I had been drawing up an overview of the situation to distribute to local churches - but I’ve since started angling it for general public use. I’m going to contact all the science teachers at the schools he is responsible for, and give them a copy, with a request that they provide the information to Dr. Williams, since he has refused to hear it from me.

I’ll be posting an open letter on my website, explaining why I have contacted his teachers. I will also be warning him that public records has provided me with a complete list of his donors in the last election - and my next step will be contacting them with a letter explaining the situation as well as the information I had hoped to cover with him myself. I’ll fax him a copy of the internet letter, which he will hopefully read upon his return.

I did have a phone conference with Dr. Colwell, who said that he wasn’t sure what Dr. Williams might have been referencing, but that he will not be putting together anything for the board regarding the standards. Given that, I can find no good reason for his refusal to meet with me, or his inability to do the research himself. I’m at this time giving him the benefit of the doubt and not questioning (much) how an educated man wouldn’t already have enough background knowledge to be able to give the paper a statement regarding evolution in science classes.

Dr. Colwell also confirmed that Volusia will not be voting to approve the standards, because that’s not the way it works. I’m still interested in exactly why he thought he would be deciding on the issue in the future anyway. Dr. Williams is either deceitful or confused or uninformed - none of which please me in my well-paid elected officials. I doubt he wants me to start contacting his donors - we’ll see if he responds before it gets there.

Firemancarl, I am no longer comfortable meeting with him alone - I want another pair of ears, or I’ll have to get his permission to record our meeting. I’ll make sure any appointments I do make fit your schedule, if you’re still willing. You can e-mail me at karenr@shouldersofgiants.org to exchange contact information or respond privately.

The Florida Baptist Witness had posted an article at http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/8258.article) that begins with a clear deception that is simply NOT FACT. Please note the first 2 paragraphs of the article below. I attended the Jan. 3rd meeting, and the “debate” was anything but “split”. Several of us were keeping a log of the “fors” and “againsts”, and we found the speakers averaged 5-1 FOR the Science Guidelines as written.

It is a shame that this “Christian” organization will stoop to such dishonesty to mislead their own people.
While on the Witness site, I tried to express the truth that I had witnessed. I was not surprised to find that there is no place to comment, or oppose any articles on the site.

To media folks that may be reporting this in the REAL news, the meeting and the speaker’s comments are a matter of public record. Please consult those records.

The beginning 2 paragraphs are below:

“JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—The debate was split at a public hearing in Jacksonville Jan. 3, a meeting scheduled for the public to air questions, comments and concerns regarding the new science standards to be implemented in Florida’s public schools for the next ten years.

Mary Jane Tappen, executive director of Florida’s Office of Math and Science, said she was “thrilled” by the public interest in the new science standards and by the participation of about 200 people present. Forty-eight people had requested time to speak, and all but three actually offered their opinions. …”

Hey folks!! Apparently these “Witnesses” did NOT witness the meeting.
And, if they consider this article “fact”, well… I can understand why they are confused about evolution and science.

How very, very sad.

=P

The superintendent is indeed selected by the board members here. I still haven’t heard from her, but I’ll show up at the office if the next few followups don’t get returned.

Because, you see, the salary for Volusia school board members is $38,067 per year. That’s more than many full time teachers in the county - and it’s an awful lot of money for him to refuse to meet with his constituents. I don’t see that anyone has opted to run against him yet, but I’d sure like to see him turned out this November. This is my county, and that’s my money - he damned well ought to do the job we pay him to do, even the parts he doesn’t like so much.