The Florida Masochist

Where did the children go?

An article in today's Palm Beach Post ponders that. The County school system has 5,000 less students than anticipated. I'm as clueless as school officials as to why but I got a question. Does this mean I'll get a rebate on my property taxes? In my dreams only.

Open Post- Indepundit

Principal Maureen Werner doesn't remember a time when Limestone Creek Elementary had fewer than 1,000 students. She knew something was up when school district demographers estimated she would have 990 this year.

Only 940 showed up.

One teacher was cut. Another had to go from specializing in math and working with many students to having her own class. Werner also lost employees she was used to having because she had so many students, such as an extra person to answer phones.

Overall, the Palm Beach County School District expected enrollment to grow this year by more than 5,000 students. Most of them never showed up.

The district has grown by more than 5,100 students each of the past four years. But only 477 more children are enrolled in county public schools this year, according to an official count of students last week.

The overestimate will cost the district $14.1 million in state money. The only people who will be hired for the rest of the year are teachers and classroom aides. The district has frozen spending on textbooks and other classroom materials; that budget alone is taking a $1.8 million hit.

Werner and district planners are puzzled.

"My take on it is that people really can't afford to live in Jupiter and Tequesta any more and they're cashing out and moving," Werner said. "Development is going up. I just don't know who's moving here."

Last spring, based on previous growth, it was estimated that 178,362 students would cram the nearly 200 schools in the county. But only 173,236 enrolled, at the same time the district planned to build 14 new schools in the next five years. Those numbers may include some of the 200 students who moved here from areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The single-year dip in enrollment isn't enough to derail the district's ambitious construction plans, Facilities Management Chief Joe Sanches said.

The unexplained lack of growth isn't unique to Palm Beach County. Broward County schools have 1,100 fewer students than last year.

Palm Beach County schools' original theory was that housing costs were pushing students north, where prices are lower, Budget Director Mike Burke told school board members last week.

But St. Lucie County has about 1,000 fewer students than expected, and Martin County also grew by less than predicted.

"All of the data was pointing to a continuation of growth," said Judith Brennan, the Palm Beach County district's school boundaries and demographics manager. "The 477 would have seemed like a number that you pulled out of the air. There is no specific set of data that tells us there are fewer families out there than there were last year."

For the past three years, demographers' estimates have been within 500 students of the actual number.

My State legislator Shelley Vana- Part III

She got mentioned in another George Bennett column in today's Palm Beach Post. For background, read my two prior posts here and here.

State Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, a former president of the Classroom Teachers Association, had to give up her classroom job to accommodate her legislative schedule. She took an administrative job with the school district but contends the CTA's collective bargaining agreement allows her to remain in the union.

The school district says otherwise, so Vana has filed a grievance.

Vana, who holds a newly created science program coordinator position that allows her to take unpaid leave for Tallahassee duties, says she still needs union protection.

"As a legislator, I could very well speak out on issues that might not be popular," Vana says.

Staying in the union would also make her eligible to run for CTA president again. Asked whether she might seek the top union post again, Vana said, "I wouldn't rule it out. But that's not the reason" for the grievance.

Shelley is an absolute hoot. She would be my knucklehead winner today except for the Broward County story is better.

I mean how many ways does she want it? State Legislator, a county job made JUST for her and now union membership. Shelley you're entitled to no more priviliges than anyone else. You've gotten far too many special ones already. Your constituents may take the privilige your of booting your butt out of office next fall.

Where is the Post on this story too? Not a word from Schultz and the editorial board on this topic. Randy do you only criticize Republicans?

Open Post- Indepundit

Another illegal alien story- 27 year old goes to high school

This one garners no sympathy from me either as did the other one this week. This Guatamalan man age 27, was enrolled in a local high school. He managed that trick by using fake identification. Did anyone ever check it? Apparently not. Mr. Ramirez-Mejia most likely faces deportation when his fraud case is resolved.

Open Post/Trackback- Cao's Blog and Bright & Early

Josue Oswaldo Ramirez-Mejia wanted to learn English. He wanted to read books. He wanted to learn so badly that he broke the law to get an education.

A month ago, the illegal immigrant from Guatemala forged his birth certificate, to age 17, and his school transcript to get into high school.

This week, his wallet containing his Guatemalan ID card slipped out of his pocket, and so did his secret — Ramirez-Mejia was 27.

Schools officials called him to the office, where sheriff's deputies questioned him. He was charged with forgery and could be deported.

"He just wanted to get in," his brother, Maximo Ramirez, said in a telephone interview Thursday night.

Ramirez-Mejia, who was born in Guatemala, had lived with his older brother in West Palm Beach before moving to Pasco County three months ago.

In August, he registered at J.W. Mitchell High School in an affluent and fast-growing section of Pasco County.

While his brother Maximo worked 15-hour days laying tile, Ramirez-Mejia listened to lectures on U.S. history, government and economics.

He was passing all his classes.

A sheriff's spokesman said there is no evidence to suggest he intended to do anything but get an education.

Ramirez-Mejia now sits in the Land O' Lakes Detention Center until someone can post his $5,000 bail. But that won't be anytime soon.

"I don't have any money," his brother said.

Ramirez and his brother are from an agricultural city on the west coast of Guatemala. They came to Palm Beach County four years ago to work.

In January, they incorporated a business, Torre Fuerte Inc. Three months ago, they moved to Pasco County.

A few weeks after school started, Ramirez-Mejia enrolled in the school. Ramirez said he doesn't know who helped his brother enroll in the school, but they both knew it was wrong.

On Tuesday, Ramirez-Mejia lost his wallet. A student picked it up after fourth period and turned it in to a gym teacher. The teacher opened it and saw a photograph of Ramirez-Mejia on a Guatemalan identification card. The date of birth was Jan. 3, 1978.

"I'm alone and I'm very sad because my brother is not here and I cannot speak to him,"

Ramirez said in Spanish. Ramirez, who does not speak English, said deputies did not provide an interpreter.

"They won't let me see him. They said I need $5,000."

Even if he bonds out of jail, Ramirez-Mejia may face deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will process him at its Tampa office, but spokeswoman Pam McCullough it's unlikely the agency will require him to post a second bail. He will face an immigration judge but not until the forgery case against him is closed.

My State House Representative Shelley Vana Part 2

She is back in the news today. Earlier this month I blogged about the cozy little job Rep. Vana was lining up for herself. Before getting elected to the State House, Vana was a Palm Beach County School teacher and President of the local teacher's association.

State Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, is in line for a new "science programs coordinator" post approved by the school board last week. Vana was a teacher, but wanted a non-classroom job to allow her time in Tallahassee. With salary and benefits, the new job's listed as an $88,716 budget item, but Vana will make less because she won't be paid when she's on legislative business, schools spokesman Nat Harrington said.

A new job just for Rep. Vana? Smells like a sweetheart deal to me. In my prior post, Vana was listed as a schoolteacher when it was obviously incompatible with her state rep. duties. Is this someone's idea of a solution?

The school board decision happened last week but only rates a tiny comment in a weekly political comment today. Why isn't Randy Schultz and the Palm Beach Post Editorial board asking uncomfortable questions right now? I would be if I were them and I assume they read your own newspaper.

I'm going to email the author of today's article and Mr. Schultz. Stay tuned.

Breakfast- Basil's Blog

My State House Rep. Shelly Vana- Something smells

This little tidbit was in Monday's Palm Beach Post.

As the new school year approaches, teacher and state Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, is looking for a new job that's compatible with her Tallahassee obligations.

Vana, elected to the House in 2002, hasn't had a full-time classroom assignment since 1998. As president of the Classroom Teachers Association from 1998 to 2004, she was officially on leave while the union paid her salary. After her presidency, Vana spent the 2004-05 school year on sabbatical at half pay to allow time for her elected job.

Now the sabbatical is over and the district early last week was listing Vana as a science teacher at the Palm Beach School of the Arts for 2005-06. That would leave students teacherless during committee weeks, special sessions and the regular 60-day legislative session next spring. As of Friday, Vana said she was talking to district officials about finding a non-teaching job that would allow her to miss chunks of time while she's in Tallahassee.

Rep. Vana happens to be my State House Representative. Is she going to be a paid school teacher while at the same time serving in the legislature? The school district had her listed as a science teacher. Rep. Vana says its impossible for her to carry out the two jobs, and correctly so. But in my opinion the school board owes her nothing. What school board job will there be for someone who can't work at least 60 days out of every school year?

Maybe one designed specifically for Ms. Vana. There have been other sweetheart deals done in this county for unemeployed politicians or former judges. This story smells to me and I hope the Post follows up on it.