News & Public Affairs
Free gun training offer attracts over 200 Pinellas County teachers listen
02/11/13 Lisa MarzilliWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: guns, teachers, schools, Pinellas County Schools
This Saturday, when most folks will be sleeping in, doing chores or taking the kids to soccer, a group of Pinellas County school teachers will be learning how to handle a gun.
Lenny Bogdanos is president of International Executive Protection, a Clearwater firm that provides body guard, self-defense and firearms training. He’s waiving the $75 fee he normally charges for a four hour class for Pinellas County school teachers. The class covers everything from ...
Be the first to commentArming Hillsborough County schools
01/10/13 Mitch PerryLast Call Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: April Griffin, MaryEllen Elia, schools, guns, Hillsborough County Schools
Hillsborough County School Board chair April Griffin joined the program to talk about a variety of issues, but our callers mostly wanted to talk about Superintendent MaryEllen Elia's plan to expand an armed security force so it can guard every elementary school.
Be the first to commentEducation advocate rips Florida's choice for education commissioner
12/12/12 Seán KinaneLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Tony Bennett, education, Board of Education, education commissioner, schools, FCAT, Jeb Bush, teachers
Florida has a new Education Commissioner, but not everyone's happy about Wednesday's selection.
The state Board of Education chose ousted Indiana Schools superintendent Tony Bennett.
In November he lost his re-election bid.
Joining me is public education advocate Susan Smith, she was at the interviews for the three finalists Tuesday.
*Part 1 of the intervie...
Be the first to commentIn south Pinellas, Flowers and Gilzean face off in school board election listen
10/19/12 Samuel JohnsonWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: 2012 election, Pinellas County, Pinellas County School Board, education, schools
Yesterday candidates for Pinellas County School Board election debated each other at a candidate forum at 5th Avenue Church of Christ. Rene Flowers and Glenton Gilzean laid out their plans for the common problems facing the schools in South Pinellas’ District 7.
Rene Flowers, a former St. Pete City Council member, is seeking re-election to the nonpartisan school board. Both candidates told the thirty attendees about their plans to improve educational performan...
Be the first to commentHillsborough School Board member April Griffin criticizes high-stakes testing
07/18/12 Seán KinaneLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough School Board, April Griffin, FCAT, education, schools
Today on Last Call we talked about education with Hillsborough School Board member April Griffin.
There are four School board races on next month’s primary ballot, incumbents Susan Valdes, Jack Lamb, Doretha Edgecomb and Carol Kurdell face opposition.
We spoke about how the expected low turnout of a primary election might affect those races.
Griffin has been critical of high-stakes testing like the FCAT.
On Tuesday the board took shots at the way grades are passed out to schools ...
Be the first to commentWorkNet Pinellas holds 5th Annual Business & Education Summit listen
09/16/11 Josh HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: business, education, education funding, schools, school funding, jobs
One reason it may be hard for people to find work is because many job skills are not taught in school curricula. Today was the 5th annu8al business and education summit, which sought to give local school curricula guidance from the Pinellas business community.
Many businesses believe that they can help provide students with skills that will get students in the jobs they want by summits like today. WorkNet Pinellas held the summit along with several other corporate sponsors. Tony Leisner i...
Be the first to commentHillsborough weighs in again on cell phone towers at schools listen
02/18/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday
Tags: Cell phone towers, schools
The continuing saga of what to do about cell phone towers located on Hillsborough County School campuses came back before the Hillsborough County Commission today.
Last week, the School Board rejected a request sent in a letter by County Commission Chair Ken Hagen to delay approving any further towers until the issue could be dealt with. Hagen asked County Attorney Adam Gormly today if a change could be made in the County’s Land Development Code to require that a community meeting be held...
Be the first to commentAngry parents get reprieve from on cell phone tower issue listen
02/04/09 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough County, cell phone towers, schools
Hillsborough County Commissioners today requested that the Hillsborough School Board stay a land use law just enacted that would allow some schools to build cell phone towers without input from the public.
The construction of such towers has drawn the outrage of parents in recent months – first at Coleman Middle School in South Tampa, and later at schools in New Tampa and Brandon.
Carrie Grimail is with the group People Against Cell Towers at Schools. She says that many of the people in...
Be the first to commentPinellas schools look at budget cuts listen
05/06/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Pinellas County Schools, budget cuts, education, schools, insurance
Due to budget cuts, Pinellas County schools must find a way to trim $43 million. Making this more difficult is the fact that providing medical insurance benefits to employees will increase by $11.5 million next year. Because employee salaries and benefits make up one of the largest budget items, the controversial idea of decreasing teacher salaries was considered in a workshop this morning.
Outgoing Superintendent of Pinellas County Schools Clayton Wilcox said the school district is no lo...
Be the first to commentHillsborough School Board studies its mission listen
02/12/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: schools, Hillsborough County School Board, education, MaryEllen Elia, April Griffin
The Hillsborough County School District is in the process of crafting new mission, vision, and values statements. Today, the seven School Board members, Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, and her staff of chief officers and assistant superintendents held a workshop to set strategic goals for the school district.
Hillsborough County School Board Member April Griffin said this workshop, which was facilitated by Tom Ahonen from Minnesota, was needed because the district is in the process of shift...
Be the first to comment