Children's Movement To Help Manatee

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Florida legislators will starve the Manatee schools again this year. I have been paying attention and have not heard a word of any efforts to raise additional funding or to redirect monies to our 2.6M student public school system.

With the 2011 Session beginning on Tuesday, much of the budget work has alrady been done behind closed doors and in committees. The Legislature's approach to dismantling Florida's public schools heaps regulations and tasks upon the public schools while taking away dollars.

Fortunately, the MCSB realizes that they must fend for themselves and the 43,000 children for whom they are responsible by cobbling together services and programs from independent entities such as the Early Learning Coalitions of Manatee and Sarasota, USF-Sarasota, and the Florida Center for Child and Family Development. The Board led by Superintendent Tim McGonegal, who has quickly gained wide respect by arriving early and listening carefully at almost every community meeting, and aggressive Board members, who are on the lookout for enrichment opportunities, have made the best of a bad situation.

On March 4, the Superintendent and Karen Carpenter attended the Children's Movement of Florida Webinar at USF's Sarasota-Manatee campus. David Lawrence, Manatee native and MHS graduate, hosted the meeting which was broadcast at four locations, including the USF-Sarasota campus. This year's Child Movement agenda has five topics: Health Care, Special Needs Children, the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program, Parent Skills, and Mentoring. Becky Newell, Coordinator for West Florida, helped to feed questions from Sarasota to the Webcast site.

Despite minor technical problems, the good intentions and careful preparation of all involved carried the day and made for a worthwhile hour. The high hopes for HB 245 (SB 406) which will provide insurance for more children were described and the legislative strategies explained.

Though things look grim this year, the MCSB continues to hold its head up and move forward. If help is out there in any form, I bet they will find it and bring it home.

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