Longer School Days Enters Education Reform Talk
December 13, 2010
A push for struggling schools to lengthen the school day may become a part of a larger education reform debate that lawmakers have hinted will be a major part of the spring 2011 legislative agenda.
Key lawmakers in the Senate and House have already said that a revamped proposal on teacher merit pay that was vetoed by outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist last spring will be on the table and Democrats have signaled they are interested in talking about the issue. But it’s possible that at least in the Senate, education committees will entertain a measure to extend the school day by one hour for the state’s lowest performing schools.
Newly elected State Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, who previously served in the House, has told fellow lawmakers, including Senate Prek-12 Chairman Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, that he intends to file a bill extending the school day, and Wise said he is interested in taking it up in committee.
“I will take it up and then let him and the appropriations committee worry where the funding’s coming from because I think it’s essential that we start out with that and do something along those lines,” Wise said following his committee’s first meeting in Tallahassee this week.
The Prek-12 Education Appropriations Committee, which Simmons chairs, would likely be the first stop for any measure related to a longer school day because of the potential fiscal impact. Simmons’ chairmanship of the committee would likely ensure passage of the bill as long as he can develop a funding mechanism for the bill. It would then likely go to Wise’s committee for consideration.
“If you’re an ‘F’ school, then I would highly endorse doing that and maybe that’s kind of what we do,” Wise said.
The Florida Department of Education released its grades of Florida public schools earlier this week, on an A through F scale. The grades are half based on students’ performances on the state’s standardized exam. According to the department, 140 schools earned an “A,” 192 earned a “B,” 69 earned a “C,” 58 earned a “D” and 11 earned an “F.”
Simmons’ proposal, which has not yet been filed, would target the lower schools.
“In a period of about five years, they’ll end up having an extra year of schooling,” he told the News Service earlier this month.
State Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who is also the director of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, said he has not had any extensive discussions with Simmons about the bill and the association has not been discussing about it either. As a lawmaker and former Leon County Superintendent though, he wants to see a proposal extending the school day advance.
“Superintendents in general support any effort to increase the amount of time that students are in class and before teachers,” Montford said.
In Volusia County, low performing schools have been experimenting with a longer school day for more than 10 years said Volusia Teachers’ Organization President Andrew Spar. It started as a voluntary program, but now it is a part of teachers’ contracts. The teachers receive additional pay for a school day that is an hour longer.
“The day is just an hour longer, so that way the teachers have more time because one of the problems we run into is they just don’t have enough time to get things done,” he said.
Mark Pudlow, a spokesman for the Florida Education Association, said that if the matter does advance, the union would support if it operated like the system in the Volusia County schools where teachers are paid for the extra time.
By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service Florida
People To People: Jay Teen Headed To China
December 13, 2010
Jay High School freshman Jeremy Gibbs has been selected to participate as a student ambassador with the People to People International Student Ambassador Program in a 17 day trip to China next summer. He is the only student from the north end of Santa Rosa county to take part in the program this year.
Students are selected for the People to People ambassador program based upon outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.
The People to People program provides international travel opportunities to students in a State Department program that was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Student Ambassadors experience hands-on learning opportunities and immerse themselves in the arts, sports and family life of cultures around the world.
Jeremy is the son of John and Michele Gibbs. The family has offered their thanks to the two Jay businesses and 13 Pensacola area businesses that that have made Jeremy’s trip to China possible. Further financial help is needed, email mgibbs8192@yahoo.com for more information.
Move That Bus: Pensacola Extreme Home Makeover
December 12, 2010
The Emmy award-winning reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode in Pensacola aired nationwide Sunday night, as well as locally on WEAR TV 3.
On October 18, Finis Gaston and his family received news from special guest Mariah Carey that they were recipients of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. While the Gaston family vacationed in Disney World, EM: HE design team, local builder Heritage Homes and thousands of community volunteers built their 3,600-square-foot dream home located at 1301 Rainbow Avenue in Pensacola.
The volunteer partners included several from the North Escambia area, and the Tate High School Showband of the South was featured in the “big reveal” parade.
The red dirt used for foundation was donated by Campbell’s Sand & Gravel in Century owned by James Campbell. Four dump trucks and seven 18-wheelers each dumped two loads of dirt at the construction site on Rainbow Avenue.
American Concrete, located in Molino, donated the concrete for the foundation of the home, and lumber for the house was donated by Cantonment Building Materials. Both companies are owned by Billy Campbell.
Rock Solid Surfaces in Cantonment, the exclusive training facility and distributor of Granicrete for south Alabama and Northwest Florida, did the front walkway and courtyard. Granicrete is a decorative concrete designed to adhere to concrete, tile, and even laminate countertops producing the look of natural stone (field stone, slate, marble, etc.) with the consistency and durability of concrete.
“We are excited for the nation to see the story of Finis and this Pensacola community,” said Frank Lott, III, president of Heritage Homes. “Together, we built a great home for Finis and his family, and weʼre ready to gather again with all the volunteers and partners to enjoy the experience together.”
The newly completed home is 3,600 square feet total with 3,100 square feet heated and cooled and a 500 square foot garage. Layout includes four bedrooms and a nursery as well as three bathrooms.
Pictured top inset: The Tate High School Showband of the South marches in the “Big Reveal” parade. Pictured middle inset: Cantonment Building Materials donated lumber for the home. Pictured bottom inset: Tyler Hochstetler (Atmore), Steve Gaier (Orlando), Berry Nall (Atmore), Rocky Williams (Cantonment), Matt Cummings (Cantonment) and Mike Mathews (Pensacola) of Rock Solid Surfaces in Cantonment. Pictured below: Campbell’s Sand & Gravel of Century dumps a load of dirt for the foundation of the ABC Extreme Home Makeover house. Pictured bottom: “Move That Bus!”. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Merry Christmas Y’all
December 12, 2010
Our redneck friends and neighbors in north Santa Rosa County celebrated Christmas with their annual Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade Saturday. An estimated 18,000 people attended the parade and BonfireJam with Rodney Atkins and Little Big Town.
Deer, camo, trucks and tractors were a common theme, along just good redneck fun.
For more photos from the Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade, click here.
Pictured above and below: The annual Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade was held Saturday afternoon in north Santa Rosa County. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Sims, Golson To Wed
December 12, 2010
Darryl and Ellen Sims of Bogia announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Chelsea Sims, to Ethan Golson, the son of Ricky and Cheryl Golson of Bratt.
Chelsea is the granddaughter of Buck and Glenda Kelley of Bogia and Gene and Gwen Sims of Brewton. She is a 2009 graduate of Northview High School and is currently attending Pensacola State College. She is pursuing a degree in education. She is employed with Heather Leonard’s Danceworks as a dance instructor.
Ethan is the grandson of Marlene Forester of Atmore and the late Curtis Forester, and the late Walter Lee Golson and Doris Oline Hopkins. He is a 2008 graduate of Northview High School. He is currently serving in the U.S. Navy and is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, aboard the U.S.S. Scranton.
The wedding will be at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 1, 2011, at Highland Baptist Church in Molino. All friends and relatives are invited to attend.
Local Residents Celebrate Christmas At Sabal House
December 12, 2010
The Sabal House Adult Living Facility in Pensacola recently held their annual Christmas Family Night. Residents Gail Fillingim (seated, left) from Bay Springs and Betty Meadows (seated, right) of Davisville, were joined by their daughters, Susan F. Purvis and Sheila M. Bass, and other family members. They were treated to a delicious prime rib dinner and entertained by The Silvertone Summer Band with a special appearance by Santa Claus. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: Impressive Athenian Chicken Rolls
December 12, 2010
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is a “Athenian Chicken Rolls”, flavorful little bundles of chicken, feta and spinach.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Here is the sauce that omitted from the recipe card above:
ATHENIAN CHICKEN SAUCE
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp mushrooms, chopped
1 Tbsp flour
1 c chicken broth
3/4 c white wine, dry
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 Tbsp capers, drained
To make sauce, drain most of oil from frypan, leaving brown bits on bottom of pan; add butter and melt over medium heat. Add mushrooms and saute about 2 minutes. Add flour, stirring to blend and thicken. Add chicken broth, wine, lemon juice and capers. Cook about 4 minutes or until thickened.
Cottage Hill Woman Jailed On Drug Charges
December 11, 2010
A Cottage Hill woman is facing multiple drug charges after deputies discovered meth and drug equipment at her Elna Road Home.
Terra Cae Palmer, 34, is charged with possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a listed chemical (ephedrine) and manufacturing methamphetamines.
When deputies arrived as Palmer’s residence to serve an outstanding drug warrant, they discovered the meth and drug equipment, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
A Hazmat team was called to the residence to dispose of some of the chemicals that were discovered, according to the report.
Palmer is being held in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $50,000.
Century Man Guilty Of Armed Robbery, Could Face Two Life Sentences
December 11, 2010
A Century man has been found guilty of two counts of armed robbery with a firearm by an Escambia County Jury for the March 4, 2010, holdup of Moyes State Line Food Mart.
Shawn Demarcus Simmons is facing a 10 year mandatory minimum and a maximum of life in state prison on each count, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Simmons, who was once named one of Escambia County’s most wanted criminals, will be sentenced December 29.
Simmons forced the store clerk at gunpoint to empty the cash register, and took several hundred of dollars in Florida Lottery funds and several lottery tickets. After robbing the clerk, Simmons allegedly robbed a customer at gunpoint.
K-9 units from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Century Correctional Institution joined Escambia County deputies and Flomaton Police Department officers in a lengthy manhunt for the suspect. The manhunt was centered in an area bounded by Highway 29, Old Flomaton Road, Highway 4 and the Alabama state line.
Less than two hours after the Moyes robbery, a resident just south of the convenience store called 911 to report that a black male wearing a dark colored hoodie jacket was standing at her door, covered in mud. The resident also described the man as having lips that were light in color and appeared to be burned.
‘Don’t you know me? Don’t you remember me? The police are after me’,” the suspect told the woman, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The man reportedly asked the female if he could enter the house, but she refused and called for help. A black jacket was recovered by an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technician from behind the woman’s residence. Deputies called off the search about three hours after the robbery, unable to locate Simmons.
The woman at the house later identified Simmons from a photo line up as the man that was at her door. Another witness that was outside the store prior to the robbery also picked Simmons out of a photo line up.
Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers later named Simmons as one of Escambia County’s most wanted fugitives after he was accused of robbing and pistol-whipping a Century man. Simmons was also the subject of additional manhunts in Century and Brewton, Alabama.
Pictured top: Deputies investigate the March 4, 2010, armed robbery of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century. Pictured middle inset: Tracking dogs are used to search for Simmons following a Century armed robbery. Pictured bottom inset: A crime scene technician dusts the door of Moyes State Line Food Mart in Century after a March 4 armed robbery. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Byrneville Elementary Presents Jingle Bell Jukebox
December 11, 2010
The third, fourth and fifth grade students at Byrneville Elementary School presented their annual Christmas play with “Jingle Bell Jukebox” Friday night at Northview High School. The play was under the direction of Elaine Holk.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured above and below: Byrneville Elementary presented “Jingle Bell Jukebox” Friday night. Submitted photos by Heather Leonard, click to enlarge.
