The superintendent told Bay Point Elementary parents he would try to preserve the school's magnet program.
By STEPHEN HEGARTY
Published May 25, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - They picketed in front of their school, protesting expected budget cuts that would hit Bay Point Elementary School harder than most.
They attended an interminably long School Board meeting. Some even drove six hours, one way, to Tallahassee to meet with local legislators.
And last week, a band of parents from Bay Point Elementary took their case directly to Superintendent Howard Hinesley.
When it was over, Hinesley had a better idea of the impact of the proposed cuts. And the 14 parents had a better idea of what the superintendent was up against in trying to keep a budget balanced and adjust to the whims of state lawmakers.
But during the hourlong meeting at the South Branch Library, Hinesley faced questions that occasionally were angry or emotional, and often came two or three at a time.
"We want to preserve what you have," Hinesley said. "I need to figure out how to do it. I've got to find the revenue to do it. You have been disproportionately affected, I agree."
Because Bay Point is a magnet school, it has some extra instructors that help attract students from all over the school district. The magnet was started with a federal grant. Now the grant has run out, and the budget for the coming year looks particularly pinched, so some Bay Point positions are on the chopping block.
Several schools are facing cuts, but Bay Point could lose an assistant principal, a technology specialist, the math specialist and the science specialist.
"This is the magnet we had and now you're changing it after the choice program is closed," said parent Michelle Stagnitta. She pointed out that many parents chose Bay Point expecting it would have the same positions next year that it had this year.
Hinesley responded: "I'm not trying to gut your program. I'm trying to operate within the revenue that I have."
The superintendent cautiously told the parents that depending on what the state budget looks like, "You're going to get some of this back if not all of it."
But he added, "I don't want to overpromise and underdeliver," he said.
Late Thursday, after Hinesley's comments, lawmakers agreed on a budget package that is likely to make it more difficult for the superintendent to help Bay Point or any other school avoid cuts.
Pat Gordon, who has a grandchild at the school, showed the superintendent pictures of children from the school, to personalize the kids being affected.
"I've had it and I want to know what you're going to do about it," Gordon said.
"I'm going to try to restore them," Hinesley said.
"Well, I'm not satisfied with that," Gordon responded.
Hinesley has been hearing from lots of groups of unhappy parents lately on the subjects of budget cuts, school choice, and recently school starting times. Occasionally he travels the county to meet with small groups of parents at schools or whatever meeting room is convenient.
While he spoke to the Bay Point parents at the library last week, explaining the intricacies of the state's arcane funding formula, preschool children in an adjoining room sang "heads and shoulders, knees and toes."
"I wish I could take y'all with me to a similar meeting," Hinesley said to the parents. He was referring to planned meetings in the north area of the county where parents believe they are shortchanged in favor of south-county schools like Bay Point. "I'm responsible for 140 schools, not just Bay Point."
As the meeting wrapped up, Ellen Siegal, whose daughter Bridget just finished fifth grade at Bay Point and now will move on to middle school, told Hinesley, "I just want you to know what Bay Point has given her. She goes to middle school so prepared.
"I have such a sadness that other children won't get what she got."
Hinesley responded: "You have my commitment that we're going to try to make sure other kids get the same program."
