May 2008
Community Paper
copyright ©2008 by Community Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

LETTER FROM ANNE GEIGER, OCPS SCHOOL BOARD
by Anne Geiger, Orange County School Board, District 6
College Park Schools Leading the Way

Our public schools in the College Park area-Edgewater High School, Lee Middle School, Lake Silver Elementary, Princeton Elementary and Killarney Elementary-are leading the way to a new age in public education for our children. Led by some of Orange County's best leaders, these schools are providing a high-quality, dynamic education for College Park's children and all children who come to our schools from other neighborhoods. Since coming to the school board in 2004, every one of these schools has reached higher and higher levels of achievement. It is a privilege and an honor to serve them. Our principals know that I have high expectations, that our students are my number one priority in all of my policy-making, and that the most important responsibility I have is to ensure that our schools are well supported.

Principal Cindy Dodge leads Lake Silver and its Math Magnet. She was honored last year by the Department of Education for her efforts, along with her excellent teachers and staff, for moving Lake Silver up two letter grades in one year! The bountiful gardens of Lake Silver serve as teaching laboratories for instruction in math and other subjects. Math is increasingly being interwoven into the curriculum and there is study underway to further incorporate the gardens and environmental studies into the math magnet program. Florida's Teacher of the Year, Orange County's Rick Ellenburg, science teacher at Camelot Elementary, came for a visit recently and shared some creative ideas for expanding Lake Silver's gardens and incorporating more science into instruction. And while the renovation plans for Lake Silver do not begin until 2011, according to the renovation priority list established in 2002, Principal Dodge has made sure that the school campus is in good shape. In fact, the auditorium, an amenity that new schools do not have, has been refurbished with new chairs, stage curtains and fresh paint.

With the expectation that state funding will continue to decline over the next several years, additional resources will be needed to sustain our unique programs and schools of choice like Lake Silver's Math Magnet, Princeton Elementary Science Magnet School and Hillcrest Foreign Language Academy. My plans as school board member are to establish funds or endowments for these schools so that they will continue to thrive. Please contact me at anne.geiger@ocps.net if you would like to contribute to Lake Silver's Math Magnet Fund. It is the first one that we are establishing. Donations will tax-deductible because the fund is being set up through the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools.

Speaking of Princeton, Principal Shayne Grove has also led her "A" school to new heights. Its beautiful, historic (81-years-young!) building provides a unique learning experience for our children. Science permeates learning, and parents are justifiably happy with Princeton's child-centered, rigorous approach to education and its exceptional faculty and staff. Go to http://www.princeton.ocps.net/ to sign up for Princeton's wonderful summer camp! And join everyone at Princeton's 81st Birthday Bash on Saturday, May 3rd from 3:00-6:00!

Killarney's successful principal, Wayne Green, has moved on to lead Carver Middle School, but we have gained Leticia Foster. Faculty and staff are very happy with this choice, as she is already a beloved member of the Killarney family. (Patricia Maher is acting principal while Principal Foster is on maternity leave.) Principal Green was also honored last year for moving the school up two letter grades to an "A"! Construction is well underway for its beautiful new building that will house classrooms, cafeteria and administration.

Under Principal Tom Pylant, Lee Middle is on its way to greater heights with its Middle Years International Baccalaureate Programme. They were approved for candidate status this year. It is currently being offered to 6th and 7th graders. Next year it will also be offered to 8th graders, and by 2010-11 will be offered school-wide. Students study all disciplines, including foreign language (in this case, Spanish) within a rigorous framework that builds critical thinking skills, understanding and respect for other cultures, and an expectation to serve in the community. Like Killarney, Lee's renovation is well underway. Work on the new cafeteria/music building, locker room expansion and administrative area will be completed this summer. Additional work will include a new classroom building and further renovation of existing campus buildings.

As I mention often, Edgewater High School is led by one of Orange County's most innovative, dynamic high school principals, Rob Anderson. He sets the mark for other high schools with his focus on expanding enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, and has aggressively improved and expanded Edgewater's Engineering, Science and Technology magnet. Applications have been high because it is becoming well known for its rigor and wealth of options for its students. The faculty and staff at Edgewater are a strong team and clearly dedicated to our children. While respecting the many traditions that make Edgewater beloved by students, alumni and the community, Principal Anderson is dedicated to building the three strong building blocks of a successful comprehensive high school-academics, athletics and the arts.

And what better way to house such a successful school but in a new campus! While it may seem to some like a long process to get to this point, the school district has performed its due diligence to develop a plan for a renovated Edgewater campus with new classroom buildings, cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium, refurbishment of several current buildings (one of which will be a separate building for freshmen), and acquisition of additional land (both the shopping center and mobile home park). This plan provides what Edgewater will need to serve its students, provide better access to and from the campus, and be accomplished in a way that is responsible to the taxpayers. There have been dozens of meetings with the Edgewater Task Force and multiple community meetings over the last three years; the input has been valuable and the many studies that have been done have ensured that the current path is sound.

As you may have heard, state revenue shortfalls have forced the district to ask principals to cut school budgets by 6% and heads of departments to cut theirs by 7%. They have been given flexibility, with oversight, to make decisions. The main priority was to protect the classroom. Without a doubt, the process is painful, but it also provides opportunity to assess priorities and look for creative ways to continue providing a high-quality education with less. The hard reality, though, is that revenue shortfalls are expected to continue well into the future. Just as school board members and superintendents are doing right now, it is important that citizens communicate to our state legislators that public education must remain a priority in the state of Florida. A healthy economy and vibrant society depend on well-funded, well-supported public schools.

I join our College Park principals in sharing my gratitude for the generous support that families and the community give to our schools. It undoubtedly enables their success. For those who may have the time, mentoring is a valuable and rewarding way to give back. My husband and I have mentored five Orange County students of various ages, and it is truly one of the most rewarding things we have ever done. I highly recommend it! Please contact www.ocps.net or your local school to sign up. It can make all the difference in the life of a child.

It is an honor to serve our children as their school board member. And as I always say, in a community where all of its children are valued and given a full array of opportunities.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, concerns or ideas.
Anne Geiger, OCPS School Board, District 6, Orange County Public Schools
407.317.3236 - 407.399.1768; E-MAIL geigera@ocps.net
445 West Amelia Street, Orlando, Florida 32804