Category: Tampa Bay

It’s beyond a cliché to say our future depends on education. And never more than now when a global marketplace is increasingly unforgiving of the uneducated. It’s also beyond a truism to say this state’s – and this county’s – track records have long been a concern on this subject.

The factors are myriad and manifest. Underfunding and underperformance are not unrelated. It’s no longer assumed that students come from nice, nuclear families, and they arrive at school each morning after homework help, a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast. The best and brightest college graduates don’t go into teaching. FCAT accountability is a sham. Cell phone scenarios are disturbing.

As a former educator, including here with Hillsborough County schools, I’m inclined to applaud efforts that seek to make the learning experience more effective. But I’m also inclined to be skeptical about every would-be panacea that comes down the pedagogic pike. From “new math,” “word recognition” (over phonics) and “Ebonics” to creationism and self-esteem curricula. It’s a jumble out there.

Then I see the recent Second Coming celebration among Hillsborough County School officials over winning a $100-million teacher effectiveness grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Congratulators included Gov. Charlie Crist and his predecessor, Jeb Bush. This obviously is a very big deal. Hillsborough — with some 190,000 students — is one of only a handful of school districts nationally to have won Gates’ largess. It could put Hillsborough on the cutting edge of educational reform.

A couple of points.

The county will be on the hook to match the Gates’ money – plus at least $30 million a year after the grant runs out in seven years. School officials hope to raise part of that through additional grants, plus the redirection of funds that would have otherwise gone for more traditional teacher development. But, still, those are big numbers for uncertain times.

However, new teachers will now get a full-time mentor and “tenure” will be scrutinized like never before. Dead wood should anticipate dismissal. Improved teacher-evaluation systems will be implemented and tips on recruiting proffered. Merit pay will be emphasized. Standards will be higher. Who could argue with such pro-activity?

But while schools prepare to get on board with more test scores, surveys and classroom videos, here’s a suggestion: Remember the basics. No Foundation need point them out.

Go into any school — regardless of geography and socio-economic levels — and ask around. You’ll quickly find out who the best teachers are – from students, teachers, librarians, an involved PTA parent or an administrator who’s more than an ex-coach who always wanted to be a principal. And you’ll quickly discern what those teachers have in common, even if nobody has it on video.

They have a presence.

They command respect because they’ve earned it – and it doesn’t take long for the word to get around. They also have a command of their subject or subjects. They are fair. They care. They are teachers because they obviously like kids, not because the college of education had the lowest standards. They have a sense of humor. They are creative – without being gimmicky or chaotic. And they’ve never quite forgotten what it was like to be 10 or 14 or 17 years old.

And remember that we’re talking learning environment. The classroom is not a social experiment. Neither is it a redress rehearsal for grievance-mongering later in life. And discipline — fair and consistent — matters. Does it ever.

Presumably that will all be borne out by the Gates Foundation-subsidized research.

The University of Tampa has been traumatized lately with tragic deaths and serious injuries to its students. Rob Ruday, the dean of students at UT, said last week that he and his staff were grappling with an appropriate message about safety to send out to students.

Here’s a serious suggestion. Students, of course, frequently act like mortality is an abstraction and won’t always do the prudent thing. But put it this way: “Nothing good happens – whether you’re walking or driving – during early morning, wee hours. Nothing.”

We call ourselves the Tampa Bay market for more than geographical reasons. It’s because contiguous counties can carry more clout collectively than individual entities, notably municipal ones. From beaches to bio-tech, from phosphate to higher education, from the Salvador Dali Museum to the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, from Tarpon Springs to Ybor City. It’s who we are.

To be sure, Tampa, home to TIA and a deep-water port, is the commercial hub, but our diversity and symbiosis are our strengths. The Suncoast, St. Petersburg, Tampa: None can be best served by going it solo in the marketplace. That’s why the recruiting of a GOP convention or World Cup games or Super Bowls or a Final Four can only be successful when the area is marketed regionally, relevant resources are marshaled and all strengths are played to.  

But speaking of sports.

It’s ironic — and less than encouraging — to see how raw parochialism has roared back in St. Petersburg over the Tampa Bay Rays.

We all know the story. An indoor facility — dated before its debut — that was built on spec because Pinellas and St. Petersburg needed to, well, land something that Hillsborough also wanted. Seemingly, Pinellas, which actually seceded from Hillsborough (in 1911), never got over not getting TIA, Tampa Stadium, Busch Gardens, the main campus of USF, a hockey arena and probably the Mons Venus. The point-of-pride (expansion Devil) Rays changed all that.

But at some point, and arguably that point has been manifest for some time, it became apparent that the status of the Rays could no longer be status quo. A change of ownership, a spiffed-up Tropicana Field, a cadre of good, young talent and a World Series appearance, alas, were still not enough. Not in a relatively “small,” hybrid market such as this one. A market that is weak in corporate (season-ticket buying) headquarters, non-existent in mass transit, persistent in its relocatee allegiances, location-challenged in its stadium location — and blessed, ironically, with lifestyle options superior to indoor summer baseball.

And this much we’ve known for a while: A new, retractable-roof facility is the best option to the outmoded cat-walk house that is among the worst facilities in Major League Baseball. Meaningfully retrofitting the Trop makes less financial sense that razing it.

But that doesn’t address location. The current site is ill-suited geographically – with Corpus Christi the nearest market to the west – and demographically. Tampa Bay is a 3-million population market, but the St. Petersburg location is on the fringe. That’s why the ABC Coalition, the 11-member, private group charged with examining new stadium scenarios, went regional in its look at possible alternatives to the Trop.

ABC, whose formation was strongly encouraged by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, has acknowledged that its assessment of stadium sites includes some in Hillsborough County. The city of St. Petersburg’s response to that – before the final report is even issued – was to go ballistic. St. Pete development director Rick Musset fired off a heat-seeking epistle to ABC that questioned its “ranking” of downtown St. Petersburg behind downtown Tampa, West Shore and the Pinellas Gateway as most viable venue options. The criteria included population, drive times and business distribution. Mussett also reiterated that the Rays were contractually obligated to St. Petersburg until 2027.

A couple of points.

First, there’s precedent for professional sports franchises breaking leases, paying penalties and moving. For the right relocation offer, it’s a cost, albeit steep, of doing business.

Second, it’s eminently understandable why St. Petersburg would want to keep the Rays. But when they had a chance to weigh in on that futuristic Al Lang Field proposal, they acted insulted and blindsided.

It’s time for St. Petersburg officials to get serious about taking one for the team. The regional team. At some point, the choice will no longer be: Where in this Tampa Bay market is the best place for the Rays? The choice will be Charlotte or Las Vegas instead of St. Petersburg.

That’s what lies ahead. Despite the Rays’ feel-good story lines and good-guy images, the harsh reality is this: The Rays need a modern facility logically located in this asymmetrical market. A stadium that will produce higher revenue streams, which will, in turn, enable the Rays to retain their best players and stay relatively competitive with their obscenely deep-pocketed competitors in New York and Boston.

Just think about it. After all those years of hosting spring training and supporting minor league teams, this market finally landed Major League Baseball in 1998. And now there’s a chance that well in advance of 2027 bush league parochialism will prompt its departure.

The “David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts.” That will soon be the new name for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

By any other name, however, we are talking about one of the premier performing arts venues in the Southeast. Recall its brief, uniquely Tampa, history.

Tampa was a late cultural bloomer. While other cities were turning to the arts for downtown revivals in the 1960s, Tampa was still clinging to its industrial ambience – as witnessed by warehouse row along the Hillsborough River. Sarasota would have its Van Wezel Hall; Clearwater its Ruth Eckerd Hall; and St. Petersburg its Mahaffey Theater. Tampa had its Curtis Hixon Hall.

When the $57-million, 335,000-square-foot TBPAC opened in 1987, it was a product of municipal bonds, nine city-owned, dirt-lot acres and a unique cadre of visionaries that prominently included Hinks Shimberg, H.L. Culbreath, Frank Morsani and Mayor Bob Martinez.

And while civic leaders and local luminaries basked in a waterfront, acoustics-touted venue worthy of great performance, the reality was this: It was an economic development tool. Every major municipality, especially one dubbed “America’s Next Great City,” had to have one. Reminding outsiders that Elvis once performed at The Armory no longer impressed. Tampa needed this to credibly sell itself as a first-class city. The kind that a corporate CEO just might like enough to consider relocating to.

And once they built it, they came. Principally Broadway, thanks in large part to Judith Lisi. She arrived in 1992 – and the new president made Broadway a priority. Over time the offerings would range eclectically from The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables to cabaret shows such as Forever Plaid to the concerts of Mariah Carey and Ruben Blades. TBPAC would eventually rank among the top grossing venues of its size in the country.

And now that TBPAC has, not unexpectedly, felt recessionary fallout in ticket revenue declines and endowment erosion, up steps another visionary, Milwaukee native David A. Straz Jr., 67. The 29-year resident already has a track record of giving back to the community – the University of Tampa’s Straz Hall and the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Hospital at the Lowry Park Zoo. But Straz also comes with an abiding love of the arts –as well as very deep pockets.

The amount of the Straz gift hasn’t been revealed, but it’s being billed as the biggest individual act of cultural philanthropy in the Bay Area. Ever. That would likely mean eight figures. Easily.

Straz’s rationale was blunt: “Our goal is to ensure that it remains world class for our community.”

It should. But the performing arts center is also, we are reminded, so much more than a cultural icon. The venue that will welcome Wonderland next month is a graphic testimonial to one of Tampa’s most precious natural resources. Those special individuals who have made Tampa their home – and, as a consequence, made Tampa a better place. From Shimberg to Straz. Now more than ever, we are fortunate to be — and to have been — blessed by their generosity and their civic involvement.

“We believe that we are all better people when we have access to the arts,” underscored Straz.

Indeed. Plus, they’re still a great economic-development tool.

Call me naïve. I just assumed those pious-looking Salvation Army folks ringing holiday bells in front of collection kettles were volunteers. Actually, they’re minimum wage employees. In a better economy, many of those jobs would go unfilled. Not now.

The Salvation Army recently hired more than 200 bell ringers in St. Petersburg – at $7.25 an hour. Moreover, the Salvation Army can track bell ringers to see who’s really producing – and reward them with prime locations. Or who’s not and – well, Merry Christmas anyway.

As the campaign over transportation inevitably ratchets up, the myriad of issues — as defined by opponents and advocates — will be regularly reoccurring news staples. Most will be economics-driven. Some will be ideological.

*A tax hike during a recession, one that would give Hillsborough County the highest sales tax in the state.

*Questions about who actually will use light rail.   

*Queries about subsidies.

*Concerns about the long-term economic viability of the Tampa Bay area minus meaningful mass transit and the jobs-producing ripple effect from a modern transit system.

*Variations on an improved quality-of-life scenario, including a long-overdue counter to counterproductive urban sprawl.

*Unflattering comparisons to Detroit as the only other major market in America sans mass transit.

 A November 2010 election, one where the ballot would present voters with a one-cent sales tax option for transit improvements — rail, buses and roads – is now historically close to reality. The election is less than a year away, and the Hillsborough County Commission is moving ahead with a plan. The same commission that failed multiple times this decade to respond responsibly to major transportation initiatives.

Recall how we got here. The commission recently voted 5-2 to draft a resolution stating its intent to seek the sales surtax referendum next November. Specifically, that’s Rose Ferlita, Kevin Beckner, Ken Hagan, Kevin White and – especially – Mark Sharpe who voted in favor of putting the tax on the ballot and actually ushering Tampa into the 21^st century. Politics and ideological labels took a back seat to Tampa’s future. Well done.

And yet two commissioners, Jim Norman and Al Higginbottom, thought otherwise. Sure, a tax hike on anything, let alone during an economic slump, is a tough sell. And the exact resolution language is yet to be formulated. But the overriding principle is still this: However you see the priorities, how can letting the voters have the ultimate word not be one of them? Are they not to be trusted – even if there’s not a stadium included?

Stand against the economic and quality-of-life viability of this area if you must, make your politically-expedient case as best you can, and invoke the name of Ralph Hughes ad infinitum, but don’t deny locals a direct say in the future. Theirs as well as the next generation’s.

Tampa City Council is to be commended for not falling for the siren song of “local preference” in recently voting not to give local businesses, however tempting, an insider’s advantage on government contracts. We all want to take care of our own first, but not at the risk of limiting competition, increasing costs, encouraging retaliation and sending counterproductive signals about parochialism to out-of-town businesses that may be relocation candidates.  

Last week the Hillsborough County schools scored a $2.2-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It will fund research on what makes teachers effective and students successful. Good, schools can use some help. Ours no less than anybody else’s.

But before the schools get on board with more test scores, surveys and classroom videos, a suggestion: Remember the basics. No Foundation needs to point them out to you.

Not to wax too old school, but my eighth grade class at St. Timothy’s in Philadelphia had a 65-1 student-to-teacher ratio, a pedagogic obscenity. And that one, a nun with a black belt in parental leverage, taught all subjects. The key: the parent-teacher nexus. They were on the same side. Nothing reinforces like common cause. Everybody was accountable. Actions had consequences. Discipline was as much a given as were uncool school uniforms. No double standards for the societally challenged. Life wasn’t fair, but school meant opportunity — not a redress rehearsal or a social experiment.

Go into any school today and ask around. You’ll quickly find out who the best teachers are from students, teachers, a librarian, an involved PTA parent or an administrator who’s more than an ex-coach who always wanted to be in charge. And you’ll quickly discern what those teachers have in common, even if nobody has it on video.

They have a presence.

They command respect because they’ve earned it – and it doesn’t take long for the word to get around. They also have a command of their subject – or subjects. They are fair. They care. They’re teachers because they obviously like kids, not because the college of education had the lowest standards. They have senses of humor and spontaneity. They are creative. And they’ve never quite forgotten what it was like to be 10 or 14 or 17 years old.

Presumably, that will all be borne out by the Gates Foundation research.

OK, it’s hardly the stuff of stocking stuffers. But when it comes to conjuring up something unique for that someone special this holiday season, why not a personalized paver? The Friends of the Riverwalk hope the idea — and their marketing pitch — catches on. Actually, they’re hoping Christmas shoppers take it for granite.

The say-it-in-granite pavers are 12” x 12” and can be engraved with up to four lines, with 18 characters per line. The personal ones are $100; corporate or business pavers are $250. The purchases will help fund the completion of the Riverwalk – from the Tampa Bay  Performing Arts Center to the Channel District. Gift-givers may even select a favorite spot.

Applications are available online at www.thetampariverwalk.com. For additional information, call (813) 731-4509.

Give the city, most notably the Tampa Police Department, credit for its recently announced plans to make the 2010 Gasparilla parade a safer and saner event. More police, an extended parade route and the elimination of some waterside bleachers will help. And more Port-O-Lets could also be a factor – if besotted revelers deign to use them.

A couple of points, however:

*Police need to be in the alleys. They also need to make good on “quality-of-life”-arrest promises – and subsequent prosecutions. We all know that “quality-of-life” is a euphemism for trespissing and public sex.

*Too many parents are part of the problem. Where do drunken teens go at the end of the day? Who do they go home to? Who do they answer to? Parents need to revoke these annual, no-normal-societal-rules-apply, free passes for Gasparilla. In somebody else’s neighborhood.

*There’s another term for pricey, property-protecting security that many parade-route homeowners are forced to employ each Gasparilla: legal extortion.

*The ultimate issue, however, won’t be addressed. It’s fundamental: You don’t go having a signature parade — with 350,000-400,000 people – that is largely adjacent to a residential neighborhood. Other cities – from New York to Pasadena to Rio have mammoth signature parades where they belong: downtown.

Hyde Park will remain Ground Zero as long as the Gasparilla parade comes down Bayshore Boulevard. Or until someone incurs an injury much more severe than broken bones or a bloody nose – or someone doesn’t ultimately awaken from an alcohol-induced coma.