7/03/10 School Board Update

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6/28/10 Stopped in and visited with Dr. Kennedy one last time at the Celebration K-8 School before his retirement. I have really enjoyed working with Wayne since his arrival as Principal at the K-8 School. His first plan during retirement was to go up to Jacksonville this weekend to greet his grandson who is returning to port from six months at sea in the Navy. We had a very nice visit, we plan to keep in touch. Later that day had Kissimmee YMCA basketball practice. Did a lot of dribbling and defensive drills, along with loads of running.

6/29/10 Had a School Board workshop. The Board got a lot done at this meeting. We went over the budget for the 2010-2011 school year. We gave staff the green light to keep moving forward with an employee health care clinic. We went over policy revisions/changes. We are looking at language changes to the school uniform policy. We went over results from our second year with school uniforms. The most startling results are that from 2007-2008 to 2008-2009 we cut gang related activity 46% in the first full year with school uniforms, and in our second full year with school uniforms we cut gang related activity for the 2009-2010 school year another 51% from the previous year. Which from it’s inception is a 75% overall reduction in gang related activity in our schools over a two year period with our school uniform policy in place. That is simply outstanding by any measure. School uniforms are definitely making our schools safer for students and staff. Good job to all.

The Board also approved the Superintendents goals for the 2010-2011 school year. Dr. Grego will be bringing us his stretch goals at a Board meeting the end of this month, and I can’t wait to see them. Privately we have had conversations with me requesting that attacking childhood obesity be part of his stretch goals. We really need to do a better job taking on childhood obesity. Finally we went over our FCAT results, which showed dramatic gains in HS and MS this year. To his credit Dr. Grego made it clear before any Board member could bring it up that the district needs to really turn its focus to mathematics this upcoming school year. I completely agree with him. In the past we have really needed to focus on reading, and we have with great gains. Math is the next challenge that we need to get our students to excel at. Students who are good at math, can be good at everything else.

6/30/10-7/2/10 Attended the Florida Association of Counties meeting in Tampa. While there got to spend time with Osceola County Commissioners Brandon Arrington and Fred Hawkins. Also got to spend some time with Osceola County Attorney Jo Thacker and Osceola County Manager Don Fisher. The big topic of conversation was/is the gulf oil spill. Governor Crist addressed the attendees at a lunch meeting, and he clearly was focused on the oil spill. A lot of the attendee’s also made it clear how much they do not care for Gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott.

Today was the Celebration Independence day parade. Thanks to Brenda Hart, Barbara Olson, Cathie Dakel, Cindy Bohn, Kym Grabman, Jennifer Britt, Ben Wheeler, Laura Wheeler, Leidiana Bowen, Dennis Young, Austin Hart, Myranda Grabman, Destiny, Kenny, Barker Advertising, St. Cloud Printing, and everyone else who wore a re-elect Jay Wheeler shirt today and helped out. Also thanks to Larry Walters from Hanson Walters and Associates for his help this weekend. After the parade went to the yearly holiday party at Mike & Rebecca Prevost’s home in Celebration. Mike is the leader of my campaign sign crew, and a great friend. No one leaves a Prevost part hungry, and today was no exception.

For anyone who is less than happy with how the state is dealing with getting FCAT results out this year, call them at 850-245-0505 on Tuesday 7/6 and let them know how you feel. Have a great Holiday tomorrow. If you have any desire to read a good patriotic book that will give some perspective on what our founding fathers went through to found our great nation 234 years ago, try John Adams or 1776 by David McCullough. Any of you out there know the significance of the battle of Trenton ?

Happy July 4th

Jay Wheeler

Osceola County School Board

District One

407-973-4141 (cell)