SANIBEL PVBLIC LIBRARY . Y Bean there Mitigation bank page 9A page 1B ME 13, 1997 'OLUME 24 UMBER 31 island 44 PAGES REPO i Police say 'yes' to union By Michelle Moran adding both sides have 15 days within which to file Editor objections. If no objections are filed PERC will certi- With the 10-8 vote in favor of a police union June fy the new union on July 3. 11, the City of Sanibel has its first collective bargain- "We're all set," Executive Director Bill ing unit in its 24 year history. Dantschisch said Wednesday. "We need to wait 15 The new 18 member union is comprised of full- days and if there are no objections—obviously we time police officers and dispatchers. A mail-in vote won't file any— PERC will issue the certification. was tallied by the state Public Employee Relations Then we will contact the city and tell them we intend Commission (PERC) Elections Specialist Eddie to negotiate. In the meantime we will put together Johnson. Johnson said 100 percent of the ballots were contract proposal." returned with 10 voting in favor of representation by Dantschisch said consideration for the union was the Labor Division of the Fraternal Order of Police centered on working conditions and job security (FOP). •please see page I0A "The FOP has won the election," Johnson said, Fifth graders moving on Sanibel Elementary students graduate Schulte then presented the award for the DARE best essay contest to Joe Ravenna. According to from island school and DARE Schulte, Ravenna will get his name placed on the By Mark S. Krzos back of the DARE vehicle for one year, News Editor As Ravenna read his essay, he said since complet- Parents cameras were clicking away and the film ing the DARE course, he made a vow to never use City Council mem- was rolling Monday night when Sanibel Elementary drugs and hopes that the program, which has come ber Bob Janes pre- Fifth graders received their diplomas and said good- under scrutiny for being too costly and unproductive, sented the coveted bye to their school and former teachers., . continues. "Citizen's Award" DARE program coordinator and Sanibel Police "It has opened my eyes," Ravenna said noting that Carly Adler and Detective Kurt Schulte gave a lecture to the students many beers that proclaim to be non-alcoholic, do, in Tony Tromba, on what they'll'be•faced with in the coming years and fact, contain alcohol. Contest winner Joe that they'll have many choices to make. After the short essay, Schulte then presented the Ravenna will get his entire grade with certificates of graduation from the name placed on the "Hopefully you'll make the right ones," Schulte back of the DARE said. "If you ever need someone to talkto about any- DARE program. vehicle for one year, thing, you know where to reach me." •please see page 3A By Gwenda Hiett-Clements Elementary where she has been the principal for four Staff Writer years. She met with school faculty and parents June 11. Left, Barbara Von Harten comes to Sanibel The school bell that her 102-year-old grandmother from Orange River Elementary where she Dora used when she taught in Maryland sits on a Next year's Parent Teacher Association president Brenda Harrity met Von Harten Wednesday and was has been the principal for four years. Above, child's antique desk in Barbara Von Harten's office. Von Harten will replace Sanibel Elementary "And both my parents were school principals in very excited to learn she has three young children School Principal Barbara Ward who intro- Maryland. I guess it's in my genes," said Von Harten under the ages of five. duced her to faculty and parents June 11. Sanibel Elementary School's new principal who will "We're very excited to be working with her. She take over the position July 1. seems really nice," she said. "As the PTA we're very Von Harten comes to Sanibel from Orange River excited." •please see page 2A 2A • JUNE 13, 1997 • ISLAND REPORTER NEW PRINCIPAL 'from page 1A ed by a state grant to upgrade education for emotion- "Barbara is the kind of person who is always striv- ally disturbed children. ing for excellence in whatever she is doing. I have She explained, "My next job had the same empha- worked with,her since she was vice-principal here sis, only a different, narrower focus." She was the and she always puts 120 percent into this school. coordinator of Lee County's Exceptional Student She's always there and has made so many improve- Program and established the first pre-school program ments here. I have different feelings. I'm really sorry for students with any exceptional abilities — all spe- she is leaving, but I know it is a good move for her," cial-needs students. She also co-chaired the pre- said Fred Morando, Jr., a member of Orange River's school inner agency c^h^iF whos¥j6blFwas to coor- Parent and School Advisor Committee and the dinate all the area agencies that impacted the pre- Community Resource Team. school child. She said, "Today the programs have "I love being a principal. It is the most rewarding mushroomed; there are a multitude of different class- work I have done. I can work with the children and es for special needs students." be in a position where I can have an impact on school A major switch in her career came when she went outcomes," she explained. "I feel I have demonstrated to Orange River Elementary as assistant principal. Of positive leadership and shown substantial gains in her time at Orange River, Von Harten is most proud education, I look forward to being at Sanibel of the reading program she and her teachers estab- Elementary," lished and progress shown by the students. She will Von Harten, who is looking forward to working present the program overview and charts showing the with Sanibel parents and community members, growth of the students through one year to the board believes in site-based decision making. Orange and then to all assistant principals in the Lee County River's School Advisory Committee is comprised of system. A dramatic example of the results of the pro- parents, teachers, support personnel, administration, gram shows that the school's first grade students and area business representatives. Von Harten said, grew one and a half grade levels on standardized "Parents are stakeholders; they have a vested interest reading tests in one year. Von Harten believes that if in the operation of the school. My management style students are exposed to reading at a young age there is not top down. I want to get all the stakeholders will be no call for remediation later. together. The more heads we put together, the better Barbara Von Harten, with the bell her grand- mother rang in the start of each school day She said, "The key to success is to have children the decisions. It is very positive to have the parents with, looks forward to ringing in a new read to daily. If we have parents who cannot read on a involved. And I think that communication is very school year on Sanibel. daily basis with their children, we pair the child with important, I was pleased to see that Sanibel has a an individual reading tutor." weekly newsletter that establishes communication tion on Sanibel when an notice went out to all Lee Not to miss out on that experience, Von Harten had between the parents and the school." County School System elementary principals to see if any wanted to request a transfer. She explained, " I her special child this year to read with. Von Harten will be coming from a school with 775 went through an interview with Dr. Jack Taylor "This (leaving Orange River) was a very difficult children to Sanibel with 270. She said, "I see Sanibel (interim superintendent) and his cabinet for the decision. We just redid some of the classrooms and as a community school. The school is one of the best appointment. It seemed like there were 100 people in we have accomplished so much here; I feel like I've and my goal is to help every child reach his or her the room for the interview, but I'm sure there were built a new home and I have to leave it now," Von maximum potential. I want to instill in children the just 10 or so." Harten said. But with Grandmother Dora's school love of learning and make them life-long learners. I Dr. Taylor said, "She an outstanding principal with bell in hand, Von Harten begins her new job as would love to see children who love to read when Sanibel Elementary principal and setting up a new they get home instead of watching TV." tremendous experience. She is very innovative and she will involve the parents and community in her home. Also, Von Harten knows that learning has to be school and decision making. We had two excellent meaningful, yet fun. "I am a hands-on administrator. I finalists and we choose her because of her long term try to get into the classrooms as often as possible. interest in curriculum development." Hopefully, with a smaller school population I will be Von Harten earned her bachelor's degree with a able to do that more often." double major in elementary education and special "I believe in positive, behavior reinforcement. I use education for the emotionally handicapped from a stamp book; students get stickers for positive Millersville State College in Pennsylvania, "At the actions and put them in their stamp books.