As a member of this community, I am committed to improving our schools. I will work tirelessly to make sure that our students are getting the best education possible with an increased focus on literacy, extracurricular activities, and STEM classes.
For the past fifteen years my wife and I have worked to bring our community together with our School District to support our children, veterans and businesses. I have unique experience, education, and creative ideas that has and will make me an asset for the School Board.
When I was on the School Board from 2014 – 2018 we went from a $12 million deficit to a $14 million unrestricted reserve. I am a proven fiscal conservative with large budget experience. In the years I was on the Board the School District went from a C rating to a B+ rating. Taxpayers’ money wisely spent.
While on the School Board I started the Gentlemen’s’ Club for elementary school boys teaching them useful life skills, while giving them valuable self-awareness and high future expectations for themselves. GPA in participating Schools increased by three points in one year. I partnered with private business to pay for the boys’ shirts, ties, and end of year dinners. The Gentlemens Club reduced incidents within the school significantly. I also partnered with the private sector for elementary school wrestling team uniforms and middle school girls chorus new dresses for concerts.
I have been a member of the Boys and Girls Club Board, a member of the Board of Communities in Schools, and a founding member of the Educators’ Club of Timber Pines, which provides tutors and other assistance to our schools. The Club also raises funds for school technical equipment and music department needs. I am a Director of T-VOLT, a non-profit offering training for the Trades, for unemployed, under employed, and high school seniors not going on to higher education.
I am a DAD, and a GRANDDAD. My 2 stepsons and my daughter are teachers, in different states, but they have the same major concerns and issues: too much paperwork and not enough time for individualized teaching or support. I have 4 grandchildren in public schools, 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons with a 3rd grandson going into kindergarten in 2022. Again, different states but the same major concerns and issues: how and what is being taught in the classes.
I was also a member of the Hernando County Anti-Drug Coalition, which was very influential in having the State Legislature pass the Anti Pill Mill Law and a current member of Kiwanis.
I am a small business owner and a licensed investigator. I am trained to delve into things because not everything is what it seems to be.
I am the only candidate for the School Board who actively researched, proved, and is speaking out about the School District’s Critical Race Theory/Equity Training programs for all faculty and staff. These programs are not for students but are to train teachers how to infuse CRT/Equity into student classes.
I am also the only candidate who has researched and has demonstrative data about the School District’s Collaborative agreement with a company called Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS). Under the guise of Equity, the EOS program is fostering, promoting, and advancing equal outcomes and devaluating the School District’s AP, IB, and AICE programs. The EOS program places lower academically performing minority students into advanced AP and IB classes. The program replaces Merit (ability, talent, and effort) with Skin Color and Income Level (entitlement, diversity, and inclusion), ultimately replacing equal opportunity with equal outcomes. The private supporters of and donors to EOS consist of far-left technocrats and tech companies, including but not limited to Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Google. The most recent EOS CEO, Byron Garrett, publicly supported the riots in the aftermath of the George Floyd death and stated that it is EOS’s responsibility to stand in solidarity with the rioters to have the voices of the minority people heard.
While on the School Board I created and developed Work Shops for Parents explaining how to complete applications for Scholarships from local businesses and non-profits.
Platform
I am against Critical Race Theory and the Critical Race Theory Professional Training that the School District has undertaken. I pledge to always investigate, and question, to ensure that Critical Race Theory is not again brought into the School District by the back door. It is important for School Board members to know not only what is being taught in the classrooms, but also what is being presented to our teachers, faculty, and staff through professional development and other means. Critical Race Theory sessions have been already held through professional development. I pledge to work to remove the CRT/Equity programs brought into the School District by a collaborative agreement with a company called Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS).
I support teaching core disciplines such as reading, math, science, and history WITHOUT indoctrination, propaganda, or opinion of any persuasion. I support back to teaching the Basics, Honestly. Teaching our history and civics as it happened, not glossing over or misrepresenting facts. I fully support the new Civic Curriculum depicting our nation in a positive light.
I believe the School District has been deficient in adhering to its policies and procedures regarding the approval and purchase of programs and books, including material and programs for professional development.
I am against charging anyone protesting at a School Board Meeting with being a Domestic Terrorist. Before a parent or group of parents can be labeled as Domestic Terrorists or accused of Harassment or Violence, I would have the School Board vote in the open, in public, so that everyone may see which Board Members vote to call parents Domestic Terrorists.
I strongly support reestablishing “Courtesy Bussing” to keep our children safe, reduce dangerous stacking of cars on roadways around schools, and decrease parents’ waiting time to drop off and pick up their children.
I am in favor of oversight before approval and purchasing programs and books to ensure knowledge of content and ramifications.
I have previously and will continue to work diligently to develop school budgets that are fiscally sound and focus on academic achievement while expanding the students’ school experience.
I support and encourage safety in all schools. I support our SROs, guardians, and crossing guards.
I recognize the efforts of our teachers and our support staff, including bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers.
I appreciate the School District’s volunteer tutors and mentors.
I pledge to continue to support private/public partnerships to enhance budget constraints especially for student music and sports programs, as well as for technical equipment purchases.
I will continue to encourage cost neutral programs such as the Gentlemens Club to reduce serious incidents, promote positive self-awareness, and instill self-importance and value, in elementary schools and our elementary school students. Programs such as the Gentlemens’ Club are cost neutral with support of the private/public partnerships and will help reduce the Achievement Gap.
I have previously and will continue to support, encourage, and expand technical, and vocational training, by reaching out to Tallahassee for new curricula for such things as 3D printing, CAD programing, and basic aeronautic mechanical maintenance. We need these curricula in our schools now to provide our students with the tools needed in our modern society.
I will continue to support and promote student economics to teach students personal budget development, check management, interest rate importance, impact of inflation, and value of comparison shopping to name a few.
