holiday discussion today

email sent to all HCSB members:

Dear Hillsborough County School Board Members,

I applaud you for your wise conclusion to eliminate holidays given for specific religious holy days. You took politics and emotion out of the equation, and used simple logic in coming to your decision. As you are aware, many businesses use “floating holidays” to accommodate people of many different beliefs. In fact, even Hillsborough County employees use the concept of floating holidays. Likewise, other school districts such as Pinellas County use a calendar based on what is best for the district in teaching children.

And that is the bottom line. Your duty is to ensure a quality education to all students. Nothing more. From the School District of Hillsborough County website:

Vision: The School District of Hillsborough County will provide the best education in the nation.

Mission: We will provide all students the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their highest potential.

Values:
Reading – Reading is the foundation for academic achievement.
Achievement – All students and schools achieve their highest academic levels.
Respect – Respect for others is demonstrated in all actions by everyone associated with the school district.
Collaboration – Students, staff, and community members team together to achieve success.
Ethical Conduct – Everyone associated with the school district will demonstrate truthful, moral, non-discriminatory conduct.
Responsibility – Individuals in the school district are responsible stewards of the public’s trust and are accountable for educating all students to their highest potential.
Leadership – Strong leadership, at all levels, focused on student achievement is an absolute requirement to reach the district’s vision.
Democracy – Democratic values are modeled and reflected in all actions of the school district.

Emphasis mine.

As it should be, the School District is primarily concerned with academic achievement. You folks are doing a great job steering this district in the best way you can. I encourage you to continue your strong leadership, and to not be swayed by personal attacks, political grandstanding, or emotional opinion.

I only wish there were as big an outpouring for how the school district will keep up with growth.

Best of luck,

Tommy Duncan,
Parent and Citizen of Hillsborough County