Pasco letters: Poor leadership damaging morale

Pasco School superintendent Heather Fiorentino admits she needs to improve communications with district employees. I guess that's why she found it necessary to hire a director of communications for more than $84,000 a year. I would have thought that a veteran teacher and professional politician could communicate on her own.

The current superintendent admits that morale is poor. That's putting it mildly. I've been teaching in this district since 1989 and I've never seen morale this low. But according to her, she's not to blame. It's the economy, she said. The economy was tough in the early 1990s and our morale was not this low.

Maybe there would be more team spirit if the superintendent wasn't in the habit of violating the terms of the contract whenever it suited her and did something about abusive and incompetent administrators.

She admits the implementation of the multimillion-dollar boondoggle known as Learning Focus Strategies was a mess. Isn't implementation of programs her responsibility?

She claims the program was necessary because the district has many new teachers, several of whom did not attend a college of education to learn things such as classroom management and best teaching practices. Now I'm confused. Why did your administrators hire these people? Because several people were lacking in these skills every teacher had to be pulled from their classrooms for four days, especially when we weren't allowed to share our vast experience with the new teachers during these training sessions?

I find it amusing that the Pasco County teachers union has decided to back someone other than the incumbent superintendent in the general election.

They work approximately 190 to 200 days a year and now that the economy has crashed they are upset because they are not getting their pay raise. Perhaps they should ask for a show of hands in their classroom to see how many students have parents who have lost their jobs?

Can someone please tell me what a 13-, 14-, and even 16-year-old were doing out at 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning when school is little more than five hours away? Where are these children's parents?

Also, what is it that makes these children so violent as to steal a vehicle and then use it to assault someone and beat him to acquire his belongings? Sounds like horrible rage to me and then you have to think about what has caused it.

To use an open car door to knock someone off a bicycle is not only cruel, it's criminal and could lead to severe injury or fatality.

To produce children like these with these horrible values is a testament to the trouble our society is in. We are in trouble because today's youths are tomorrow's adults. I think they should pass a law that minors' parents should be held accountable in some capacity for what their child does. That way, hopefully, people with children will take more responsibility.

There are two kinds of sexism: one is against women and is well publicized and the other is against men and it is hidden well inside the closet and few people even dare discuss it.

The author of the guest column calmly and clearly ignores the kind of domestic violence perpetrated against men. The violence that women cause is no less bad than the violence that men cause.

There are many well-meaning persons who refuse to address the issue of men's rights and equality for men (with women) who have been taught false statistics and a form of hate-filled feminism that denies men their humanity.

Comments on this article

by Barbara	Oct 16, 2008 5:11 PM
You can't honestly blame Heather Fiorentino; look around, everyone, I repeat, everyone is in the same position in this economic time. Of course morale is low; she is doing the best she can. No one else can do better at this time either. Be nice.

by teacher	Oct 14, 2008 7:45 AM
At LOLHS we still have the same amount of Assist. Principals (6 of them!) at 1200 students as we did when we were on double session at 2600 students! Get rid of Rummel! She brings down morale with her bad attitude! That'll save some money!

by Pat Connolly	Oct 14, 2008 7:45 AM
DJ, It's more than employees who need to unite. Anyone who truly cares about quality education in Pasco County needs to unite to bring true leadership back to the school system.

by DJ	Oct 13, 2008 11:53 AM
Pasco Schools employees unite! Commit yourselves to electing Steve Donaldson as your superintendent. Your future depends on it.

by johnbirch	Oct 13, 2008 11:13 AM
Not to worry...When B.Husseing Obama is elected he will make sure your schools properly indoctrinate your kids in a manner that inspires both of you. School's OPEN- Your Kids Are Getting Dumber!!

by Tom	Oct 12, 2008 7:13 PM
The problem is that the Superintendent is still and elected position. This should be a position where candidates have to interview and prove they are capable of the job. Not a Popularity Contest where the Republican in Pasco always wins.

by JR	Oct 12, 2008 6:32 PM
I still have some "Bridges and Streaming" manuals if any of you need them!

by Mimi	Oct 12, 2008 6:12 PM
I've got the reason-working mothers! Too many part time parents have destroyed the family base. They need to unwind after work and are too tired to make dinner or spend time with their kids. I've NEVER met a family that has gotten the balance right!

by dave	Oct 12, 2008 6:02 PM
Teachers AKA drama queens need to spend as much time working to educate as they do "cya" & if you dont like the jobs pay..quit, otherwise show up w/out the "me" attitude. As for the Board and Super try working ALL DAY for the high pay or cut it!!!!!

by Mark	Oct 12, 2008 6:01 PM
If you think morale is bad, its everywhere. The sheriff has turned the SO into a void of judgment and despair. And he also hired a consultant (his own friend) to fix the problem. No one saw him, but he received over $90,000.00. Vote both of them out

by kelly	Oct 12, 2008 1:08 PM
I work more then 200 days a year. 200 days in the classroom maybe but how many hours do i spend being a mentor to so many children of parents that do not care. I spend 8 hours a day at work and then another 3 to 4 at night with papers to grade.

by ThankTeach	Oct 12, 2008 12:58 PM
Now that the rest of the world is experiencing no raises they claim teachers are greedy. Talk to a teacher, they havent had a decent raise even when the economy boomed. Support them!!!

by sick of it	Oct 12, 2008 12:31 PM
I am sick and tired of kidsd 13-17 commiting terrible crimes and the news withholding the names. Rules need to be changed and the public needs to know who they are. ENOUGH protecting these kids/criminals.

by insider	Oct 12, 2008 12:31 PM
I am not a teacher but work in a school, my wife is a teacher. For ALL you people who think teachers have it easy, only work 8 hours a day, 180-200 days a year, YOU COULD NOT BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Spend one week with a teacher in school...

by Jamie	Oct 10, 2008 2:14 PM
I have had to deal with every aspect of the school system. I just Thank God the schools I deal with for my children are wonderful. And Yes deserve raisies!Look at your child and multiply by 30 and deal with that for a week then ask raisies? Hell yes

by EQP	Oct 10, 2008 2:14 PM
Let?s be transparent and truthful here Ms. Fiorentino, how many times have you picked up the phone to communicate and collaborate with the USEP leadership regarding the various issues that the District has encountered over the last 4 years?

by Ed	Oct 10, 2008 11:10 AM
She wants to blame the Union for the District's exorbitant amount of grievances, two Unfair Labor Practices (the first filed by USEP since the mid 1970's), PERC complaints, stonewalling in negotiations and not working together.

by Ed	Oct 10, 2008 11:10 AM
Heather Fiorentino wants to blame the economy for lack of morale rather than the true culprit, her lack of communication and opaque leadership.

by teacher	Oct 10, 2008 11:07 AM
Indeed. At WCHS we have administrators spying on us now, and morale is in the toilet. The district must be involved in this.

by teacher	Oct 9, 2008 7:03 PM
Rock on Pat Con! In my school (SSMS) the administration is wonderful but morale is still as low as ever....that trickles down from district. Election day should be interesting.