Ms. Cheryl: Why I Am Leaving the Flagler Youth Orchestra

What an utter tragedy and just a horrible episode that shows some of the real costs of this bizarre hateful reactionary moment we are in, especially in this state. Hurting kids in the name of trying to help them, with zero sincerity

 

Wish her the best. Plenty of other areas in this country will be happy to have her. Sounds like she found one.

 

There sure are a lot of nasty-ass people in this world. I always ask myself who raised them, and how.

 

phil - do you know how recently the three SB members were elected? It's a terribly unfortunate circumstance resulting from political division and ultimately hurting a whole lot of people, for what? For those who didn't read the letter, it appears that the orchestra and its director were targeted with misinformation campaigns and an audit because her husband works for the newspaper highlighting some of the school board members' indiscretions. IOW - punishing the spouse of a school board detractor from the media.

This program is somewhat unique in that it's not a during-school organization, but is partially funded/supported by the school district. After working the first year with zero pay, the director was being paid 30k/year with no bennies. There were 350 children in the program, which is exceptional during an age when strings programs are struggling.

To those who think schools are nothing but liberal indoctrination centers, please get better informed. This was politics butting its head in where it didn't belong.

 

True - meanwhile, though, the fallout is that 350 children who were receiving a uniquely valuable experience have lost their musical/social/intellectual mentor.

 

Agreed. It’s unfortunate. Elections have consequences - even small ticket local ones. This is a potential opportunity for children elsewhere.

 

I just read all the linked materials. Those are some toxic, emotionally disfigured people attacking the program

 

White Anglo-Saxon Protestants mostly.

 

So this is part of the new playbook, esp. in FL. . . . where education goes to die.

 

Thanks for posting. Personal agendas over educating kids. Sad. Just read the comments to understand what a positive force for Flagler’s kids she was.

 

No surprise. This is what happens when the crazies get some power. It has never been about helping the kids and always about imposing their personal beliefs on everybody else. And they learned from Daddy Donald and Uncle Ronald that anybody who stands in their way is the enemy and must be dealt with harshly.

 

First, shame on the school board for “forgetting” about the account and as a result, not conducting the required annual audits. And there is some culpability on Mrs Tristam for basically pleading ignorance on how to properly account for a school district program that apparently handled thousands of dollars each year.

But this comes down to a feud between a liberal publisher and editor of a “non-profit” newspaper and some far right whack jobs who are infiltrating schools boards throughout the state. And the result is the kids suffer.

One more question… Mrs. Tristan wasn’t directly employed as an actual music teacher so why not just simply set up her own business and run the program completely independent of the school board?

 

The district supplied rehearsal space, which is a huge commodity, not to mention about 30k in salary. It might be easy enough to fundraise for the salary/stipend, but not easy to find space for 350 kids to practice. This would involve at least three large rehearsal spaces for orchestras + 12 or so rms for sectional rehearsals (violin, viola, cello, bass). They may also have wind and percussion players.

The district may have also provided instruments for some of the children.

 

Funny thing is I used to work with one of the new members when I was in the ER.
She was a nurse, I was never really impressed with her skills in that area….

 

Yep. End of the day, it's unreasonable to expect her to take on significantly more work just to maintain the status quo of the program due to the poor behavior of the elected officials here when she received a far better job offer elsewhere.

 

Why don't you tell us how you really feel. Being a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant myself I am offended, not by the fact that you feel this way but by the fact that you can get away with saying that here. If I or anybody else were to reverse the races or religions there would be hell to pay.

 

You had a gold mine working for $30K. Apparently she screwed up the accounting, but wasn’t a thief. There’s is a world of difference between mistake and intent.

MOL idea nothing but destruction.

 

You brag about being a civil rights lawyer yet everything is political to you. You are not one bit interested in civil rights, just that your side gets their way.