Parents, teachers protest boss of Bradford High School graduate

[Dan Hildebran]

Over 200 parents and teachers picketed outside the
Lake County School district office last month to
protest the management and hiring practices of Schools
Superintendent Anna Cowin.

In March, Ms. Cowin hired Bradford High School
graduate Tommy Crosby as the district's Chief
Financial Officer at an annual salary of $107,500.

But protesters focused on the superintendent's other
hires, particularly that of Deputy Superintendent
Elaine Merritt, who worked in Tallahassee with Ms.
Cowin and was granted her job with the school district
after Ms. Cowin, a former state senator, took over the
superintendent's office last November. Teachers were
upset that Ms. Merritt earns over $80,000 a year, but
has no college degree.

Lake County School Board members said they were also
angered that the superintendent gave 22-year-old
Jeremiah Whitson a $6,500, raise, and then made the
increase retroactive to the previous five months. Mr.
Whitson holds a staff position called constituent
officer, and is charged with resolving disputes
between the district and citizens. His new salary
exceeds that of a teacher with 12 years of experience.

Lake County Property Appraiser Ed Havill, who has been
a leader in the protests against Ms. Cowin, said he is
launching a petition drive to ask Governor Jeb Bush to
remove the superintendent from office.

Deh