Setting realistic goals, understanding the parents right bill, the sunshine law, the Florida Constitution will further me making the right decisions and the right choices for District 1.
“I met Cathy at a youth group parent meeting, only 5 years ago. Her determination. positivity and work ethic were contagious. Within a matter or months the youth group was to hold the largest fundraiser the church had ever seen in almost 20 years. All of this was accomplished under her leadership. Cathy also has a servant’s heart and her humility in that regard would certainly be an asset to the school board. She has my highest recommendation .” Valerie J. Hilicus Pellegrino
I would be honored to work with the community if chosen for Lee County School Board District 1. I am ready to sit on the board to help not only with the community but to give back transparency and build a relationship to the community which includes top priority KIDS FIRST!
Priorities
- KIDS FIRST
-Parental rights
- (1) All parental rights are reserved to the parent of a minor child in this state without obstruction or interference from the state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution, including, but not limited to, all of the following rights of a parent of a minor child in this state:
- (a) The right to direct the education and care of his or her minor child.
- (b) The right to direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of his or her minor child.
- (c) The right, pursuant to s. 1002.20(2)(b) and (6), to apply to enroll his or her minor child in a public school or, as an alternative to public education, a private school, including a religious school, a home education program, or other available options, as authorized by law.
- (d) The right, pursuant to s. 1002.20(13), to access and review all school records relating to his or her minor child.
- (e) The right to make health care decisions for his or her minor child, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
- (f) The right to access and review all medical records of his or her minor child, unless prohibited by law or if the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor child and a law enforcement agency or official requests that the information not be released.
- (g) The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of his or her minor child is made, shared, or stored.
- (h) The right to consent in writing before any record of his or her minor child’s blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by general law or authorized pursuant to a court order.
- (i) The right to consent in writing before the state or any of its political subdivisions makes a video or voice recording of his or her minor child unless such recording is made during or as part of a court proceeding or is made as part of a forensic interview in a criminal or Department of Children and Families investigation or is to be used solely for the following purposes:
- 1. A safety demonstration, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the common areas of a school or on student transportation vehicles;
- 2. A purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity;
- 3. A purpose related to regular classroom instructions;
- 4. Security or surveillance of buildings or grounds; or
- 5. A photo identification card.
- (j) The right to be notified promptly if an employee of the state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against his or her minor child, unless the incident has first been reported to law enforcement or the Department of Children and Families and notifying the parent would impede the investigation.
- (2) This section does not:
- (a) Authorize a parent of a minor child in this state to engage in conduct that is unlawful or to abuse or neglect his or her minor child in violation of general law;
- (b) Condone, authorize, approve, or apply to a parental action or decision that would end life;
- (c) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction, law enforcement officer, or employees of a government agency that is responsible for child welfare from acting in his or her official capacity within the reasonable and prudent scope of his or her authority; or
- (d) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction from issuing an order that is otherwise permitted by law.
- (3) An employee of the state, any of its political subdivisions, or any other governmental entity who encourages or coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce, a minor child to withhold information from his or her parent may be subject to disciplinary action.
- (4) A parent of a minor child in this state has inalienable rights that are more comprehensive than those listed in this section, unless such rights have been legally waived or terminated. This chapter does not prescribe all rights to a parent of a minor child in this state. Unless required by law, the rights of a parent of a minor child in this state may not be limited or denied. This chapter may not be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.
-Education
We must build a school community for all students. We should not measure success solely by overall student achievement, students who bring down the average are more likely to be forced out. Instead, curriculum development and classroom priorities should focus on each student’s individual success. Also we must Involve parents in their children’s education where possible can also contribute to a student’s achievement. People coming together with coherent messages for policy makers about the changes they’d like to see in their education systems can only benefit students
-Meal Planning
-Line Item Budget
A line item budget is one approach to helping a our school district develop a financial plan. Establishing and implementing a budget is crucial to running a successful school district! Also, line-item budgeting is straightforward and readily understood by school districts. Budgetary review sessions can be used to assess budgets and the simplicity of this system makes it easier for our district to forecast, justify, and monitor revenues and expenditures.
-Line By Line
– Safety
The good news is Lee County School District is really ahead of the curve in terms of proactively addressing a lot of the school safety issues. However when it comes to safe schools I will always make sure our district stays with the new safety guidelines issued by Governor DeSantis which are;
- Requiring school police officers to complete crisis intervention training
- Authorizing Florida’s education commissioner to enforce safety compliance and set rules for emergency drills.
Lastly, Requiring school districts to have at least 80% of school personnel receive youth mental health awareness training as of July 2023.
-Itemized
-Audit
I believe that our school district must have a forensic audit examination. I strongly feel we need expertise in school district fraud investigations, audits, risk assessment, internal controls, forensic accounting, IT security and compliance.
Click here for Transportation
-Reroute
-Volunteers
-Clean/Low emissions
-Propane Bus
If the school board had the opportunity to itemized a line by line budget. I would be driven and everything I mentioned above would give an opportunity to open doors to the district. The teachers, bus drivers and staff would receive better income in their pay. I would emphasize and help direct the board to positive realistic goals that would benefit our community in whole.