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Updated: 9:00 AM Jul 8, 2009
Freeport High School and Freeport Middle School Uniform Policy
Walton County School Board members vote yes to approve uniform policies for Freeport High School and Freeport Middle School. Posted: 9:00 AM Jul 8, 2009Reporter: Josh Gauntt Email Address: joshua.gauntt@wjhg.com  Freeport School Uniform Controversy |
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Enough, I read it again, part 2 refers to relatives of employees being able to quote/bid and reimbursements to employees. Does one of those apply? Or did you want me to read part 3 about the disciplinary action for violations? VIOLATION OF LOCAL, STATE, AND/OR FEDERAL LAWS 6.30 I. Anyone known to be violating a local, state, and/or federal law on School Board property or at a school function will be subject to referral for prosecution to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The referral process will be subject to Florida Statutes and School Board rules. Which one is pertinent to this situation in your mind? Relatives of employees are not selling shirts, and I dont think this is a reimbursement to an employee, but I can see where part 3 would apply,which is exactly my purpose in raising objections to the entire matter. The WCSB raised the conflict of interest issue, and agreed to investigate it. Coaches Corner website is no longer online advertising uniforms for sale. Wonder why?
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I am tired of trying to to justify to a few people why I believe the school administration has deceived the majority of parents on this issue. I am posting a website where all documents will be available for public viewing, along with links to all the resources for my legal justification of my opposition to the actions of the school administration. You do not have to agree with me. It is for the official bodies who govern these issues to determine if there has been any violations of policy or law. I have spoken with many parents, and I have yet to find one that wants this dress code, or knew that they had options beyond the mailed out order form. I did accomplish at least one thing, and that is the requirement of Ms Foster to implement a plan on how to provide shirts for those who can't afford them. She will be presenting this to the WCSB at a Special Mtg tomorrow. Had I not spoke up, this would not have been addressed and I suppose those students would have stayed home on Aug 24th.
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To Enough: My 11th grader was helping with the 8th grade field trip, and he heard it announced to them also. He went and asked a teacher about it afterwards, and the teacher knew nothing. I am glad you were informed through your student, who spoke with admin, but can you show me an announcement that was sent to all parents? One that said it was a "proposed policy" and detailed the specifics? I have an email from Ms Foster telling me I can go out in town and buy any shirt in school colors, and have airbrush, screened, or embroidered FHS or Bulldogs on it. Why is it school colors only when you buy it on your own somewhere else? If you click on the link on FHS website for clarification, you will again get that version about school colors, with no mention of team shirts, club shirts, etc. Why are they still posting conflicting info? And I do take issue with the idea that a policy that requires board approval at public meeting can be announced as "required" months before it is approved.
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CC: As educated as you claim to be, you must not have read the Dress Code that was approved by the WCSB. It does not specify a particular supplier, brand, color, logo design etc. It just says "school shirts will be required dress" and "students may wear any FHS shirt" It doesn't even include the word "uniform" at all. But since parents did not get that info, and only got a Coaches Corner order form titled "Freeport High School Uniforms" with the statement "All students are expected to be in uniform on the 1st day of school – August 24th.", how were they expected to think differently? This is the deceptive mailing sent by Ms Foster, in an attempt to intimidate parents to order shirts three weeks before approval of the dress code. I know now that you do not have to purchase from that form, only because I requested a copy of the dress code to see what was required.I wasnt given a copy of the approved code, because there was not one. Scam is a word that comes to mind, look it up in Websters
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Facts Not Fiction I am not in the "know" about anything or part of any "click" as Mom would like to suggest. Instead, I am an eduated person who can read, and the information about being able to buy your shirt from another source came from YOU Facts Not Fiction on July 9th. Are you saying the information you are giving to the public on this website is inaccurate?
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Hey Concerned Citizen, with all your inside knowledge of how the dress code got changed can you tell me why Foster made this statement at the WCSB meeting? ""We knew that the handbook wasn't going to be approved until July. So it's a chance to give them some time that they wouldn't go ahead and buy some expensive clothes in June. Some people do some people don't. That was our reasoning giving them advanced notice," Foster, Freeport High School principal said"" She already had some guarantee or promise from someone that it would pass with no opposition? How did she know that in June when the meeting was on 7/7? Why was I invited to attend and voice my opinion if the decision had already been made? Four parents attended and spoke against the policy, one student arrived and sat with Foster, to speak for it. We could tell that no matter what was said, someone already made up their mind that it would be approved. Are elected school officials allowed to make promises and fix voting like that?
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You should read all 3 parts of the districts conflict of interest policy. And by the way, my child, 11th grader was told by the admin. before school was out for the summer of the "new policy" and was told that he could wear club and sports team shirts. My 8th grader was told during his school field trip to FHS of the new policy as well, but I guess they were just trying to "trick" everybody, Huh?
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And just for the record, I do not have to buy any shirts from anyone. My senior plays 3 sports, is in 2 clubs, and has plenty of shirts that will work just fine. He would normally dress wearing one of his team shirts anyway, so it doesnt matter to him or me. In fact, Ms Foster emailed to me that "Your son probably has enough shirts from his sports teams while here at FHS to eliminate the need to purchase any additional shirts." Too bad she failed to let the other 300 students/parents know that they could wear something other than what is on the order form. How hard would it have been to include that info in the letter she sent? Why did she hide it from everyone? Why do we need them anyway? NOBODY has answered me as to why Freeport High School needs uniforms to ensure school safety and accountability, but Walton HS and South Walton HS dont. What is wrong at FHS? Concerned Citizen, you seem to be so well informed, maybe you can tell us what makes FHS and FMS unsafe, and we need this?
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Concerned Citizen, you must know something I dont. Is there a list of vendors? There was one order form, with one website, one link on the school page for same. You said the decision on where the uniforms could be purchased from came from school admin, and since Coaches Corner is who they sent order forms and info about, does that mean they are the only one? Now read this, cut and paste from FHS link to clarification of uniform policy document This is the part we are implementing. We are requiring shirts of the school colors with Freeport logos. Okay, that says school colors, orange & blue, so what about the camo, pink tie dye, brown etc sold by coaches corner?You cant wear those? Anybody with common sense can figure out that there is something wrong with all of this. It was not handled right,and when I started asking questions some people got upset that I would dare to ask for an explanation. You say I am slandering people, and then call me an idiot? What does that make you?
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I dont care who Coaches Corner is selling to, they are required to be registered as a business by law. If they are selling goods, they need to be registered with the Dept of Revenue, and report all sales, both taxable and tax exempt. Schools are exempt from sales tax because they are govt, "non-profit" has nothing to do with it. The school is not collecting sales tax as a reseller of shirts, where did you get that info? There is nothing about sales tax on the order form. Thats the problem I have, it doesnt say who you are buying from on the form, they didnt send you a copy of the uniform policy to use as a guideline for purchasing, and they did not tell you that it had not been approved yet by the school board. And no, I didnt go to PTO, I have 4 kids, ages 4 to 18, and dont really have time since I am a single parent working multiple jobs. But I am not an idiot, and I know that PTO and Principals cant make this policy without School Board approval, they can only propose a change.
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My order form does not have any name at all for a payee, and if you doubt me go to the FHS website, click on the order form link and read it.The Conflict of Interest definition is not "mine", it is copied from the WCSB policy manual and it applies to the owner of Coaches Corner, who is a school employee,who is prohibited as follows:No business in which an employee holds ownership or material interest shall provide either directly or indirectly purchase, rent, or lease any realty, goods, or services to the District.It has nothing to do with the administrators purchasing. Coaches Corner is the provider, the owners are teachers, they are prohibited from providing goods to the district. The fact is you dont have to buy or wear a Coaches Corner shirt to meet the uniform policy, but parents were not told they could buy from others. There is no requirement to wear only Coaches Corner shirts, but the info mailed did not reveal that. That is deceptive, and makes you think you have to buy from CC
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To Concerned Citizen,Ha Ha What has been done?It is just like the rest of them.Out for the almighty $.Iam glad you feel that way but some of us other DON,T.It sounds like you are in the click.July,10at4:05PM .
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Again:"Facts not Fiction" you tell half the story when you quote the school district requires bids only on purchases of $10,000 or more. The important word is requires.... Do you think that the FMS and FHS administration just called 1 company and said this is what we want...what will it cost???? If so you are a bigger idiot than I first thought when I read your postings. And again...Exactly what is your problem....The uniform policy or the company??? If its the policy... complain to the school board... if its the company..get your shirts from one of the other vendors. And as for :"Freeport Mom" there are more people in Freeport than "Wayne Miller". Everything that happens in Freeport is not his fault. He has done alot for this community during his long career with the school district.
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And as for you: "Facts Not Fiction" (AKA Michelle Reynolds I presume) it is easy to hide behind a keyboard and slander people's reputation when you don't know the facts of a situation. If you are such a concerned "parent" where were you when each schools PTO was discussing the policy change? I guess being involved in your child's school wasn't important enough when the decisions were being made, and now you want to complain about what was decided. And exactly what is your problem with??? The policy or the company that was chosen by each school.
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Re: Facts not Fiction Posting on the school board's definition of conflict of interest, your own definition states that the school district person cannot purchase from a company that they have an interest. What company does Ms. Tucker or Ms. Foster have a financial interest in?? I assure you that if the owners of Coaches' Corner are both teachers they are not related to either administrator. When did teacher's get the power in Walton County to set school policy. The decision on where the uniforms could be purchased from came from each schools' administration. If you have a problem with their decisions take it out on them, not a business that just happens to be owned by 2 teachers. And by the the way "Facts not Fiction" the order forms say payable to Freeport high school and freeport middle school, not Coaches Corner. Coaches Corner is selling to a non-profit entity (schools) and sales tax would be payed by the school district in their re-sale of the items to the general public.
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