The school board is an important entity and would think the people of Clay would be very interested in who is elected to the school board.
Think again.
The school board serves for 4 year terms. This year seats 1 and 5 are in play. How many people do you think voted for seats 1 and 5 in the 2006 election? At the time there were 112,134 registered voters in Clay. Considering the importance of the school board, how many people do you think took the interest and time to cast a vote on these seats?
Answer: About 16,000. That's it. In a county wide race only about 15% of the voters cast a ballot and so elected candidates to a four year term in which they are charged with educating our children and stewarding our tax dollars. 15%
The district 2 county commission seat is up this year. Same candidates as last time, Ronnie Coleman against Doug Conkey. It is a smaller voter pool because it is only a district race, but how many people do you think decided who would spend 4 years as a county commission, making ordinances, setting tax rates, etc?
3199. Thats all. Conkey beat Coleman by about 900 votes.
I call the Mid-term primary the "sleepy election" because hardly anyone takes an interest or bothers to cast a vote.
WAKE UP CLAY COUNTY!
Ignore election to your own peril. You might think that it is only a primary, but in regards to our local government the primary is where the action happens. The winner of school board seat 5 will be determined in August; wait until November and you don't to vote for it. School board seat 1 is little more tricky because there are 4 candidates. There will be an election during the primary, but unless one candidate gets a majority of votes the top 2 will square off in November. As for the Republican primary for county commission district 2, either Conkey or Coleman will go up against a Democratic challenger in the November general election.
Oh no, not a Democrat! I'm sure a great many of the interested Republicans are shaking at the thought of a Democrat on the county commission, and now are trying to man-up, close the ranks, and pour all the money they can into the Conkey campaign. Schmucks. Clay hasn't put a Democrat in office in 20 years. Don't fall for the fear-driven fundraising, your next county commissioner will be elected in August.
If you want your vote have any effect on local government you have to vote in this primary. The school board is non-partisan so everyone can vote. You do have to be a Republican in order to vote in the district 2 primary.
Don't spend another election asleep, get out there and vote. Research the candidates and cast an informed vote. It's your government and your taxes, go and cast a good vote for good government. Most of the candidates have web sites, and if you look at clayballot.blogspot.com you can find every candidate on the August ballot
Check out the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida at www.rlcnef.org. Join the Republican Liberty Caucus of Clay County at http://www.meetup.com/Republican-Liberty-Caucus-of-Clay-County/
Showing posts with label kerekes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kerekes. Show all posts
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Janice Kerekes, Clay School Board District 1
Janice Kerekes, Clay School Board District 1
Competitors, Eric Jaffe, Alesia Ford-Burse, Lynn Martin
This is a four-way, non-partisan, at large race. This means all voters will be able to vote on every open seat on the school board, regardless of that voter/s party or what district they live in. The first vote will take place during the August primary, and unless one candidate get 50% of the vote, the top two will be in a run-off in the general election in November. All four of these candidates are very accomplished and well spoken people, it is difficult to choose between them.
I like Kerekes for school board district one because she is the only person in that election who doesn't have that "politician" feel. I was particularly impressed at a recent forum in Middleburg when she said "for me, the school is not a stepping stone to another goal, it is the goal." She has been attending school board meetings for the last 5 years, she said that in a recent meeting she realized that "she was the only person in the room who wasn't being paid to be there."
Forum answers:
Introduction: The schools need to switch from short term to long term planning and lobby Tallahasse for funding. More help for students who are not college bound. Need to preserve art and music programs. Needs to be resource officers in every high school and junior high. Endorse by the Clay Educators Association and current school board member Carol Vallencourt.
How will you deal with reduced funding and balance the budget? Kerekes: prioritize the classroom and maybe go to an 11 month administrative year.
How will you bring old schools up to date? Kerekes: Seek state funding for enhanced classroom, stop building portables.
Would you cut one administrator at each school and at Green Cove Springs? Kerekes: Yes.
How would you enforce the 0 tolerance drug policy, the penalty for which is currently a 10 day suspension? Kerekes: Maintain suspension policy, possibly remove child from school rather than in-school-suspension.
How would you improve the graduation rate? Kerekes: Vocational education.
from www.clayelections.com
I’m Janice Kerekes and I would be grateful to have the privilege of serving as your next District 1, Clay County School Board Member. I believe that I have the passion, experience and qualifications necessary to lead our school system through the challenging future we are facing.
I was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Following graduation from high school in 1980, I attended community college where I studied accounting. In 1982, I was offered a job with Northeastern Airlines where I worked as a supervisor. In 1985, I got married and moved to San Diego, CA with my husband Mike. I continued working in the airline industry with Pacific Southwest Airlines as a crew scheduler until 1986 when we were transferred to Jacksonville.
Mike and I have been married for 25 years. We moved to Northeast Florida 24 years ago when he was serving as a US Navy pilot. We chose to move to Clay County to raise our children because of the quality of the school system. We are proud of our three boys, Michael, Jamel, and David, all graduates of Fleming Island High School. Michael graduated in 2006 and now attends Jacksonville University, Jamel graduated in 2008 and is attending St. John’s River Community College, and David, also a 2008 graduate, attends the University of Florida.
My professional leadership experience comes from the various boards and child advocacy groups I’ve worked with. My direct involvement in the schools began 17 years ago when my oldest son entered kindergarten. I volunteered my time helping with projects in the classroom and served multiple times as an officer in the Parent Faculty Association. I have served on several School Advisory Councils and worked with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation Committee at the high school level. I began attending school board meetings at first as a concerned parent and since 2005 have attended all school board meetings as an interested citizen in an effort to keep informed about the issues that face our schools.
I have continued my professional development through the Reinhold Foundation Team Leadership Development Program through the Rollins College Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Center. At the county level I have served on the School Board Calendar Committee and I am active with the JP Hall Children’s Charities year-round. I also sit on two different Scholarship Selection Committees for Clay County students, one with the Republican Executive Committee and the other with the Federated Republican Women of Clay, where I am currently serving my second term as Vice President. I also sit on the board of the Lighthouse Learning Center. Today, I am proud to serve as a board member and mentor with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization at W.E. Cherry Elementary School. I am the founder of Fleming Island High School’s Project Graduation and served as the Director for four years.
I am proud to have the support and backing of our teachers. The Clay County Education Association’s Endorsement is just one testament to my passion and commitment to our children’s education. As a member of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, I understand the issues facing our business community and I’m looking forward to developing additional community partnerships between local businesses and our schools.
I’m excited to bring my experience working within the school system and various nonprofits to our School Board. I have a proven track record as an advocate for children and have always, and will continue to, put Children First!
I humbly ask for your vote on August 24th. I promise you, no one will work harder than I will.
Sincerely,
Janice Kerekes
from www.janicekerekes.com
*The school budget is my chief concern among the many challenges facing our schools. I will fight for Clay County and work with our state legislators in Tallahassee to make sure that our schools receive the maximum possible funding. At the same time, I will insist on maintaining local control so that we efficiently spend our budget and make correct choices on educating our children.
*Current school safety levels pose a risk to our students. Resource Officers are placed only in the high schools. These officers are then often called from the high school campus to attend to situations at the junior high and elementary schools. This system leaves all of our schools exposed and vulnerable.
*It is imperative that principals be held accountable for student success. When evaluating the performance of a teacher, evaluations must truly reflect the teacher’s ability. School administrators must be ready and willing to weed out teachers who are not performing at expected standards.
*Expanding our Career and Technical Education Programs. Enable our students to graduate with the necessary licenses and certifications required to enter the workforce without the necessity of further education. It is our duty to provide all of our students with the opportunity to succeed.
*Lack of art and music programs at the elementary level is detrimental to a well-rounded education. All Clay County students should be exposed to art and music and physical education
http://janicekerekes.com/
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=367045120997#!/pages/Janice-Kerekes-for-Clay-County-School-Board-District-1/367045120997
Check out the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida at www.rlcnef.org. Join the Republican Liberty Caucus of Clay County at http://www.meetup.com/Republican-Liberty-Caucus-of-Clay-County/
Competitors, Eric Jaffe, Alesia Ford-Burse, Lynn Martin
This is a four-way, non-partisan, at large race. This means all voters will be able to vote on every open seat on the school board, regardless of that voter/s party or what district they live in. The first vote will take place during the August primary, and unless one candidate get 50% of the vote, the top two will be in a run-off in the general election in November. All four of these candidates are very accomplished and well spoken people, it is difficult to choose between them.
I like Kerekes for school board district one because she is the only person in that election who doesn't have that "politician" feel. I was particularly impressed at a recent forum in Middleburg when she said "for me, the school is not a stepping stone to another goal, it is the goal." She has been attending school board meetings for the last 5 years, she said that in a recent meeting she realized that "she was the only person in the room who wasn't being paid to be there."
Forum answers:
Introduction: The schools need to switch from short term to long term planning and lobby Tallahasse for funding. More help for students who are not college bound. Need to preserve art and music programs. Needs to be resource officers in every high school and junior high. Endorse by the Clay Educators Association and current school board member Carol Vallencourt.
How will you deal with reduced funding and balance the budget? Kerekes: prioritize the classroom and maybe go to an 11 month administrative year.
How will you bring old schools up to date? Kerekes: Seek state funding for enhanced classroom, stop building portables.
Would you cut one administrator at each school and at Green Cove Springs? Kerekes: Yes.
How would you enforce the 0 tolerance drug policy, the penalty for which is currently a 10 day suspension? Kerekes: Maintain suspension policy, possibly remove child from school rather than in-school-suspension.
How would you improve the graduation rate? Kerekes: Vocational education.
from www.clayelections.com
I’m Janice Kerekes and I would be grateful to have the privilege of serving as your next District 1, Clay County School Board Member. I believe that I have the passion, experience and qualifications necessary to lead our school system through the challenging future we are facing.
I was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Following graduation from high school in 1980, I attended community college where I studied accounting. In 1982, I was offered a job with Northeastern Airlines where I worked as a supervisor. In 1985, I got married and moved to San Diego, CA with my husband Mike. I continued working in the airline industry with Pacific Southwest Airlines as a crew scheduler until 1986 when we were transferred to Jacksonville.
Mike and I have been married for 25 years. We moved to Northeast Florida 24 years ago when he was serving as a US Navy pilot. We chose to move to Clay County to raise our children because of the quality of the school system. We are proud of our three boys, Michael, Jamel, and David, all graduates of Fleming Island High School. Michael graduated in 2006 and now attends Jacksonville University, Jamel graduated in 2008 and is attending St. John’s River Community College, and David, also a 2008 graduate, attends the University of Florida.
My professional leadership experience comes from the various boards and child advocacy groups I’ve worked with. My direct involvement in the schools began 17 years ago when my oldest son entered kindergarten. I volunteered my time helping with projects in the classroom and served multiple times as an officer in the Parent Faculty Association. I have served on several School Advisory Councils and worked with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation Committee at the high school level. I began attending school board meetings at first as a concerned parent and since 2005 have attended all school board meetings as an interested citizen in an effort to keep informed about the issues that face our schools.
I have continued my professional development through the Reinhold Foundation Team Leadership Development Program through the Rollins College Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Center. At the county level I have served on the School Board Calendar Committee and I am active with the JP Hall Children’s Charities year-round. I also sit on two different Scholarship Selection Committees for Clay County students, one with the Republican Executive Committee and the other with the Federated Republican Women of Clay, where I am currently serving my second term as Vice President. I also sit on the board of the Lighthouse Learning Center. Today, I am proud to serve as a board member and mentor with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization at W.E. Cherry Elementary School. I am the founder of Fleming Island High School’s Project Graduation and served as the Director for four years.
I am proud to have the support and backing of our teachers. The Clay County Education Association’s Endorsement is just one testament to my passion and commitment to our children’s education. As a member of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, I understand the issues facing our business community and I’m looking forward to developing additional community partnerships between local businesses and our schools.
I’m excited to bring my experience working within the school system and various nonprofits to our School Board. I have a proven track record as an advocate for children and have always, and will continue to, put Children First!
I humbly ask for your vote on August 24th. I promise you, no one will work harder than I will.
Sincerely,
Janice Kerekes
from www.janicekerekes.com
*The school budget is my chief concern among the many challenges facing our schools. I will fight for Clay County and work with our state legislators in Tallahassee to make sure that our schools receive the maximum possible funding. At the same time, I will insist on maintaining local control so that we efficiently spend our budget and make correct choices on educating our children.
*Current school safety levels pose a risk to our students. Resource Officers are placed only in the high schools. These officers are then often called from the high school campus to attend to situations at the junior high and elementary schools. This system leaves all of our schools exposed and vulnerable.
*It is imperative that principals be held accountable for student success. When evaluating the performance of a teacher, evaluations must truly reflect the teacher’s ability. School administrators must be ready and willing to weed out teachers who are not performing at expected standards.
*Expanding our Career and Technical Education Programs. Enable our students to graduate with the necessary licenses and certifications required to enter the workforce without the necessity of further education. It is our duty to provide all of our students with the opportunity to succeed.
*Lack of art and music programs at the elementary level is detrimental to a well-rounded education. All Clay County students should be exposed to art and music and physical education
http://janicekerekes.com/
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=367045120997#!/pages/Janice-Kerekes-for-Clay-County-School-Board-District-1/367045120997
Check out the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida at www.rlcnef.org. Join the Republican Liberty Caucus of Clay County at http://www.meetup.com/Republican-Liberty-Caucus-of-Clay-County/
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