At yesterday's meeting of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, several themes emerged that are proving to be difficult barriers for the families of some junior enlisted and junior officer members of the armed forces stationed here (or potentially transferring here).
Affordable Rentals, Lack of Available Childcare, and the Public Education System Locally (which many deem to be insufficient for the military dependents' needs) are the big three that were discussed.
Multiple CO's and XO's from several Pensacola area commands were represented at this meeting, and they each expressed an awareness of this frustration/concern. These are not necessarily all new concerns, either.
The discussion on housing and childcare revolved around a "plus-up" in allowances that area military families will be receiving to help offset the skyrocketing costs of housing rentals and childcare. (although there is fear this increase won't completely offset the rate of inflation of the costs)
We also discussed methods we are employing within the county to build affordable housing units. (which received no press once we passed it earlier this month....)As well as some things that Habitat for Humanity is doing in the community to address the affordable housing issue.
But the economy has changed, inflation has become rampant ( a bi-product of money printing ) and fewer folks are stepping up to do low-wage work (like childcare) due to federal and state policies that many feel are overly remunerative for folks that do not work. So there's that double whammy.
With respect to challenges within the public schools--several attendees were interested in learing more about what school choice/voucher programs were/are available to military families that come to our area. I told the group there are resources for military dependents and their families funded by DoD and the State of Florida, and information on this topic was disseminated to the group. I also described some of the historical challenges our schools have faced which have dragged down performance district wide and the various, numerous programs that have been tried, and ultimately failed, at a couple of very difficult and high-profile schools.
When the family totally and completely breaks down in entire communities--this (poor public school performance) along with blight, high crime, and decreased property values is what we see.
Some of the conversation on that topic was uncomfortable. But the truth is the truth, and I'll never be one to add sugar-coating over the top of it. Great communities MAKE great public school districts, that is the universal truth of reality, and I will always defend hard working teachers and school district employees that work their guts out to help students. In other words, this is more an isolated community problem in pockets of our area, and less an academic one or a teacher competency one districtwide. Folks don't like to hear that though and some believe it is a lack of more "programs" and money.
That's not it, though.
On a brighter note, I did take the opportunity to spotlight the performance of more than a dozen Escambia Public Schools that together earned more than $1.5 Million in school recognition bonuses from the state of Florida for sustained excellence and/or learning gain improvements over the last school year.
I also let the attendees know about the upcoming coffee with the commissioner event on December 15th where we will discuss the school district in depth with my special guest that day, School Board Chairman Kevin Adams.
These issues that are acutely affecting the military community here are a HUGE concern of mine as an elected official that understands that the federal military spending in our community represents nearly half of our economy locally. If we don't get these issues ironed out and (heaven forbid) lose missions or have them diminished in size--this would be an economic loss that we cannot afford to sustain.
So we have to work to fix these issues. Period.
12 comments:
The truth is the truth, and I'll never shy away from saying that the deplorable job the Florida GOP has done the last few terms at anything other than gerrymandering, dividing the state with ridiculous culture wars in the service of getting elected and holding power, and waging a war of attrition over their constituents' constitutional rights is going to hit in a bad way in the next two years. DeSantis, his oligarchic administration, and his banana republic legislature are at the very end of the timeline for holding up the house of cards the GOP has been propping up through their horrendous policy decisions (in some cases) and horrible neglect (in others), and sadly it's gonna get a whole lot worse before it gets better. Thank goodness the brainwashed red wave was limited to Florida; so sad for what consequences that will actually mean for both those voters who didn't contribute to the wave and those who did.
It's so amazing that in such a deep red area all of the problems are manifest evidence of anything *other* than the epic failure of republican understanding, policy, and world view. It's always everybody else's fault but the republicans who hold absolute power on both a local and state level. So tired of hearing that ridiculous propaganda. Maybe if we could *just* get a little more fascist up in here, we could really start solving some societal woes.
In the meantime, I'm sure the DeSantis brain trust has been cooking up the talking points with Broxson for some tie on how to message any impact on our base, if the combined state-level horror show of tanking teacher and support staff enrollment; elitist and Lord of the Flies disregard for the affordable housing crisis; ignoring people screaming their heads off about the day care debacle; the insurance industry getting ready to collapse, and FPL gouging its customers even worse than previously results on a local level with the mission of our base being compromised. What a shock that lousy state-wide governance visits the worst disasters on the counties with huge poverty problems. And make no mistake, if we lose our base, it damn well won't be fatherless families that resulted in such a tragedy.
(con.)
What is even more ridiculous than republican talking points on how we got where we are, however, is our School Board. They really take the cake, and have officially superseded the ECUA as the worst, most negligent legislative body in the area. I really wonder who they think is buying what they are shoveling. It's nauseating to watch them be pulled across the finish line of making *any* decision, once they're done with the can kicking, the disinformation, the outright lies, and one more round of Fetsko's blatant sexism--this time he likened the Charter deal to "shotgun marriages without the best looking brides"--to get the ball even rolling on a solution for Warrington Middle. And again, they're the policy makers who have shirked making policy, but somehow it's everybody's fault but their own...which makes sense, as the two leading the Failure Brigade are a couple of the most embarrassing died in the wool red meat obstructionists in area elected office.
The best part was when Captain Kinsella had to speak to them as if they were five years old to get it through their heads that This. Is. Serious. And cut right through Fetsko's dishonorable crap of trying to put it back on the military. You haven't heard the military complaining about your shit schools in D2 Paul? Must be all that Nazi and fascist propaganda your pet supporter keeps ringing in your ears.
HOPEFULLY now that area leaders have jolted the School Board out of their complacent disregard, and the community's sense of just how badly these elected officials have messed things up is growing, we can stop being fatalistic about how horrible our schools in D2 are, and regain the trust of our Navy that we are capable of addressing these issues, and actually care enough to try. It's going to take everybody pulling from the same end of the rope, so perhaps dropping the culture wars for just a short intermission--as unfun and boring as that may sound--might be in order to achieve a common goal.
👍
Maybe the press would publish more if your staff would prepare press releases for things like affordable housing being addressed and voted on.
Just a suggestion. Put PIO CMR to task please via Administrator.
Thanks for the info.
WEAR needs improvement.
Dumb question. Is a charter school a private school that requires tuition?
I'm not watching all the meetings so I appreciate your typed out posts Commissioner Bergosh.
If so then wouldn't the public school students be bussed to other schools that are doing well?
I think that is what happened in Century. The children that are going to Northview seem to be fitting in and doing well, also participating in extra curricular sports and activities.
I don't know much about that time and place and decision to close the F schools in the township, however I have heard you say you were on the board and there was weeping and knashing of teeth but it seems to have been good policy over all.
We just went through a pandemic and the school board has had many challenges to contend with.
We are fortunate to be in an area led by common sense Republicans.
Anecdotally, as far as the purple star program for Military schools, I like that idea.
I was raised a military brat and went to 13 schools in K - 12 years. Some DOD schools I could work individual programs and worked 3 years ahead of grade level. Some in Europe, and also attended schools in Northern states. Coming to this area when Dad was on an isolated tour was a shock to my system.
In Bay county, the difference between 2 middle schools I attended was night and day. The influx of students from different demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds was apparent and distinctive.
I liked the DOD schools. We were all a mixture of cultures, ethic groups and religions and excelled and played together well. It was exciting to be in the midst of all that. I honestly had no idea people were still struggling and didn't or wouldn't take advantage of opportunity and freedom.
I'm glad the military has the ear of the school board as well as yours.
Anecdotally, as far as the purple star program for Military schools, I like that idea.
I was raised a military brat and went to 13 schools in K - 12 years. Some DOD schools I could work individual programs and worked 3 years ahead of grade level. Some in Europe, and also attended schools in Northern states. Coming to this area when Dad was on an isolated tour was a shock to my system.
In Bay county, the difference between 2 middle schools I attended was night and day. The influx of students from different demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds was apparent and distinctive.
I liked the DOD schools. We were all a mixture of cultures, ethic groups and religions and excelled and played together well. It was exciting to be in the midst of all that. I honestly had no idea people were still struggling and didn't or wouldn't take advantage of opportunity and freedom.
I'm glad the military has the ear of the school board as well as yours.
Answered my own question about charter school in general in FL.
https://www.floridacharterschools.org/all-about-florida-charter-schools#purpose
It seems like WEAR did recently run a piece on your new program, but it seems that you guys are still figuring out implementation of this program.
617 it was discussed on a coffee with Commissioner Bergosh, D1 -- posted on My Escambia web site under the ECTV link as a youtube video. And on D1 facebook page. You have a Dr, the public safety director, a FL department of health rep, as well as the commissioner discussing the program. CORE.
Sorry. I was referring to the commissioners comment that no one has covered the county’s new affordable housing program
Post a Comment