PENSACOLA NEWS JOURNAL
Editor’s note: The Florida Federation for Children and the American Federation for Children, both of which oppose the Florida School Board Association’s effort to prevent further expansion of Florida’s school voucher program, heavily funded Frost’s campaign. An electioneering communications organization supporting Frost, which was set up by Laura Zorc, wife of County Commissioner Tim Zorc, received $20,000 of its $20,100 in contributions from the Florida Federation for Children. See: Outside money dominated local School Board race
Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh will head a new statewide association of school board members.
Citing a frustration with the direction of a lawsuit filed by the Florida Teachers Union and the Florida School Board Association regarding Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program, a group of individual school board members have banded together and will announce the formation of the Florida Coalition of School Board Members in a conference call with media Monday.
Among the coalition’s concerns:
•Lack of a cost-effective, student-focused member association that provides relevant professional development and counsel for Florida school board members.
•Concern over litigation to eradicate the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
•Waning influence of school boards on education issues at the State Capitol.
The coalition’s founding members include Jeff Bergosh, coalition president, Escambia County School Board; Shawn Frost, Indian River County School Board; Bridget Ziegler, Sarasota County School Board; and Erika Donalds, Collier County School Board.
Indian River Guardian 
So now we have 2 Chambers and 2 School Boards! Next I guess we will have 2 County Commissions! Let me guess who could possibly be behind all of this, as Frost is just the beard.
Its great that the Florida Coalition of School Board members are standing up for the school voucher program. An earlier comment suggest division amongst the school boards, but I have to disagree with that opinion, the Florida Coalition of school board member represents a new voice for parents that are concerned about the future of their school districts. Instead of talking about “2 School Boards”, lets talk about the future of the students of this state. The only people behind all of this are the 69,000 low to middle income students and parents who are sick and tried of failing schools. The members of this Coalition are using their experience in the private and public sector to provide professional development for school board members that want to make a difference in this state. There are many students who face difficult circumstances and have no choice in terms of education, the only choice they have maybe that one failing school in their area. Limited choices in education lead to limited opportunities in a students future. When I was a young student gowning up in the projects of a urban area I faced difficult circumstances, if I had the opportunity of school vouchers I would have taken advantage of it. Instead of rallying against vouchers and the work that the Coalition is trying to do lets look at some facts, according to Florida school choice ” A study of Florida’s school choice programs released in 2004 reported that between the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 school years, “voucher-eligible schools” (schools where students could transfer out) improved more than other public schools. Using FCAT scores as their measure, Manhattan Institute researchers found that voucher-eligible schools improved by 15.1 scaled score points more in mathematics than other public schools. When discussing the impacts of college bound students “A study published by the Brookings Institution and Harvard Kennedy School in early January on school choice showed its effects on students over time. It found that minority students who received a school voucher to attend private elementary schools in 1997 were, as of 2013, 10 percent more likely to enroll in college, and 35 percent more likely than their counterparts in public school to receive a college degree. (Editor’s Note: Sergio Moto is a member of the Indian River County Republican Executive Committee)
Sergio, In offering an explanation for the superior performance of students attending “voucher-eligible schools,” you did not address this question: Are the improved education outcomes in “voucher-eligible schools” do to their superior offerings, or to the “quality” of students those schools tend to attracts? Or, is the equation more complex than that?
What I do know is this. No matter how valuable a service they may provide, charter schools and private schools alone cannot meet the education challenge facing America. If our nation is to compete effectively in the new global economy, concerned people such as yourself are going to have to take an interest in improving educations outcomes for all of American’s children, not just for those who can be accommodated by private and charter schools.
One of my few heroes is Ray Oglethorpe, who has been instrumental in shaping and supporting the Learning Alliance. As I’m sure you know, that organization is committed to improving reading proficiency for ALL third graders in Indian River County – not just for those who are fortunate enough to attend charter and private schools.
As Jamie Vollmer explained in “Schools Can’t Do It Alone,” this issue is so complex that is will only be solved if we all work together. Turning our backs on America’s public schools, and siphoning their funding, is not the answer.
See:chttp://insidevero.com/2013/06/28/education-reformer-ray-oglethorpe-helping-students-and-teachers-shoot-for-the-moon/
Mr. Frost was elected to serve on the IRC School Board, from what I remember. I have 7 years of experience in a double F elementary. The only reason that school improved to almost a B, was the amount of “outside” resources that came to help. Exactly what Jamie Vollner has written about, I have experienced first hand, not many people can say that, but they certainly can point their fingers at what they think is the problem.
The Community Involvement is what saved those children. All of the” better” students were targeted by the Private and Charter schools, thus leaving the lower 25% behind to some how survive. How that solves anything is beyond my imagination.
I am for all types of School Learning Facilities. What is happening is divisive and will not benefit any of “our” children in the future.
I also feel that all of the members of the new board , should resign from their elected positions, so that they will have the time to serve their constituents.
Are they being compensated financially, as that would be unethical?
To address Sergio Mota’s comment” The only people behind all of this are the 69,000 low to middle income students and parents who are sick and tried of failing schools. The members of this Coalition are using their experience in the private and public sector to provide professional development for school board members that want to make a difference in this state.” This comment assumes that not all school board members have the best interest of all students at heart despite earning a hefty salary paid by the taxpayers which include ALL parents and students not just the 69,000, he mentions.By encouraging defunding of public schools he is harming the majority of public school students and the county school boards earn a SALARY to protect all these students and the Florida State Constitution states”Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require”…so instead of providing bi partisan support to improve education, school boards are now POLITICIZING education and catering to special interests.