Budget Cuts

Although most are reluctant to admit it, our society is currently in an economic crisis. The only positive account I have seen at this time is that gas prices are dropping.

The current economic status is affecting everything from jobs, food, and also schools. Bay News 9 reports that budget cuts in public schools can potentially cause elementary schools in Pinellas County to close.

Pinellas County has to cut millions of dollars from its budget this year alone and is expected to cut $40 million next year.

It was reported that four schools could possibly close: Gulf Beaches in St. Pete Beach, Kings Highway and North Ward in Clearwater, Palm Harbor Elementary and Rio Vista in St. Petersburg. If these schools are closed, the students attending will be forced to attend other schools.

Last year, Pinellas County closed three schools (Largo Central Elementary, South Ward Elementary and Riviera Middle School.). After a while, how many schools will be left? The number of adolescents isn’t decreasing; something has to give.

I think this example of some schools possibly closing and others already closed is indicative of the fact that our economy is not doing very well.

The public school system is very important for so many individuals and to not have as many schools available for our growing economy is scary. I just see this as being a big problem and not really solving anything, but I do understand that the school board is forced to make these tough decisions.

With more students at a school, more buses will be needed to compensate for the extra bodies. I remember when I used to ride the bus, it was already cozy. Just imagine more students having to pile on the bus because they can’t drive and their parents have to go to work.

And if budget cuts are already being made, will there be room to hire more bus drivers or get more buses? I guess the buses from the schools that could close can be used at the over-populated schools, but then more routes will need to be created which will lead to more work for the drivers and possibly a higher salary.

Also, since schools will possibly be closed, all of the teachers at those closing schools will lose their jobs. But just because the number of schools is reduced, doesn’t mean the number of students will reduce. Teachers are a necessity.

I think that the teacher-to-student ratio will be negatively affected if these schools are closed and students are forced to go to school elsewhere. How can students learn effectively if a teacher has to attend to an outrageous amount of students all at once? I think this could potentially lead to the students receiving lower test scores which will in turn affect the grade of the school.

The Associated Press reports that due to budget cuts, public schools in Florida have already had to let go of lunchroom staff and bus drivers. This goes back to what I stated earlier. If bus drivers are already being let go, what exactly will happen when the buses become over-populated because the students from other schools had to transfer to this particular school? Now these students have to pile on the bus with these other students...what if there is not enough room?

In Hillsborough County, budget cuts have led to the summer FCAT make-up exam being removed. This program is designated for seniors to have another chance to pass the FCAT so they can receive their diploma.

I remember when I was in high school; some students who graduated with me depended on this program so they could have more than just that certificate of completion they receive if they didn’t pass the FCAT.

Although I do think that the FCAT is a test that most should be able to pass, I do think that cutting this program is leaving some people with a disadvantage. If they didn’t pass the test before graduation, they just are out of luck?

I do understand that schools can no longer afford certain luxuries it was hard because of the current state of our economy, but these children still deserve a decent education.

Education is the key in this world and cutting back on education isn’t going to be effective in the long run. I don’t have the answer for exactly what can be done to compensate for the budget cuts, but I know that closing the schools should be last on the list.

I can only imagine that with time the economic status will get worst, but hopefully things will get better for us all!

Public meeting 3

I attended the Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting on October 24. This committee is made up of people of Hillsborough county who are appointed to this organization by each county commissioner. Each one of these commissioners chooses 2 individuals to serve on the committee.


In the meeting, the contract unit manager The Affordable Housing Office of Hillsborough County Valmarie Turner spoke a new program that would be coming to Hillsborough County. The program is called The Neighborhood Stabilization Program.


This program came about under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, which was signed by the president. Under this program, Hillsborough County is to receive over 19 million dollars to help with the failing housing business. This money would help with the foreclosures and abandoned property.


I really think that this program would be helpful because as you drive up and down the street, you see so many foreclosed or abandoned homes because people can't afford to pay. I personally know of people who have abandoned their homes because they couldn't afford the basic upkeep.
It's sad to see this kind of situation occur, but I really feel that this program will only help our communities.


Turner had a map that illustrated the current home foreclosure rate in Hillsborough County from the beginning of this year until up until September 30. This map included that there were more than 15,000 foreclosures filed in Hillsborough County.


Turner also informed that the nonprofit organizations involved in this program would have the title to the particular property that is foreclosed.


This program would help people who don't have as much income. The program would buy the foreclose and/or abandoned homes and turn around and help people get in those homes who couldn’t get it on their own. Turner advised that this program would provide "down payment assistance to them as well".


Turner also emphasized the fact that this program wasn't created to make money; it was created just to make the Hillsborough county area better.


One of the members asked Turner if the program would help someone that was in foreclosure but wanted to keep their home. Turner advised that this program wouldn't help that person.
But she did add that she does wish to have a program in force with that that kind of purpose.


When I attended this meeting, the plan had to be discussed at the Board of County Commissioners on November 6...this meeting is where the plan would get final approval to go forward.

Off to Court

The first and most important detail I have to mention about my day in court is that the bailiff freely handing over a sheet with information about the case. Now the disturbing part for me is that the sheet included the names of the jury. He just folded that part under and said not to look at it.

This didn't sit well with me because anyone can just easily unfold the sheet, read it, and find the names of the jury members. This careless behavior could have put the jury members lives in danger. It's funny how agencies and people have such a hard time providing public documents, but this bailiff quickly handed over documentation that I personally feel he shouldn't have.

I attended a trial for a man by the name of Eric C. Henderson. He had previously served time for sex offenses. This was an interesting and rare case filed under the Jimmy Ryce Act.

Henderson's attorneys, Robert Mactavish and Maria Pavlidis, stated that the Jimmy Ryce Act was passed in 1999. The Florida legislature decide people in prison for sex offenses will be looked at and evaluated to determine whether they need to be placed in a Florida Civil Commitment Center. This center can be thought of as a maximum security treatment center.

A peculiar thing about this center is that those sent there are kept there indefinitely. They are there until one of the following happens: they convince a judge they are better, the states decides they are better, or they die.

In Henderson's case, he had already served his time and was back on trial because at the time he was convicted, the Jimmy Ryce Act wasn't in existence.

Personally I don't think it was fair to put Henderson on trial because this act wasn't in force when he originally got convicted. I don't agree with his actions, but this man had already paid his debt to society. I could understand that if the laws were unjust and new laws had been created that affected his case, but this wasn't the case.

I understand that with more studies and more advancements, laws may change. This is absolutely fine, I just don't feel that because the laws have changed NOW, actions in the past should be re-evaluated or affected by this.

So this man had to go back on trial to possibly be put in a facility where there isn't a definite clue if he will ever be released!

I do think that the Jimmy Ryce Act is good in some ways. If a sex offender is evaluated and it is determined that he needs more help, this is a good outlet for that individual. Also, this Act will hopefully scare individuals into wanting to do right so they won't be faced with the possibility of being institutionalized for life.

On the other hand, any kind of evaluation that is done on the individual is going to be biased, based on who is conducting the testing.

I did enjoy sitting in on this trial, but it’s easier to understand if one is there for it’s entirety: from start to end. I was lost at first, but the attorneys gave really helpful information about the trial.