From what I have heard from the candidates, District 2 needs a strong independent voice and the only one who fits that bill is Curatelo.

In District 4, my worst fear is that voters who want to oust Abbott will split the vote among some of the other candidates and she will somehow slip in again. Anyone who cares at all about Collier County schools cannot let this happen. I hope voters will rally around one or two good alternatives to Abbott and get her off the board.

I am leaning toward Sprague, Swanson, or Paterno. Maybe I will hear something from one of them on Tuesday night that will help me make up my mind.

I admired Ms. Abbott 8 years ago for being willing to take on Superintendent White.

She's changed considerably since then. "Taking on" or opposing a sitting Superintendent should never disqualify a school board candidate. Gator writes, "Let's not make the same mistakes we've already made," but then assumes that the mistakes we've made are electing people with "transparent agendas" like Mr. Calabrese.

Gator has consistently called for support for the current super--in the face of considerable opposition in the community and especially in the schools. _That_ agenda is just as transparent. "Wasting" money is a popular thing to be opposed to. But it's not a waste to analyze where we went wrong, depose a tyrant and to search the world for someone who is polished, well-educated, and fearlessly moral to be our superintendent.

In order to accomplish that, CCPS needs a school board with polished, well-educated, and fearlessly moral members. Such people do not mindlessly support programs to increase FCAT scores while saving money and cutting taxes. We, in spite of our hard times, are rich enough to afford the best people we can get.

The best have passed through infancy and early childhood without becoming adults who are obsessive about orderliness, money, or statistics; the best do not exhibit stubbornness nor a compulsion for control. The best are kind, considerate, generous and strong enough not to use intimidation and other unhealthy techniques to hold "subordinates" accountable.

It's time to pay the piper, to renounce our tax-cuts mania. Good education is worth sacrificing for.

Gato will you eplain to me what you mean by costing to tax payer's more in a long run. Do you mean money for the wrongfull termination?

My point for asking the question was you corrected me in a nother blog that the money payed Baker was from insurance that collier county had and not out of the school budget.

But don't get me wrong I was not trying to get Thompson and his bunch fired. We have a real mess and scandel here with how all this has come about. I do believe everyone needs to be watched closely so we don't keep repeating the same thing.

I agree that we are wasting time and energy with all the get ride of Thompson and associates. We had to honor Mr Baker's contract and it means honoring Dr Thompson's and associates as well. That will not happen........I do not know where the labor management relation went, but it seems to have left town. Politians are all posturing everywhere. Although most of the school board candidates are posturing in an anti Thompson mode, if you listen and watch, its for the most part posturing. They know that right now the audience is reponding to it. In my opinion, the real issue is communication. Like it or not, the only voice avaiable for the employees are their unions. If the unions are not brought into be part of the solution, then the negativity will go on and on. Students do comes first, employees should not be last.....

I am also aware that the Union Officals representing support services (one thousand) employees have never been able to sit down and meet with Dr Thompson. Not so much as a cup of coffee and a nice to meet you chat. Something is wrong there..... So, the parties look at each other from afar with binoculars trying to figure each other out. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would witness such immaturity. PS. it does not matter who is at fault, just open the direct conversation

Gator the $550,000.00 that the news paper said it cost the school board for Baker was that the school boards deductable on the insurance. And was the amount payed to Bake accually more?

Or is the total amount only to Baker $550,000.00 plus insurance ?

Gator I hope you don't mind me asking what do you do for a profession? When I read some of your comments they are quit long and I have to addmit I get lost sometings in what you write. LOL

But if I have understood what you are telling me I thought in most part it was the same as my thinking on the subject.

Thanks:: glad to see you are still able to have a job. You don't need a good plumber do you? LOL

well it's not me I have a friend who is the pluming contractor.

Performance Pluming Of Southwest Fla. Inc.

Larry Langley President

phone:239-304-9880
fax:239-304-9809

Gator ::What's the name of the company you work for ?

chincieone........we don't ask people to reveal too much. We are all supposed to be alais's of sorts. I have engaged Mr Gator before and he asked me who I was and I know not to reveal what could be in some way harmful to myself. It is better to evaluate the information put out here and realize some of it is perception and some is fact. The fun is determining fact from fiction. The Gator perception is very much corporate. Understand that an you will always see the arguement.

Thanks bagpiper I can ask the question directly be emailing him.

yes hold thompson responsible and be HIS boss (instead of the other way around), but you can't go in hating the guy. I can't stand the guy, so I know I could never work WITH him...that's not going to help our kids.

I still say for the good of the school system and the good of the community, pay off Thompson, replace him with someone who is willing to work with the Board and the public. There are too many negatives with this man to make him a valuble asset!

The way Dr. Thompson was brought in to being well keep him from ever being fully accepted into this community, and his military way of conducting school business is causing an even bigger gap with him and the community!

That, should of been will keep him from ever being fully acceptedinto this community!

#20....ok chineone....did not want to appear the expert here....just a suggestion, people never really want anyone to know too much. If everyone knew who each other was, this blog would go empty. Some really good thoughts come out and it is enlightening at times and irritating at others. Glass,,,,,,, you ar right about the manner Thompson came. The three board members that voted him in must hang in or fall on their swords....and they won't do that. Thompson can make his own way. I suspect the board members who brought him in, will in time be out. Dr thompson, in my opinion, should work on the perception thats out there about him. That will requirre some real changes not just perception. You know....some of the toughest leaders I have even met were open, personable and compassionate when they could be. They did not have to keep up a front 24/7. They exhibited great personal confidence tempered with gentilness. When they actually needed to make the tough call they did it. The greatest example was Gen. R.E. Lee, everything written on him points to it. The problem as I see it is that Dr Thompson is always in that tough mode. Teachers say, he will only talk with Principals, bus drivers say he will walk past and not so much as look at them. This is seen as a form of disrespect, yet perhaps to him, its military code. My advise would be to find a mid ground to deal from. The perception is he does not like his employees. That is not good at all for anyone.

Bagpiper, I wonder if it is that he dislikes his employees or is afraid of them! I have found that some people put on that tough guy face when they are afraid of other people or things!

Glass.actually, I think he has it in his mind that at some point, he is going to layoff many more or privatize all he can. It is easier to take someone out if you have little or no connection to them. I recall a friend that had this Hog. It was raise for food but his kids called it Fred and made him a pet. He finally slaughtered the Hog for the food, but it took awhile because of the kids.

That is true if one remains emotionally unconnected with the thing it is about to kill it does make it easier, in some cases!

Promdate, I'm with you - I have said for a long time that I would donate to the Thompson-go-home-fund - how hard would it be to collect a million and pay him off - The chix are under no such binding contract, but consider this: Keep them, demote them, as they had displaced others to make a place for themselves... They would have to cling on until Dennyboy could secure another position allowing him to bring in his "trusted team" - they would quit and move on, hence, NO PAY OUT - There is no way they would hang out here for long without their protector...... this is a sybiotic relationship if I"ve ever seen one!

If we elect the "right" board members they will be able to direct Mr. Thompson instead of the other way around. The board's job is to set policy for the district, and the superintendent serves at their pleasure. # 29 is right about the chicks - they can be demoted. With respect to Thompson, in order to save money, I say we need a board that can control and direct him, not necessarily oust him - at least not until we don't have to buy him out. Besides, imagine the pleasure the community will get from seeing him leashed! Could be very entertaining.

Catch 22: Thompson's contract guarantees him some job within the county AT HIS CURRENT PAY if he is ever relieved of his duties as superintendent. I suppose he could end up driving one of the remaining bus routes, but he would be pulling in his big bucks if he were removed from his current position!

By the way, gator, you are so adamant that belt tightening must be done across the board since we are in such dire economic times. Have you checked on how much money is being spent on "inservice training" of teachers over the summer?

It adds up to lots of money. This is all time above and beyond the six full days that teachers will be at school before students ever arrive. Does that sound like good budgeting of limited funds to you?

Thompson and the chicks can find all the money they need for things they deem worthy.

Could demote Dr. Thompson to Head custodian Thompson!

The insurance company provided the lawyer only. They did not pay any of the $555K according to insiders.