Fiscal Rangers

Wekiva Parkway Update for Lake County, FL by County Commissioner Leslie Campione

Mount Dora, FL Monday, Feb. 17, 2017 Some Lake County residents in Sorrento/Mount Plymouth and future commuters on the Wekiva Parkway are getting shafted by environmentalists, FDOT (Florida Dept. of Transportation) and Orange County's Highway Authority. (That is my opinion, not that of presenter Leslie Campione.) Wekiva Parkway is the expanded north west part of the Orlando beltway that is being constructed now. You can get maps and an overview at: www.wekivaparkway.com Use or download the main map so you understand the project sections and numbers. The website also has numerous Powerpoints you can view for more information. Watch this one from Jan., 2014 with recent info: Download Rotary Club of Apopka 013014 Lake County Commissioner gave an update at Lakeside Inn with TJ Fish, Executive Director of the Lake Sumter MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization). You can watch the video here: http://youtu.be/GOLLPbjPTOc The video is not completely in focus because the interior lighting at the Lakeside Inn is so poor the camera could not focus well, but it is clear enough to see the maps and listen to the audio. Some of the highlights - I apologize if I use the wrong names - I am not familiar with the... Read more →

Lake County School Practices Social Promotion, Giving flunked students minimum of 50 rather than ZERO

Tavares, FL - Feb. 19, 2014 by Vance Jochim I sent out the video from Channel 9 earlier since they were the first to report it on Feb. 6th. http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/some-lake-county-schools-ban-teachers-giving-stude/ndF9q/ The practice of giving students passing grades when they actually flunk or have lower scores is known as “social promotion”. If you search on Social promotion grades on google, click here to see what you get – there are even research reports on how to reduce social promotion, and laws banning it: https://www.google.com/search?q=social+promotion+grades&client=firefox-a&hs=Y1K&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=JWgFU7_nKITXkQeSk4Fw&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg&biw=1360&bih=631#channel=sb&q=social+promotion+grades&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch Now a national conservative blog, The Western Center of Journalism, has picked up the story… saying that Gray Middle School is doing it in Lake County, FL. So far, that is the only specific school in the District named for practicing social promotion. http://www.westernjournalism.com/dumbing-florida-schools-ban-low-grades/ If you go to their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/WesternJournalism and scroll to the article, you will find 1250 people have LIKED the article and posted 849 shares and entered MANY comments. The Lake County School District once again is a leader in a controversial issue. And, here is another report on Lake County’s social promotion practice : http://youngcons.com/welcome-to-america-schools-bans-teachers-from-giving-students-0s-on-assignments/ I expect to see it on Glen Beck soon. And, here, Detroit is going to... Read more →

Common Core Victim? Mom posts picture of her child struggling with complex Common Core homework PLUS link to yesterday's video of Common Core Hearing in Orlando

A picture of this child is circulating where she is crying while trying to cope with the illogical and excessively complex homework from Common Core. AND, the Florida State Education Board ignored many public complaints at a five hour public hearing and approved use of Common Core standards with only a few miniscule modifications. We have the video link to the five hour hearing. Read more →

Upcoming Renewal of Lake County FL Penny Sales Tax Might Pit County & Cities vs Schools

Tavares, FL - Sunday, feb. 16, 2014 For almost 15 years, the County Govt., the cities, and the School District received equal thirds of revenues from a Penny Sales Tax approved by voters. That tax is due for a public renewal vote in 2015, and the School Board is talking about instead launching a referendum for a different, and additional 1/2 penny tax just for their capital spending needs. But the County government leaders and League of Cities would rather stay with just renewing the existing tax and percentage splits because they are fearful the public won't support a renewal of the tax if the schools go for a separate, new sales tax. This story by Livi Stanford in today's Daily Commercial (see link below) provides all the details, so read it to get an idea of what could happen - either all three tax entities join together to renew the existing tax, or the School Board independently tries to get voter approval of their own half penny tax, which leaves the County & Cities to campaign for voters to also approve renewal of the existing penny tax which would be split only between the County & the cities. My... Read more →

FiscalRangers Alert: Will Lake County, FL Board Throw $2-million More Into Expensive Cagan's Crossings Library?

Tavares, FL - Monday, Feb. 10, 2014 Tomorrow, the Lake County Board is being asked to approve, WITHOUT DISCUSSION, the start of a process to use $200,000 of library impact fees to design the total $2.2-million build out of the second floor of a library in South Lake County for unstated purposes. Those purposes may be to develop services that compete with tax paying businesses. The issue is in tab 8 of the "consent agenda" which means the Board will approve it without discussing it in public at the hearing. Lake County, FL has a very expensive library built in Cagan's Crossings, in the very south east corner of Lake County and next to Polk, Osceola & Orange County. Various agreements exist/ed to allow residents of other counties to use the libraries, but as far as I know, Lake County paid for it. Here is the link to the Cagan's Crossing library page: http://www.lakeline.lib.fl.us/libraries/cagan_crossings_community_library.aspx That is the library where Polk County agreed to contribute annually towards library expenses, then welched, causing the Library Dept. to reduce staff. It is my understanding that Polk County HAS no libraries, thus I assume they do not have a Library Impact fee, but Lake... Read more →

Consumer Alert: Harbor Freight Sells Tools missing Parts and Won't Furnish Missing Parts

Harbor Freight shorted me four parts for an engine stand that had to be assembled. This is what am going through in order to get replacement parts. Read more →

Lake County, FL School District's Class Size Falsification Fiasco - an update

An independent investigation will be initiated over the Lake County FL School District Class Size Falsification Fiasco - here is an update with links to videos of a press conference today. Read more →

Common Core Update: Florida State tries to Deceive Public by Renaming Common Core

Tavares, FL Sat., Feb. 1, 2014 The Florida State Education Dept. decided to make minor, minor changes to the Common Core standards being rolled out to K-12 Schools, and then also rename it to flim flam the public and make them think Florida has their "own standards". The FL Board of Education will meet on Feb. 18th to finalize the proposed minor changes to Common Core. In my opinion, the State made minor changes and still is rolling out Common Core standards. Common Core is copyrighted, and the state agreed to implement it to receive federal funds. The state is allowed to modify or add 15% to the standards, but those components are NOT part of the state established tests that students must take, so it is all a shell game to avoid more public controversy. I personally don't understand why Governor Scott keeps supporting Common Core. It is the antithesis of sound, classic and conservative education philosophy. There are constant reports of liberal biases woven into the standards, and related textbooks. The only reason could be clout from former FL Governor Jeb Bush who is pushing it along with Bill Gates. Read this article with all the juicy details... Read more →