Eila Rocks....and Sometimes Rolls

The media loves to find something wrong somewhere. It loves to find bad stuff. After all, bad sells newspapers and air time. Good news is boring to most.

Are you more likely to read, “Daphne Wins Essay Contest at Middleton,” or “Daphne Stabs Classmate at Bus Stop?”

How about, “Westchase Elementary PTA has Waiting List,” or “Parents Protest Alleged Health Hazards.”

In the local papers, much of the Hillsborough district’s good news is buried in the back of regional sections. Let’s see some of that good news on this front page.

Hillsborough is an “A” district. FCAT scores are up every year. Drop-out rates have decreased every year for the past few. Graduation rates increase every year. The overall grades for district Title I schools keeps increasing. And, through administrative leadership, the district has weathered $100 million in budget cuts without layoffs, payroll freezes, or cuts in services or support.

Sometime recently, the Tribune or the Times should have proclaimed in a front page headlines ELIA ROCKS, then told a story about district achievement through proactive leadership and a hard working staff. But noooo…too boring.

Certainly, there have been missteps with transportation issues, boundary issues, concerned parents complaining about issues near and dear, and unintended consequences to new policies. Elia has learned to roll with these missteps without stumbling. Like Rocky Balboa, she’s that energizer bunny who keeps getting stronger.

The truth is, when the Superintendent and staff administrates a $1.6 billion active budget, with about 28,000 full-time and part-time employees and about 225,000 K12 and Adult students, perfect harmony or feng zhe will never be achieved. But a hot-diggity darn is well deserved.

posted by admin @ 5:33 PM