It's no secret that the Pasco employees association and superintendent Heather Fiorentino have not gotten along in the past. Much of the recent acrimony has turned on contract negotiations.

With the latest budget news indicating that the financial picture is turning for the worse, Fiorentino is seeking to put the us vs. them mentality in the past so everyone can focus on making it through lean times. She sent a memo to all employees at the end of business Thursday.

In it, Fiorentino talks about tough times and reiterates the board's primary goals. But what stand out are her repeated calls for unity:

"It is crucial that we unite during these challenging times and put
aside any differences that may exist in order to prioritize the needs
of our District."

"These circumstances necessitate a spirit of cooperation and teamwork."

"I look forward to working with you and thank you for your dedicated service to our students and the District."

It will be interesting to see whether employees rally together, or if they view this as a cynical effort by the leader they opposed in the November election. Stay tuned. And to see Fiorentino's memo in full, read on.

From: Heather Fiorentino <hfiorent@pasco.k12.fl.us>
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:05:22 -0500
To: All Employees <hfiorent@pasco.k12.fl.us>
Cc: Marge Whaley <mwhaley@pasco.k12.fl.us>, <kestarkey@gmail.com>, Cathi Martin <cmartin@pasco.k12.fl.us>, Frank Parker <fparker@pasco.k12.fl.us>, Frank Parker <frank@stoneparkercpa.com>, Kathryn Starkey <kstarkey@pasco.k12.fl.us>, Allen Altman <alaltman@pasco.k12.fl.us>, <suncoastjbh@verizon.net>
Conversation: Important Budget Information
Subject: Important Budget Information

Dear Staff,

Earlier this week, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) notified our District of its intention to withhold $9.1 million in funding from Pasco Schools. The District also anticipates a reduction of at least $3.5 million due to lower than projected FTE counts.  In addition, FDOE has announced a possible reduction in the spring.  These new reductions come after the District has already passed its budget, which included $16 million in reductions. 

We understood at the time we passed the budget that future reductions were likely and we identified areas within the budget for possible cuts.  Unfortunately, these new dollar amounts are higher than we expected.  Therefore, we will have to carefully review every current expenditure and consider all previous suggestions for savings (we have kept all of the employee-generated solutions for potential savings that were submitted earlier this year).  If you have any other suggestions you would like for us to consider, please submit them to me by e-mail as soon as possible.

As we navigate through this difficult economic situation, we will continue to work toward the following three goals the Board and I have established:

·           Protect classroom spending
·           Avoid employee lay-offs
·           Maintain the employee compensation package

It is crucial that we unite during these challenging times and put aside any differences that may exist in order to prioritize the needs of our District. Difficult decisions will have to be made in order to develop a balanced budget that meets the needs of students. I will make every effort to facilitate open communication and dialogue with all stakeholders throughout this process.

These circumstances necessitate a spirit of cooperation and teamwork.  It is important to remember that we are not alone in this situation, as many organizations and companies throughout the nation are also facing financial challenges.  One of the qualities that makes our District unique is the level of professionalism and commitment among our staff.  With the support of all of our employees, I have every confidence that we will be able to meet this challenge and secure the long-term success of our District.

I look forward to working with you and thank you for your dedicated service to our students and the District. 

Sincerely,

Heather Fiorentino
Superintendent