VOLUME 3 ISSUE 44
$2
Alzheimer Awareness
NOVEMBER 4 - NOVEMBER 10, 2022
Page A4
Champion of the Courts
Marion County School Board unanimously OKs agreement with Marion Education Association By Allen Barney allen@ocalagazette.com
T Left: Judge James McCune and his wife, Jessica McCune, during a recognition ceremony held to thank Judge McCune for initiating the Mental Health Court and the Veterans Treatment Court in the jury assembly room at the Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
Judge McCune honored for his role in implementing Mental Health and Veteran Treatment programs. By Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com
“T
OP SECRET” was the subject line on the email inviting people to a surprise gathering on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Marion County Judicial Court
Building to honor Judge James “Jim” McCune for initiating the Mental Health Court in 2009 and the Veteran’s Treatment Court in 2012. As people kept streaming into the jury assembly room, it became evident that a large number of people had not only kept the secret, but wanted to be there in person
to pay their respects. McCune was an Assistant State Attorney in Florida’s 5th Judicial Circuit for 13 years before he was appointed a county court judge by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002. In 2004, 2010 and 2016, he See Judge, page A3
City’s plans to meet water demands Plans for a $52 million water treatment plant are underway. Current city water treatment plant [Dave Miller]
By Makayla Gray makayla@ocalagazette.com
E
fforts to ensure that Ocala residents always have clean drinking water took a major step forward earlier this month when City Council moved ahead with plans to build a
second water treatment plant. The $52 million plant, located about six miles from the enchanting Silver Springs, is expected to be operating by 2030 to help provide drinking water for Ocala’s growing population while easing the load on the city’s one aging water treatment plant.
The council on Oct. 18 approved a $4 million contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., a longtime partner with the city, to design the plant. The city issued a RFP to 393 vendors and kept the solicitation open for 63 days, 33 days longer than a usual solicitation.
Kimley-Horn was the only firm to submit a proposal. The Gazette attempted to follow-up with Kimley-Horn via phone call, but they did not respond. The City of Ocala will provide 50% of the estimated
here was a sense of accomplishment and hopefulness during the Marion County School Board meeting held on Oct. 25 as the board unanimously approved its annual contract with the Marion Education Association. Negotiations between the two sides have been difficult and tense in recent years, and officials on both sides said having an agreement in this early in the school is a promising step. The new contract, which still needs to be ratified by the association members, includes raises and other improvements for instructional staff. But the focus on Tuesday was on the shared relief that an agreement had been reached early and without too much stress. Helen Hamel, the Magnet program coordinator at Lake Weir Middle School, beamed with happiness as she addressed the school board members. “I want to start off with a big thank you,’’ she said. “This is the first time in my career that I am able to sign and fully ratify my contract before the end of the first semester. This is amazing, thank you for the speed and efficiency with which both sides negotiated.” As with all bargaining sessions, Hamel said, there were concessions and compromises made by both sides, but this is “a great start.” She said she hopes other issues such as planning time, the compression of salary of teachers in their first few years of employment, academic integrity and choice of materials in classrooms are discussed in the next negotiation. Marion Education Association President Mark Avery pulled back the curtains to talk about the improved process that led to the new agreement. “We spent a lot of time this year working on the contract,’’ he said. “Last year, a lot of members came in and spoke negatively about the bargaining process and how it works. I will proudly say that this year the district and the association worked diligently over the last six months to try and get this done. We look forward to continuing this progress in future sessions.” Board member Don Browning said it is exciting that an agreement has been reached, but he said he wants to see more money put toward the instructional staff. “Pay really matters,’’ he said. “It’s almost $7 million, (instructional staff payroll) and its exciting. What would be more exciting is if we spent more money on our people.” Board member Nancy Thrower, a former teacher, had high praise for the instructional staff and on the
See City, page A3
See Teacher’s, page A2
READ DAILY NEWS AT OCALAGAZETTE.COM
INSIDE:
Write-In Candidates.................... A5 Breeder’s Cup................................ A6 CF Film Festival............................ B2 Puzzles............................................. B4 Calendar......................................... B5
Subscribers will receive their paper through USPS on the USPS schedule. Subscription orders must be received by 5 pm on Tuesday in order to be included in the following week’s delivery. Starting at $10/month ocalagazette.com/subscribe