Fiscal Rangers

More Problems with Lake County, FL Government online Agenda & Meeting Packets - it never ends

The Lake County, FL Board of Commissioners uses a convoluted and badly designed agenda, packet and video software from SuiteOne Media. I have constant problems with it, and the design is not user friendly. So, here is my latest post on flaws in the system. The problem is no one with technical skills is in charge of it, and they don't test it after posting documents. You have to be a power user or IT specialist to figure out how to find relevant sections and documents, agenda data is not indexed in the massive pdf packet, so if you download it, you can't easily find the section you want in packets that can be 400-600 pages long. Read more →

More Problems with Lake County, FL Government online Agenda & Meeting Packets - it never ends

The Lake County, FL Board of Commissioners uses a convoluted and badly designed agenda, packet and video software from SuiteOne Media. I have constant problems with it, and the design is not user friendly. So, here is my latest post on flaws in the system. The problem is no one with technical skills is in charge of it, and they don't test it after posting documents. You have to be a power user or IT specialist to figure out how to find relevant sections and documents, agenda data is not indexed in the massive pdf packet, so if you download it, you can't easily find the section you want in packets that can be 400-600 pages long. Read more →

School Districts Need to Arrest Parents of Absent students like Jacksonville Just Did

Most school districts in Florida have major problems with student absenteeism and tardiness, which results in failing students and schools being ranked poorly. But Jacksonville, FL school administrators arranged warrants for parent of chronically absent and tardy students and had them arrested with a bail of $1500+. All school districts, including the Lake County FL School District, should follow Jacksonville's lead and ENFORCE truancy regulations. Read more →

Lake County School District Recess Committee meeting today resulted in decision to be forwarded to the School District Board

The Lake County, FL School District recess committee meeting (#2) was held today, Oct. 23, 2014 and a decision made. They voted to NOT create a district wide mandate on recess but allow school flexibility. They recommended that recess issues be taken by parents to the SAC (School Advisory Committees) at each individual school where parents can submit recommendations. Read more →

Recess Alert: Last night, many parents demanded more recess for kids at the Lake County School District Board meeting, along with Common Core reforms & more hyped issues

Tavares, FL Oct. 7, 2014 - Updated twice. Updated Oct. 8 to add links to two speakers on "recess" "Recess" for kids at K-12 schools has become a hot topic, and I think much of it will be resolved by a committee established by the Lake County School District Board. However, it appeared many at last night's had been incited by one rogue Facebook page with half facts (Lake County Safe Schools Initiative). A pundit would almost think that this was an artificial, emotional Saul Alinsky crisis like those created by liberals to serve another purpose. The supporters handed out 200 flyers to inflame meeting attendees; ignoring the fact a committee is already reviewing recess policies on a county wide basis. HERE is the Lake Sentinel's article on last night's meeting - it contains some innaccuracies by a new reporter. No one mentioned that once the recess issue was raised by 3-4 outspoken parents at a School Board workshop a few weeks ago, Board member Tod Howard asked the issue be discussed at a subsequent workshop. That workshop then resulted in an establishment of an independent committee including teachers, Principals, parents and staff. Here is the news release on the... Read more →

Lake County Has New Trash Collection System Starting Monday but the process is botched in my neighborhood - what about your neighborhood?

Oct. 3, 2014 Tavares, FL Update: Oct. 4th - The Daily Commercial had a front page story on this issue, and also obtained quotes that confirmed our prior report's experience (see below) that not all delivered trash carts contained instructions. See their article here. If you live in unincorporated Lake County (not a City), your new trash collection process starts on Monday. If you live in a City with their own trash pickup process, this does not apply to you. In this bulletin: - Lake County Government and/or new vendors may have botched the rollout of new trash pickup services and schedules like they did in my neighborhood. - If you are in unincorporated Lake County and got new trash bins, how to find your new collection schedules and rules if they were NOT attached to your new trash bins. - Rumors about how trash collection fees may go up if a couple of incidents occur. And it seems some of it might be botched up. At least in my neighborhood, we got two new trash bins and NO INSTRUCTIONS or news of different collection schedules. I have not received any mailed instructions either, although a postcard announcing the changes... Read more →