Jara seeks input on combining alternative schools

Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen

Monday, April 16, 2012

Jara seeks input on combining alternative schools

BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com

Having already announced that the Keys Center Academy, an alternative school for about 20 girls, will cease to exist in its present form to save about $200,000 this fall, Schools Superintendent Jesus Jara promised to hold a town hall meeting about alternative education sometime this month.

Like the budget lines for the girls school, Jara didn't have the details on the meetin...

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Jara isn't qualified to be a primcipal

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:01pm by justiceforall

Reviewing the requirements for superintendent our own Jesus does NOT even qualify! It states the canidate must have three years principal experience- he has just one! This is exactly why these mistakes are being made. He just does t know what to do and he has surrounded himself with other "yes men " who haven't a clue! I've done the math, according to the Citizens reporting -Jara has cost us nearly $5,000,000.00 dollars in whoopsies ..... 2/2011. 580,000.00 as the union lead negotiator and paid extra for that! 4/2011. 1,200,000.00 in class size 2011 Audit findings 98,000.00 transportation and 50,000.00 sloppy record keeping 7/2011. 3,000,000.00 confusion over lower property taxes 10/2011 300,000.00 had to add more teachers as a result of under budgeting 900,000.00 charter "mix up" How many other countless haveent been caught? Now he continues the destruction with these regional "shows" to "discuss cuts" when anyone tell they are already done! Funny how the regime works- the problem is the public is far more savvy than Jara thinks!

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Congralations Matt

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 12:59pm by kwkids

You had the fortitude to write the most comprehensive report on the mortgage mess that I have seen to date and now have hit the nail on the head here as well. It is even the only ligitimate reason that I can find for John Dick looking to raise a fund balance in such a tight year...he doesn't have any faith in his administration to give him reliable numbers. Intead of solving the problem by getting real figures, he is looking to increase the OH CRAP fund because he has seen the reality of expenses exceeding the actual budget. This also has led the Union to agree to a contract based on the district saying not to worry, they had the money to honor the contract. The solution is not to increase your "what if" fund on the backs of the students and teachers. What a unique prospect? Solve the actual problem.

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"Go Scream at Pace..."

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 12:21pm by Apples to apples

says School Board Chairman John Dick. Nice. The school district is going to save $200K (maybe) by throwing troubled girls, whose main problems stem from abuse, in with young men who act out and have juvenile justice issues. Sounds like the school district is giving up on both the girls and the boys. Why not quit outsourcing the internal audit of the schools fundraising accounts - the district has an internal auditor, which is more than any other district of 11 schools has. Quit outsourcing the production of the year end financial statements and quit outsourcing an accountant's position and do it in house. Quit outsourcing legal counsel; take it in house. This district spends a fortune on lawyers. There is your $200K

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You HAVE to be kidding!!

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 9:15pm by Merit

Internal audits are NOT recommended when the School District has been found to be so corrupt. You can't trust ANYONE internally to look at the figures and leave out any emotions. External auditors go through the numbers with blinders on to friendships, bubba gangs, etc. The smartest money spent will be that spent on external auditors... but to be honest, I want the state to step in and take over ALL financial control of the schools. CUT ADMINISTRATION!! The kids are suffering right and left, and administrators are sitting on their big salaries doing NOTHING to improve the school system. As far as the charter school situation, the current plan is a train wreck waiting to happen. The charter schools outperform the public schools.. and the special circumstances offered students in charter schools makes a HUGE difference to the children that attend them. Quit ripping off the kids and kick some administrators asses to the curb. Get the STATE to run the system for a while and just see how much Bubbaisms get routed out of the system.

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Stupid idea!

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 2:04pm by justiceforall

Well stated! Do the job right you don't need to spend millions on lawyers! Children need and deserve our protection not this!

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Girls' school

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 9:15am by dalton2kw

What is wrong with Jara ? Hopefully, his application for this job (on a permanent basis) has been shredded & thrown out with the rest of the garbage. I believe the Alternative School for Girls is VERY important and life changing. I just can't understand why it needs to be eliminated when we could save SO much money simply by eliminating thievery in the school system. Key West schools (the way they are operated, not the teachers, students) are an embarrassment. Worthwhile things are eliminated so all the 'fancy pants' can get cheap phones & I-pads (not to mention service) illegally. Don't get me started on Randy & company !!!!

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Jara knows nothing about

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 6:48am by george

Jara knows nothing about regular education, we expect him to know something on alternative education. The schools are working great the way they are but he will change it to keep his travel allowances and visit his kids out of district with it. How about getting ride of some of the admin ass. and doing a few things your self, jesus.

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Jara claims he can't review his own line item budget.

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 6:00am by Matt Gardi

So many of these stories revolve around looking at the numbers, and time after time we are told they will be released, or compiled. It was interesting to note that at the Sugarloaf meeting Superintendent Jara finally conceded that he himself can not see or review a comprehensive line item budget, and that it would cost $500,000 to develop such a system. That's a problem. You can read about the entire exchange at http://nakedconch.blogspot.com/2012/04/school-superintendent-unable-to-v... Matt Gardi

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Great Article Matt!!

Submitted on Tue, 04/17/2012 - 7:14am by Sam Clemens

What a wonderful read. My question: If there is no actual line by line budget, what has Chief Financial Officer Greg Kineer done to earn his $125,000 (+a $10,000 bonus) salary each year?

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GET RID OFJARA

Submitted on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 3:33am by Merit

It's about time to get rid of this useless thing called Jara. This country was founded on freedom of speech, and Jara is trying to circumvent that. WHISTLEBLOWERS SPEAK UP NOW....before Jara paddles you and fires you to hide his incompetence. There are laws to protect those that bring forward the truth of wrong-doing..