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REBECCA CATALANELLOMost schools getting money will spend the bulk on faculty and staff.
They met. They voted. Most decided faculty and staff bonuses would be the best way to spend their school recognition money.
Now, they're trying to move on.
Of the 35 Pasco County schools that received money for improving student grades on the FCAT last year, 20 decided to spend more than 70 percent on faculty and staff bonuses - more than in previous years.
"It was an ugly period while we were going through it," Calusa Elementary principal Deanna DeCubellis said of the process the school's faculty and parents underwent before deciding to put 100 percent toward bonuses. "Pretty much everyone's gotten over the hard feelings."
Since the $100-per-student cash rewards were first instituted in 1998, they have become notorious for sparking philosophical divisions between faculty members, parents and staffers as they consider how to divvy up the dollars.
The money can only be spent in three ways: bonuses, materials and supplies, and temporary personnel such as substitutes. For the first time this year, schools that didn't reach a decision by Nov. 1 were required to dedicate the money to bonuses.
That didn't happen in any of the Pasco 35, said Bob Dorn, who oversees the district's middle and high schools.
But the trend toward more bonuses was notable.
"This year, that may have been a significant source of income," Dorn said.
Districtwide, 63 percent of the $3.2-million allotted to the schools went toward bonuses, 27 percent toward materials and supplies, and about 10 percent toward temporary help such as substitutes.
Seven schools decided not to use any of the money for bonuses, while five had more than 70 percent going to buy equipment and materials.
"I don't begrudge any teacher taking a bonus. And I wouldn't have begrudged them here. They just chose not to," said Emily Keene, principal of West Zephyrhills Elementary.
Keene's faculty members and parents decided to put 75 percent of its $83,407 award toward computers, furniture and supplies. The other 25 percent will bring in professionals such as puppeteers, authors and storytellers.
At Gulf High in New Port Richey, parent Lynn Roza was surprised to find herself in the minority when she opposed setting aside the bulk for bonuses. "I'm not saying teachers don't deserve it," Roza said. "But I think this money could have helped the school."
Gulf principal Tom Imerson said he was pleased with the way the staff and community handled the decision. They voted to put 100 percent toward bonuses, with the caveat that employees could choose to put all or part of the reward back into the school.
The result was that $3,528 went to supplies and $1,775 to increase the hours of a part-time computer lab employee.
Port Richey's Fox Hollow Elementary for the third year in a row declined to use any of the money for bonuses. Instead, the school decided to spend 94 percent - the highest in the county - to refurbish its playground and create outdoor classrooms.
"This is an opportunity to do something good for the kids," Moreno said. A side benefit has been that the staff hasn't had to grapple with hard decisions of who gets how much of a bonus, which often causes strife.
"We all just looked at each other and said we're not willing to go there."