes Pensacola Beach Pier
September 5, 2018
Damage from Tropical Storm Gordon has temporarily closed the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
Waves damaged railings on the pier.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two Rescued After Flood Waters Isolate Cantonment Neighborhood (With Gallery)
September 5, 2018
Several Escambia County agencies rescued two residents of a Cantonment neighborhood cut off by rising flood waters Wednesday afternoon, including a resident that suffered a medical emergency.
Crews from Escambia Fire Rescue, the ECFR Special Operations team, Escambia EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office took part in the operation on Ashbury Lane off Highway 297A. There were 14 homes isolated by water across Ashbury Lane.
For a photo gallery, click here.
ECFR Special Ops launched an inflatable raft, and the Sheriff’s Office used their high water rescue vehicle to cross into the neighborhood. The flood waters were estimated to be six-feet deep.
Escambia County Chief Deputy Chip Simmons and Maj. Andrew Hobbs responded with the high water vehicle.
“We responded when our high water vehicle was requested,” Hobbs said. “We took the high water vehicle across and transported two people back over.
The vehicle was also used to transport medication back to another resident isolated by the flood waters.
Officials went door to door offering assistance, but only one other resident decided to leave the neighborhood.
Gulf Power also assisted because a ground-level pad transformer was under the water crossing the road.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Courtesy and NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
TS Gordon: Thomas Discusses Decision To Open Escambia Schools Wednesday
September 5, 2018
Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Wednesday morning that the decision to open schools today was based upon the best information available at the time.
“I did not expect what we had this morning when I got up,” he told NorthEscambia.com. “You make a decision on the best information you have.”
And Thomas said that information relayed Tuesday afternoon by weather experts and emergency managers called for Tropical Storm Gordon to move faster, drop much less rain and have fewer wind impacts than actually materialized during the early morning hours.
“It’s easy to Monday morning quarterback,” he said. “I would have canceled (for Wednesday) if I had known. This one did not play out like any of them expected.”
“We use the best information we have. In 10 years years looking back, this is the one time I wish I had back. I’m not blaming anybody at the end of the day….I regret it. I’m sick we exposed students and staff to it.”
He said once the decision was made Tuesday to open schools on Wednesday, it is hard to turn back and make a last minute cancellation because many bus drivers and the school day process are already “getting in gear’ at 4:00 to 4:30 a.m.
Attendance was down significantly at school across the county, he said, adding that all absences on Wednesday will be excused.
“Parents that kept their students at home did what they thought they should have; they made the right call,” he said.
All schools had electric power Wednesday morning, and any indoor after-school activities or sports will continue at the discretion of school leaders.
Thomas said schools were closed on Tuesday because the best forecast information for Monday called for 40-45 mph winds in Escambia County – a huge issue for a high profile vehicle like a school bus. But the forecast for this morning did not.
“We have almost zero wind this morning, and we go to school in light and moderate rain, but I’m not downplaying what we had during the early morning.”
Thomas said he did not anticipate an early release Wednesday because that creates problems for parents and childcare.
“Now that they are in school, they are safer where they are,” Thomas said. “When we have one of these storms in the middle of the night, in the future, we will take the next day off and burn it.”
File photo.
Tropical Storm Gordon Claims Life Of Child In Escambia County
September 5, 2018
Tropical Storm Gordon has claimed the life of a child in Escambia County .
At about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, a large tree fell on a mobile home in the 4000 block of West Bobe Street in West Pensacola.
Escambia County emergency crews arrived on scene at 8:48 p.m. to find a very large oak tree limb on the back of the home. EMS crews confirmed one pediatric fatality. The identify and age of the child have not been released.
No others were injured..
First responders remained on scene performing extraction and working to remove portions of the tree for hours.
Pictured: A child died in Escambia County Tuesday night when a tree limb fell into a mobile home. Photos courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Restores Thousands With Help; All EREC Power Back On
September 5, 2018
Tens of thousands of people in Escambia and Santa Rosa County lost power during Tropical Storm Gordon.
Early Wednesday morning, Gulf Power reported 15,830 customers in Escambia County and 489 in Santa Rosa County without power late Tuesday night. Escambia River Electric Cooperative reported power outages for 1,556 customers in Escambia County and 2,084 in Santa Rosa County. For EREC, the outage represented about one-third of all customers.
By noon, Gulf Power had restored power for over 14,000 customers. Gulf Power reported outages for 2,029 customers in Escambia County and 563 in Santa Rosa. EREC had restored serviced for over 3,600 customers, reporting all customers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties had power.
“Our crews are working throughout the night to restore power after Gordon. They are working as quickly and safely as possible,” Gulf Power posted on social media about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Pictured: Georgia Power crews roll into Molino Wednesday morning to help Gulf Power restore power in across the area. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
School Is In Session Today In Escambia And Santa Rosa Counties
September 5, 2018
UPDATE: TS Gordon: Thomas Discusses Decision To Open Escambia Schools Wednesday
Public schools are in session Wednesday in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, and classes will be held at Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Northview And Flomaton Bands, Cheerleaders And Fans
September 5, 2018
For a NorthEscambia.com bonus photo gallery featuring the bands, cheerleaders and fans from Northview and Flomaton high school, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Reschedules Hearing On $475 Million Budget
September 5, 2018
The Escambia County Board of Commissioners rescheduled the first of two budget hearings to discuss approval of their $475 million proposed Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget.
The meeting, which was rescheduled from Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Gordon, will now be held Monday, September 10 at 5:31 p.m. A second meeting will be held on Monday, September 17 at 5:31 p.m. Two public hearings are required to adopt the millage rate for property taxation and the budget for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
The board certified the millage rate for publication purposes at 6.6165 for the county-wide millage rate, .3590 for the Library Municipal Services Taxing Unit and .6850 for the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing Unit. All proposed rates represent no change in the millage levies from the prior year.
New County Corrections Boss Now On The Job
September 5, 2018
Tuesday was the first day on the job for William R. Powell, Escambia County’s new director of Corrections. He responsibilities include oversight of the Escambia County Jail, Community Corrections Division and Road Prison
Powell joined Escambia County from Orlando where he served as correctional major at the Orange County Corrections Department.
In his previous job, Powell directed and managed the general operation of seven facilities with an average population of over 3,500 inmates. Powell was responsible for the security operations division, which provides direction and management of the general operation of all correctional facilities in Orange County, Florida. His responsibilities included staff management, development and implementation of policies and procedures, fiscal management, care, custody and control of inmate environments to ensure compliance with all federal, state, county and department regulations.
Prior to serving as a correctional major, Powell served as the chief of the prisoner administration and security sections of the Joint Forces European Army Confinement Facility from 1998 to 2004. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1998 as a nuclear surety military policeman, desk sergeant patrol operator, confinement supervisor, maximum security shift supervisor and field recruiter.
Powell obtained a Master of Human Relations degree from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Criminal Justice and a Master of Management from Troy University. He is a Certified Jail Manager with the American Jail Association and a Certified Corrections Executive with the American Correctional Association.
Powell was selected from a pool of 86 applicants for the director of corrections position after a thorough selection process.
The selection committee of Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown, Escambia County Assistant Administrator Matt Coughlin, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons, First Judicial Circuit Trial Court Administrator Robin Wright, Orange County Corrections Department Chief Cornita A. Riley, and Florida Sheriff’s Association Jail Services Coordinator Isaiah Dennard narrowed the list down to five finalists, ranking Powell as the top candidate.