Our nation’s current economic struggle is not leaving any area untouched. Setbacks can be seen all the way from Wall Street in regards to the shutdown of major institutions and is personalized with the foreclosure signs all throughout our neighborhoods. Hillsborough and Pinellas county schools are facing a major crisis in regards to the ever growing budget cuts. According to a bay news 9 report, last year alone 3 schools in Pinellas County were forced to close and this year’s round of budget cuts is only putting more schools at risk for the same fate.
The school superintendent in the state of Florida announced that budgets for schools would be cut by almost 2 percent, which many not seem like a lot to most but it actually translates to about 21 million dollars in the Pinellas county school district alone.
I feel that this is a very poor reflection of our society’s priority system right now. I realize that a time like this there will be a need to cut back on certain things, but education should not be one of them. Even so, a reasonable cut is understandable but one that endangers the school’s existence should not be tolerated. I imagine this is one of the many reasons that the educational system in Florida is lagging behind most of the educational systems throughout the nation.
Budget cuts affect students in many ways. Budget cuts can affect things like field trips, extracurricular programs, and supplemental instruction programs which are key to many students success such as free tutoring. However it is not just the students that are affected, many people will loose jobs. Though the board of ed. has previously stated in interviews that they will put the biggest effort possible to fight that this doesn’t happen, they admit they can’t guarantee it.
Palm Harbor Elementary is one of the schools that are facing the possibility of being closed down. Their website states that they have consistently produced high scores on the FCAT, have an exemplary music program, and have a variety of before and after school programs. This means that a school which has been “recognized by the state of Florida as high performing”, is going to be closing its doors? A school that has not failed its students, but has excelled has no amnesty from our economic crisis. And what will happen to the parents who depend on these before and after school programs? My mother was one of these parents when I was a child. She worked late and would therefore enroll me and my brother in after school programs to ensure that we were being looked after rather than having to walk home alone. Though there will be other schools available for students to attend, this will surely mean a farther drive for some parents, which means leaving earlier or possibly arriving late to work. Some schools may not offer the kind of programs that are offered at Palm Harbor.
Palm Harbor has been working on a school improvement plan and uses many resources provided by district funding in order to ensure that they maintain their ‘A’ standing. Palm Harbor has an extended learning program which invites struggling students to a book club instructed by their teachers who use books chosen that will interest these students and motivate them to do better. Palm Harbor not only provides this tutoring service but it also coordinates parent workshops to help parents better understand their children’s curriculums. The school district funds provide resources such as professional books, assessment programs, FCAT preparation materials, online supplemental instruction, and reading programs.
In the end, every school matters. Education is not only important but vital to our future. We should invest every penny possible into education, not withdraw funds from it. Florida will continue to lag behind other states if it continues to consider education only as a secondary priority. Our governments are failing us as students and instead choosing to invest in those things that will only benefit them and that they have a financial interest in. If we are seeing the discussion of bailouts for the automobile industry and the bailouts we have provided for the housing market, why can’t we then also help our educational system? I see how important it is to keep our economy flowing and how helping these industries is important but it has been too long that education has been overlooked. And if we are in such an economic crisis, we are likely to have to begin anew and thus we should focus on what can help us lead in the future and help us move forward. Allowing for crippling budget cuts to our schools is not an option.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Public Meeting # 3
Our economy has been an issue of much debate in the mainstream media lately. It is an issue that is hitting home to a lot of people in the US right now. A direct result of the downward spiral our economy has taken is the incredible increase there has been in the area of home foreclosures.
On October 24th, Valmarie Turner brought this issue up before The Citizens Advisory Board Committee. Valmarie is the contracts unit manager for the Affordable Housing Office for Hillsborough County. She spoke about the neighborhood stabilization program that will be coming to Hillsborough county. She explained that the program is a result of an act that the president signed in July which set aside money for a foreclosure initiative. I was surprised that I had not heard about this act amidst all the foreclosure coverage that has been going on lately in the news. This act signed by the president will bring in over 19 million dollars to our county which will help to stabilize those communities that have the higher rates of foreclosure. Valmarie informed the committee that the county is focusing on the orient park area, the area surrounding our university and the clair mel progess village area. I live off campus, but I do live in this area and although I have seen that we are in close proximity to neighborhoods that are far from flourishing, I never really thought about the fact there are probably a lot of people here struggling to keep their homes.
Valmarie said that her office will be working with nonprofits to acquire the properties and work through lenders. At first, I didn’t quite understand how this is going to help the people who are struggling to make ends meet. When Valmarie elaborated in speaking to Don Coryell, she stated that the county isn’t looking to keep the properties and is working to instead help people who wouldn’t qualify for a home, to get a home and help them with down payments. In essence it seems like a catch 22. There were people who needed help to begin with, because they couldn’t pay their mortgages, so they ended up having to foreclose and move. However, these people didn’t receive the help that now new residents will be receiving. The program is wonderful for the people who weren’t able to qualify previously, but it is also at the expense of those who needed help to keep their homes to begin with. And sadly, it seems that a lot of government programs are like this – in order to do some good, you end up doing something of a disservice to others. In the end, at least some people are being helped.
On October 24th, Valmarie Turner brought this issue up before The Citizens Advisory Board Committee. Valmarie is the contracts unit manager for the Affordable Housing Office for Hillsborough County. She spoke about the neighborhood stabilization program that will be coming to Hillsborough county. She explained that the program is a result of an act that the president signed in July which set aside money for a foreclosure initiative. I was surprised that I had not heard about this act amidst all the foreclosure coverage that has been going on lately in the news. This act signed by the president will bring in over 19 million dollars to our county which will help to stabilize those communities that have the higher rates of foreclosure. Valmarie informed the committee that the county is focusing on the orient park area, the area surrounding our university and the clair mel progess village area. I live off campus, but I do live in this area and although I have seen that we are in close proximity to neighborhoods that are far from flourishing, I never really thought about the fact there are probably a lot of people here struggling to keep their homes.
Valmarie said that her office will be working with nonprofits to acquire the properties and work through lenders. At first, I didn’t quite understand how this is going to help the people who are struggling to make ends meet. When Valmarie elaborated in speaking to Don Coryell, she stated that the county isn’t looking to keep the properties and is working to instead help people who wouldn’t qualify for a home, to get a home and help them with down payments. In essence it seems like a catch 22. There were people who needed help to begin with, because they couldn’t pay their mortgages, so they ended up having to foreclose and move. However, these people didn’t receive the help that now new residents will be receiving. The program is wonderful for the people who weren’t able to qualify previously, but it is also at the expense of those who needed help to keep their homes to begin with. And sadly, it seems that a lot of government programs are like this – in order to do some good, you end up doing something of a disservice to others. In the end, at least some people are being helped.
Just For Fun
The package Ashley and I worked on for the Oracle.
click here = )
any feedback is good feedback... unless of course it's purpose is to be mean.
click here = )
any feedback is good feedback... unless of course it's purpose is to be mean.
Jimmy Ryce Trial
I attended the trial of Eric C. Henderson, a man who was brought before the court under Jimmy Ryce charges.
When I entered the courtroom I didn't really have any idea about what the trial was going to be about, but I was definitely surprised when the first thing I heard was related to the defendant masturbating. I was informed by the bailiff that we were in trial that involved Jimmy Ryce charges, which was a rare type of case and involved sexual offenses.
The Jimmy Ryce act was created as a result of Jimmy Ryce's murder. He was a nine year old child who was abducted,raped, and later killed in Homestead, Florida. The lawyers representing Mr. Henderson explained to me that the Jimmy Ryce Act allows for the Department of Children and Families to screen sexual offense inmates who are within a year from their release date. If DCF feels that there is any chance that they inmate might commit another offense, they can bring forward a Jimmy Ryce charge. If an inmate is found guilty under a Jimmy Ryce charge they can be retained in a treatment center indefinitely. Mr. Henderson's lawyers explained to me that the only three ways to get out of the treatment center is whether or not the state wants to make a deal, if the inmate gets really old or has cancer, and whether or not they are convinced that the treatment has worked and progression has been made.
I learned that there if a person was in fact innocent, there was a statute built in to the Jimmy Ryce Act the provides DCF immunity and could therefore not be held liable. I also learned that there are currently 700 inmates housed in the treatment center which is called the Florida Civil Commitment Center which is run by DCF as opposed to the Department of Corrections.
Mr. Henderson had served his time and his term had ended over a year and a half ago but he was moved to the treatment center and has been there ever since the end of his term, awaiting sentencing. The day we attended was the last day of the trial and the jury was ordered to convene again in the morning for closing arguments as well as deliberations. It would be up to the jury to decide whether or not to retain Mr. Henderson in the treatment center or if he his term was enough.
I feel that this law is almost unconstitutional because it is infringing on a citizens rights. The whole process involved in the Jimmy Ryce Act is subjective. DCF has the power to review all these inmates and decide whether or not they should be freed, even though a jury has already sentenced the individual to an amount of time that has been served. It seems unfair to punish someone for a crime they have already served time for, and the fact that the term in the treatment is indefinite seems really unreasonable. I feel that these kinds of crimes are especially horrible, however I also realize that we have a justice system that we have created to serve the purpose of proper punishment. If we are allowing DCF, which is not part of our justice system to have this kind of power, we are saying our justice system is inadequate and did not do its job.
When I entered the courtroom I didn't really have any idea about what the trial was going to be about, but I was definitely surprised when the first thing I heard was related to the defendant masturbating. I was informed by the bailiff that we were in trial that involved Jimmy Ryce charges, which was a rare type of case and involved sexual offenses.
The Jimmy Ryce act was created as a result of Jimmy Ryce's murder. He was a nine year old child who was abducted,raped, and later killed in Homestead, Florida. The lawyers representing Mr. Henderson explained to me that the Jimmy Ryce Act allows for the Department of Children and Families to screen sexual offense inmates who are within a year from their release date. If DCF feels that there is any chance that they inmate might commit another offense, they can bring forward a Jimmy Ryce charge. If an inmate is found guilty under a Jimmy Ryce charge they can be retained in a treatment center indefinitely. Mr. Henderson's lawyers explained to me that the only three ways to get out of the treatment center is whether or not the state wants to make a deal, if the inmate gets really old or has cancer, and whether or not they are convinced that the treatment has worked and progression has been made.
I learned that there if a person was in fact innocent, there was a statute built in to the Jimmy Ryce Act the provides DCF immunity and could therefore not be held liable. I also learned that there are currently 700 inmates housed in the treatment center which is called the Florida Civil Commitment Center which is run by DCF as opposed to the Department of Corrections.
Mr. Henderson had served his time and his term had ended over a year and a half ago but he was moved to the treatment center and has been there ever since the end of his term, awaiting sentencing. The day we attended was the last day of the trial and the jury was ordered to convene again in the morning for closing arguments as well as deliberations. It would be up to the jury to decide whether or not to retain Mr. Henderson in the treatment center or if he his term was enough.
I feel that this law is almost unconstitutional because it is infringing on a citizens rights. The whole process involved in the Jimmy Ryce Act is subjective. DCF has the power to review all these inmates and decide whether or not they should be freed, even though a jury has already sentenced the individual to an amount of time that has been served. It seems unfair to punish someone for a crime they have already served time for, and the fact that the term in the treatment is indefinite seems really unreasonable. I feel that these kinds of crimes are especially horrible, however I also realize that we have a justice system that we have created to serve the purpose of proper punishment. If we are allowing DCF, which is not part of our justice system to have this kind of power, we are saying our justice system is inadequate and did not do its job.
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