SCW columnist Slats Murphy roams the streets of Seminole, keeping his finger on the pulse of the county.

From Longwood to Oviedo, from one end of Seminole County to another, there is one consistent message rising up from the grass roots:  parents are tired of being bullied and ignored by those who are theoretically public servants but instead rule as very unbenevolent dictators.

The specific dissatisfaction in this case is with members of the Seminole County School Board, whose manner of behavior is in stark contrast to their appearance.

The School Board appears to be a largely matronly group comprised of  grandmotherly types, with avuncular-looking Barry Gainer thrown in for good measure. 

Once they go into action, though, it soon becomes obvious that Grandma has lost her mind, acting as a petulant and spoiled child beyond reason.  Rather than being a caretaker for them, Uncle Barry instead acquiesces to their desires, apparently more concerned with protecting his inheritance than the children attending Seminole County schools.

Grandma, in the collective form of the individual School Board members, is clearly driving this car, as she has for many years, but it is now apparent that her age has caught up with her, rendering her incapable of sitting responsibly behind the wheel.

Victims of her recklessness on the road have recently included families in Longwood whose children currently attend Lake Brantley High School, and families in Oviedo whose children will soon be attending the soon-to-be open Hagerty High School.

For the Longwood group, the issue is where their children will be attending school.  The parents, for a number of reasons, some very legitimate and some admittedly questionable, do not want their children bused cross-county each day to the distant Lyman High School.

For the Oviedo group, the issue is not what school their children will be physically attending, but, rather, what that school will be named.  Rather than rolling over and accepting the School Board's decision to name the school in honor of former County Superintendent Paul Hagerty, the parents want what most schools have:  a name that reflects the particular community in which it is located.

The difference in the parents' disputes comes together in a new awareness of how the School Board operates.  The parents have had their eyes opened and their jaws dropped upon seeing the School Board make arbitrary decisions in violation of their own policies, and then steadfastly refuse to allow reconsideration of those decisions.

Jeanne Morris

The School Board operates as if they are the matriarchs of a family consisting of the residents of Seminole County, who have no choice but to abide by any decree the School Board issues.

Recognizing that Grandma seems to be losing her mind, the parents are now fighting back, asserting their case that Grandma has once again become a child in terms of mental acuity and needs to be in the hands of more responsible caretakers.

As would be expected, Grandma says "Nonsense.  I have been doing this a number of years and know what is best."

Dede Schaffner

Grandma is right about having done this for a number of years.  Sandy Robinson was first elected in 1990, as was Jeanne Morris.  Although Dede Schaffner and Diane Bauer have not served as long, they are also approaching the twilight of their years during which time catches up with the best of us.

There are new challenges facing Seminole County.  The growth of the county, for so many years taken for granted as something good, is now leading to issues and problems never seen here before.

The county needs leadership that recognizes these changes and deals with them, rather than a group of matrons who think they are still living in the good old days.

As has been learned by the parents in Longwood and Oviedo, it is no longer safe to turn a blind eye towards the manueverings of the School Board.

Grandma is recklessly behind the wheel, and it is time to get her out of there before any more innocent children are harmed.

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