Florence is a community full of great people. We support civil discourse. Unfortunately, in the past several years a small pack of adult bullies have been terrorizing our school board and superintendent as well as members of the local fire board. What we are experiencing here in Florence is far from civil.
Here are just a few examples. Is it okay to chest-butt the school superintendent before a school board meeting? Is it okay to physically assault another community member because they don’t agree with you? Is it okay to post hate signs across from the playground where children as young as five play at recess? Is it okay for individuals to be threatened with their house being burned down? Is it okay to stick your hand in your mailbox only to find feces and blood because you had the nerve to stand up to these folks? This is not civil and not okay. It is time to stand up to this ugliness and use our vote to fight back.
Florence is a strong community. Strong communities support their infrastructure – their schools and their fire department. Stand with me and vote Yes on May 8th for the school and fire levies. Help the Florence community send a strong message that there is no room for such hate crimes in our community.
If you agree, please go to Facebook and Like PASS It – Florence.
Kristin Nei
Florence
Joyce Schroeder says
Thank you Kristin!
Diana Jo Page says
Mr. Paris,
I don’t know how you came up with $2 million dollars that our school board has wasted. Let’s see a detailed list. Then let’s sit down with budgets from a few comparable schools and just see where you think the wasting has occurred. I do believe you tend to exaggerate in that I have seen no evidence of adding any more administration, in fact, some hours have been cut back. Let’s stick with the facts. As an accountant, I do not deal in supposition or innuendo, I want to see it in black and white. Also, scare tactics and blinders do not help a budget. We gather all the information, history and make projections as guidelines. I would be glad to sit down with you and go over our budget. This is public information and we can easily access this and discuss it as informed, interested citizens. However, it has to be factual, no name calling, no accusations, no threats, just simple fact finding.
Richard Paris says
Dear Ms. Page,
I would love to do that. Just one problem if you can get real figures, as neither I nor at least 4 other x-Trustees were able to get the real figures, but I would love to sit down with you or whomever is “open minded” I have a quote for you from the Movie North Country by Woody Harrelson whose name is Billy White in the movie, the lawyer.
“What are you supposed to do when the ones with all the power are hurting those with none? Well for starters, you stand up. Stand up and tell the truth. You stand up for your friends. You stand up even when you’re all alone. You stand up. ”
Also please verify this: We have “4” Administrators instead of the two that “OPI” mandates. OPI accreditation 10.55.706 article (1) sub article (3) state schools between 551-1050 2 -Full time administrators/principals! The seniority of the school board has cost this community and children over $2,000,000 in 10 years due to administrative waste!
This is a start of the waste, but not the end. The “buying” practices which are not scrutinized nor the “secret, not so secret Activities account.”
Please contact me and we’ll set up a time and place.
Taryn Pettit says
Mr. Paris,
I must agree with the others who have responded. I’ve read letters to the editor in which Mr. McGee’s salary is overly inflated, as well as a letter last year which stated the teachers had received an outlandish pay increase. The reality? Two years ago, teachers negotiated and got a 1.25% increase for two years. Mr. McGee does NOT make $130,000 a year including benefits. Aside from those numbers being incorrect, your comments about student achievement and scholarships received by our students are also incorrect. I’m proud of the education the students of Florence Carlton receive, and we’ve been cutting back year after year after year. I could discuss my classroom budget being cut in half this year, or I could discuss the need for a school resource officer which is just one more position that has been cut due to budget constraints. But instead, I’ll talk about the impact in the classroom on children. Your children no longer go to our school, but you continue to write letters full of misinformation and hate. I am so thankful for the community members who are speaking up, stepping in, and supporting our students and our school. Thank you to everyone who is supporting this levy. If it fails, the middle school will lose two incredibly good teachers and see class sizes increase. We will lose our German teacher. These are facts. Our students will be negatively impacted. This levy is not about the superintendent or the school board, although I believe they are doing the best job that they can and have the best of intentions.(Let’s not forget that the community has elected the school board, voting being a democratic right.) This levy really is about the children who live in Florence. It is about community pulling together and uniting for what ties us all together…Florence Carlton School. Enough is enough, Rick. Exercise your right to vote. Exercise your right to free speech if you must, but have your facts and numbers straight. And please, everyone who is tired of this sort of discourse, exercise YOUR democratic right and vote your conscience.
Gary Jarvie says
As an Alumni and father of two Alumni I returned to Florence from serving 5 years in the United States Army serving my country, I returned to give my daughters the opportunity to have an education in a school I am very proud of. I have seen great things happening here at Florence. New Handicap sidewalks a fantastic new ramp and doors so my daughter can get around the school now without assistance. I have seen Mr. McGee do more for this school than any Superintendent’s Florence has had in the past. New energy efficient lighting in both gyms saving energy as the lights shut off when the gym is not in use. A computer Network that students are able to do online classes. Florence has a great staff that helped my daughter’s graduates to move on to do what they want in the world. They currently working on a Hollywood Motion Picture due to start filming this late fall in China and LA. The proceeds will go to help families that fight the battle of nero blastoma cancer. They also have learned to give back to their community as they donate their time performing to help other children with disabilities. As a tax payer here I am ready to say yes to the levy for it is my turn to give back to the school as it has for my family and my brother and sisters before me and their children who are all off in the world with fantastic jobs. Thank you Florence-Carlton School Go Falcons! Vote “Yes” to help our kids!
Richard Paris says
Dear Ms.Nei.
Wow! Bullying, harassing, publishing people’s private information and shall I go on? Yes their are many bullies in the Florence area and I think you know and associate with many of them, only my opinion of course. The “Hate Crimes” are well, look in the mirror if you can! The Mill levy is the latest attempt by the bullies, holding the children hostage and promising to take away needed services while the bullies get rich and the school system suffers at the expense of people like you! Hate, yes I hate. I hate seeing the defenseless and innocent children being taken advantage of by you, your group, the administrators and a lack of accountability by a total inept school board. By the way, the people who cry “Hate” are just like the people like Reverend Al who cry racism. You’re the one who needs to open her eyes, stop the hating and may I recommend seek counseling. This is of course only my opinion, but I wish you all the best with God’s love and peace!
Diana Jo Page says
Mr. Paris,
My question to you is: have you toured the school, have you seen the areas that need maintenance? How can you suggest children are being held hostage, when parents, grand parents, friends are working so hard to assure these children have a safe environment for their education. Getting rich, who in the world are you talking about?? The tone of your letter definitely reeks of anger, bias, and says nothing to assure me you even care about our children or our community. Nor did you address the crimes that have been committed in the Florence area. What kind of person would do these things? This type of behavior is threatening and shows instability. And, thank God, your letter is only your opinion!
I urge everyone to vote in the May 8 election. Please vote “yes” for the school and fire levies.
I strongly urge everyone to vote in the upcoming election. Please vote yes for the school and fre levies.
Richard Paris says
Dear Ms. Page,
Simple. Their is no doubt that many parents work so hard, but try to listen. As long as this system is handicapped with over administration, the bulk of hard earned taxpayer money, that should go to the teachers, supplies, books, sports equipment goes to fund 2 additional administrators and the staff for those two. I am firmly 100% behind anything that would benefit the students. ANYTHING! Unfortunately there is so much waste as I have detailed and as OPI mandates that until the school board acts with transparency and accountability and demonstrates that they are doing their elected jpbs, instead of rubber stamping. If you and some other would see that in the 10 years that 2 board members have sat there, over $2,000,000.00 has been wasted and for what? For the honor of having 2 additional administrators and support staff at the expense of the childrens education. All the propaganda won’t change that. The truth is there if you want to see it. Think of this 800 students and 4 admins! What’s next a Principal for every grade. Times are tough and with almost 14% unemployment, 24% underemployment people not making mortgage payments, can’t by food, can’t put gas in there vehicles it’s time to not only tighten the belt, but do what is fair! The students deserve more and we only have one opportunity to teach them. Give the teachers the tools and the means. Give the coaches the equipment and the means. Eliminate the waste and in Florence. I too want my property to go up in value, but having 4 or 40 administrators and there staff isn’t the way to go! I pray for the students and this community to be able to have the very best and for what we the taxpayers pay, we are not getting our monies worth.