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HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN Monday, October 7, 2019 VOL. 100 | NO. 280 | $1.00 YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1919 An Edition Of The Sun Performance pay awarded to effective/highly effective teachers By MARC VALERO on performance. Salary settling There are two classes the salary increase for almost even, Lethbridge STAFF WRITER was no longer supposed on the of teachers — those the grandfathered (hired said. These new dollar to be tied to annual step contract, hired before 2011 who before 2011) teachers amounts were in the Sept. SEBRING — About increases. their funds are on the grandfathered who were rated effective 30 paycheck. 745 Highlands District Teacher evaluation are are coming salary schedule and those or highly effective was Human Resources teachers will be getting based 34% on student to them teachers hired after 2011 $2,400, according to Manager Ana Guedes said Performance Pay in- performance and a small- through who are strictly on a Lethbridge. For those about 413 teachers were creases while the district er percentage is based perfor- performance pay salary hired after 2011, the effec- receiving the perfor- continues to determine on a self evaluation and LETHBRIDGE mance schedule, he said. But, tive teachers received a mance pay grandfathered who will be getting a Best student surveys, he said. pay,” Andrew compensation for both raise of $2,000 while the increase of $2,400. For & Brightest bonus. The principal’s evaluation said. “It is not a step; it is classes has to be tied to highly effective teachers those hired after 20011, Deputy Superintendent of the teacher accounts not a dollar amount we their performance, but received a raise of $2,670. about 195 had an effec- Andrew Lethbridge largest part of the teach- increased everyone; it there are different rules The number of teachers tive rating receiving the explained that in 2011 er’s evaluation. is through performance that govern each of the on the grandfathered $2,000 raise and 137 were there was new legislation “When teachers get a pay; it is tied to their two classes of teachers. schedule and those basing salary increases raise, and we ended up evaluation.” The dollar amount of hired after 2011 is split PAY | 2A Fall decorations pulled from AP City Hall By MARC VALERO STAFF WRITER AVON PARK — Fall deco- rations went up along Main Street recently thanks to the Avon Park Service Club, but were abruptly removed Tuesday morning from the lawn in front of City Hall. The Mall decorating effort on Sept. 14 involved about 10 of the club’s 13 members. The club put up fall decorations in front of about 11 businesses and City Hall, which had a PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF country store and pumpkin patch themed decorations. Sebring City Firefighter/EMT Irving Cruz, at left, and Firefighter/EMT Tim Harper stand with Senior Engineer Rachel Smit, all wearing ballistic vests and The fact that David Flowers helmets bought this year through a Firehouse Subs grant to meet the new National Fire Prevention Association’s standard for Active Shooter/Hostile was dismissed Monday by Event Response (ASHER). Smit carries a trauma kit, part of the equipment, to help stabilize victims and get them removed to safety. council from the city manager position, instead of working until his previously agreed Oct. 18 resignation date, was a Sebring Fire outfitted with ballistic vests factor in the removal of the fall decorations. Highlands Gear arrives after 15-month study, grant process News-Sun asked AP Service Club By PHIL ATTINGER In February 2018, the Member Wally STAFF WRITER National Fire Prevention Randall what Association put out its happened to the SEBRING — They are bright NFPA 3000 Standard for an fall decorations at red, say “FIRE” and come Active Shooter/Hostile Event City Hall? weigh a total of 40 pounds, Response Program, otherwise “They came with the added helmets and called “ASHER.” RANDALL down,” Randall first aid packs. Riley said it contains an replied. Still, if Sebring city firefight- outline for ballistic protective Why did they come down? ers ever get a call to provide gear along with tactics to “They were put up with an emergency medical care provide medical support to agreement with the city man- and evacuation at an active injured quicker than usual, ager and since the city manager shooter situation, they have because personnel can then is no longer there, there is no the ballistic vests they started operate closer to the scene. agreement,” Randall explained. seeking last year. According to the standard, Randall was on the Avon Park Assistant Sebring City Fire when law enforcement sets up City Council in the 1990s. Chief Dirk Riley said the a perimeter consisting of three Randall and Flowers both $23,998 grant, awarded to the separate zones reflecting the served on the city council department on April 4 this level of danger — cold, warm together for a couple of years. year by Firehouse Subs, has and hot — firefighters wearing “We both had to contend bought 26 vests and helmets ballistics gear can now safely with a group of four and now — one for every firefighter on PHIL ATTINGER/STAFF enter the “warm zone.” there is a ‘gang of three’ as far every shift — which include Once there, they may quick- as I am concerned,” he said. first-aid/triage packs to sta- At left, Sebring City Firefighter/EMT Irving Cruz helps Firefighter Intern ly offer first aid and life saving In the 1990s there were seven bilize and evacuate victims at Jacob Figur adjust his helmet while Firefighter/EMT Tim Harper looks on. emergency treatment to vic- members on the City Council the scene of a violent attack. events, represents a new Department’s application tims by applying tourniquets and they had a group of four Riley said the new equip- nationwide standard for started in 2018, almost a full and/or trauma bandages. who always voted the same, no ment, far from having any fire and emergency medical year before Sebring’s first matter what, Randall said. connection to recent local departments. Sebring Fire mass shooter incident. VESTS | 2A State changes local tree protection laws By PHIL ATTINGER according to Highlands In the first decade of Statute 163.045, local come down. Thayer said. STAFF WRITER County officials, the new the 21st century, the governments “may not Also, a local govern- If a person with lake- state law won’t change Highlands County Board require a notice, appli- ment is not allowed to side property has a tree SEBRING — A recent- things much in this of County Commission cation, approval, permit, require a property owner growing in the water that ly-enacted state statute county. worked on an initiative to fee, or mitigation for to replant a tree that was overhangs their land, has struck down county “It will have no ef- encourage developers to the pruning, trimming, pruned, trimmed, or that’s another story. and municipal-level fect whatsoever,” said preserve any old-growth or removal of a tree on removed. Anything in a lake, ordinances that say a Planning Supervisor trees in their plans for residential property” Thayer said some Thayer said, belongs to resident can’t cut a tree Joedene Thayer. “I don’t vacant land. if the property owner towns, cities and counties the state, which claims on their property without know of any [local] However, the pro- has documentation try to pressure residents jurisdiction over any a permit or mitigation for ordinances to protect old posed “Heritage Tree from either a certified to replant old trees, but surface waters. the lost limbs. trees.” Ordinance” did not International Society of Highlands’ countywide For that, Thayer said, It now says they only Not that Highlands become an enforced Arboriculture arborist or ordinances don’t do that. they would typically need need certification from an County couldn’t have measure within county a Florida-licensed land- “People call all the to call a state agency: arborist or state-licensed codes to protect trees code. scape architect that the time. We tell them they The Florida Fish and landscaper that the tree is decades-old or standing State law would now tree is a danger to people can take them down Wildlife Conservation a danger. for more than a century, make such a code moot or property. themselves, but we Commission and/ Usually, local tree laws or hasn’t had similar in the case of a diseased In short, if the tree is recommend they call a or Department of are in place to protect development initiatives or storm-damaged tree. certified by an expert as professional, out of an Environmental historic trees. However, in the past. Under the Florida damaged or sick, it can abundance of caution,” Protection. Classifieds ......................B4-8 Good morning To ............... A7-8, B9-10 Local Sports ...................... B1 Puzzles Viewpoints ....................... A6 Elaine Stepp Lottery ........................... B6 TV Listings ....................... A9 Weather .........................A10 facebook.com/ twitter.com/ Thanks for reading! newssun.com newssun TheNewsSun A2 | HIGHLANDS NEWS-SUN | October 7, 2019 www.highlandsnewssun.com Park-goers stuck on Disney’s new aerial cable cars THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Disney offi cials said in last week. The cable cars his girlfriend and six oth- a statement that one of whisk visitors from hotels er people, said on Sunday LAKE BUENA VISTA the new cable car system to theme parks three that the long wait and — Walt Disney World routes “experienced an stories above the ground lack of communication park-goers were stuck for unexpected downtime.” while going 11 mph (18 was the most frustrating hours aboard the Florida “The Skyliner will be kph).