This 37-minute podcast features responses from Bill Vogel, the soon to be retiring superintendent of schools for Seminole County; his replacement Walt Griffin; and James Lawson, an area superintendent in adjacent Orange County.

The speakers take 19-minutes to respond to 10 previously prepared and submitted questions, and a final 15-minutes to address 5 questions posed by members of the approximately 75 people in attendance. A collection of still photographs of the speakers can be viewed below.

The questions seek updates regarding school operating budget shortfalls…future plans of the new county superintendent, Walt Griffin…teacher performance evaluation methods based on student test scores…the accomplishments of retiring Seminole County superintendent, Bill Vogel…the conflict between charter schools and traditional public schools… the status of Seminole County’s “E-Pathway” initiative and… the future of “end of course” examinations.

Principal Participants

Dr. Bill Vogel Retiring superintendent, Seminole County Public Schools web | bio

Dr. James Lawson Area superintendent, Orange County Public Schools web | bio

Walt Griffin Incoming superintendent, Seminole County Public Schools web | bio

CMF Public Media podcasts featuring issues related to local public education

• The ABC’s of Schools & Poverty (04/12/12)
• Superintendent Search (01/12/12)
• Commentary: Reading Mentors (12/08/11)
• School Budget Cuts (11/10/11)
• Starting School on a Shoestring (07/26/11)
• Commentary: Making Decisions in the Best Interests of Our Students (05/12/11)
• Hispanic Students in Seminole County (04/14/11)
• Commentary: The Arts are Alive in Schools (02/14/11)
• Schaffner: 1-on-1 (12/09/10)
• ½ Cent Sales Tax Proposal (10/21/10)
• Orange County School Funding (09/14/10)
• Vogel: 1-on-1 (08/19/10)

Pictures

Poised at the start of its second decade, the Oviedo Campus of Seminole State College opened in 2001. It is one of 4- campuses comprising Seminole State College’s county wide complex. Perhaps its most distinguishing characteristic is its location. Planted in the city of Oviedo at the southern tip of Seminole County Florida and, as Ledford notes, is within walking distance of the University of Central Florida and a couple of top ranked public high schools.

CMF Public Media met up with Ledford a few months into his new responsibilities as campus provost. Answers to who he is and what he does is a part of this 20-minute feature, and there’s a good deal more in the extended 65-minute interview of Ledford we posted below, where you can also read Provost Ledford’s resume and view a collection of still photographs of him in his campus setting.

We ask about the collaboration initiatives afforded by the geographic location of his campus, the characteristics of and his relationship with his 8,000 students, his role as provost and his passion for higher education, and his vision for the next 10-years of campus progress. We start with two topics which dominate institutions of higher education in the minds of students and regulators – likely tuition increases and student performance measures.

Robert Ledford Interim provost, Oviedo campus, Seminole State College web | bio

CMF Public Media podcasts featuring issues related to Seminole State College

• Funding a Future (07/08/11)
• Commentary: Seminole State College – Oviedo Campus (03/10/11)

Pictures

Extended Interview

Robert Ledford with Stephen McKenney Steck Length – 01:05:02

Dr. Jay Exum president of the Friends of the Wekiva River and principal ecologist with AECOM was the leader of Bioblitz 2012. He recruited hundreds of scientists and volunteers in this fieldwork which would highlight the biodiversity of the basin and the importance of its long-term preservation.

Taxonomic teams were created to concentrate on separate categories of species. At the presentation, each of the taxa team leaders reported on the number of species, the health of their habitat and described of the most unique wildlife they found. The climax of Bioblitz 2012 was the announcement of the final total of species observed in this lightning fast survey of the Wekiva River Basin.

Principal Speaker

Dr. Jay Exum President, Friends of the Wekiva River; principal ecologist, AECOM

Additional Speakers heard at the Bioblitz Tally

• Plants: Randy Mejeur, botanist; associate principal, AECOM
• Aquatic Invertebrates & Fish: Gary L. Warren, principal scientist, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Terrestrial Invertebrates: Derek A. Woller, entomologist, University of Central Florida, Song Lab
• Reptiles and Amphibians: Paul Moler, state herpetologist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• Birds: Lorne Malo, senior regulatory scientist, St. Johns River Water Management District
• Mammals: Jack Stout, professor emeritus – biology, University of Central Florida
• Ecological Systems Reed F. Noss, conservation biologist, University of Central Florida

Additional Content related information

• Friends of the Wekiva River
• Wekiva Springs State Park
• Department of Environmental Protection: Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve

CMF Public Media podcasts featuring issues related to Florida’s environment

• Wekiva River Heritage (05/10/12)
• St. Johns River Keeper (05/27/11)

Pictures

The original 19 members of the Friends of the Wekiva River chartered the organization in 1982. Initially their goal was to prevent wastewater from Altamonte Springs from being dumped in the Wekiva. But in the decades since then they have safeguarded the river from development and pollution. In addition they successfully helped pass the Wekiva River Protection Act, encouraged the state of Florida to acquire additional land around the river and in 2000, Congress declared the Wekiva a National Wild and Scenic River. The Friends of the Wekiva River stands as the watchdog and patron for the river and its fragile ecosystem.

Among the founders of the Friends of the Wekiva River were Russ and Katie Moncrief. For 27 years they operated Katie’s Landing an iconic destination for local and foreign visitors alike. Offering canoeing and kayaking from Wekiva Springs to the St. Johns and providing cabins and camping, Katie’s Landing became the place to go if you wanted to experience the real wild and scenic Florida.

When Russ and Katie decided to retire they sold their 6 acre business site to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection so that it could become part of the Wekiva River Basin State Parks. The grand opening of the new state facility of Katie’s Landing was marked on April 21, 2012 at a ceremony honoring Russ and Katie Moncrief for their dedication to the Wekiva River.

The Department of Environmental Protection urges residents within this spring shed to practice careful use of fertilizer, pesticides/herbicides, service septic tanks, plant drought tolerant plants and support government protection of the basin.

Katie Moncrief Retired owner of Katie’s Landing

Warren Poplin Park manager, Wekiva River Basin State Parks

Deborah Shelley Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, Wekiva- Middle St. Johns aquatic preserve

Additional Content related information

• Friends of the Wekiva River
• Wekiva Springs State Park
• Department of Environmental Protection: Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve

CMF Public Media podcasts featuring issues related to Florida’s environment

• Bioblitz 2012 (05/10/12)
• St. Johns River Keeper (05/27/11)

Pictures

First you will hear Rep. Scott Plakon comment on the budget, redistricting and the comprehensive energy program for the state. Next, Sen. David Simmons gives a detailed up-date of education funding and education policy. Finally, you will hear Rep Jason Brodeur comment on the reform of Workforce Florida and job creation. Individual presentations by these legislators last 25-minutes, followed by 16-minutes of responses to questions from the audience.

This legislative forum was recorded at the luncheon meeting of the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce on April 5, 2012. Legislators are introduced by chamber member Regina Bereswill, VP/Government Affairs. Audience questions are moderated by chamber president, Cory Skeates.

Principal Speakers

Scott Plakon (R) state representative, district #37 Web

David Simmons (R) state senator, district #22 Web

Jason T. Brodeur (R) state representative, district #33 Web

CMF Public Media podcasts featuring issues related to the Florida Legislature

• David Simmons: Legislative Up-date (02/09/12)
• Jason Brodeur: Legislative Update (02/09/12)
• Gun Laws (with Jason Brodeur) (10/13/11)
• Winners & Losers (with Deirdre Macnab, Florida League of Women Voters (04/12/12)

Pictures

After you launch the slideshow below, click “Next” and “Previous” to rotate through the photos.

Why do some schools receive an A rating and others receive a C? Using official data on school achievement based on FCAT testing, Dr. Stanley Smith calculated the impact of poverty on the scores for 38 Seminole County public elementary schools. He concluded at 74% of the variation in scores among the schools could be explained by the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch at a given school. Dr. Smith then adjusted the point scores to reflect the poverty factor which resulted in a new and higher ratings. This often moved schools with a C grade up the A level. By taking poverty into account, he believes this is a more accurate and realistic indicator of a school’s achievement. Efforts to reduce poverty will have the effect of enhancing student achievement.

Dr. Deborah Camilleri and Dr. Brandon McKelvey of the Dept. of Assessment and Accountability for Seminole County Public Schools recognize Dr. Smith’s observation of the relationship between poverty and school grades as valid. They use the data from schools struggling with disadvantaged students to guide decisions on instruction at the school level to generate student learning gains at those schools. This year understanding the factors involved in achieving student proficiency will become even more challenging as standards are being raised to an even a higher level.

Kristina Marshall was the principal at the highest scoring elementary school in the county. She is now serving at a C rated school. The former had a free and reduced lunch population of 11%, the latter a population of 76%. She commented on the similarities and differences between these schools and the effort to produce high achieving students.

Principal Speakers

Dr. Stanley Smith Professor of Finance, University of Central Florida Bio

Dr. Deborah Camilleri Coordinator, Dept. of Assessment and Accountability, Seminole County Public Schools

Dr. Brandon McKelvey Performance Data Analyst, Dept. of Assessment and Accountability, Seminole County Public Schools

Kristina Marshall Principal, Midway Elementary School

Additional Content related information

• Spreadsheet of data on official and adjusted school grade points (courtesy Dr. Stanley Smith)

Extended Interviews

	Dr. Stanley Smith, Professor of Finance, University of Central Florida, with Desta Horner Length – 53:33
	Dr. Deborah Camilleri and Dr. Brandon McKelvey, Dept. of Assessment and Accountability, Seminole County Public Schools, with Desta Horner Length – 44:19
	Kristina Marshall, principal, Midway Elementary School, with Desta Horner Length – 14:17

In her 19-minute remarks, Florida League President Deirdre Macnab will address recent statewide legislation, categorizing them into winners and losers… at least from the league’s perspective.

Macnab addresses the state’s annual budget, redistricting, the so called “parent trigger,” prison privatization, the elderly, juvenile inmates, texting while driving, auto racing as the state’s official sport, private school corporations, environment – energy and the Everglades, small business tax breaks, tax deductions for owners of private planes, and the University of South Florida’s newly funded Lakeland campus. In a final 12-minutes of answers to questions from the audience, Macnab also responds to questions regarding voter suppression legislation, TABOR-the Tax Payers Bill of Rights, affordable health care, and gun control laws.

This is the 19th podcast Carroll McKenney Public Media has produced with the League of Women Voters of Seminole County, Florida. The event was moderated by Seminole league vice president, Jeanne Morris, at this Hot Topics luncheon recorded at the Patio Grill in Sanford, Florida, on Thursday, March 22, 2012

Principal Speaker

Deirdre Macnab President, League of Women Voters of Florida Web | Facebook

Jeanne Morris Vice President, League of Women Voters of Seminole County Blog | Web | Facebook

CMF Public Media podcasts featuring issues related to the Florida Legislature

• 2012 Legislative Session Report (04/12/12)
• David Simmons: Legislative Up-date (02/09/12)
• Jason Brodeur: Legislative Update (02/09/12)

Pictures

After you launch the slideshow below, click “Next” and “Previous” to rotate through the photos. Event photographs courtesy Charles E. Miller.

Before a gathering of east Seminole County constituents on Thursday, March 1, 2012, Dallari offers a 13-minute overview of the status of current and future transportation projects and, for another 13-minutes, he answers 9-related questions posed by members of the audience.

Bob Dallari has served 2 consecutive 4-year terms as a member of the board of county commissioners where he also held the position of chairman. Additionally, Dallari is the former chairman of Metro Plan Orlando MetroPlan Orlando, a planning organization for Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties working together to improve transportation options for Central Florida.

Prior to his elected position with Seminole County government, he served 8-years as a member of the Oviedo city council, holding one term as council chairman.

Principal Speaker

Bob Dallari Commissioner, Seminole County Board of County Commissioners web | bio | facebook

Links to additional information referenced by Bob Dallari

• SunRail
• MetroPlan Orlando
• Florida Department of Transportation
• Lynx
• Clean Air Act
• National Association of Regional Councils (NARC)

Links to podcasts produced by CMF Public Media featuring issues related to Bob Dallari and transportation

• Mass Transit in Central Florida (04/22/2011)
• Dallari: 1-on-1 (part one) (12/10/2009)
• Dallari: 1-on-1 (part two) (12/31/2009)
• Dallari: Mid-term Update (05/27/10)
• Dallari: 1-on-11 (1209/2010)

Pictures

After you launch the slideshow below, click “Next” and “Previous” to rotate through the photos.

This conversation, set in front of more than 75 attendees, is part of a Dessert & Coffee Forum hosted by SACSON – Seminole Action Coalition Serving Our Needy — recorded live on Tuesday evening, February 28, 2012 at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, in Sanford, Florida.

Principal Speakers

Donny Moody homeless

Dennis Sinns homeless

Oliver Perkins homeless

Tammy Abramson Grissom Chaplain, Sanford Police Department; and pastor, Lion of Judah House of Worship, Sanford web | facebook

Ryan Bozeman The Picnic Project facebook

SACSON host and facilitator: Reverend Rory Harris Moderator; Rector, Holy Cross Episcopal Church; vice-chairman, SACSON Facebook

Links to additional information referenced by speakers

• SACSON: Seminole Action Coalition Serving Our Needy
• Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Sanford, Fl.
• IDignity
• City of Sanford, Florida
• Families in Transition (FIT) – Seminole County
• CBS – “60 Minutes: Hard Times Generation – Families Livin in Cars
• CBS – “60 Minutes: Hard Times Generation – Homeless Kids
• Turning Point: Drop-In Center

Links to podcasts produced by CMF Public Media featuring issues related to homelessness

• Homeless: A New Chapter
• Children that are Hurting
• Homelessness – Sidebar
• End Child Homelessness in Seminole County
• Homeless Senior Citizens
• Homelessness: A Community Conversation #6
• Homelessness: A Community Conversation #5
• Fallout and Followup
• Homelessness: A Community Conversation #4
• Homelessness: A Community Conversation #3
• Homelessness: A Community Conversation #2
• Homeless Forum (#1) Followup (12/9/2010)
• On Being... Homeless in Seminole County: The Problem & the Players
• On Being... Homeless in Seminole County: The People
• On Being... Homeless in Seminole County: The Possibilities
• Kids of HOPE
• Coping with the Economy in Seminole County: Shepherd’s Hope Health Clinic
• Coping with the Economy in Seminole County: Sonshine Food Pantry
• Homeless Students in Seminole County – Families in Transition
• Commentary: Feeding the Hungry
• Commentary: Homeless Issues in Seminole County
• Commentary: Ending Homelessness
• Commentary: Affordable Health Care Services for the Homeless

Pictures

The event is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Seminole County. Length 01:00:03

Below are helpful links to on-line content regarding issues addressed by Michael Ertel…as well as an on-line slide show of photographs taken at the event by CMF’s event photographer, Charles E. Miller.

This is the 18th podcast Carroll McKenney Public Media has produced with the League of Women Voters of Seminole County, Florida. This Hot Topics luncheon was recorded at the Patio Grill in Sanford, Florida, on Thursday, February 23, 2012. League president, Pat Graves, facilitated the event.

Principal Participants

Principal Speaker: Michael Ertel Election supervisor, Seminole County, Fl. web | bio

League of Women Voters of Seminole County host and facilitator: Pat Graves President, League of Women Voters of Seminole County web | facebook

Links to CMF podcasts featuring Michael Ertel

• 2010 Election Wrap Up (11/11/2010)
• Office of Seminole County Supervisor of Elections (10/21/2010)
• Voting Smart: Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections (07/29/2010)
• State Constitutional Amendments & Other Voter Issues (04/01/2010)
• Amendment-4/Hometown Democracy – Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment (03/25/2010)

Pictures