December 30, 2014

2014 In Review This year has been busy making the most of your tax dollars to create, continue, and provide more opportunities to insure your children's success. Below, you will find some of the most rewarding projects for which I am pleased to be a part.

•Resolution on Transitional Accountability sent to Governor Scott as a result of changing standards and testing•WHS Welding Shop & Lively Technical Center program•WCSB/WCSO Driver’s Ed Certificate for Insurance Discounts • Master Inservice Plan to help teachers renew professional teaching certificates and add endorsements to professional certificates.• Partnership with Florida State University & Tallahassee Community College for Dual Enrollment/Early Admission for more accessibility to college courses, free to parents.•Master Teacher Contract & Salary increases for teachers and school employees pulling from surplus funds that had grown larger than state mandated requirements without turning to citizen tax increases.• FSU Multidisciplinary Center Response to Intervention and early intervening services for exceptional students.• Career Pathways Articulation Agreement with Tallahassee

My Perspective �1

Welcome!

When I'm out at school events or in the community, I'm always asked what's new with The School Board. So in an effort to keep parents and teachers in the loop about the most important and exciting new programs, policies, and procedures passed by your School Board, I've developed this newsletter which will be published after each monthly meeting. I'll explain my votes and views on issues that most affect your children. Thanks for reading one School Board Member's perspective!

Melisa Taylor

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You may receive this newsletter by typing SUBSCRIBE in the Subject line of an email to: melisataylor84@gmail.com

MY PERSPECTIVE Melisa Taylor | Wakulla County School Board Member | District 2

December 30, 2014

Community College to continue certificate programs in Digital Design, Nursing Assistant, Accounting Operations, and Web Development• K – 12 Comprehensive Research-based Reading Plan.• Adult Education and Family Literacy General Education Grant to continue and improve Adult Basic Education GED programs.• Contract with Florida Virtual School to meet Florida Statutes & offer more student choice.• Carl Perkins Rural & Sparsely Populated Grant for funding of career and technical programs• Comprehensive New Wakulla Educator Training•Lease agreement with Sunshine Car Care d/b/a Super Lube to provide first rate student training facility with Lively Automotive Mechanics

What I Do for You The role of a school board member is to approve or disapprove policies and procedures recommended by the superintendent, district leaders, and assistant superintendents. This includes a variety of tasks such as approving or disapproving:• grants for teacher education/training and student programs• contracts between our district and other educational institutions• contracts between vendors and contractors exceeding $10,000• mandates in legislation ordered by Florida Statutes and the federal government• letters of retirement, resignation, and hiring of teachers and school employees including administrators at the request of the superintendent (disapproval of which may only be granted if the board member has evidence that said employee is not qualified for the job recommended)•individual school curriculum guides, improvement plans, handbooks, and progression plans

I hope you will use this newsletter as an opportunity to stay engaged in the decisions of our schools in Wakulla County. I welcome your questions and comments and will address the answers to your questions via this newsletter if they are a matter of public concern. However, I will respond to your questions by email or phone call if you have a specific question that is individual to your situation.

Please send your questions to: melisataylor84@gmail.com and enter WCSB Question in the Subject line.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and our students as creating a bright future for them is my primary goal!

My Perspective �2

Teachers Meet with Their Legislator

As a life-long educator and now School Board Member, I find myself just as concerned about Legislative mandates as our district teachers and parents. Therefore, I took the opportunity to invite Florida House Representative Halsey Beshears to visit Wakulla County and sit down with teachers representing Pre-K through 12th grade to discuss some of the most persistent education challenges in our state.

Beshears and teachers discussed looming End-of-Course Exams, the new Florida Standards Assessment that will replace the FCAT, and new Florida Standards that embrace the concepts and ideals of Common Core. The meeting gave teachers the chance to explain the dynamics of our successful district to their Legislator and create a list of important issues for Beshears to take to the Legislative Session this February.

This newsletter does not represent the views of any other Wakulla County School Board Member or the Superintendent; it is a personal perspective of the publisher only.