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School Board's Frequent Travelers Upset Readers

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 2, 2008

Call It Like It Is

Regarding "Egos Hit Head-On At School Board's Travel Policy Meeting" (Metro, July 25):

I am amazed at the public outcry over how the Hillsborough County School Board spends money on travel and entertainment.

Am I the only on who has never gone to a "convention" somewhere only to find out that it was a pretense for carousing and entertaining oneself at the expense of the taxpayer? Come on people. Call it like it is!

You can have all of the discussions you want over what to do about the spending, but it boils down to a couple of things: Have the school board members enjoyed themselves enough to actually contribute positively to the educational issues in Hillsborough County, or is it just another excuse to waste taxpayer funds for selfish pleasure?

Please see all of the statistics over how "well" Hillsborough students are doing in terms of graduation. Please excuse all of the graduates who achieved that goal and are held in the highest regard by me.

PAUL BERGFIELD

Tampa

Better Use Of Money

Jet-setter Susan Valdes has some explaining to do. She spent $35,600 on self-serving "board certification" junkets. For that amount of money the school district could send almost 100 general education teachers to the National Association of Gifted Students' Annual Convention, to be held in Tampa this fall. That's almost one teacher per elementary school.

These professionals could then educate their peers on best practices in education. Our 16,000 gifted students, spread throughout the district, would reap the return on this investment. But, the money is gone.

I am embarrassed to reside in Hillsborough County's District 1 and sad for the extremely able students who could grow up to be leaders.

Let's hope they learn about good judgment and public trust somewhere. They surely learn only disappointment and betrayal from our school board member Susan Valdes. She's as unqualified to lead as she was four years ago. It's time for change!

STEPHANIE GEORGIADES

Tampa

Bothered By Bickering

I am astounded with the travel expenses of the Hillsborough County School board.

I am greatly astounded by the bickering that these politicians have been doing among each other.

School boards are supposed to be groups of people who work together to make their particular school system the best it can be.

I have chills thinking of all the critical cuts that have been made in Hillsborough County to cut spending.

Just think how many teachers, aides or nurses could have kept their jobs with just the travel expenses of these politicians.

Then I remember that these politicians are the ones who hired the worst superintendent that Hillsborough has ever had in MaryEllen Elia.

AGNES MURPHY

Valrico

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