Thursday, February 02, 2012

Letter re: including FSDB in S 808 (access to public school grounds)

Dear Senator Norman,
We see you are sponsoring B 808, which we feel is an important bill to bring back the use of public school grounds.
We would like you to add the Florida School of the Deaf & Blind (FSDB) to that SB 808, because they have a over 72 acres of beautiful facilities that the public was able use.

In the 1980s and 90s the grounds, although fenced, were open to the public to use to walk, jog, and take their children over to play on after school hours. They had many nice playgrounds that the neighborhood children could use, as well as a wonderful place for a neighborhood child to learn to ride bikes and roller skate off of public streets. It was only used after 4 pm, when all the teachers had left and campus traffic had left. THere were jogging and exercise stations that had been donated to the school, which the public often used more than the students, who liked to spend their time walking in our neighborhood. FSDB had a fishing pier that over looked the tidal marsh, and the track around the football field was used for jogging. Many took their evening walks on campus because of the beautiful views overlooking the inland water way, and the ability to walk from the neighborhood on the north to the neighborhood on the south.

The FSDB campus is a state treasure that should be enjoyed by all, and should be included, since they serve the same K-12 population as those referred to in the bill. All their facilities are paid for by the Florida taxpayer, and all the terms of your bill would be applied to FSDB, which would give them the same liability protection.

The Jessica Lundsford Act should not interfere with this bill, since it only refers to background checks being done on contractors.

Please AMMEND SB 808 to include FSDB. IT is a public treasure to be shared by all Floridans, who have paid so much for their facilities.

Thank you very much,
Melinda Rakoncay
President,
Nelmar Terrace Neighborhood Association

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