Seminole School Board Rezoning Could Unfairly Impact Black Students

    
The Seminole County School Board will have a very important meeting on February 25 to vote on rezoning. Students will have to be shifted around because of overcrowding at many elementary schools.

      At the meeting on Monday, board members will vote on a plan. The board could vote to do away with the Northwest Cluster (a cluster of schools that includes Bentley, Wilson, Wicklow, Crystal Lake, and Idyllwilde). This would take away school choice altogether. The favored plan is to keep the cluster and divide it into two regions. Currently, students in the cluster can attend any school within the cluster.

      Of course, any time rezoning comes up in any district, there will be controversy. Many parents do not want rezoning because their children will have to change schools. This can be both inconvenient and traumatic for students.

      However, some of the controversy is due to issues of race and class. The district is supposed to maintain a racial and economic balance due to a federal order and an agreement with the federal government. However, it doesn't look like the plans are really addressing this issue at all. The more affluent schools such as Heathrow and Wilson will remain lily white. (It seems that some of the parents at these schools are concerned that there could be a negative impact on property values if color is added to the campus). Often, schools in more affluent neighborhoods have better resources and more experienced teachers. Shouldn't all students have access to the best?

      The rezoning issue also affects black students because the students who live in the predominately black (and not so affluent) neighborhoods (Lincoln Heights, Academy Manor, Lockhart and Goldsboro) that are attending Idllywilde Elementary could be forced to change schools, depending on which plan is chosen. It would certainly not be fair to put all of the burden and inconvenience on this group.

      Regardless of which plan we favor, we need to get out to the meeting to let the Board know we care about and support our children. We need to make sure that the burden of rezoning is equally shared and that all of the students have access to a top quality education. Then we need to keep showing up and participating to make sure that no matter what school they attend, all of our children will excel.

The meeting will be held on Monday, February 25 at Seminole County Public Schools (400 E. Lake Mary Blvd) at 5:30 p.m.

Big Trouble in Little Sanford

Sanford is a small town with people whose roots go way deep. Its image was tarnished last year because of the killing of Trayvon Martin. I have heard a few say Sanford's image was unfairly stained by the whole situation. In fact, the City of Sanford and local groups are working to "restore" Sanford’s old fashioned charm. But before we take out the cans of fresh paint, I think we are going to have to do some further examination. Since Trayvon Martin’s death, there have been more shootings of young black men. Just as senseless. Just as tragic. The difference is most of these shootings have been by other young black men. Reports say many of the shootings are the result of a killing that took place 10 years ago, causing a war between two groups from two different neighborhoods. As far as I know, there have been no marches. There have been no rallies. No prayer vigils. No tributes. No memorials. Just sad funeral after sad funeral. Weeping mother after weeping mother. Sanford is a small town. (I used to think it was the smallest.) But it has the same big problems among black males as big cities like Chicago and Detroit. I’ve been asking myself what can we do. I know many others are asking the same question. I’ve heard it said that all this is a result of God’s judgment. Well if God is punishing, whose actions are under indictment? Is it the young men or is it us who have failed to help nurture, teach and raise them? What about when some “innocent” person gets caught in the crossfire? We’ve all heard the saying... bullets don’t have names on them. What about the next Trayvon Martin or Jordan Davis who gets taken to be “one of the thugs?” How many more jail cells need to be filled? How many more funerals do we need to have before we stop pointing the finger and do something about this? It’s going to take more than a march. More than gun control. More than a speech. More than a t-shirt. And more than a superficial image makeover. We have a much bigger restoration project. The churches, organizations and individuals need to ask themselves are they doing enough? I know I am asking myself what more can I do.

Sanford Speaks Up About Trayvon Martin...Keep Talking

The death of Trayvon Martin transformed our tiny riverside town of Sanford, FL into a media magnet. The city was overrun with local, national and even international news organizations. National leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson came to town. Before the shooting, we had to go to Atlanta to see a CNN truck. But in the last few weeks, it’s become a common occurrence to see one parked right there on 13th Street.

But soon, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and CNN will move on to the next case. Although we appreciate the attention this all brought to the injustices in Sanford, they all have to go home at some point. Some people criticize them for coming, saying they are all exploiting the tragic situation. There is even a sign on French Ave. saying Al Sharpton doesn’t speak for Sanford. But I’m grateful. If they wouldn’t have come here, Trayvon would have been just another dead black boy in Sanford. We here in town know there have been quite a few senseless and tragic deaths. But those all got ignored. That’s why many in Sanford are saying God used Trayvon to shine the light on Sanford.

But now what? Trayvon Martin was not the first black boy to fall victim to an unjust system. What will we do for the black boys who still live in Sanford? The ones who still walk these streets, viewed as suspicious. Our boys are profiled and sized up at a very early age, even at birth. We tell them to pull their pants up, speak good English and stay in school. However, the irony is that the profiling often begins in school.

When a little black boy walks into the classroom, the teacher has often formed an opinion of him before he says one word. Just like the walk Trayvon took from 7-Eleven to his stepmom’s house, the school system is a treacherous path that way too often leads to tragedy for black boys. They are more likely to be placed in remedial classes. They are more likely to be sent to the principal’s office. They are more likely to be suspended. They are more likely to drop out. They are more likely to find some criminal way to support themselves. They are more likely to go to jail. They are more likely to get the death penalty than anyone else. So black boys are way more likely to have their lives cut short by a bad education than by a racist vigilante.

Let’s rally together about that. Let’s march and protest and argue and discuss the system that is killing our boys. Let’s fight for them. We need them. They need us. We don’t have to wait for Rev. Sharpton to do this. If we want to change the criminal justice, educational, or political systems. We can do it. We can join together and make it happen. Enough little voices can have just as much power as one big voice. Here are a few ways to get started in Seminole County:


Register to vote or run for office.

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections
http://www.voteseminole.org


Go to government meetings.

Seminole County Commission
http://seminolecountyfl.gov/bcc

Seminole County School Board

http://www.scps.k12.fl.us/schoolboard/Home


Join civic organizations.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
www.naacp.org

National Urban League
www.cful.org


Volunteer in a school.

Seminole County Dividends
http://www.scps.k12.fl.us/dividends/Home

Sanford Lofts Becoming a Hot Topic: Let's Stay Focused

The piece that ran in the Sanford Herald on the Sanford Lofts was never intended as a letter to the editor. I wrote that as a blog entry for my community, friends and family. I sent a link to my post to the Sanford Herald, because nothing but oppositional pieces had been written about the Sanford Lofts. I wanted to show that there was support for the project. The reporter also wanted to run the piece to show the other side of the argument. I never expected the anger and venom that came as a result.

I would like to clarify that I never said the Sanford Lofts issue is a race issue. In fact, I couldn’t care less whether the people who are against it are racists, classists or elitist. That does not matter one bit. It doesn’t even matter that those who spoke up against the project at public meetings made racists, classist and elitist comments. (Though they certainly did.)

What matters is that our local governments have not come out to explain why they are not moving on this project. In fact, at the last city commission meeting, commissioners would not even listen to those in support of the project. I don’t expect an explanation from any of the citizens as to why they don’t want the Sanford Lofts project downtown. I don’t know any of those who spoke at the meetings or wrote in response to my blog post. With all due respect, their personal beliefs don’t really matter much to me at all. But I do expect an explanation from the local government to which I pay taxes. Citizens have the right to be racist, classist and elitist. However, our government does not have the right to base its decisions on prejudice.

Florida SPECS owns the property downtown. They have the right to build whatever they want, unless the City of Sanford and Seminole County give good reasons why this property owner can not go forward. So if our governments have other reasons for being against the project, they need to state them. This was the purpose of my blog post.

County & City Could Make Sanford Lofts Dream Homes for Senior Citizens a Nightmare

Minority companies and organizations are striving and making strides toward greatness in Seminole County. Unfortunately, in one case the powers that be (and who have always been) are working to block instead of promote this achievement.

Florida SPECS is a minority-controlled, nonprofit organization that is working to improve often blighted and underserved communities across Florida. They are based in Seminole County. The organization has been recognized for helping to improve the quality of life for people in Orange, Osceola, Volusia and Duval counties. However, it is in its hometown where it seems to be least appreciated, even unwanted.

The entire board of directors from Florida SPECS is from Seminole County. Most members are from Sanford. When an opportunity to serve in Seminole County came to the operators of Florida SPECS, they jumped at it, excited to finally give back to the community in which they lived and were raised. Seminole County received funding to build housing for low income senior citizens. They sent out an announcement asking various companies and organizations to send in proposals for the project. Florida SPECS won the bid to do what became known as the Sanford Lofts Project three years ago.

Once their plans were approved, they purchased the land and got ready to commence building. However, they have had nothing but contention and strife from some members of the staffs of Seminole County and the City of Sanford ever since. They were asked to change the plans numerous times. What seemed to be unnecessary requirements were put upon them. For example, they were required to purchase insurance for the land on which the housing is to be built, before anything has been built. However, they complied with all the rules and submitted to all the requirements. Even staff from the department of Housing and Urban Development (who oversees this funding provided to the County) said the requirement to maintain insurance on an empty piece of land is ridiculous. Florida SPECS used its own money to make all the changes and purchase the land and insurance.

Why such a hassle has been given to a hometown company is a mystery. When people suggested to the members of Florida SPECS that it might be because of the color of their skin, they balked. Even when a white former government official told them that their problems were due to skin color (and even offered to take over the project for them so that it would go through more smoothly), they didn’t want to believe that this would happen in the town that they love. Even when the former mayor, Linda Kuhn blatantly said that affordable housing would attract unwanted residents, the idealistic members of Florida SPECS didn’t want to sound any alarms that would damage the reputation of Sanford and Seminole County. Kuhn and others came to a public meeting held in April of 2011 to “voice their concerns” about the project. However, their “concerns” amounted to nothing more than a litany of elitist, racist and classist attacks against the Sanford Loft Project and the very people who built and live in Sanford. These citizens said that they did not want to attract seniors or low income people to downtown. Well, exactly who do they think might be visiting the farmers markets, stores and antique shops in downtown Sanford, rich teenagers?

Now the project is in jeopardy. A deadline is looming for Florida SPECS to meet with the Sanford City Commission. They have requested to be placed on the commission meeting agenda for months. They have received no communication regarding this request. No one is talking to Florida SPECS. However, the County and the City are talking to each other. And neither seems to want Florida SPECS or certain Sanford citizens to make any progress.

Florida SPECS was looking to put up a beautiful building that would enhance downtown Sanford and attract people of all ages, races and classes. Even though the housing would be for senior citizens on fixed incomes, it will be of high quality and well kept. Seniors have already been inquiring about the facility. These people are not riff raff to be kept out. They are hard working members of society who have given to the community already. They would just like a nice place to call home in their golden years. They would love to visit the farmers market on Saturdays. I’m sure their visiting children and grandchildren would too. However, if some in the City of Sanford and Seminole County have their way, the dream for our elders will die on Monday, August 22.

If you are in support of progress, contact your city and county commissioners. Let them know that all ages are welcome and wanted in Sanford. Also, you can attend the upcoming Sanford City Commission meeting on Monday, August 22 at 7 p.m.

Seminole County Commission

District 1 (407) 665-7215 Bob Dallari
District 2 (407) 665-7205 John Horan
District 3 (407) 665-7207 Dick Van Der Weide
District 4 (407) 665-7201 Carlton D. Henley
District 5 (407) 665-7209 Brenda Carey (Chairman)

City of Sanford Commission

Jeff Triplett, Mayor, Jeff.Triplett@sanfordfl.gov
Mark McCarty, Commissioner, District 1, Mark.McCarty@sanfordfl.gov
Velma Williams, Commissioner, District 2, williamv@sanfordfl.gov
Randy Jones, Commissioner, Dsitrict 3, jonesr@sanfordfl.gov
Patty Mahany, Commissioner, District 4 pmahany@sanfordfl.gov

Representative Geraldine Thompson Says NAACP Still Has Work to Do

Florida State Representative Geraldine Thompson pointed to the recent mandatory drug testing and voter suppression bills as evidence that the NAACP still has work to do.

In her keynote address delivered at the Seminole County NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on June 4, Representative Thompson asked the question, “Are we there yet?” The answer came back as a resounding, “No.”

A local historian herself, Representative Thompson gave a timeline of historical struggles that the NAACP has fought to win. She spoke about desegregation of schools and voting rights. She told the story of July Perry, who was killed for just trying to exercise his right to vote. In 1920, an angry mob attacked Perry, hung him and filled his dead body with bullets. However, because of the NAACP, not only can blacks vote, a black president sits in the White House.

The irony is that because organizations like the NAACP have made such strides toward true justice and equality, many believe the struggle is over. However, if we become too comfortable and complacent, there is real danger that what the NAACP fought to achieve will be taken away. Mandatory drug testing for those who receive state aid is only the beginning.

Because many of us today did not live during the time when people died to vote, we take it for granted. We don’t see the significance of this right. However, the right to vote could mean the difference between whether your child is bound for college or headed to the criminal justice system. It means the difference between whether you have a caring and dedicated police force in your community or senseless murders of citizens because of rampant abuse of power. This is because elected officials make the laws that govern us. They are supposed to represent our best interests. It is up to us to make sure that they do. Voting is how we make sure they do. The mission of the NAACP is to make sure they do. It is imperative that we get involved in and support our community organizations. Representative Thompson made this call in her address. She is running for a Florida Senate seat.

Also during the banquet, three civil rights pioneers were inducted into the Seminole County NAACP Hall of Fame. Justice James Perry, Victoria Brown Smith and Dr. Velma Williams were honored for their work to bring justice to Seminole County. Justice Perry now serves as a Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Justice Perry was unable to attend. His son, Jaimon Perry, accepted the award. Mrs. Brown-Smith is a historian and author of the book, Midway -- The Midpoint My Precious Memories Of Times Gone By. Dr. Williams is a member of the Sanford City Commission.

Central FL Women Proclaim: There is No Stopping a Woman of God

The women of Central Florida gathered in Sanford, FL for the Women's District Workshop. And when women gather for a positive purpose, the experience is bound to be transformative. The ladies who took part in this weekend conference certainly experienced a transformation of mind and spirit.

WDW is an annual conference hosted by Victory Temple of God, Inc. during the third weekend of Women's History Month. This year, the theme was "Reigniting Your Imagination and Journey of Faith." The coordinator, Alisa Grace, said she wanted the women to return to the dreams of their childhoods and believe that it is never too late for God to make those dreams come true.

Grace was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. She got her education and went into the workforce after sending her five children off to school. She is now an educational leader in Orlando. She testified of her own story to show that even though dreams might be delayed, they don't have to be forgotten.

During the conference, there were workshops, lectures and discussions to encourage women to think about, talk about and be about realizing the contents of their imaginations. Other workshop facilitators were Deitra Askew and Dr. Sandra Gallina. Askew urged the ladies to think about what it was that made them stop dreaming. She also gave tips on how to overcome those dream-killers and revive aspirations that seemed long dead. Dr. Gallina talked about how we can gain inspiration and encouragement from stories, both real and fictional. She stirred the women to tap into their own life stories to gain inspiration.

The women spoke of their childhood fantasies of becoming doctors, accountants, lawyers and corporate executives. Hopefully, the conference will awaken their inner desires and strengthen their faith and sense of purpose.