May 16, 2012

For the last several years, Alliance & Associates Financial Services of Jasper has served as Broker of Record for the Hamilton County School District for our employee benefits plan.  This has included group health, dental, life, and disability insurance.  We have recently met with Randy McCoy, owner of Alliance, and he has informed us that as a result of Alliance moving in a different direction, his firm will no longer be able to handle our account.  Randy and his team have served us well and we certainly wish them all the best as they pursue becoming one of Florida's largest property & casualty insurance agencies.

Randy has recommended, and we have recently appointed, The Parks Johnson Agency (PJA) of Live Oak and Lake City as our new Broker of Record.  PJA has been in the group insurance business since 1975 and is owned and operated by Tyson Johnson.  We believe PJA will be a great fit for our district and employees, as the agency has worked with other school districts (including Suwannee and Columbia) for some time.  Additionally, PJA works with other public entity employers (county and city governments) as well as private employers, providing them with competitive benefits packages that meet the needs of the employees and their families.

During this transition, it is important for you to know that the team at PJA is fully aware of our benefits package and is prepared to provide service to you.  Below is a list of PJA’s key team members and their contact information.  You should contact them if you need assistance with any of your benefits.

Julie Calvitt Agency Coordinator	386-755-7275	jcalvitt@parksjohnsonagency.com
Amy Johnson Live Oak Office Manager	386-362-6286	ajohnson@parksjohnsonagency.com
Joanie Leroy Systems Manager	386-755-7275	jleroy@parksjohnsonagency.com
Tyson Johnson Owner	386-755-7275	tjohnson@parksjohnsonagency.com

You may also reach them via the web at www.parksjohnsonagency.com or by calling toll-free at 877-393-9255.

We would like to thank Randy and his Alliance team for their dedicated service through the years and we welcome The Parks Johnson Agency as our new agent.  We look forward to working with the PJA team as they bring some exciting new ideas and tools to our district!

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May 10, 2012

We continue to celebrate Employee Appreciation Week this week.  Thank you to all of our employees for the work you do for our students!

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May 9, 2012

Congratulations to Mrs. Brenda Gaddy, who was named principal of North Hamilton Elementary for the upcoming school year.  Mrs. Gaddy is the assistant principal of Central Hamilton Elementary and we look forward to an exciting transition as we move into the new year.

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May 1, 2012

As follow up to the April 23 Town Hall Meeting/Board Workshop, the following is an article which provides more information about the new FCAT scores:

By BRADENTON HERALD EDITORIAL
A backlash against high-stakes standardized tests in public schools is spreading across the nation as critics petition for an overhaul that bases student evaluations on a broader range of learning. The movement began in Texas with more than 400 school districts joining a campaign for reform, and that effort inspired last week's launch of national effort via an online petition drive.
 
Florida's education policy writers and leaders should take note.
 
The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, also known as FairTest, helped write the petition, which has already attracted support from more than 100 organizations and several thousand individuals. FairTest's mission is "to end the misuses and flaws of standardized testing and to ensure that evaluation of students, teachers and schools is fair, open, valid and educationally beneficial."
 
The organization's public education director, Robert Schaeffer, put the issue into a perspective that should resonate in Florida. "What we're seeing is a disconnect between the popular support of people saying, 'Enough is enough,' and policy makers who are doubling down on high-stakes testing," he stated in a New York Times report last week. "We're building popular pressure to persuade policy makers to abandon a failed task."
 
Indeed, the Sunshine State is doubling down -- with a tougher Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test that promises to fail more students and more public schools. The test measures proficiency in reading, writing, math and science from third through 10th grades.
 
As the state continues to transition away from FCAT to end-of-course exams in core classes, with passage a requirement for graduation, Schaeffer has noted in the past that the change is not an improvement.
 
Earlier this month, Manatee County school district officials even warned parents and students right before the start of this spring's FCAT testing period of that likely disheartening outcome.
 
FCAT scoring standards have been raised, thousands of additional 10th-graders are expected to flunk, and school districts around the state are bracing for significant increases in the number of "D" and "F" schools as a result of the changes in grading calculations.
 
The ramifications are greater than the disgrace of a poor grade. Public schools that score higher grades earn bonus funds. Meanwhile, underperforming schools in need of additional resources in order to improve are left wanting.
 
Promoted as a way to raise education standards and improve school accountability, how could a harder FCAT possibly be productive by excoriating so many more students and schools as failures?
 
Or is this punitive, designed to undermine public confidence in the school system and drive a wedge between parents and public schools in order to advance the charter school movement? This could be an unintended consequence, but we have our doubts considering the Republican-dominated Legislature has pursued a public policy course in favor of charters for the past six years.
 
This year, lawmakers failed to pass a measure that would have allowed parents of students in F schools to petition for a conversion of the public school into an independently operated, for-profit charter school. The so-called parent trigger bill, criticized as a way to dismantle and defund the state's public education system, was only defeated by a tie vote in the Senate as several Republicans broke ranks.
 
The charter school lobby had won impressive victories in prior legislative sessions, but not this year. The movement is certain to return next year with another ambitious agenda to further privatize education.
 
Meanwhile, critics of high-stakes standardized testing in public schools warn against basing critical decisions on scores. Such testing has resulted in narrower curriculums with instructors teaching to the test -- especially since their salaries are now partly determined by student test scores in Florida and elsewhere across the country.
 
With high pressure on teachers, cheating scandals have erupted. While a crackdown on cheating is imperative, a comprehensive overhaul of standardized testing should follow. Students are denied a high-quality, well-rounded education by this singular focus on standardized tests to measure achievement, as mandated by the flawed No Child Left Behind law.
 
Florida's tougher FCAT -- certain to flunk more students and schools -- only exacerbates the current misguided reliance on standardized testing.
 
Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/04/29/4016507/tougher-fcat-holds-negative-consequences.html#storylink=cpy
 

April 26, 2012

The PowerPoint presentation from the April 23 town hall meeting/board workshop is available at this link.  The presentation provides information about the graduation requirements, changes in the FCAT 2.0 cut scores, and the controlled open enrollment plan.  We appreciate everyone's attendance and input and look forward to your attendance and participation at future events.

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April 25, 2012

South Hamilton Elementary's teachers and parents voted in favor of beginning the process to convert South Hamilton Elementary to a conversion charter school.  The school district appreciates the efforts of everyone and commends Mr. Howell for his work in overseeing the process.

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April 23, 2012

Please visit our Transportation page for information on the upcoming school bus driver training.

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March 15, 2012

Our administrative office was contacted by the Sheriff's Department this morning.  It is our understanding that a representative of a company (Balance, Inc.) is calling people, claiming s/he is raising funds for the Hamilton County School District.  Please be advised that this company is not affiliated with our school system.  Research reveals that the phone number belongs to a telemarketing agency.  If you receive such a call, please do not divulge any of your personal information.

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March 5, 2012

Our school district recently received a donation of $6,250 from S&S Food Stores/bp Petroleum to help our homeless children.  At the school board's February 13 business meeting, Mr. Lester Scaff and Mr. Keith Brown shared that while Hamilton County has a lower overall population than Columbia County, the number of homeless children is relatively the same.  This news prompted the company to apply for a grant and allocate funds (from the oil spill) to assist our district in providing the necessities to our homeless students.  We thank S&S/bp for this donation and we appreciate the company's commitment to the local communities.


Shown are Superintendent Butler, Mr. Keith Brown, Mr. Lester Scaff, and Ms. Phyllis Porter (Federal Programs Coordinator)

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March 5, 2012

Ms. Kim Kelling Engstrom, Director of Educational Services for WFSU television, shared some great news with the school board at its February 13 business meeting.  Ms. Engstrom explained that WFSU had written several grants on behalf of our school system.  The grants will fund numerous projects, such as Martha Speaks, Reading Buddies, and Super Why camps, and these programs will expand our students' educational experiences.  Ms. Engstrom shared that she is very excited to be working with our teachers and principals and is looking forward to assisting our district in implementing these enhancements to our curriculum.


Shown are Assistant Superintendent Rex Mitchell, Superintendent Butler, Ms. Kim Kelling Engstrom, and Ms. Phyllis Porter (Federal Programs Coordinator)

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March 5, 2012

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services manages 35 state forests emcompassing over 1,000,000 acres.  Per Florida Statutes, school districts receive a portion of the receipts from the operation of these forests.  Last week, two representatives from the Florida Forestry Service presented Superintendent Butler with a check for $3,079.71.  The payment reflects the distribution of the Twin Rivers and Big Shoals State Forest receipts for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

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The Hamilton County School District is now on Facebook!

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Updated February 13, 2012

Our school system will have three furlough days instead of four as originally scheduled.  The dates will be:
February 21, March 23, and May 25.  Please be advised that April 9 is no longer a furlough day; all schools and district offices will be open on that date.


February 6, 2012

Attention Parents and Employees...

As you may be aware, the Hamilton County School Board chose to include four (4) furlough days in order to balance the 2011-12 budget.  The dates for the furlough days will be:  February 21, March 23, April 9, and May 25.  Please be advised that the school system will be shut down on these dates; schools and district offices will be closed.  As a reminder to employees, leave time cannot be used for furlough days.

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January 18, 2012

Last night's town hall meeting was a continuation of Superintendent Butler's platform of remaining transparent and being a good steward of the taxpayers' money.  The forum was informative and we appreciate the citizens' attendance and their interest in the school system.  We are pleased to provide the PowerPoint presentation that was shared so that everyone will be better informed about the achievements we have made and the challenges we must meet.  The presentation is available at this link.  Superintendent Butler welcomes your questions or comments.  Please feel free to contact her via e-mail at martha.butler@hamiltonfl.com or by phone at 792-7800.

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January 4, 2011

Today is a day to celebrate!  We have just learned that the high school's grade improved to a "C".  Congratulations to Mrs. Wanda Law, Mr. Maceo Howell, and high school staff and students on this wonderful achievement!  Great things continue to happen in our school district!

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We are pleased to announce that the high school's graduation rate for 2011 is 73%.  This is an increase of 12 percentage points since 2009.  The dropout rate has decreased to 2.6%.  The district's dropout rate is 2.7%, the lowest dropout rate since 2002.  Congratulations on these accomplishments!

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This is a reminder that the standardized dress code was approved by the Hamilton County School Board in April 2011, and is effective with the 2011-12 school year.  Parents are reminded that students must be in compliance to avoid disciplinary action.  The lists of acceptable attire can be accessed at the following links: 

Elementary Schools

High School

If you need clarification on any of these clothing items, please contact your child's school:

Central Hamilton Elementary:  792-6530
North Hamilton Elementary:  938-1400
South Hamilton Elementary:  397-4400
Hamilton County High School:  792-6540
Greenwood School:  792-6590

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First Grading Period:  Monday, August 22 - Monday, October 24
Progress Reports:  Thursday, September 22
Report Cards:  Thursday, November 3

Second Grading Period:  Tuesday, October 25 - Thursday, January 19
Progress Reports:  Friday, December 2
Report Cards:  Tuesday, January 31

Third Grading Period:  Wednesday, January 20 - Friday, March 23
Progress Reports:  Wednesday, February 22
Report Cards:  Wednesday, April 11

Fourth Grading Period:  Thursday, April 2 - Tuesday, June 5
Progress Reports:  Thursday, May 3
Report Cards:  Tuesday, June 5 (for grades K-6; date is TBA for grades 7-12)

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