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Candidates Tackle Issues

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By RONNIE BLAIR rblair@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 9, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The two candidates for Pasco schools superintendent, meeting in a candidates' forum at Pasco-Hernando Community College, squared off on employee morale, a controversial teaching method and raises for school employees.

Heather Fiorentino, the incumbent making a bid for a second term, cited the school district's accomplishments during her four-year tenure, including the state rating Pasco an A district for the first time.

Challenger Stephen Donaldson, a Gulf High School teacher, said it's time to look at schools from a new perspective to overcome some of the problems plaguing the district.

The forum, held Tuesday evening in the college's performing arts center, was sponsored by the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, with Tom Jackson of The Tampa Tribune and Bill Stevens of the St. Petersburg Times asking questions.

Employee morale was a key issue in the candidates' exchange. They agreed employee morale is low, but disagreed on the reasons and on how to address the problem.

Fiorentino said the weak economy has played a role in lowering morale. She also said the union that represents school employees has not been working and communicating fairly with the district.

United School Employees of Pasco, which is locked in contract negotiations with the district, has endorsed Donaldson.

Fiorentino said the union's priority is employees, but her priority is students first. The tight budget makes improving morale a challenge, she said.

"It is much easier when you have money, and you can give raises," she said.

Donaldson, though, said the economy doesn't drive morale.

"Morale is outside of that," he said.

Donaldson, a retired Air Force major, used his military background for an analogy as he said communication is a key to improving morale.

"Teachers are like troops in the field, and you take care of the troops," he said.

A superintendent should be willing to eat with employees, ride a school bus and visit classrooms to find out what's going on in the schools and what employee concerns are, he said.

Teachers Deserve Raises

Because contract negotiations are still happening, school employees haven't received raises or the step increases for years of service they typically get.

Donaldson said, raises aside, the step increases are a promise the district needs to keep because they are part of last year's contract.

"It is not asking a lot," Donaldson said. "We have the money. I've looked at the budget."

Fiorentino countered that the bad budget year could get worse because the state has told school districts to expect more funding cuts in December. She has told the union that negotiations on raises and step increases will have to wait until after a student head count later this month that will let the district know whether it was off on enrollment projections.

If the count is too low, as expected, the district would be out even more money. State funding is based on number of students.

Fiorentino said her priorities are to avoid layoffs and to maintain employee benefits.

"It's not that our staff doesn't deserve raises," she said. "They most certainly do."

Teaching Method Debated

The candidates also expressed differences in their views about Learning Focused Strategies, a teaching method implemented since Fiorentino took office.

Donaldson said he would let teachers use it if they want, but not require it.

"If you're a teacher, in many ways it makes you feel like a robot," Donaldson said.

Fiorentino said there were problems with implementation of Learning Focused Strategies, but she still supports it. She said it's a research-based system that focuses on "best practices" and is especially helpful to new teachers and those with alternative certification.

The candidates were more in agreement on whether federal and state government mandates were usurping some of the power of local officials to decide how to run their schools.

"I think we have a case in this country where we over legislate," Donaldson said.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act has caused an extra financial burden on the school district, he said. Meanwhile, schools spend too much time chasing letter grades issued by the state, he said.

Donaldson said he would like to see Tallahassee "stay out of our business."

Fiorentino said state and federal mandates have a huge impact on the school district. The edicts from the two don't always mesh either, she said.

"We are being asked to do more and more with less and less money," Fiorentino said.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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