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Ladder truck costly ride for parade Dalmatian

Does the Spring Hill Fire Rescue District really need another six-figure truck, namely a 105-foot ladder on a custom Pierce chassis?

Where will they house it? Will we have to build another station or modify a present one? Also, a 105-foot ladder is really tall. Where will you use it? What about all the other truck builders, like E-One or American LaFrance? I'm sure they, too, would love to sell us a half-million-dollar parade piece.

This department loves to spend money, and it has had a free hand to do so.

If a ladder truck was really necessary, there are other alternatives, such as a commercial chassis or refurbished used trucks. But this is not good enough for Spring Hill.

The bottom line is Spring Hill does not need a ladder truck.

But if they can get a good deal, be sure to get the gold leaf lettering thrown in for nothing.

School Board should show some spine

Re: Superintendent Wendy Tellone's contract renewal.

You know, the Hernando County School Board members seem awful wishy-washy when it comes to making decisions.

First, they vote not to increase enrollment at Chocachatti Elementary School, then they changed their minds. Now, after complaining about Tellone for a solid year, they had the chance to do something, but opted not to (except for board member Jim Malcolm).

My votes will be very different next time around.

Tellone case a Keystone Kops episode

Re: School Board extends Tellone's contract, May 18 Times.

Hernando County School Board members have evaluated the 2004-05 work performance of superintendent Wendy Tellone. Such evaluations highlight the gulf between the board and superintendent. It is a gulf that makes the Grand Canyon look like a fingernail split.

The evaluations reveal that Tellone has not always implemented the board's decisions as intended. She claims not to have received clear directions from the board. Obviously, when in doubt, ask!

Again, the evaluations state she has an unfavorable relationship with the news media, parents of schoolchildren and the community. Further, criticism of her work performance includes a reluctance to delegate tasks. The question arises whether at least some of her inner circle of supportive staff members are needed.

Tellone resents criticism by the board, some of which she contends is based on misinformation. It is a board struggling valiantly to exercise a few crumbs of authority over her. Maybe she would prefer to select her own board members.

Nevertheless, the Tellone Puppets have overlooked her deficiencies and awarded her a one-year extension of contract to August 2007 and a modest salary increase. Staff morale thereby is not enhanced. Left to the imagination is what salary would have been awarded if Tellone's work performance had been satisfactory. Evidently, the board is not interested in excellent work performance.

The tragedy is that scarce time, money and other resources are being spent on endless feuding between a less-than-effective School Board and a less-than-effective school superintendent, instead of being spent on furthering children's education. Maybe there is need for a state evaluation of the board's performance.

Look yonder! Hollywood comedy moviemakers are packing their bags for Hernando.

Set clear goals for Tellone to meet

Class size, rezoning and the perception problem between superintendent Wendy Tellone and the School Board is constant.

This class size issue is one I do not understand, and one I did not vote for. I am 29 and have a son in kindergarten at Pine Grove Elementary School. This is what I compare it with: I went to P.S. 71 in the Bronx for elementary (grades 1-6). There were 40 kids in each grade on average, one teacher and a teacher's aide. We had physical education, art, science and Italian. Plus, with testing, there was a gifted program and each year you could sit for special scholarships to summer programs.

Can you tell me that anything in Florida compares with this - even precious Chocachatti Elementary?

Everyone is running ragged because of class size when more students doesn't mean they are left behind; it means competition between peers. I am fully aware both parents work nowadays, but where I came from as a child my parents and my friends' parents already were doing that, and they found time to come to the schools and volunteer even if it wasn't in their child's class.

So this is my point. Board member James Malcolm was right. Tellone can sit on her hind end contemplating for the next six months about how to change because the board did not give her specific performance goals to meet.

At the next meeting, set the standard with Tellone for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years. At each school she has to become accountable and accessible to the parents through true volunteering in the school. Get a program in place for parents. No bake sales, no PTA or things like that, but actually reading to kids. One example might be a parent I heard of who made a bookcase and bought books for a class.

Another thing Tellone and the School Board can do is find out if this class size amendment is what all Hernando County parents want. I just mentioned something different we could give our children if we support Gov. Jeb Bush in repealing the vote. The tax dollars could be used differently. You just have to give them different suggestions.

It's time to start recycling glass

I think it's a crime to dispose of glass in the garbage instead of recycling the glass.

They say it is dangerous to recycle glass, and that workers handling it will get cut. How about the regular garbage men who take it now? Don't they get cut?

Is it too expensive for the county?

I'm a caring senior citizen who thinks about the county's future. Where will all the garbage in the landfill go? It can't disintegrate.

[Last modified May 20, 2005, 01:06:18]