Walton Co. School Board Meets about Blithe Spirit!!

[Bdarg]

WaltonGOP,

I have only lived in the area for a little over a year. In that time, my family has tried to become active in the community. I think we have been largely successful at getting involved. Our first opportunity to vote was a couple of weeks ago, but it just happened that nothing was on the ballot. We were busy searching the county websites and searching for roadside signs to see if we were missing something. As for public meetings, we have found ourselves greatly limited in attending some of the meetings because of the one-hour drive time to Defuniak Springs--the folks in Sandestin have an even further drive. I think it is a great step in the right direction to hold at least the school board meetings at floating locations. I am sure that the folks in Paxton probably have similar issues; part of the problem of having such a large and diverse county. From what I have seen when meetings are held south of the bay attendance is much greater.

We are still adjusting to not having a daily newspaper that covers our area, having moved from a larger city. The Walton Sun does a good job, but being a weekly, it is hard to cover everything in a timely way. The Northwest Daily captures some news but is not focused on Walton County. Of course radio and television news coverage are essentially absent from the county, only covering Walton County issues on rare occasion.

With 90% of the tax base living south of the bay, either the politician’s focus of attention will change, or the people’s frustration will eventually bring about greater participation. I would say that this should be especially so after fiasco such as this group of fundamentalist outsiders attacking our children, their education and their play. I do know that I was not the only one who took notes last week so that I can vote properly the next round of elections.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Just not much of a conspiracy person. They all seem to be really trying to do the best that they can. They are hampered in that they have to stay within certain rules. I am sure that there is an amount of payback that occurs. But that occurs in everyday life, not just government. Some of the things that you mention I have tried and have not run into the level of frustration that appears to have blocked your way. Maybe I am the one being naive here.[/QUOTE]

maybe. Or maybe I have just been dealing with it for longer, and maybe I have greater expectations of people we elect to office. The rules they have are not that restrictive--they use that as an excuse. They are swayed by special interests much too often and IMO have no real vision for the county and its people.

The School Board situation is sad. To accept that the Superintendent and Principal of SWHS actually allowed a group of outsiders to use religious scare tactics to determine what a Drama Class can do is beyond amazing!


It's been my experience that the students often are more in tune with a reasoned approach than many of adults--especially those who would blindly follow a directive from the pulpit. The most recent meeting was no exception. What is sad, though, is that Principal Ewing caved into to the scare tactics. What kind of example for leadership is that?

Citizens of Walton County need to see some leadership ability from its elected leaders! Or, we need some new leaders.

 

[Smiling JOe]

WaltonGOP, reading the WCTA website, I see the list of financial contributers to the County Commissioners. I also notice several deveoplers and engineering companies who often represent the developers at the Planning Comm and BCC meetings. For you to say it isn't a good ole boy network around here, I encourage you to reread those lists of contributors.

 

[wrobert]

WaltonGOP, reading the WCTA website, I see the list of financial contributers to the County Commissioners. I also notice several deveoplers and engineering companies who often represent the developers at the Planning Comm and BCC meetings. For you to say it isn't a good ole boy network around here, I encourage you to reread those lists of contributors.

So you are assuming that because they take monetary contributions from these people, that they are endeared to them? I see them vote for things that I feel favor these individuals as well as things that do not favor them. Developers are the industry in all of Florida. They give money to the process to try to get people elected that favor their way of thinking. Unless we institute some sort of public financing system, this is the one we have to live with. Rather right or wrong, it takes a lot to get elected. And you have to get elected to be where you can affect change.

But a well organized grass roots group could change things.

 

[wrobert]

WaltonGOP,

I have only lived in the area for a little over a year. In that time, my family has tried to become active in the community. I think we have been largely successful at getting involved. Our first opportunity to vote was a couple of weeks ago, but it just happened that nothing was on the ballot. We were busy searching the county websites and searching for roadside signs to see if we were missing something. As for public meetings, we have found ourselves greatly limited in attending some of the meetings because of the one-hour drive time to Defuniak Springs--the folks in Sandestin have an even further drive. I think it is a great step in the right direction to hold at least the school board meetings at floating locations. I am sure that the folks in Paxton probably have similar issues; part of the problem of having such a large and diverse county. From what I have seen when meetings are held south of the bay attendance is much greater.

We are still adjusting to not having a daily newspaper that covers our area, having moved from a larger city. The Walton Sun does a good job, but being a weekly, it is hard to cover everything in a timely way. The Northwest Daily captures some news but is not focused on Walton County. Of course radio and television news coverage are essentially absent from the county, only covering Walton County issues on rare occasion.

With 90% of the tax base living south of the bay, either the politician?s focus of attention will change, or the people?s frustration will eventually bring about greater participation. I would say that this should be especially so after fiasco such as this group of fundamentalist outsiders attacking our children, their education and their play. I do know that I was not the only one who took notes last week so that I can vote properly the next round of elections.

The BCC meetings have been between the two county facilities for quite a while. It is really sad that it took six years for the school board to start meeting in south Walton again. The last meeting I remember was with the Bay Elementary Charter stuff. Also some pretty interesting meetings when they were trying to get south Walton high school built. But then they quit meeting in the area for some reason. Never really understood why. Paxton is 20 minutes from DeFuniak Springs. About the same as Red Bay or Freeport. I have a meeting once a month in south Walton. Took awhile but I got them to hold every third meeting in DeFuniak Springs just to make it easier on people in the area.

As for fairness, Freeport seems to be about the most fair place for anyone to meet. Nice auditorium at the school also. But not complaining. Now I will just have to pay attention as to where a meeting is if I wish to attend for the school issues.

What election was a couple of weeks ago in Walton County?

 

[Jdarg]

So you are assuming that because they take monetary contributions from these people, that they are endeared to them? I see them vote for things that I feel favor these individuals as well as things that do not favor them. Developers are the industry in all of Florida. They give money to the process to try to get people elected that favor their way of thinking. Unless we institute some sort of public financing system, this is the one we have to live with. Rather right or wrong, it takes a lot to get elected. And you have to get elected to be where you can affect change.

But a well organized grass roots group could change things.

And here is where we need all suggestions- how do we organize? How do we get everyone together? The school is a good example. There is not a parent organization, like a PTA, so there is not a way to keep parents informed.

 

[wrobert]

And here is where we need all suggestions- how do we organize? How do we get everyone together? The school is a good example. There is not a parent organization, like a PTA, so there is not a way to keep parents informed.

Now this is something I do not know, but why not start a PTO. I swear I thought that there was one at SWHS. I just emailed someone that I thought was involved in things in that area and will see if he can tell me what is available.

But groups start small. I remember 12-15 years ago starting to meet with 3 people every other Saturday at a local eatery in DeFuniak Springs to discuss political issues. At those meetings we shared information, asked questions of each other, learned how to get information. That started my political involvement and it has grown from there. As we grew we started posting everything we found out in discussion groups on the internet, we had several lurkers and they would print the information and pass it around the county. I remember several times being called and having things splained in further detail to me. Mostly I was called to have things spun in a different direction. But it all came out in the wash.

 

[Jdarg]

Thanks WaltonGOP. The school needs a parent organization for sure.

Wouldn't it be awful if we found out that we actually had a PTA? Really though, I don't see how the involved parents I know would have missed it. It seems parents group around the activities- the football parents, basketball parents, etc.

Yes, we are talking and e-mailing and posting on a message board and getting mentions in the paper. I had a great 20 minute conversation with a really nice mom at Publix today. Looks like I will need to build more minutes into my Publix runs in the coming months.

 

[Bdarg]

The BCC meetings have been between the two county facilities for quite a while. It is really sad that it took six years for the school board to start meeting in south Walton again. The last meeting I remember was with the Bay Elementary Charter stuff. Also some pretty interesting meetings when they were trying to get south Walton high school built. But then they quit meeting in the area for some reason. Never really understood why. Paxton is 20 minutes from DeFuniak Springs. About the same as Red Bay or Freeport. I have a meeting once a month in south Walton. Took awhile but I got them to hold every third meeting in DeFuniak Springs just to make it easier on people in the area.

As for fairness, Freeport seems to be about the most fair place for anyone to meet. Nice auditorium at the school also. But not complaining. Now I will just have to pay attention as to where a meeting is if I wish to attend for the school issues.

What election was a couple of weeks ago in Walton County?

Election Day was a couple of weeks ago. It took a lot of looking to confirm that there was nothing on the ballot.

 

[wrobert]

Election Day was a couple of weeks ago. It took a lot of looking to confirm that there was nothing on the ballot.

I remember now. I did get a couple of calls asking what that was because it showed up on some calendars. You are correct, we did not have anything to vote on at that particular time.

But we did have a special election on May 15, 2007 that had a turnout of around 7-9% if I remember correctly. The issue was taking .5 mills of the capital outlay budget and shifting it over to the general budget for the school district. This was to allow additional operating funding for things like salaries, art, drama, sports, and such.