CMF Public Media » Central Florida Matters

Commentary

Webmaster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:30:25 +0000

A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.

The voice you’ll hear is that of Stephen McKenney Steck in his role as president of Carroll McKenney Foundation for Public Media commenting on the first anniversary of CMF Public Media.
Feature length – 04:00

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary. Below, you will find useful links related to the commentary, including a transcript, biographical information and related pictures.

Should you wish to be considered for a commentary segment on Central Florida Matters, please click on the “contact” link to send us an email which should include adequate information for us to understand your issue. And please include a daytime telephone number where we may reach you.

Additional Feature Information

Vogel: 1-on-1

Webmaster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:29:50 +0000

In Seminole County, Florida, kids enrolled in the county’s public schools have just returned to the classroom from their summer vacation. That occasion warrants this 1-on-1 interview with Seminole’s Superintendent of Schools’ Dr. Bill Vogel.

We ask Vogel about a range of vexing issues facing the school district. Those issues include the recent statewide controversy surrounding FCAT – the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, the pending statewide class size amendment, merit pay and the federal Race to the Top initiative, the proposed half cent sales tax to benefit the district, and the seemingly always present budget challenges.
Feature length – 23:16

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

Superintendent Bill Vogel, who is appointed to this position by a 5 person publicly elected school board, presides over a three-quarter billion dollar a year budget, a student population of 63,500 enrolled in 37 elementary schools, 12 middle schools and 9 high schools. The district employs approximately 4,450 teachers and a support staff of approximately 3,150, making the district the largest employer in Seminole County. A link to Vogel’s bio is below.

This opening week mark’s Vogel’s 7th during his tenure as Seminole’s superintendent and numbers more than 40 in his extensive career as an educator.

For this feature, this one-on-one interview lasts just under 20-minutes, though below, we have also included a link to the 70-minute extended interview from which this feature was extracted. In that interview Vogel addresses the dust-up surrounding his participation in the state’s DROP program and whether or not he’s irritated by the media treatment…the choices he has made to delay consideration of his employment contract renewal… the districts’ holding pattern in which they and many other employers in Central Florida find themselves regarding the health insurance benefit stand-off between Florida Hospital and United Health Care…the potential new FCAT graduation standards…the manner by which the district reports its adult education graduation rate…and Vogel’s view of future changes in classroom teaching in the 21st century.

Useful links to issues discussed by Dr. Vogel

Resume of Dr. Bill Vogel
Seminole County Public Schools
Pearson (the FCAT testing company)
FCAT Results (search by school and district)
FAQ on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
Florida Department of Education
Florida Association of District School Superintendents
Florida Class Size, Amendment 8 (2010)
League of Women Voters of Florida’s Pro/Con Guide on the Amendments
Oviedo High School’s Bio Science Program
Half cent sales tax issue

Links to other features produced by CMF Public Media related to issues discussed by Dr. Vogel

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

	Dr. Bill Vogel and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (01:08:09)

Seminole School Board Candidates – District #5

Webmaster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:28:15 +0000

Voting Smart features excerpted answers to questions recently asked at a public forum of the three candidates running for election as school board members in District 5 of Seminole County, Florida. Those candidates are Tina Calderone, Becky Erwin and Jeanne Morris – the incumbent. If one of these 3 candidates receives 50% plus 1 vote, that candidate will be elected in the August 24 primary with no need to go forward to the November general election. However, if none receive more than 50% plus 1, there will be a November 2 runoff between the top 2 vote-getters in this race. Two other candidates running for district # 2 are featured in a separate Voting Smart segment now on line. The event was recorded Wednesday evening, July 28, 2010 at Crooms Academy of Information Technology, a magnet high school in Sanford, Florida. Feature length – 33:22

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

In 2010, three of the five seats on the Seminole County School Board, are up for election. Only two seats are vacant as the incumbent in the 3rd seat — Diane Bauer, had no candidate opposition by qualifying deadline and will therefore automatically be seated for another term. The two remaining seats are for District # 2 and # 5. District seats are elected county wide and are non-partisan.

If you are a typical time-starved but interested voter, this feature is produced just for you. It’s a 27-minute version of a much longer voter forum. That 90-minute forum is presented on CMF’s Heard in Central Florida page. It features the candidates from both districts at the same time in an extended Q and A session where their answers are all taken together in one setting.

Since the credentials of these candidates in district 5 – Calderone, Erwin and Morris — have no bearing on your vote for the candidates in the other district, this feature presents Calderone, Erwin and Morris as a one district-standalone…just like they are grouped on the ballot which asks you to vote for one over the other two.

The excerpts are from a voter forum sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Seminole County and the Seminole County Council of Parent/Teachers. In keeping with our agreement with the League — we present their forums in a gavel-to-gavel style on the Heard in Central Florida page. Yet, in this Voting Smart feature we slim down the forum without harming the essential content, while preserving the unedited characteristic of the 90-minute presentation.

In addition to an opening statement from each, the candidates are asked to respond to 8 questions which hit on such subjects as teacher salaries, performance based pay, the proposed half-cent sales tax, and budget challenges. Candidates Calderone, Erwin and Morris are also asked to address questions related to their vision for the school district, the use or not of federal stimulus funds flowing to the district, the class size amendment and why each thought they’d be a better choice than their opponent. Those questions are posed by event moderator Wayne Weinberg, president of Leadership Seminole and Envision Seminole.

Below, we provide links to other programs on our site which feature races involving candidates for Casselberry City Commission, Seminole County seats in the Florida House of Representatives, and district and county judges. Additional programs feature discussion and debates regarding the impact – pro and con — on proposed Constitutional amendments as are features regarding the state of municipal leadership, the role of the Seminole County Election Supervisor, highlight of local issues facing voters and candidates, women in politics, and various assessments — from the point of view of local legislators and political pundits — of results from the March-April 2010 state legislative session.

Now in production are features regarding the candidates in the race for Winter Springs and Oviedo for City Council and mayor seats

Principal Participants

Candidate contact information provided by the candidate to the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections or from candidate promotion material.

	Tina Calderone District #5 P.O. Box 953491 Lake Mary, Florida 32795-3491 407-509-2346 email \| website		Becky Erwin District #5 P.O. Box 952855 Lake Mary, Florida 32795 407.833.8404 email \| website
	Jeanne Morris District #5 1921 Wingfield Drive Longwood, Florida 32779 407-782-6592 email \| website		Wayne Weinberg forum moderator President – Leadership Seminole and Envision Seminole resume

Links to other features produced by CMF Public Media featuring local candidates, races, interviews, forums and commentary

Additional Useful Links

Seminole School Board Candidates – District #2

Webmaster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:27:55 +0000

Voting Smart features excerpted answers to questions recently asked at a public forum of the two candidates running for election as school board members in District 2 of Seminole County, Florida. Those candidates are Paul J. Ackerman and Karen Almond. Neither candidate is the incumbent, as the current office holder – Sandy Robinson, is not seeking re-election. Your vote will elect one of these 2 candidates in the August 24 primary. No voting will be necessary for this seat in the November general election. Three other candidates running for district # 5 are featured in a separate Voting Smart segment now on line. The event was recorded Wednesday evening, July 28, 2010 at Crooms Academy of Information Technology, a magnet high school in Sanford, Florida.
Feature length – 23:57

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

If you are a typical time-starved but interested voter, this feature is produced just for you. It’s a 17-minute version of a much longer voter forum. That 90-minute forum is presented on CMF’s Heard in Central Florida page. It features the candidates from both districts at the same time in an extended Q and A session where their answers are all taken together in one setting.

Since the credentials of these candidates in district 2 — Ackerman and Almond — have no bearing on your vote for the candidates in the other district, this feature presents Ackerman and Almond as a one district-standalone…just like they are grouped on the ballot which asks you to vote for one or the other.

The excerpts are from a voter forum sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Seminole County and the Seminole County Council of Parent/Teachers. In keeping with our agreement with the League — we present their forums in a gavel-to-gavel style on the Heard in Central Florida page. Yet, in this Voting Smart feature we slim down the forum without harming the essential content, while preserving the unedited characteristic of the 90-minute presentation.

In addition to an opening statement from each, the candidates are asked to respond to 8 questions which hit on such subjects as teacher salaries, performance based pay, the proposed half-cent sales tax, and budget challenges. Candidates Paul Ackerman and Karen Almond are also asked to address questions related to their vision for the school district, the use or not of federal stimulus funds flowing to the district, the class size amendment and why each thought they’d be a better choice than their opponent. Those questions are posed by event moderator Wayne Weinberg, president of Leadership Seminole and Envision Seminole.

Now in production are features regarding the candidates in the race for Winter Springs and Oviedo for City Council and mayor seats

Principal Participants

Candidate contact information provided by the candidate to the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections or from candidate promotion material.

	Paul J. Ackerman district # 2 candidate 1634 Tiverton Street Winter Springs, Florida 32708 407-619-3438 email \| website		Karen Almond district # 2 candidate P.O. Box 180006 Casselberry, Florida 32718 email \| website
	Wayne Weinberg forum moderator President – Leadership Seminole and Envision Seminole resume

Links to other features produced by CMF Public Media featuring local candidates, races, interviews, forums and commentary

Additional Useful Links

Central Florida Matters #17

Webmaster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:25:51 +0000

All 5 contenders for 2 Seminole County Public School Board seats face the issues. Candidates for Casselberry’s city commission explain their differences. Seminole County School’s superintendent, Bill Vogel addresses FCAT, budgets and the half-cent sales tax. And CMF’s founder offers commentary on the occasion of CMF Public Media’s first anniversary.

These are the issues and voices featured in a traditional radio-style format in this 1st anniversary edition of Central Florida Matters, posted on line 8/19/2010.
Feature length – 01:55:07

(Presented and hosted by Stephen McKenney Steck and Desta Horner)

Commentary

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:34:16 +0000

A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.

The voice you’ll hear is that of Gil Bankston, General Manager of the Oviedo MarketPlace commenting on his plans for the mall.
Feature length – 03:24

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

Central Florida Matters encourages you to post your own reaction to this commentary. Below, you will find useful links related to the commentary, including a transcript, biographical information and related pictures.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Additional Feature Information

Hey Stranger. What’s Your Story? (Chris)

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:33:41 +0000

This new feature is a quest for serendipity with the hope that finding it reveals stories that are local, uncontrived and meaningful…and captured simply by happenstance. This story unfolded on a Saturday morning at Trotwood Park in the city of Winter Springs, Florida. You’ll hear Chris, the father of a son with SPD – sensory processing disorder – describe the challenges his son and family face as a result. This story – offered by a stranger whom we serendipitously met at a city park — ends with a message of pride, confidence and encouragement as, along the way, this stranger shares his story. Feature length – 17:42

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck)

Here’s the feature’s premise…with microphone in hand, producer Stephen McKenney Steck walks up to someone he’s never met and asks in a friendly and non-threatening way… “hey stranger, what’s your story?” And que sera, sera – what ever will be, will be.

Chris is about 40 years old, married with 3 kids. It’s the oldest kid – the one Chris says attends a “therapeutic school” which becomes the focus of the story as we learn how Chris discovers that his then 1-year old son has SPD, sensory processing disorder. A combination of school and therapy is working effectively for Chris’ son… but there are a few emotional moments as the story unfolds.

On-line research about SPD reveals that our “senses” are stimulated by smells, movement, touch, taste, sights and sounds. We process those senses so that we learn, socialize and function with ordinary motor skills. Yet, when our brain does not correctly process these stimuli – the result is disorder in our behavior. This disorder can be seen in a child’s fear of playground equipment or the preference for wearing only certain kind of clothes or eating only certain kind of foods, or jumping and crashing into objects.

All of us have some processing difficulties, but those become a disorder when they become disruptive, extreme and unpredictable. Most SPD diagnoses occur in children, and sometimes in adults though usually as a carryover from childhood.

According to Chris, SPD treatment is critical, though Chris says getting a clear program of treatment – let alone an acceptable medical diagnoses – is not an easy or inexpensive journey, particularly as regards the requirements of insurance carriers and educational institutions.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

Chris and Stephen McKenney Steck

Extended interview (24:00)

Additional Feature Information

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center
Freedom Ride Inc
Geneva School
Heavenly Hoofs
Heavenly Hoofs – Riding for the Disabled (more insight into horseback riding as a form of physical and spiritual hippo-therapy for youngsters with special needs from the Village Academy of Oviedo.)
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida
City of Winter Springs’ Trotwood Park

Women in Politics

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:32:44 +0000

Are women making gains as candidates and officeholders in the political arena? Linda Chapin, a pioneer for women in public service, Pat Bates, mayor of Altamonte Springs and Dr. Terri Fine, professor of Political Science at UCF discuss the characteristics that help women flourish in politics and the circumstances that make it difficult for women to succeed. They describe an environment in which a woman’s point of view is needed, yet often in a setting which is sometimes uncomfortable for women. They all encourage women to step up and climb the ladder from local government to the White House. Feature length – 23:53

(Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner)

As the 2010 election season gets into full swing in Florida there are two women running for governor, women running for the cabinet and in 21 races in the U.S. House of Representatives. Local government has many women candidates. Both the Orange and Seminole county school boards are made up almost exclusively of women.

But the picture isn’t so rosy for Florida’s women from another perspective. Women make up more than 50% of the population, yet since 1987 the percentage of women in the Florida legislature has been stuck at around 22%. And today and in the near future no women will be holding leadership positions. Florida has not had a woman senator since Paula Hawkins who was defeated after just one term.

Linda Chapin, Orange County’s first elected mayor, and her colleagues opened the doors to women by paying their dues with community service. Patricia Bates, the mayor of Altamonte Springs, leaped into the political arena thirteen years by running for Altamonte Springs city commission. Dr. Terri Fine, professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida and Associate Director of the Lou Frey Institute for Politics and Government, has observed women in politics from an academic perspective for 20 years.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

	Linda Chapin and Desta Horner Extended interview (25:43)
	Patricia Bates and Desta Horner Extended interview (36:32)
	Terri Fine and Desta Horner Extended interview (41:44)

Additional Feature Information

Voting Smart: Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Fl

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:31:49 +0000

Voting Smart interviews Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County Florida in what results in a civics lesson – on issues surrounding voting in the upcoming local elections. Ertel is the go-to-guy who assures your vote is counted and counted correctly, that local candidates play by the rules in seeking your vote, and that your voting experience is as flawless as possible. Feature length – 31:20

Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck

At age 40, Michael Ertel has served 5-years as Supervisor of Elections for Seminole County, since being appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term of the previous election supervisor. Ertel has been subsequently elected and reelected to the office in the ensuing years. His current annual salary is $120,000 set by the state statue based on a population formula. He has voluntarily forgone several legislatively proffered salary increases to remain in line with salary freezes imposed on his own staff which is funded by the county commission.

Ertel grew up in Seminole County Florida. He is a military veteran, a former public relations professional and a lifelong Republican– though he asserts his office is administered in a non-partisan fashion. This is his first elected office. His present term of 4-year expires in 2012. He has not yet announced his reelection intentions.

Producer–reporter Stephen McKenney Steck held the interview in Ertel’s Sanford, Florida office located on the property of the Orlando Sanford International Airport. The extended interview lasted almost 90 minutes and is posted below, though 27-minutes was excerpted for this Voting Smart feature.

In the feature, Ertel’s answers illuminate a broad collection of issues ranging from what keeps him up at night to what your rights and responsibilities are as a voter. And from the role technology plays in the registration and voting process to how you should evaluate the effectiveness of candidates. You’ll also learn from Ertel how precincts are defined…the many ways you are able to vote…and whether or not he can be influenced or can influence candidates as regards their election campaigns.

In Ertel’s extended comments he adds more insight into the issues he has addressed, and he also offers responses about his personal and political journey to the position he now holds… the history of the supervisor of elections office…his own feelings about the difference between being appointed and then later elected…how he supervises his own election…and the partisan aspects of his office.

In another program, Ertel is featured on our Heard in Central Florida page in our unedited coverage of his explanation about pending state constitutional amendments.

Note that Heard in Central Florida has and will be posting unedited comments from candidates standing for election or reelection in Seminole County to the positions of judges, state legislators, school board members, county commissioners and city council positions in selected cities in Seminole County. Links to these programs are below. Future Voting Smart segments will feature one-on-one interviews with local candidates in those positions, too.

Bios

Michael Ertel

Supervisor of Elections, Seminole County, Florida

website | bio

Additional Feature Information

Links to other features produced by CMF Public Media featuring Michael Ertel or addressing issues related to local candidates and elections

State Constitutional Amendments – Michael Ertel
Voting Smart – Local Issues
Voting Smart: The State of Municipal Leadership
Judicial Review: Meet the Candidates
Amendment-4/Hometown Democracy Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment
Voices on the Street: If I were a candidate…
Voting Smart: Former Oviedo Mayor Tom Walters

Extended Content & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

	Michael Ertel and Stephen McKenney Steck Extended interview (01:25:02)

Casselberry City Commission Candidates

Webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:30:40 +0000

Casselberry, Florida City Commission seat #1 will be filled by the voters in the election on August 24, 2010. The candidates are incumbent Susan Doerner and challenger Craig A. Tull. Ms. Doerner is seeking her 3rd and final term on the commission and Mr. Tull decided to jump into the race after a conflict with the city commission over parking work vehicles in residential neighborhoods. They discuss that issue and the budget crisis, plans for a city center and their vision for Casselberry.

Feature length 23:01

Produced, reported and edited by Desta Horner

Casselberry will hold its election for city commission seat #1 on August 24, 2010. Each of the 5 elected commissioners hold office for 4 years and are term-limited to 3 terms. While each commissioner represents a geographical district, they are elected at large by all the voters of Casselberry. These are part-time policy setting positions with the daily city administration in the hands of a city manager. Casselberry has a population of approximately 25,000 and is located in southernmost Seminole County Florida. Casselberry has its own police and fire departments. Currently, Casselberry like every city in Florida is facing severe budget constraints caused by declining property tax revenues.

Susan Doerner has served on the city commission for the past 8 years. She voted to purchase the two portions of land on the lake near the city hall for future development as a city core or city center. She opposes any tax or fee increases and cautions that this will require additional cuts to the budget.

Challenger Craig A Tull became involved with city politics when he was directly affected by a city ordinance that restricted the parking of work vehicles in residential areas. He subsequently regularly attended and recorded city commission meetings. He spoke out at a number of those meetings and this year decided to run for office saying, “If they won’t hear me on this side of the table, maybe they will if I’m on their side of the table.”

Voters who wish to vote early can do so August 9-22. Casselberry’s closest early voting site is the Central Library on Oxford St. It is open from 10am to 6pm weekdays and noon to 4pm on weekends.

Absentee ballots may be requested by calling (407) 585-8683.

Extended Interview & Pictures

Click on the picture(s) to enlarge.

	Susan Doerner extended interview Length – 32:14
	Craig A. Tull extended interview Length – 21:01

	Tina Calderone District #5 P.O. Box 953491 Lake Mary, Florida 32795-3491 407-509-2346 email \| website		Becky Erwin District #5 P.O. Box 952855 Lake Mary, Florida 32795 407.833.8404 email \| website
	Jeanne Morris District #5 1921 Wingfield Drive Longwood, Florida 32779 407-782-6592 email \| website		Wayne Weinberg forum moderator President – Leadership Seminole and Envision Seminole resume