Alafia Elementary School

Dec 14, 2008

Dec 9, 2008

Dec 8, 2008

Can Mrs. Smith be taught 'People Skills'?

Can Ippolito Teach Smith The Skills Needed To Turn Alafia Around?

Dec 5, 2008

School Board Meeting Tuesday, Dec 9th 3 pm, public comment at 5 pm
To Caravan To Meeting: meet at 3:40 pm sharp, Bloomingdale East Park on Nature’s Way, wear Alafia t-shirt, bring quarters for parking meter. Drivers will be given a map. Local security officers have been contacted to protect cars at the park.
Location Of Meeting: 901 E. Kennedy Blvd Tampa 33602 (813) 272-4000, come to the sign in area to the right of the board room.
Time: must be signed in downtown by 4:45 pm to speak

If You Plan To Speak: Click HERE To Get To The Proper Forms To Fill Out. School Board Office: Emily Briggs (813) 272-4045 / Renee McBryar (813) 272-4052. If you arrive late or fail to sign in upon arrival to the building, you will not be allowed to speak. You have 3 minutes to speak or 2 minutes if there are more than 10 speakers for Alafia.

Wear your Alafia t-shirt please.

Directions are down towards bottom of site...

Nov 28, 2008

PRO on HCPS: Alafia Elementary Gearing Up For Another Board Meeting

Nov 26, 2008

ACTION PLAN

What Do You Think Of The

ACTION PLAN?

Click HERE or scroll down to view complete plan.

Nov 20, 2008

MEETING WITH ELIA RECAP

What did you think of the meeting?

ALAFIA'S RENOVATION

What are your thoughts on the renovation?

*** Click HERE for the summary ***

Nov 19, 2008

ELIA TO MEET WITH PARENTS TONIGHT!

Elia will be at Alafia Elementary TONIGHT at 7:00 pm. If you were unable to attend the Board Meeting you can show your support, voice your concerns and ask your questions directly to Mrs. Elia TONIGHT. *** Child Care Will Be Provided By PTA Approved Volunteers!!

Questions For TONIGHT'S MEETING...

Do you have questions for Elia and can't attend the Meeting TONIGHT?

Please post them here...

Nov 18, 2008

Click "HERE" To Watch 11/18 Board Meeting

Select Tuesday November 18th, 2008 - Regular Meeting.
Fast Forward Meeting to the time of 2:45 to view Alafia's segment.
NOTE: School Board meetings are aired on the Education Channel, Bright House Networks, channel 614, and Verizon, channel 32, Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.; and replayed Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

11/18/08 Board Meeting -- Your Thoughts?

Thank You to the SIX Speakers who stood up for our children and the teachers!! Thank you to the OVER 2 dozen parents who went to the Board meeting last night!!
What Are Your Thoughts On Tuesday's Board Meeting ?

Nov 17, 2008

Elia Met With Teachers Tuesday

Mrs. Elia met with the Teachers Tuesday at Alafia Elementary.

Nov 12, 2008

Parents Speak Out

Parents - Add your comments or stories here:

Teachers Speak Out

Teachers/Staff - Anonymously Enter your concerns or stories here:

Nov 10, 2008

Contact "8 On Your Side" Stacie Schaible!

Join us in calling

Stacie at the

8 on Your Side

Helpline at

1-800-338-0808

Monday - Friday

between 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. and voice your concerns about Mrs. Smith.

Nov 5, 2008

A Possible Solution....

Should Alafia Become A Charter School?

Nov 26th 2008 Tampa Trib article....

"The beleaguered principal of Alafia Elementary School began her work week Monday as she usually does – standing in front of the Valrico school as the students arrived by car, bus or holding the hands of their parents.
This time, however, Principal Ellyn Smith had company. Longtime educator Grace Ippolito was by Smith's side, greeting parents and students. Ippolito, who was principal when Alafia opened in 1987, returned to the school last week under an hourly paid contract with the Hillsborough County School District to serve as Smith's mentor and coach for an unspecified period of time. Her mission is to teach Smith the people skills Alafia parents say she's lacking."
***To read Full article, please click here:
Alafia Principal, Parents Begin Reconciliation
By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE
Published: November 26, 2008

Quotes From The Board.....

November 11, 2008:..... "It's usually not a good thing to have an assessment team come into a school," Faliero said. "It indicates there is enough evidence to suggest there were things that were not working for this school, that there is just cause to go forward and look into it."
November 10th, 2008:......"I thought it was a good meeting," Hegarty said after meeting with the Alafia faculty. "People spoke from the heart."
October 24th, 2008:.......Elia said school officials have held six meetings regarding the Alafia situation since June. Elia also met directly with the principal. "I want to make it clear that this is something that we have been working on," Elia said.
October 24th, 2008:....."When a school is polarized, it's not a healthy environment for students or staff to be part of, and it filters out into the community as well," Faliero said.
October 10th , 2008: ....."The superintendent needs to get involved, and she needs to find out if there is just cause to these things that they are saying," Faliero said, adding that if true, the charges could be cause for dismissal.
"I just don't see that kind of unified concern from east Hillsborough unless they truly believe something is wrong."
Board chairwoman Jennifer Faliero said she has never seen such a large group of parents complain publicly about their school leader. She asked superintendent MaryEllen Elia to work with the parents and look into the situation.