Comments on: Leon County School Officials Discuss Impacts of $2 Million Award to TCC for Charter School

By: james

james — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:41:33 +0000

Leon County high school students can already dual enroll at TCC. Does this new move mean that Desantis can dictate what is taught at TCC? Teachers do discuss racial issues as well as issues surrounding gender, and many other issues that right wing parents object to. TCC can’t even manage the students it has–they paid off student debt with covid funds and don’t hold students accountable when they fail to go to class or do the work.

By: James Lucas

James Lucas — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:41:18 +0000

By: LP

LP — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 18:39:40 +0000

For the record, there are many high school students who attend regular school during the day and go to Lively in the afternoon. These students are awesome! Imagine graduating from HS and also having a certificate in a trade. I know one duel enrolled high school student that completed the electrical program and then decided to go onto electrical engineering school. He already had all the basics, code knowledge and hands on experience. I bet he was the star of his college class. Lively has full time staff that coordinates with the duel enrolled families and the school counselors throughout the county. The following is from their website “Located in Tallahassee, Lively occupies two sites, including the main campus and the campus at the Tallahassee Regional Airport. Lively also offers dual enrollment programs at Rickards High School, Godby High School, Chiles High School, and Wakulla High School. Part-time career enhancement courses for city, county, and state governmental agencies, as well as private businesses, are often held at the hosts’ own facilities.”

Also, along with other great programs Lively has the second largest welding school in the country with over 170 students. Bet you didn’t know that. That being the case, why did TCC decide to duplicate it next door? Truth is, TCC wants the lively facility. Lively has been starving for resources while TCC is flush with cash, to the point where they’ve eaten up all the land around them. It’s a crying shame! This town caters to the colleges and state government, but many won’t find jobs in those places.

On a related subject… Ever wonder why so much manufacturing is located just outside of Leon County? It’s because, with very few exceptions, our city and county governments make setting up an operation in Tallahassee difficult and unprofitable. If you want your average citizen to have a decent paying job you have to go out fight other communities for these businesses. Many people aren’t suited to work in offices… We did it with Danfoss Turbocor and it’s brought in hundreds of great jobs and made a huge impact on our economy. It blows my mind that so many politicians promise to fight for minorities and low income people yet prevent them from having an opportunity to make a decent living. And nobody seems to see this going on right in front of them.

Maybe TR could actually go to Lively and speak with the staff. And don’t forget to tour the facility and take lots of photos, I think people would be very surprised to see what’s going on out there.(since 1937).

By: Hope

Hope — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:47:25 +0000

Sally Info is correct!

Leon County elected officials are all talk no action except when it comes to their enriching themselves, facilitating another elected official, and their own re-election campaigns. Or they create a board or focus groups to talk about issues such as the new police review board. (Leave the police alone and let them do their job).

Here is the latest fiasco:

County Commissioner Nick Maddox leaves the Boys & Girls Club in disgrace under a sexual harassment complaint. Nick Maddox should never been at the Boys & Girls Club. Here’s one person who knows that or should have known it and should have stopped it… and that is Sheriff Walt McNeil.

McNeil sits on the board of the Boys & Girls Club. Was Sheriff McNeil aware of the hire of Nick Maddox to the Boys & Girls Club? Did he encourage it and even facilitate it?

Why wasn’t Sheriff Walt McNeill screaming up and down no no no this is wrong (for so many reasons)!!!?

Here is why it was wrong. Nick Maddox did not have the credentials to be the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club. I pointed that out when it happened. Also, it was a conflict of interest because Nick Maddox had to recuse himself on many votes on the County Commission regarding the Boys & Girls Club. The Tallahassee Democrat pointed out that that reason alone makes it illegal.

Nick Maddox was double-dipping yet the Sheriff Walt McNeil did nothing to stop it. Walter McNeil should resign from his position of sheriff immediately. Sheriff Walt McNeil said and did nothing. Had he stepped up he would have protected the Boys & Girls Club from harm, but he did not.

Nick Maddox will be voted out of office as there is no way he can survive the sexual harassment issue and voting to give infrastructure dollars to a stadium.

Just like had the Supervisors of Elections allowed Scott Maddox to run for office when they should not have, due to that he did not live in the city, three people would not be in prison right now and some of the corruption in Tallahassee would have not happened. The Supervisors of Elections office failed us with Scott Maddox and caused years of corruption and Sheriff Walt McNeil has failed us with the Boys & Girls Club and needs to resign immediately.

Kudos to the Tallahassee Democrat Jeff Burlew for his excellent investigative reporting.

By: David T. Hawkins

David T. Hawkins — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 12:39:36 +0000

When I went to Cobb Middle School, I took Shop, Taught by Mr. Green, he also is known for drawing the Blue Prints for the Northwood Mall I was told. When I went to Lincoln High School, I again to Shop. I remember an old early 50’s Car behind the Shop Class under a big Oak Tree that someone donated because there was supposed to be an Auto Shop Class as well, key woods being “Supposed To Be”. Here is a crazy question, We have Lively Vo-Tech, which as stop several classes over the years, I took Auto Body Repair which I hear is no longer being taught. Why not have TCC join forces with Lively to increase their Budget so they can expand and add more Courses? The object is to get people Trained for a Career so, lets do that and keep the Politics out of it.

By: Sally Info

Sally Info — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 01:54:03 +0000

You need to just go a few miles south to learn how to implement this program that is already, and has been, in their public schools for a number of years and a large number of Wakulla programs available. Sure their budget is just a ‘tight’ as Leon County budget. And they staff the classes, it seems, without difficulty. And I live in Leon County, but did a little searching and research and concluded Leon is always explaining why they can’t do something vs just ‘do it.’ Seems if the Leon public school system hasn’t done or can’t do it, don’t complain if some other charter tries and does. Don’t think ‘asking the kids what they want’ is encouraging, That’s why adults are elected to the School Board—to know!

By: Hope

Hope — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 18:46:23 +0000

@ Rosemary,

When the School Board and School Superintendent teach the Lgbtq alphabet rather than the ABC alphabet and the Superintendent looks the other way when a member of the school board doxxs, I disagree that it was wrong. It is so refreshing to see our governor take charge and lead.

Perhaps you should take issue with Rosanne Wood. Well played, Governor!

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 18:40:37 +0000

Why is this a gut punch? They should be talking with TCC about a partnership where HS students can attend TCC in the afternoons while still getting core class in the county. Would cut cost for LCBS and TCC and still retain the funding. It would also be a win for the students.

I think it is time to replace 4 of the 5 members. They are not putting the health and wellbeing of the children first, they are not following science and they are violating their Oath of Office and the Florida Constitution.

We did not elect them to be leaders, telling us what to do. We hired to handle the business of educating our children. They are hired help and we can and will fire them. We will look at the books and make sure they are spending our money correctly. We will review all courses and education material as it is our right to do so.

By: Edward Lyle

Edward Lyle — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:47:42 +0000

I’m not understanding what the problem is… oh wait, students now have a “choice” of wither wasting their time in the Leon County Public Indoctrination System learning about Gender Dysphoria, or going to a better school to learn an actual trade.

… I got it now, thanks

By: Rosemary N. Palmer

Rosemary N. Palmer — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:56:23 +0000

Leon is among the few SD that have a dedicated employment training school (which those pushing the new program may or may not know). That is why/how giving the money to start a new duplicative program is just wrong.