Ronald DiPillo

SARASOTA – Venice High School Assistant Principal Ronald DiPillo has been selected at the new principal of Oak Park School, one of two Sarasota County School District schools dedicated entirely to exceptional student education. He is scheduled to succeed Dan Parrett, who is retiring in January, 2010.

DiPillo, 43, is a native of Youngstown, Ohio. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and economics from Youngstown State University. He also studied educational leadership at the University of South Florida and is scheduled to receive a doctorate in education from Argosy University in Sarasota in 2010.

DiPillo worked as a financial services representative in Sarasota and Englewood before beginning his career in education as a math teacher at Venice High School in 1996. He also taught Mathematics as an adjunct professor at Manatee Community College from 1997-2004. In 2003, he began working as a data coach and master scheduler at VHS. In that capacity, he worked with teachers and administrators to use achievement data to improve mathematics instruction.

He was promoted to assistant principal in 2004. As an administrator he helped expand professional development programs for language arts and art department teachers. He also is involved in scheduling, budget development and staffing.

DiPillo was certified in 2000 by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and has appeared in Who’s Who in America’s Teachers from 2004-2009. During his tenure at VHS, he has coached girls’ softball and weightlifting and initiated the school’s Advanced Placement Probability and Statistics course.

He said he is excited by the prospect of following Dan Parrett as principal of Oak Park. “The success of Oak Park School is a district priority and I am very proud to be selected to follow such a great leader,” he said.

“I believe that the students of Oak Park deserve the same access to an enriched instructional environment as all other Sarasota students. I hope to emulate Mr. Parrett in many ways and to maintain the momentum that he has created.  Open and continuous communication with parents and community service organizations will be a high priority as I begin this journey. I am very excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Sonia Figaredo-Alberts, the Sarasota County School District executive director of pupil support services, said DiPillo displays a strong conviction that all students should receive access to the highest quality of educational service. “He has expressed a real passion for maximizing the performance of every child based on his or her individual needs,” she said.

Stephen Cantees, the Sarasota County Schools executive director of high schools, said he is very pleased with DiPillo’s appointment. “Ron has established himself as one of our top assistant principals,” Cantees said. “He is intelligent, hard working, caring and has a true gift for building relationships.” 

Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Lori White said DiPillo has demonstrated sensitivity and skill in leadership and staff development during his service at VHS. She said is very confident that Oak Park will continue to provide exemplary services to the district’s exceptional students under his leadership.

TOYS FOR TOTS REINDEER CREW: Employees of various departments of the Sarasota County School District and school resource officers from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office display some of the estimated 200 toys donated by district employees to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Program. This year was the district’s seventh annual drive to collect toys, bikes and cash for the program, which provides holiday gifts for economically disadvantaged children.   

Author Gordon Korman

SARASOTA – Sixth- and seventh-grade students at area middle schools were treated to a visit by popular young-adult author Gordon Korman during the week of Dec. 14. As part of the Starbooks reading program, sixth-graders have been reading his novel “Schooled.” Students in seventh grade have been reading another Korman book, “Swindle.” Free copies of the novels were given to the students earlier this year, and schools have based several activities around the books.

During his visit to schools the author talked about his books with students, autographed copies and met with teachers. Korman has written more than 50 books for children and young adults, including four American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults. When he was 12 Korman wrote his first book, “This Can't Be Happening!,” about the adventures of two friends at a boarding school.

“Schooled” features a character named Capricorn, who was home-schooled in a 1960s-style commune. After an accident lands his grandmother in the hospital, authorities force him to attend the local public middle school where he has trouble fitting in. The plot of “Swindle” involves a stolen baseball card and a boy who is determined to get it back.

The Starbooks reading program, now in its second year, is being funded this year by a $267,150 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The program is part of a multi-year goal to promote and improve literacy among children of all ages. The idea behind Starbooks, the middle-school component of the foundation’s commitment, is to encourage reading for enjoyment through the involvement of peers, parents, teachers, media specialists and literacy coaches. Other components of the Starbooks program include ongoing teacher training, reading corners in school media centers, family literacy nights for students and their families, and authors' visits.

SARASOTA — About 120 Sarasota County parents learned dozens of techniques to help their children succeed in school at a half-day Parent Institute on Saturday, Nov. 14. The institute was presented by the Sarasota County Schools at Phillippi Shores Elementary School in Sarasota. The event included 18 workshops on subjects ranging from study skills and homework to health and safety to improving behavior.

To encourage parents to attend, event organizers offered a free breakfast, exhibits from 20 service and support agencies, interpreters, bus transportation, child care and door prizes.

Following an opening ceremony that featured the Tuttle Elementary School Chorus and the Booker High School JROTC Color Guard, parents selected three 40-minute sessions to attend from the 18 that were offered. Session titles included “Positive Behavior and Support Strategies,” “Growing Successful Readers,” “Science is Everywhere for Everyone,” “Beyond Flash Cards: How to Help Your Child with Math,” “Internet safety for Parents and Families,” “Healthy Lifestyles Start at Home,” “Memory Magic Tips and Tricks,” “High School and Beyond,” and “Preparing for Kindergarten.”

Peggy Wiggins, the district director of academic intervention, was the administrator primarily responsible for organizing the institute. She said the overall purpose of the event was to empower parents to help their children, but her immediate goal for the day was more concrete. “I want every parent who attends to go home with at least one new skill they can use to help their child today,” she said.

In her introductory remarks, Superintendent Lori White said the parents in attendance had a special place in her heart. “For you to give up a Saturday to be involved in your children’s education is a true gift, both to your children and to their schools,” she said.

White said that parent involvement is a key element in student success. “You have started early,” she said. “I encourage you to stay involved all the way through high school. All children can improve their achievement if we continue to work together.”

Presenter Rex Ingerick explained how parents can teach children better behavior. “If you expect it, teach it,” he said. “If children don’t know how to read, we teach them. If they don’t know how to swim, we teach them. If they don’t know how to behave, we punish them.” He explained that creating a structured environment that rewards children for doing what is expected is a much more effective way to manage behavior than punishing children for behaving badly.

Presenter Jim Shalus had a similar message for parents helping children with homework. “Modeling is important," he said. "If you get your child started on homework, don’t go into another room and turn on the ball game. Spend some time helping her settle in. Read a book. Be part of what she is doing.”                                                                       

Parent Mary Shaffer said she thought the science workshop was very helpful. “The workshop showed me how to be more systematic in creating an environment of inquiry at home,” she said.  

“I learned how to be more deliberate about helping my children look up information when they have questions and to create a question board to write down questions to explore later. It helped me be more conscious of science in our everyday activities.

“I think it was wonderful of the district to do this. It appeals to a broad cross-section of parents,” she said.

Gulf Gate parent Ed Cole said he learned how important it is to use everyday events as teachable moments. He said he also learned to recognize different learning styles and to understand that even children in the same family may learn differently.

Oak Park parent Debbie Jones said she appreciated the ideas that were offered for students who do not learn in the same way most others do. “The day was very beneficial,” she said. “I got a lot of nifty ideas to help my son learn in his own way and ideas that I can use in any learning situation.

“I felt that I gained new skills today as a parent and as a person,” she said. “It was neat to spend the day with other parents who want to improve their students’ lives.”

She said she appreciated that the workshops were free. “The information is really worthwhile,” she said, “but if it were a class I had to pay for, I couldn’t do it.”

The event could be offered at no cost to the parents because it was generously supported by several business partners, including Simon’s Coffee House, The Corkscrew Deli, Cheeburger Cheeburger, Gecko’s Grill and Pub, Argosy University, Longhorn Steakhouse, Border’s Books and Music and the Family and Community Engagement Team.

SARASOTA – At a Dec. 1 community meeting to discuss the local economic impact of a planned $45 million rebuild of Booker High School, Sarasota County School District officials unveiled a plan to help prepare area workers for jobs on that project that could lead to careers in the construction industry.   

The Booker High project is in the early design stage, with construction not scheduled to begin until November 2010. Nevertheless, district officials and an advisory committee of Newtown community leaders are starting now to lay the groundwork that will prepare as many local workers as possible to be employed on the project.

The BHS rebuild is one of three major construction projects that will take place in Newtown over the next four years. The others are the Janie’s Garden housing complex and the Robert L. Taylor Recreation Center, both being built by the City of Sarasota.

City and school district officials previously had met with the four general contractors who are designing and building the projects to discuss what trades will be needed on the jobs and to simplify the process for hiring local workers. The discussions led to the development of a three-part plan that was presented at the meeting. The plan includes a training course in the fundamentals of the construction industry for entry-level workers, a streamlined application process for skilled workers and technical support for independent contractors to establish their eligibility for minority-owned business contracts.

Representatives from Jobs Etc. explained that the contractors who will be building all three projects have agreed to use Jobs Etc. as their primary source of local employees. They explained that the first step for anyone who is interested in working on one of the projects will be to register at Jobs Etc.

Once the registration is completed, the Jobs Etc. staff will help applicants develop their resume, prepare for an interview and register for the appropriate training. The training will be provided by Sarasota County Technical Institute teachers, but most classes will be offered on the BHS campus.

SCTI Director Todd Bowden explained that the basic level of training will be in fundamental information for workers new to the construction industry such as the rules of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). More advanced training will be provided for workers who already have some experience in construction trades.

Bowden said that specific courses will be created once the contractors identify what trades will be needed at what stage of the projects and a sufficient number of applicants are registered for the classes. He said SCTI can offer a class when 8-12 students have registered.

A representative from the State College of Florida described services the college provides independent contractors interested in securing subcontracts as minority-owned businesses. The SCF Small Business Development Center will assist those business owners with filing the appropriate forms and developing the necessary business model to qualify for work on government projects.

The presenters emphasized that they realize that the actual number of jobs on the three projects may be limited and for relatively short duration. Nevertheless, the training and certification gained by workers who participate in the projects will enable them to develop progressively higher levels of employability through the course of the projects in Newtown and ultimately prepare them for lifelong careers in the construction industry.

Some participants in the meeting pointed out that local residents have realized little benefit from previous construction projects in the area. Lorna Alston, the general manager of the North Sarasota Redevelopment Division, said, “We clearly do not believe that what was done in the past is going to happen again. Our vision for our community is to empower them to get better positions.”

Alston encouraged local residents to register for training or jobs and give the plan a chance to work. “Get involved,” she said. “Be part of the change.”

Superintendent of Schools Lori White agreed that community involvement will be necessary for the plan to work. “We are trying to begin to make a difference,” she said. “Will it solve the unemployment problem in Newtown? No. But it is a first step.”

SARASOTA - The Sarasota County Health Department worked with the school district and parents to vaccinate 12,482 students in pre-K through 12th grades against the H1N1 (swine) flu virus at school clinics in November and December. The number includes public, private and home-schooled students. The clinics were held at elementary schools after school hours, on weekends at schools and at Health Department locations, and at middle and high schools during school hours.

The first public clinics for all Sarasota County residents were held Dec. 5, and children under the age of 10 who were vaccinated in early November were eligible to get the second shot at those clinics, as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for that age group.

The Sarasota County Health Department Web site has the latest information about the availability of the H1N1 vaccine at public clinics and private providers. Click here to visit the site: Sarasota County Health Department

Now that the school clinics are over it is still important for everyone, whether or not they have been vaccinated, to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Health Department and school district officials emphasize that there are everyday actions that everyone can do to help reduce the spread of H1N1 (swine) flu: 

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.
• Wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel, especially after coughing and sneezing.
• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Avoid contact with those who are ill.

The district continues to work with the Health Department to address H1N1 (swine) flu concerns during the 2009/10 school year: 

• The district has made hand sanitizers available for use in classrooms under the supervision of adults.
• Custodians/building supervisors will continue efforts initiated in the spring to clean commonly touched areas (i.e. doorknobs, light switches, handrails, etc.) often.
• School staff will identify students exhibiting flu-like symptoms who will then be evaluated by the Health Room Aide or School Nurse, and isolated if necessary.
• Parents/guardians will then be contacted and requested to pick up their children as soon as possible.

Students with influenza-like illness must remain at home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). A fever is a temperature which is elevated above 100 degrees. Parents, especially those of medically fragile children – those with ongoing health issues such as asthma, diabetes and other diseases and illnesses are urged to seek out early medical care from their doctor or health care provider.

H1N1 INFORMATION AND RESOURCES:

Click on the following link for important information for parents (Dec. 2009):

H1N1 Vaccine: What Parents Should Know

The Florida Department of Health operates the Florida Flu Information Hotline. The toll-free number is 877-352-3581 (24 hours, 7 days a week: live operator 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; recorded information at other times). The following TTY/FL Relay numbers are available for the deaf and hearing-impaired: English 800-955-8771, Spanish 877-955-8773, Haitian Creole 877-955-8707.

Click on the following link for general flu information from the Florida Department of Health:
www.MyFluSafety.com

Click on these links for H1N1 (swine) flu information fliers in six languages from the Sarasota County Health Department:

H1N1 info flier English 

H1N1 info flier Spanish 

H1N1 info flier Haitian Creole

H1N1 info flier Russian 

H1N1 info flier Ukrainian

H1N1 info flier Vietnamese  

Click here for the script of Dr. Heymann's August phone message to parents (PDF file):

Dr Heymann H1N1 Connect-ED script 8-09

Click here for Superintendent White's August letter to parents (PDF file in English and Spanish):

Superintendent letter to parents H1N1 8-20-09

Click here for a 20-minute video message to school district staff from the Sarasota County Health Department (QuickTime file):

Sarasota County Health department message

Click here for a 20-minute video message to school district staff from the Sarasota County Health Department (Windows Media file):

Sarasota County Health department message

Click here for a letter to superintendents from Governor Charlie Crist and other state officials (PDF file):

Gov. Crist H1N1 letter 8-13-09

Click here to visit the Sarasota County Health Department Web site:

Sarasota County Health Department

SARASOTA – A standing-room only audience of 230 happy teachers, sponsors, volunteers, and school district leaders celebrated the 20^th anniversary of the Edge of Excellence Awards last night at the Chelsea Center. Cindy Kaiser, executive director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, announced grants totaling $88,951 for 187 classroom projects developed by teachers from 40 public schools in the district.

Keynote speaker for the event was School Board member Caroline Zucker, standing in for Senator Nancy Detert, who was called to a special session of the state legislature. Zucker, a long-time Education Foundation donor, talked about her favorites among the awards she and her husband Michael have funded. 

“I’m sure many of you have your own examples of how a project has helped spark a child’s interest in science, reading, the arts, community service, the environment, or a combination of  subjects that came together to start that student on a new path," said Zucker. "Or perhaps it helped a child realize that a subject they already loved could lead to a lifelong career.”  

Argosy University sponsored the evening’s reception and the second annual Argosy Principal’s Award, honoring the principal whose school submitted the most proposals for its faculty size. Argosy’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Doug Riedmiller, presented a check for $500 to Cranberry Elementary School’s Linda Daniels. The North Port principal also earned the award last year.

Ken Torrington, president of the Rotary Club of Sarasota, joined Kaiser onstage to close the ceremonies with surprise drawings.  A $100 door prize went to Cynthia Pelosi from Brookside Middle School. Then Torrington drew the name of Southside Elementary’s speech and language specialist, Kathryn Pedicini, who received the Rotary Club of Sarasota Teacher’s Award, a no-strings cash gift of $500.

Kaiser also recognized the late H. Jack Hunkele, whose family foundation funded two of the evening’s grants. Remembering Hunkele’s life-changing contributions to students and teachers, she cited a tribute from memorial services for the philanthropist held in November. “We can keep Jack’s legacy alive by following his example. We find a need and we fulfill it. And as we continue on our journey of making positive changes, we plant the seed of faith and hope, which illuminates the road of darkness. We must continue paving this road for a better tomorrow for our children, much like Jack, who tried to do the same for so many others.”

In 1990, founders led by Shirley A. Ritchey and including Beverly Koski, Annette Dignam, and Jan DeBoer awarded the first Edge of Excellence grants totaling $6,000 to thirteen teachers. In the following twenty years, the Education Foundation has awarded $1,323,406 through its Edge program, with funding provided by individual donors, corporate and foundation sponsors, and state matching grant dollars. Grants of up to $500 each are awarded to teachers for projects that are designed to enhance student learning. Through the awards, teachers are encouraged to develop new and more effective ways to reach students and to share successful projects with other teachers. Many of the most creative and effective projects are replicated in other classrooms over the years, dramatically extending the impact of each grant.

Out of 316 proposals submitted this year, the 187 funded projects were selected through a blind scoring process involving over a hundred volunteer readers.  Grant reading sessions gave citizens a glimpse into area classrooms and a chance to learn more about current trends and challenges in teaching.  Northern Trust hosted two days of grant readings at its Venice and Lakewood Ranch community rooms in October.

The Education Foundation provides teacher grants through two different programs each year:  Edge of Excellence Classroom Grants, at a maximum of $500 each, and Building Blocks for Success Grants, with a ceiling of $1,200 each. Altogether, the Foundation has awarded a record total of $163,326 in classroom grants for the 2009-2010 school year. Since 1990, the Foundation has funded 3,738 projects totaling over $2.2 million through the two grant programs.

This year, 40 individuals, families, businesses, and organizations sponsored one or more Edge grants, which carry their names or honor someone special to them. Sponsors are invited to present their grants in person at the annual awards reception. They are also invited to see the projects they are funding implemented in the classroom.

Leading sponsors of the 2009-2010 Edge of Excellence program include Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, The Frank E. Duckwall Foundation, Inc., the State of Florida and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, and Verizon Foundation.  Other major sponsors are The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation and the Ella A. Wiselogel Fund for Teachers of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc.

Sponsors of multiple grants include Amscot Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Howe Memorial Grant, H. Jack Hunkele Family Foundation, Abe & Catherine Kaplan Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Jerry and Nancy Kaplan, Koski Family Foundation, The Community Foundation of  Sarasota County, Inc. from the Betsy Mitchell Family Fund–In Memory of Melissa Hammerling, David and Jean Mitchell, George Morin & Ruth Larose Grants, John and Ann Ross–The Tracy Ross Memorial Trust, Betty and Stanley Pelletz, Sarasota Classified Teachers Association, Sarasota Rotary Foundation, Sun Hydraulics, and Jon F. Swift, Inc.

Additional grant funding was received from Douglas C. Berger–In  Memory of Russell Patrick Harris, Laura Breeze and Van Huff, Hon. Lisa Carlton–Mabry Carlton Grant, Libby Early–John David Howe Grant, Jelks Family Foundation, Jeff and Cindy Kaiser, the Kingsley Family, Helen C. Martin, Mary C. Muller–Carmel and Edward Muller, Philip and Susan Morris, Alice Rau, Smally Family Land Corp., Dorothy B. Stuart Tribute Fund, Constance V. White-Davis, and Wings N Things. Event photography was provided courtesy of Bryn-Alan Prestige Portraits.

Building Blocks for Success Grants are funded by the William G. Selby and Marie Selby Foundation, the Bank of America Client Foundation, the Julius Bradenburg Legacy Fund, and the Odile Robertson Fund of Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice.

Libby Early chairs the Education Foundation’s Grants Committee. Committee members include Bruce Beckstein, Dee Calvert, Carlotta Cooley, Ann Hardy, Helen C. Martin, and Susan Morris. Christine A. Brown is Program Director.

Dedicated to quality education for all children, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is an independent, not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with the community and Sarasota County public schools. With the support of  individuals, families, companies and foundations, the Education Foundation awards more than $1,200,000 each year to initiatives including the Texcellence Computer Donation program, Teacher of the Year, Academic Olympics, classroom grants, fine arts programs, and literacy initiatives. For more information visit www.EdFoundation.net or call 941-927-0965.

SARASOTA – The annual dropout rate for Sarasota County public high schools declined in 2008-09 as it has for the past two school years, according to statewide information released Dec. 4 by the Florida Department of Education. The dropout rate was 1.8 percent in 2008-09, down from 2.1 percent the previous year and 2.7 percent in 2006-07. The 2008-09 data represents a new all-time low in the dropout rate for the district. The school district’s graduation rate declined by less than one percentage point from 2007-08, from 86 percent to 85.1 percent.

The dropout rates and graduation rates are not directly comparable. The graduation rate is calculated by tracking what is known as a cohort of students. The state compares the number of students who start in a school as ninth graders to the number in the same class who graduate four years later.

The dropout rate indicates the number of students who drop out of school in any single year. Students are not counted as dropouts if it can be documented that they have transferred to another school or are deceased.

Compared to statewide data combining all school districts, Sarasota County’s graduation rate was 6.5 percentage points higher than the state rate of 78.6 percent. The local dropout rate was half a percentage point lower than the state dropout rate. 

With the exception of this year’s slight decrease in the local graduation rate, the rate has risen every year since 2005-06, when it was 79.9 percent. The chart below tracks local and state graduation rates since 2003-04: