Refusal to follow, study or act on State Legislation by 12th largest School District in the USA.

"Orange County Florida Education, as bad as it gets" 

Orlando Sentinel Editorial page 06-28-06

Accountability by the OCPS board and administrators is almost non existent.
Earlier this month board members Joie Cadle & Karen Ardaman urged Governor Jeb Bush not to sign HB1221 allowing for the county wide election of a 4 year OCPS board Chair.

On 06/21/06 Governor Bush sign the bill which would allow us to elect a 4 year Chair under the OCPS board Section FS 1001.364 sponsored by Local State Rep. District  5 Dean Cannon.

(2) a) "The district school board may adopt a formal resolution that the proposition be placed on the ballot".

To insure this important choice is made available to Orange County voters , I personally made attempts to contact each member of the OCPS board on 06/21/06  & again on 06/26/06 in order to ensure this would be discussed during the 06/27/06 meeting. Only 2 members called back on 06/26/06
Joie Cadle (District 1), who brought it to the attention of the board for discussion &
Jim Martin (District 7), who stated "I have better things to do" before he hung up on me.  Board member Ric Roach (District 3) called me on 06/28/06 and stated that he looks forward to open public dialog regarding the issues discussed in this letter.

Our Elected OCPS board officials compensation on a  $ per hr basis is more than most due to the lack of a required work schedule.

This lack of accountability and complete disregard towards the communities is evident by the Orange County School board refusalto respond to two resolutions taken by the City of Ocoee, the 2nd largest City in Orange County on July 19th 2005.

Resolutions 2005-009 & 2005-010 the product of extensive volunteer work by Ocoee's Education Commission, were approved by the City Commission of Ocoee & sent to the OCPS board a year ago.

The OCPS board and administrators have refused to discuss or answer the City of Ocoee just as they have ignored the State Education board in recent weeks concerning FCAT results ( Superintendent Blocker being a no show ).

We must require Orange County School board members to work for their "part-time" pay of $39,520.00 year, set have a minimum set schedule and responsibilities. They should respect  resolutions made by volunteer city boards and respect Local City governments ability to voice what is best for their community during an open School Board meeting.

Board members who use the press to sway opinions prior to public meetings should be required to answer questions from the public during the net available meeting before the scheduled agenda begins.
Superintendent Ron Blocker , you must  place  FS 1001.364 on the next agenda for a vote by the board.

The School Board must approve FS 1001.364 under section 2) and turn in a referendum final wording before the August 24th 2006  to the Orange County Elections office.  Let the people vote.


Sincerely,

Pablo "JohnnyQ"  Quinones,  Ocoee School Advisory Board member (P.O. Box 225, Ocoee Fl. 34761)    ( 321-287-4198)   (help@trepo.org)