Florida Keys News
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
School District sheds 49 jobs
29 fired, 20 retired; AD Henriquez cut
BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com

Monroe County School District's annual round of teacher firings claimed 29 jobs, reduced two teachers to part time and eliminated full-time athletic directors at Florida Keys' three high schools.

Teachers and staff who work on an annual-contract basis were notified by Monday that they wouldn't return this fall, part of Superintendent Jesus Jara's plan to shore up a $6.2 mill...

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Are they qualified?

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 8:29pm by Loose Stool
Consult the "Educator Certification Lookup" pages; you might be surprised at the people who lack the proper credentials for the positions they hold. Conversely, you might not.

MCSD will be renamed to the

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 2:42pm by Old School
MCSD will be renamed to the Monroe County Ringling Brothers Circus. What a sad organization. Pathetically run.

I didn't see Sunny Booker's

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 11:46am by i453385@rppkn.com
I didn't see Sunny Booker's name on the list of useless administrators who got pink slips. What does she do to earn her $81,000 salary, exactly? Wait, no useless administrators got pink slips! Once again, the top-heavy, bloated, overpaid administrative team has circled the wagons around corruption, negligence, and incompetence.

Cutting the truancy

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:50am by i449287@rppkn.com
Cutting the truancy coordinator position was a bad choice in a district with no social workers, even if the individual who currently holds that position is not a certified teacher. What is worse is replacing the special education counselor (who really knows how to help parents navigate the system) with an uncertified teacher who should have been fired! Shame on you, Amber, for covering for your friends!

Sad

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:36am by seekwtoday
The most disappointing of this story is that the lack of leadership from the Key West civic leaders and parents wellness to speak up. There is a path to move to a positive solution, but it takes courage. But it looks like it will just get worse before it will get better.

Donald Trump

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 12:32am by JMARK
Someone needs to Donald Trump Amber Bosco!!! YA FIRED!!!!

Disappointed

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 10:08pm by Please Stop
I am sickened with all the drama that Ms. Bosco has brought to KWHS. How can she get away with having her office managers sister become the Athletic Director? And her boyfriend the football coach? And how come she continues to keep Miguel Menendez as the baseball coach, when he has done NOTHING for the team. I am not looking forward to having any of my family attend there.

Dr. Jesus Jara

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:27pm by Exasperated
I see where you say there is an opportunity for 9 teachers to be rehired. Mr. Ralph Henriquez needs to be rehired as the athletic director. Thanks for listening.

Jeff Foxworthy

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:12pm by Exasperated
Amber please return to Poinciana School as you aren't smarter than a fifth grader.

good comment!!!!!!!!!

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:59pm by just us conchs
good comment!!!!!!!!!

Not a wise move

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:10pm by Exasperated
I have come to the conclusion; Amber doesn't do things which are in the best interest of children. If she did, she would have dismissed the baseball coach. Her decisions are about friendships and politics. The firing of Ralphie Henriquez is an evil action. Her decision will haunt the sports program for years.

Simple math.

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:52pm by Mac

Had the School District sold Glynn Archer (market value: $6-7 million) instead of giving it free to our whiney little mayor, all of these jobs could have been saved... and more.

Oh, what a tangled web they weave...

Sad Man

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:50pm by Think-positive
Michael your such a whinner that don't have a clue on how to improve anything.

College Job

Submitted on Sat, 05/05/2012 - 10:19pm by Exasperated
And, I wonder how you got that college job because Jesus knows you were a terrible teacher at KWHS.

A cleansing of the old.....

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:35am by Really!?

The Bookie system is eroding and fiscal responsibility is being addressed. It's never any fun on RIF day. But reorganization brings new insight and perspective. We (taxpayers), look forward to better fiscal responsibility - now, Mr. Jara needs to take a pay cut and live off his "consulting" deals to put some real skin in the game. Buck up Jara, show your here for the community NOT the job.

AND if he doesn't give some skin in the game it's time for these consulting (Keys Energy) deals to re-appropriate their "consultant fees" to better educational uses.

Keys Energy?

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 2:12pm
Jara is consulting for Keys Energy? What exactly is he doing for them? I thought he was too busy running our school system.

...and this is why we need a new leaders at the school board.

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:31am
They always cut, but now they're squeezing lime on the wound! Wow, to just rid everyone and not even express true sorrow is sickening. To allow administrators to treat good people this way is just not the way we Conchs roll. I'm sorry teachers for this terrible circumstance.

Jesus of Miami

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:25pm by Exasperated
Jesus of Miami does not pay Monroe County property taxes nor do his children attend school in Monroe County. He pays property taxes in Dade County and his children attend school in Dade County. Time for him to go back to Dade County as he is not the savior he was made out to be.

Amber should be censored before we get sued again.

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:28am
Are you kidding us? That's the best quote she could muster...an attack on Henriquez who has done a sterling job and gotten our kids placed in numerous colleges for athletic scholarships. Really, Amber? Shame on you! KWCitizen needs to follow up on the drug testing issue- this one is a biggie! Amber just keeps recruiting her own family and buddies. This ain't elementary school, we have more than a kick ball team! Hate to see teachers' aid cut because they work 1-on-1 with students and MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS MUCH AS TEACHERS!

Unbelievable!

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:24am
Straight up shameful what they did- all the way around- Mrs. Bosco! And for you to slap Henriquez one more time on the way out by implying that he's "making the cuts about himself" shows some colors we hadn't seen in you before. Just because he spoke on HIS behalf doesn't mean he made it about himself. Your staff and teachers are too scared to speak up anyway. I thought Amber could have at the minimum, patted the man on the way out and said something like "I understand his angst, and this has been difficult for everyone, and I thank him for the job he did." The mere fact that she chose to instead put another layer of negativity shows quite clearly that this IS personal for her, and politics were assuredly at play here. This is wrong!

Good for the goose

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:29pm by Exasperated
I wonder if Amber's two children were let go at Gerald Adams as I know they have way less experience then most teachers who were fired. How can we find out?

Isn't the Principal at

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:53am by i449287@rppkn.com
Isn't the Principal at Gerald Adams a relative of the KWHS Athletic Director? I wonder if there will be a revenge firing?

see reappointeds go to

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 10:42am by Unbelievable
items 3, 4, 5 - you will see that Pedro Fraga is still listed as employed long after he should have retired, at the top of the pay scale to boot! http://www.keysschools.com/schoolBoard/agenda_folders/11-12_agenda_Folde...

You're surprised?

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 2:21pm
She changes the rules as she sees fit. Ask her about the new homecoming rules for girls this year. She made sure her 3 favorites were on court!

She sure did

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 7:41pm by Exasperated
I am a student and she sure did add an extra seat on the court this year. We laugh among ourselves as they refer to her as "Amber".

she called girls into her

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 10:23pm
she called girls into her office that were nominated and told them that they didn't meet the criteria and wouldn't be allowed on homecoming court. that criteria is no where in the student handbook.

She's as Useless

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:54pm by NativeConch67
As a hubcap on a tractor.

And you

Submitted on Sat, 05/05/2012 - 10:20pm by Exasperated
And you are a coward who hides behind the computer. Jacob Thompson

Evidently, if you live by

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 6:02am by wondering...
Evidently, if you live by the Bubba, you die by the Bubba.

ic

Submitted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:42pm by conch
First of all Mr Henriquez had nothing to do any of the athletic scholarships the high school kids earned. Second he bailed twice on the baseball team of his own doing. Legitimate teachers are losing their jobs Mr. Henriquez should be the least of our worries,considering he seems to be alright charging $50 a hr. for his baseball expertise or as he will have you think.

ic2+

Submitted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 6:59pm by Exasperated
Coach Ralphie Henriquez’s record speaks for itself. He is a man of integrity. He looks you right in the eye and tells the truth. He boasts the best winning-percentage of any coach, ever, at KWHS. Not to mention three state titles which no other coach has accomplished. He is the best person for the baseball coach/athletic director. He left to coach the Atlanta Braves and then the New York Yankees. Don't hate him for taking his talent to professional baseball. This year Menendez turned in the worst and first losing season in KWHS baseball history. Choosing Menendez over Henriquez speaks for itself; personal agendas and politics. I hope Amber apologizes to our next generation of baseball players for what she did in firing Coach Ralphie Henriquez.

Please

Submitted on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 9:02pm by conch
Please, Ralph Henriquez couldn't spell integrity if you spotted him all the letters except the y. When he found out there was going to be budget cuts he starting undermining the baseball program to try to position himself to get back in. Believe me I've seen it before he did it before, back when he was Coach Millikens assistant he was politicking to force him out so he could take over, and I saw and heard this first hand. So I suggest Ralph do what he always does get his uncle-in-law to put in a good word for him. If anybody deserves an apology it sure ain't Ralph. Also how did Amber choose Menendez over Henriquez one was the Athletic Director the other the baseball coach.

The name is the same: Menendez

Submitted on Sat, 05/05/2012 - 10:26pm by Exasperated
What a coincidence both coaches are said to be protected by the same last name. One is named Bobby and the other is named Wanda.

Ralphie versus Menendez

Submitted on Sat, 05/05/2012 - 5:01pm by Exasperated
How many players has Menendez put in school over Ralphie? How many titles does Menendez have? Where are all the fans Ralphie put in the stands? What happened when Ralphie faced Menendez in a game? What happened to all the fall and summer programs Ralphie created? Menendez is a little league coach coaching the most successful baseball program in the state and has done nothing but destroy all Ralphie built. Ralphie is the best coach in this town and should return to the baseball program.

I gotta admit- I don;t know much here

Submitted on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 2:47pm by Kiki
except I had read over and again on the comment section and the voice about coaches that were using terrible vulgar language and behaving very poorly. That they were terrible role models for the players as well as the kids in the stands. Which of these were they referring to? That should be the answer.
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