Letters from Readers

From Savannah Gallagher

Good morning!

I was reading your newsletter, Friends & Neighbors of Martin County, and caught a line that stated 

“The ½ mill adds $10,738.93 to a teacher’s pay across the board. You can see the presentation here.” I read through the link you attached and could not find that information there.

I am a teacher in Martin County and do not receive a millage payout even close to that number. The majority of teachers in Martin County receive $1800 before taxes. These teachers are in years 1-6. The next group of teachers is in year 7-9, and they receive $5000 before taxes. These two groups make up most teachers in the county. The few, the 10+ years, make $10,050. 

I got excited thinking that this option is on the table, but don’t see that. I am hopeful you can help me find  the source of this information. I truly appreciate all of the work and effort you put into the newsletter. I look forward to hearing from you! 

Savannah Gallagher

A teacher in her 6th year earning an 1800 millage

My Answer

Here is the chart from the 5th page showing that by taking advantage of all the opportunities for extra income here is what it shows. This is what was presented at the meeting.

From Julie Marshall

Dear Tom:

As is always the case, Victoria Defenthaler ('VD') was incorrect in the information she presented to the school board on March 19th, 2024 and in your February 14th newsletter in regard to the settlement on the legal case about the Parental Rights in Education Law .  I would like to clear up that misinformation.

The liberal activists lost their case.  The liberal activists lost their appeal. 

The settlement agreement says the same thing the law does.  There was nothing changed to the law.  

The mutually agreed settlement ensures that the law will remain in effect and that the plaintiffs will dismiss their case.  

The settlement agreement is the elementary version of the law so our 'educators' can understand it.

The settlement agreement has clarified points of contention and ensured that students would not be prohibited from mentioning if their guardians were a homosexual couple and that “literary references to a gay or transgender person or to a same-sex couple” were not prohibited so long as it was not itself “‘instruction on’ those topics.”

The plaintiffs have admitted that the agreement did not alter the law.  The plaintiffs’ attorney, Roberta Kaplan, told the Times, “It (the settlement) should put a stop to the overreacting."  I guess VD did not get that memo.

The liberal activists and MSM wanted to call it the 'Don't Say Gay' law, however, 'gay' was never mentioned in the law once if anyone actually deemed to read it instead of following the MSM narrative.  They could say 'gay' the entire time.  

https://www.flgov.com/2024/03/11/florida-wins-lawsuit-against-parental-rights-in-education-act-to-be-dismissed-law-remains-in-effect/

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2024/03/12/floridas-big-win-vindicates-ron-desantis-in-court-dont-say-gay-spinners-can-sit-down-1444551/

https://flvoicenews.com/efforts-to-invalidate-florida-parental-rights-law-fails-as-settlement-reached-desantis-office-says/

https://flvoicenews.com/media-spins-desantis-legal-victory-upholding-parental-rights-law-as-a-loss/

https://flvoicenews.com/media-spins-desantis-legal-victory-upholding-parental-rights-law-as-a-loss/

In your March 17th newsletter, VD went on again about book ‘banning’.   I would like to clarify for the umpteenth time that no books were ‘banned’.  There were inappropriate books removed from minor children having access to them in the MCSD libraries predominately for graphic sexual content.

Not one book was removed because of an author’s LGBTQ+ status or for the color of the author’s skin.  Not one book was removed for LGBTQ+ characters or for the character’s skin color.  These are flat out lies.

VD’s continued spread of misinformation marks a further loss of credibility for her and the people who believe what she says instead of doing their own research.  

VD has the right to speak during citizen comment at board meetings, but she does not have the right to lie to push her personal agenda and further try to divide the community.  

Thank you to the MCSB & MCSD for following the law and for the great policies and procedures governing our district.