Students To Get Graduation Credits For Working On Bond Campaign
BY BUDDY NEVINS
High school students will get credit towards their graduation if they work on the upcoming school bond referendum, according to a memo distributed to principals last week.
“A bond issue is considered an ‘issue campaign’ and is authorized” to be used to fulfill the service hours requirement for graduation, the memo states.
The memo is a peak at part of the school system’s campaign strategy to pass the $800 million bond issue. They are planning to use students as volunteers and pay them with credits towards their graduation.
To graduate, students are required to work at least 40 hours to provide “service in the community on a voluntary basis to public, nonprofit agencies, civic, charitable and governmental organizations and school campus,” the school guidelines stipulate.
One of the recipients of the memo is Sheela VanHoose, a former director of scheduling for Gov. Rick Scott and now Broward schools lobbyist. VanHoose also has been involved in the bitter infighting in the Broward Republican Party and was even accused of attempting to shut down a website that had been critical of local GOP leaders.
Now VanHoose is a point person inside the school system peddling the bond issue to the public.
Sheela VanHoose: Pushing the bonds
I’m told that VanHoose will be one of those encouraging principals to round up students for the bond campaign.
I wonder if anyone is telling these students that most will graduate before they see any benefits even if the bond issue passes?
I also wonder if the students would get credit for working against the passage of the bonds?
Hmmmmm.
XXXXX
July 21st, 2014 at 9:31 am
Desmond Blackburn is in control of the Chief School Performance and Accountability Officer….Doesnt someone in control of the office of school performance and accountability require Ethics and an understanding of WHAT accountability is??
Broward schools uses students, staff and parents….now they just are SO comfortable with this and this HIDDEN bond issue (Increased taxes) If those students UNDERSTOOD that means a 1% sales tax increase in Broward they wouldn’t do this, (less money in their pockets)and lets face it, the school board uses and abuses the people of Broward….nice to see they are comfortable enough to put it all out there. They are shameful…wasteful Pigs that have ZERO interest in children or their welfare! My vision is a PROACTIVE board….not a self protective one
July 21st, 2014 at 10:41 am
Let ’em turn out. The voters will make this DOA on Nov 4
And the kids will get a real lesson in the power of the Constitution and everyone’s right and responsibility to vote in the meantime
July 21st, 2014 at 2:17 pm
A bond issue is nothing but a loan – a debt that must be repaid with interest. Anyone who thinks we should hand over MORE money to that laughable Broward County School Board needs to have their head examined. VOTE NO!
July 21st, 2014 at 3:00 pm
How about service hours for Amendment #2 (medical marijuana)?
July 21st, 2014 at 8:06 pm
What else would you expect from that administration and weak Board?
July 21st, 2014 at 11:17 pm
This is so pathetic on so many levels. My neighborhood quarterly circular wrote a scathing article denouncing the bond issue. Other than those who will directly benefit from it no rational person could possibly support this boondoggle. Is there no end to corrupt Broward Democratic politics?
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:34 am
As the person pushing for high school and college interns for the ft lauderdale city commission city manager city attorney n city clerk to both learn about government n expedite information flow in ft lauderdale i am astonished to hear about another sleazy slimely move by the board that gets 40 percent of my taxes.
Everything runcie seems to do is to enrich the leaders of a school system whites with even most means flee. 22.5 percent raises for three women aides with no accomplishments while cities are giving 5 to 3 psrcent raises should have alerted the public duncie shouldgo
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:21 am
I wonder if anyone is telling these students that most will graduate before they see any benefits even if the bond issue passes?
Exactly, we wouldn’t want students to think about larger issues, just how they are affected personally in the short run.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:26 am
Politics and education have never mixed, and that’s part of the reason education is not where it should be in America in the 21st Century. Lobbyists and other “special interest groups” get their hands in projects that shouldn’t be theirs and ruin everything because their main objective is their pockets and not the children. They get away with it because children don’t vote, so we have to vote for them. What we need to do now is make the parents understand why they should vote this down. Our kids need us to speak for them.
July 22nd, 2014 at 10:14 am
Community Service hours were put into place to allow students to interact with “Community” events in their local city (community)
In years past, in Plantation I have signed off on countless “hours” for Plantation’s PAL basketball Program, as Commissioner (Non-Profit”.
Students would assist in the scoring, assisting with the league, and registration of the League, including “tryouts” or evaluations. That was their interaction…and they learned organizational skills and had fun too!
Non-Profits regularly use students to assist them in similar ways.
Having the School Board use the children to push an agenda of their own creation, is not, in my opinion, what “service Hours” were intended for students.
Forget about what side of the Bond issue you are on, it’s wrong to “use” the students either way…
Rico Petrocelli
Former Councilman
City of Plantation
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:24 am
Shelia has brought in Former U.S. Senator George Lemieux to be the face of the bond proposal for Republican voters. In light of this, the bond is a sure winner.
Remember fresh faced George knocking on 5000 doors when he ran for State House Deist 92 against Rep. Tracy Stafford? Oh scratch that, Lemieux despite knocking on 5000 doors, lost to a man who was so ill he couldn’t walk or campaign in the race.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Don’t worry help is on the way.
Dale Holness is the most powerful man in Broward County with four candidates in races.
When Dale’s secret candidates defeat Lori Parish & Scott Israel in the next election Dale will be the King of Broward County.
Then Dale’s School Board candidates will conquer the School Board, control all the purse strings, and no one can stop him.
So stop bickering.
July 22nd, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Dale will probably be in prison with me by then.