Role Of Private Testing Companies Questioned In Teacher Merit Pay Plan
March 17, 2011
As Florida prepares to establish a new system of paying public school teachers that is based heavily on test scores, many lawmakers are casting a skeptical eye on the potential boon the reform could bring to educational testing companies.
The Legislature sent a proposal that connects teacher pay to test scores to the governor for approval Wednesday. The measure (SB 736) requires new tests be developed for nearly every course by July 2014.
“This bill will be a bonanza for the private companies that make their money grading tests but will do nothing for teachers or our children’s education,” said Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami, during floor debate Wednesday.
While test companies could receive millions from the proposals under the merit pay bill and the requirements of Florida’s $700 million Race to the Top federal grant, it also shifts more test development to the district level, bypassing private companies.
FOR MORE ABOUT THE NEW MERIT PAY PLAN, CLICK HERE.
The House sponsor of the bill, Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, said he was surprised by accusations that testing companies will benefit from the bill, calling it a “conspiracy theory.”
“The tests are going to be developed at the local level,” Fresen said. “They are going to be developed organically and simply approved by (the Department of Education).”
Florida’s FCAT and other end-of course exams are currently developed by a private company, Pearson, and the Department of Education, said Kris Ellington, a deputy commissioner at the department.
Fresen noted that the state is moving away from such tests and said “Pearson hates the fact that we are moving away from the FCAT.”
The test is required for high school students to graduate and is also used to grade schools.
Pearson lobbyist Steve Uhlfelder declined to comment for this story.
FOR MORE ABOUT THE NEW MERIT PAY PLAN, CLICK HERE.
Pearson helps facilitate meetings with committees of teachers from across the state that review and modify test questions that Pearson has developed, Ellington said.
The cost to develop a test ranges from $1 million to $1. 5 million just for one year’s work, Ellington said, and it can take up to three years to develop and print a test. Pearson also does test scoring for the Department of Education.
Already, Pearson and the Department of Education are working to develop new end-of-course exams for classes such as algebra, geometry and biology. Through SB 736 and Race to the Top, school districts are required to test every subject, from core classes like chemistry to electives like art, band and physical education.
The closest thing to a “boon” for testing companies is the proposed development of a test bank.
Through the Race to the Top grant, Florida plans to use $41 million to develop a “test bank” of questions in different subjects. A private company will be contracted for that, but no decision has been made as to what company will be hired to for the job, Ellington said.
The plan is for school districts to access the bank to develop their own tests. Ellington said the school districts would pay printing costs, though the tests could be taken electronically.
In addition, school districts will work in groups to develop a way to test difficult-to-measure subjects like art or choir, using $21 million in Race to the Top funds, Ellington said.
These tests will be developed entirely without any outside involvement from a private company.
Critics of merit pay still maintain that the measure shifts more of the cost of test development to school districts. Federal grants are available for test development now, but it’s unclear how future test development will be funded.
Water Meter Replacements Continue In Century
March 17, 2011
Work is progressing as Century continues the installation process on 1,000 new automated water meters in an effort to eliminate billing problems and increase revenue.
Each customer’s existing meter will be changed out for one of the new automated meters. The process is expected to last six weeks or more. According to Mayor Freddie McCall, the meters are currently being swapped at the rate of about 45 to 50 per day.
The $137,386 purchase will pay for itself in less than two years, according to estimates by Dan Devane, regional sales manager for Datamatic, Ltd. He estimated the town would realize an additional $83,125 in additional billings per year due to increased meter efficiency and about $2,200 per year in labor savings.
Three Arrested After Shot Fired Into Molino Home
March 17, 2011
Three people were arrested Wednesday afternoon in connection with a gunshot fired into a Molino home.
A resident in the 6000 block of Highway 99 near Blackberry Lane reported that someone fired a shot into their home about 12:45 Wednesday afternoon.
Zachary Brandon Miller, 20, of Cantonment; Anthony Taylor Crepeau, 21, of Gulf Breeze; and Riley Edward Baldwin, 35, of Pensacola were charged with weapons offenses for firing into a building and discharging a firearm in public.
The three were, according to deputies, firing at targets in a nearby field. All three claimed to have never shot in the direction of the house, but deputies said they would have had to intentionally pointed a weapon in the direction of the residence in order to strike it. Deputies found the trio with a shotgun, a handgun, an AK-47, a Keltec semi-automatic rifle and what appeared to be a Mac 10 pistol.
According to deputies, the bullet fired into the residence exploded a window, went through a wall and struck a kitchen cabinet. The bullet reportedly passed just above the head of someone inside the residence.
Crepeau’s father, the owner of the property where the three men were found, told deputies that they did not have permission to be on his property shooting firearms.
The home is located about 500 feet off Highway 99.
Pictured above: Escambia County deputies investigate after a shot was reportedly fired into a Molino home Wednesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
New Pier At Lake Stone
March 17, 2011
A new pier has been added at the Lake Stone Campground. It is located next to the boat ramp, on the eastern side of the lake where there is no admission charge. Lake Stone Campground is a 100-acre campground and boat ramp facility located on West Highway 4 just outside Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Senate Bill Would Set Aside BP Money For Escambia, Santa Rosa And 8 Other Counties
March 17, 2011
The Senate unanimously passed a measure on Wednesday to set aside money from BP for eight counties — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — that were most affected by last year’s oil spill.
The bill (SB 248), which now goes to the House, would set aside three-fourths of any settlement or fine money received from BP or the government and direct to eight Panhandle coastal counties.
The bill also would allow Florida to participate in a compact with other Gulf states to be able to respond to other disasters more quickly and effectively. The measure also makes it easier for businesses to get a tax credit for locating all or a portion of a business in one of the counties.
“I sponsored the Oil Spill Recovery Act to make sure our communities can get the help they need so we can get back on our feet again,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. “This bill provides incentives for companies to come to beautiful Northwest Florida and create jobs.”
Teens Tell Different Stories In Tate High Sexual Assault Case; Reading Teacher Was In Room
March 16, 2011
More information was made available Wednesday about the alleged sexual assault of a student in a reading classroom at Tate High School on March 1.
Raymond Eugene Teamer, 16. was arrested Tuesday evening and charged with felony sexual battery and indecent exposure in connection with the incident.
The 14-year old girl accused Teamer of exposing himself during a reading classroom at Tate, forcing her head toward his genital area two times.
The girl “stated the teacher was unable to view these actions, because of where she was sitting and other students were blocking the teacher’s view,” the report states. “(The victim) stated initially she did not tell the faculty what occurred because she feared retaliation from Teamer and his friends.
Teamer told investigators another version of the events.
“Teamer stated he was joking was some friends and acting like he had his…exposed,” the Sheriff’s Office report states. “Teamer stated (the victim) asked him to show her…at which time he pulled his shorts back enough to expose himself.” At that point, Teamer claimed the girl willingly performed the sexual act.
Three 15-year old male witnesses told investigators that Teamer exposed himself “and kept trying to get them to look”. They then observed what appeared to be the victim performing the act in the classroom.
Teamer remains in the custody of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice pending a court hearing.
For an earlier version of this story with more details, click here.
Woman Struck By Vehicle In Molino
March 16, 2011
A female was injured when hit be a vehicle in Molino Wednesday morning.
The female, in her mid-30’s — was transported by Escambia County EMS to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola in stable condition with a leg injury. The driver of the vehicle told authorities that he accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake at a farm located in the 5700 block of Chalker Road, near Highway 99.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Engine 1819 from the Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the 10:45 a.m. accident.
Further details were not available.
Pictured above and below: A female was hit by a vehicle in a private drive on Chalker Road in Molino Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Charged With Arson For Burning Foreclosed Home
March 16, 2011
A Molino man has been charged with setting fire to his home that was in foreclosure last fall.
George Thomas Alexander, 49, is facing a felony arson charge in connection with the fire in the 3500 block of Molino Road on October 6, 2010. He was arrested Monday night by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office and released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond.
According to Lt. Kevin Fiedor with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the unoccupied home was in foreclosure and had no power and no gas. He said the fire appeared to have started in the rear of the home.
“The fire obviously started with human intervention,” Fiedor said. Damage to the brick home was estimated at about $65,000.
The Molino, Cantonment, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill and Beulah stations of Escambia Fire Rescue worked for hours to fully extinguish the blaze.
For more photos from the blaze, click here.
NorthEsambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Florida DOC To Close Three Prisons: Century CI Not On List
March 16, 2011
The Florida Department of Corrections announced plans Tuesday to close three prisons, two boot camp programs and another facility as a way of saving $30 million that agency officials say can be done without releasing any inmates early.
A North Escambia prison — the Century Correctional Institution was not on the planned closure list as the DOC announced plans to close Brevard Correctional Institution near Cocoa, Hendry Correctional Institution in Immokalee and Hillsborough Correctional Institution in Riverview. Also on the block for closure will be the Tallahassee Road Prison, the Lowell Correctional Institution Boot Camp and the Sumter Boot Camp.
Prisons officials also claim they can do it without many layoffs. A statement from the department said “the bulk” of the cost savings would be generated through employee attrition.
Corrections Secretary Edwin Buss said last week that with about 350 jobs a month turning over in the system, not filling them could give the agency almost all the cuts it needs.
Staff at the facilities slated for closure will be offered jobs at other institutions, prisons officials said.
“This plan is the right thing to do because it will save Florida taxpayers millions of dollars,” Buss said in a release. “The facilities to be closed are older and require more resources to operate than newer institutions. Additionally, this initiative will provide the department with an opportunity to consolidate program resources which will allow for seamless delivery of evidence based programs aimed to reduce recidivism.”
The state prison system currently has a surplus of beds, according to prison officials.
An agency statement said the phase out of the facilities would begin immediately with an eye toward completion at the end of June.
While the administration of Gov. Rick Scott has clashed with legislators over the authority to make certain moves without legislative approval, the chairman of the Senate committee that writes the criminal justice budget said Tuesday that Buss is within his authority to close and consolidate prisons without legislative approval.
Fasano, however, is working on a draft criminal justice budget that contemplates far fewer reductions, cutting 85 positions for a savings of just $5.5 million.
Closure of the facility in Brevard County, which has about 350 employees, may be particularly difficult – the area has been hit hard by the slowdown in the space industry and the end of the space shuttle program. Florida Today newspaper in Melbourne reported that prison officials said only 238 of those workers at the Brevard facility would be offered jobs elsewhere, though many of those jobs may be made empty by attrition.
The department said shuttering the facilities would save $30.8 million this year, and $25 million in out years.
The Legislature is looking to cut $3.6 billion from the current year budget to close a gap between revenue and spending. Lawmakers will get an update Friday on how much revenue is expected to be available, which will be the basis for the budget they’ll write this month and next.
David Royse, The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Ernest Ward To Hold FCAT Chats With Parents
March 16, 2011
Ernest Ward Middle School is inviting parents and guardians to “FCAT Chats” to learn more about how to help their student succeed on the FCAT test.
Parents and guardians will have an opportunity to discuss their student’s FCAT scores and areas that need improvement for better scores this year one-on-one with a teacher.
A dinner of hamburgers/cheeseburgers, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, potato chips, dessert and drinks will be served to participants.
The event will take place 5:30 until 7:00 on Thursday, March 24 at Ernest Ward Middle Schools. Reservations must be made by Monday, March 21 by call the school at (850) 327-4283.