Monroe County School Board Member Sue Woltanski joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in our schools.
The district began the year with an A rating, 44 new teachers and, with one exception, no classroom vacancies.
“I’m not sure many districts in the state could say that they had all their seats full on the first day,” Woltanski said. “It’s very impressive, and of course, it’s great for kids to be able to make those relationships with their teachers from day one.”
The district also welcomed four new principals and six new assistant principals, either new to the district or new to their respective schools.
Transportation officials worked over the summer to improve bus routes. While a few buses were overcrowded on the first day, she said those issues were addressed by the second day.
“One child fell asleep in a bus and did not make their stop,” Woltanski said, adding that the incident was minor considering the district serves about 9,000 students.
The district also began the year with strong participation from its cafeteria staff, with chicken nuggets proving popular with students on the first day.
Woltanski said the district did have one teacher withdraw from Key Largo School the day before classes began. The position was for a specialty teacher, and district officials are working to fill it.
The school district is also preparing for a change in its administrative structure following the retirement of Patrick Lafere, who spent 13 years with the district after a military career.
Lafere oversaw numerous construction projects, including Gerald Adams Elementary School, Plantation Key School and projects at Sugarloaf School. He also was responsible for transportation and custodial services.
Woltanski said Superintendent Ed Tierney plans to divide Lafere’s responsibilities among the district’s four remaining executive directors rather than immediately replacing the position.
Tierney also plans to take over construction oversight as part of an effort to reduce administrative costs and direct more funding toward classrooms.
“We’re always looking for ways to put more dollars into the classroom, and one of the ways is to look at administration,” Woltanski said.
She described the change as a pilot program and said the district will evaluate whether the remaining administrators can absorb the additional responsibilities without becoming overwhelmed.
The Monroe County School District also recently received national recognition as an Ocean Guardian School District from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Woltanski said the district has worked with United Way on an environmental project focused on reducing runoff from school properties.
Students have been working on retention ponds designed to help water soak into the ground rather than run directly into surrounding waters.
Woltanski said the program has been underway for about three years and that Monroe County is one of only two school districts in the country to receive the Ocean Guardian designation at the districtwide level.
“We are really proud of that,” she said. “It’s good for the kids to get some hands-on experience and things that they can do to make our waters just a little bit cleaner.”
Several school-related events are also coming up.
A construction advisory committee public meeting is scheduled for August 19 at 5 p.m. on Trumbo Road in Key West. The next Monroe County School Board meeting will be held August 25 at 5 p.m. at Coral Shores High School.
Students will have their first scheduled holiday of the school year on September 7 for Labor Day.
Woltanski also encouraged families to watch for school open houses. Elementary schools will hold events allowing students to show parents their classrooms and giving parents an opportunity to meet teachers.
Information, photos and videos from the first week of school are available through the Monroe County School District website.
Woltanski also reminded residents that school is back in session and drivers need to be especially careful around students walking or riding bicycles and around school buses.
“Just remember, the kids are out there walking to school, riding their bikes to school, and pay attention to the school buses,” she said.
For more information, click here: https://www.keysschools.com/