Orange City High School is coming in August 2010.  It’s official name is University High School.  This is an awful choice and reflects the wishes of Candice C. Lankford, Chairman of the School Board.  This choice is disrespectful of the people of Orange City and the way it was reached is totalitarian.  This is how they did things in the Soviet Union. 

The chair decided this name a year ago.  The right guy as principal was picked and told what to do.  He formed a committee of teachers who will do what he wants since he controls their jobs and pay raises.  Thanks to the leaks from the staff about this detail.  Maybe more to the story but as they say this is a totalitarian system.

 

The school mascot is the titans.  The origin is Greek mythology.  The titans were gods.  The titans were killed by other gods, their behavior of incest, murder, torture, betrayal, war and destruction was recorded in a poem.  Nice suggestion for teenagers to go be titans, or maybe they mean just go play pro football.  This is makes manatee as a mascot actually appealing.  Almost anything is better that this mess.  Should pagan gods be a school mascot?

 

The votes are in and everybody on the School board thinks this is the way to go. 

 

If you would like to send an email to the School board regarding these insulting and awful choices the information is below.

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Ms. Candace Lankford, 2010 Chairman

 

330 Lake Winnemissett Drive
DeLand, FL 32724

Home Phone: 386.734.1082
Email: cclankfo@volusia.k12.fl.us

Board member since 2002
Current term: November 2006-2010 (2nd term)

 

Ms. Lankford graduated from Stetson University with a bachelor's degree in political science.  She has served as a School Advisory Council member at the elementary, middle and high school levels.  She also served as chairman of the West Volusia Hospital Authority Advisory Board and chairman of the Stetson University School of Business Foundation Board.

Ms. Lankford represents District 1, northwest Volusia County including the DeLand, Lake Helen, Orange City, Pierson and Seville areas.

 

Mr. Stan Schmidt, 2010 Vice Chairman

 

5574 Trail Side Drive
Port Orange, FL 32127

Home Phone: 386.761.1742
Email: sschmidt@volusia.k12.fl.us

Board member since 2006
Current term: November 2006-2010 (1st term)

 

Mr. Schmidt earned his bachelor's degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and works as a CPA at his Daytona Beach firm, Balaban & Schmidt.  Mr. Schmidt has been extremely active as a representative of the Spruce Creek High School Advisory Committee, the District Advisory Committee and the Project Oversight Committee.

Mr. Schmidt represents District 3, southeast Volusia County including parts of the Port Orange area and the Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill and Samsula areas.

Mrs. Diane Smith

 

1355 Voltaire Street
Deltona, FL 32725

Home Phone: 386.789.3977
Email: djsmith@volusia.k12.fl.us

Board member since 2006
Current term: November 2006-2010 (1st term)

 

Mrs. Smith has been an active volunteer in Volusia County Schools since moving to the area in 1990.  She served on school PTAs, as president of the Volusia County Council of PTAs and vice president of the Florida PTA.  She has served on the School Advisory Committees at Timbercrest Elementary School, Galaxy Middle School and Deltona High School, and also on the District Advisory Committee.

Mrs. Smith represents District 5, southwest Volusia County including the DeBary, Deltona and Osteen areas.

Ms. Judy Conte

 

40 Nicholas Court
Ormond Beach, FL 32176

Home Phone: 386.677.0642
Email: jconte@volusia.k12.fl.us

Board member since 1992
Current term: November 2008-2012 (5th term)

 

Ms. Conte graduated from Seabreeze High School and received her bachelor's degree from Florida State University.  She served over 20 years as a PTA and School Advisory Council leader.  She was an English teacher at Seabreeze High School and coordinator of FUTURES' Volusia Compact: Adopt-a-Future program. 

Ms. Conte represents District 4, northeast Volusia County including the Ormond Beach and Holly Hill areas and the northern parts of Daytona Beach.

Dr. Al Williams

 

3839 Calliope Avenue
Port Orange, FL 32129

Home Phone: 386.322.7311
Email: acwillia@volusia.k12.fl.us

Board member since 2004
Current term: November 2008-2012 (2nd term)

 

Dr. Williams has a life-long commitment to education, both personally and professionally.  He is a former teacher and professor and worked as an educational consultant for low performing high schools for Chicago Public Schools.  Dr. Williams was executive director of the personnel department for the Austin Independent School District and served eight years as a Volusia County School Board member from 1984-1992.  He holds a doctoral degree in educational administration from Columbia University, a master's degree from both Northeastern University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's College in Minnesota. 

Dr. Williams represents District 2, including the greater Daytona Beach area, South Daytona and parts of the Port Orange area.

 

Read the Deland Beacon for local breaking news and check back here for information updates. 

 

Also read http://beacononlinenews.com/blogs/birdssleep/  for updates on items of interest in Orange City and Volusia County.