When you get down to the essential functions of a school board member, financial responsibility is at the top. I am proud of the financial position of our school district and must credit the staff, superintendent and my fellow board members for their constant attention to the details. It is some times tough to defend fiscal conservation when making decisions that effects everyone's lives, but I stand firm by our commitment to operating the most fiscally sound school district in the state of Florida.

I would suggest that we not say that I accomplished these things but instead emphasize that these are a few of the things the Washington County School District has accomplished during my term in office. I certainly can't take credit for most of them. We have completed construction of new Roulhac Middle School, Vernon Middle School, Chipley High School and nearly complete with new Vernon High School. Our district has accessed over $30 million dollars in state funding for new school construction in Washington County.

During my term, school grades have continued to increase as new programs are developed and implemented to enhance student performance. The Washington County School board has attained Master Board Certification, a Florida School Board Association Leadership training program and certification.Washington County is one of few Districts in the State to have held this distinction for more than 10 years.

• Adopted policies requiring sequential math and reading programs at all school levels
  adopted K-12 reading plan and significant improvement of FCAT test scores.
• Created Six Read 180 labs (2 @ VHS, VMS, & CHS)
• Added Reading teachers for 7th and 8th grades at VMS
• Added Reading teachers at VHS and a PE teacher at RMS & CHS
• Added Global positioning systems to buses and purshase of new special needs buses
• Purchased 25 new computers for drafting program at WHTC
• Currently completing new 5th Grade Wing at RMS
• Implemented Fast ForWord (reading) program in VMS, VES, and KMS
• New Program at WHTC for Mapping and Surveying - pre-engineering. Other programs being evaluated for medical and business related fields.
• Relocated Data Center to Old Chipley High School Almost all usable space at historic Chipley High School is now being utilized for education and support services.
• Purchased new library books for VHS and CHS.
• Paid for tuition and books for Title I paraprofessionals to be NCLB compliant allowing them to pursue AA degree through Chipola College.

Our school district has one of the strongest financial standings of any small county in the state. Reserves consistently exceed state recommended guidelines. In 2003 Washington County led the state in dollars spent in the classroom (as a % of total funding), and still remains near the top today.