When Dr. Smith was hired in 2003, her salary was $155,000.

At that time she was also provided with "an automobile, credit card, personal computer and $15,000 to relocate from Monroe County." Source: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-12-10/news/0312100032_1_monroe-county-new-superintendent-volusia

So, how is that she is earning about $16,000 more ten years later plus the annuity and all the other perks? Where were the School Board Members? Why did they allow this?

Why would this old woman need so much money...does she do drugs or something?

She is old, worn out and overpaid...but she will just keep hanging on like a parasite.

Lets take up a collection for her rocking chair and oxygen tanks

"SB 862 takes away the elected school districts’ power" well we are in volusia county so that's sounding better and better the more I think about it.

If you live in Florida, understand that the parent trigger will only "empower" parents to sign a petition that will give all control of their school away to a corporation, most of which are for profit, so the new bottom line for that school will be dollars, not students. Much better options already exist for parents of children in "failing"schools". Please sign and share this petition with everyone you know in Florida. You may also want to contact your area state legislators this weekend and let them know you do not support this bill. Thank you!

http://democracyforamerica.com/petitions/88-stop-parent-trigger-legislation?akid=2911.1755614.0X6dnU&rd=1&t=2

PLEASE tell me that this school board doesn't pay by the call when they make the mass robo-calls. I just received a call saying that my child was not in school today. They didn't just make 60,000 calls, did they?

They truly have no clue. Schmidt is basically admitting he can't live up to his elected responsibilities. Costello says her husband went without a paycheck to keep his employees, but doesn't mention his and her tax payer funded positions. Maybe if you guys would treat your positions with the responsibilities they demanded we the people would not be so upset. So, is Linda going to ask 25,000 friend to help the 500 employees that are being ousted? No word yet on whether or not privatization will include and huge scale back on Tyssinger's salary and budget, as well as his minions and supervisors who will become useless once a private company take over.

If you have a few minutes, the following are .mp3 audio snippets taken from the school board meeting held on February 12th, 2013. This is the meeting that included the school board member vote on whether or not to turn their backs on 500 families.

Copy and paste the link below into your browser's address bar and hit enter.

Board member Stan Schmidt jokes about goofing off in the time leading up to this meeting and because he is a CPA.. how they won't see him again until after tax time.

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/schmidt.mp3

Next up we have Linda Costello in an embarrassing and rambling attempt to relate to the little people because she had a friend once that lost her job, and then something about her husband's business.

http://ourvolusiaschools.org/costello.mp3

I'll save further commentary, LISTEN FOR YOURSELF, and decide!

As I live in her district I can attest to the fact that Mrs. Costello is no different than the ousted Conte. Several emails sent directly to her office, with follow up snail mail, in regards to problems with our schools get ZERO response. Why did she run anyway?

Good points.

Should these school board members FOOLISHLY think that this is some kind of a flash-in-the-pan temporary activism, they need to wake up or they will be replaced in their next bid for re-election.

We know the old guard, newly elected Costello is an absolute disappointment. One and done, Mrs. Costello. Mrs. Ida Wright has shown some backbone.. and I'm optimistic about her right now.

I hope she stays away from anything that they offer her to drink.

We are climbing a hill right now because this school board frightens people that work there, but it is only a matter of time before we reach the top and then it is all going to start crumbling for them as good and decent people start speaking up without fear.

They CANNOT and WILL NOT continue to treat people this way.

There is interest and there is concern about what is happening to our schools. Here is a sampling of search terms that have been entered into Google that deliver folks to FIREMARGARETSMITH.COM - it is not a complete list, and these are not singular entries.

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The time for Margaret Smith to depart has long passed. Whatever positive change she was once capable of has evaporated. She has surrounded herself with cronies and a spineless school board that allows her to run rampant. She feels quite comfortable in her position,too comfortable; the level of which only comes with being in one position too long, being surrounded by yes men and women, and building a power base. Her salary and benefits are outrageous, while she cuts others positions and outsources jobs no less. She is incapable of listening to ideas other then her own. She runs the school system like a dictatorship with fear. She is ineffective as she ignores state law and allows the district to drop from A status to C. She has got to go. Nothing personal. No cheap shots about her looks. It's about the children and their education. New leadership is desperately needed and that includes the school board. Superintendent Smith doesn't do anything that the school board doesn't support. If you replace the superintendent but have the same school board(and yes Costello might as well be Conte)you will get the same result you already have. Sign the petition, lobby current school board members heavily. The need for the school board to make a public statement supporting the superintendent is the beginning of the end for her. Keep their feet to the fire.

SMITH, VCSB, ADMINISTRATOR'S AND COORDINATORS all of them need to go for the most part they all cheat the system!!! A lot of money is wasted on them going to Conference"s and unnessary meetings. They all make big bucks they have no idea what it means to STRUGGLE to make ends meet live from paycheck to paycheck. The SUPPORT STAFF OF VCS do all the work, the TEACHERS teach the students while the higher up gets the POWER AND THE MONEY!! The higher up also have their favorites they take care of regardless how much OR HOW LESS THEY DO!!!!! It's time for us that work hard that have good work ethics that CARE about our students SPEAK UP and DO IT NOW. Our jobs are MORE important than theirs!!!!

oh they WILL and they do retaliate if you question them while you work there. she is one mean and nasty and despicable person for allowing it to happen or giving orders for it to happen. it does happen.

And just a sample of comments that have come in through email from folks whose comments won't make it onto the petition for one reason or another (no longer living in Volusia County, FEAR OF RETALIATION etc.):

"I am a former teacher and resident of Volusia County but have recently moved. This school system has lost it's core mission... grooming children to be productive citizens. Very sad."

..and:

"I also work for the school board and I had to add my spouse to my insurance. I pay over 1,000.00 a month now. It is ridiculous. I work full time and bring home less than 700.00 a month! And yet Margaret Smith is double dipping and she can add her husband to her insurance for ZER0 dollars? How is that fair???"

..and:

"Most teachers are afraid to sign this petition. I am being very honest with you. I am not, I will file a suit if they try to retaliate"

..and:

"I thoroughly believe that Margaret Smith has her own agenda and the best for the students only comes after the betterment of herself."

..and:

"Do we need a school board? .. it is not working anymore, and is closed to constructive ideas from parents (i.e. taxpayers). The school board is an idea that should go the way of the horse and buggy. Maybe the voters of Volusia County should vote "yea" or "nay" on keeping a school board. If we are to keep a school board, then the powers that be in Tallahassee should vote to allow each school board member $100 per meeting and nothing more."

..and:

I agree with your position, but I also believe that the Volusia County School system needs serious attention, from the administration up.This is why: Volusia County has one of the highest school related property taxes in the state. Volusia County is close to the bottom in pay for 'classroom' teachers. The balance must be going to the high paid administrators we have. Volusia County Schools are top heavy in 'administration' employees. The present school board does not want to rock the boat, because drastic measures might make them unpopular. More teachers in the class room and less administration. If the present school board does not grasp this concept, get rid of them all. The decisions being made for budget cuts, are being made by the people making the most money, not the teachers or facilities and maintenance workers that are being asked to cut the most.

Isn't this a lot like letting the fox guard the henhouse?"

..and:

This is long overdue. I need to know how I can further this project? I am confident that my position will soon dry up just like the custodial "units" (Not even people)."

Believe me, there is MUCH more.

ARE YOU LISTENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS?

Just found it.

What is the website to sign the petition?

Just a couple of recent comments (and there are a lot!) left by folks signing the petition:

"Smith has no vision of how to educate our children, she has rebuffed any and all opposition to her ways. She continues to nickel and dime our teachers while raping us in salary and perks. This woman is out of touch and if Volusia County schools have even a shot to rebound it will NOT be under her leadership. While I have children still in public elementary schools, my older sons were sent to FLCH"

"I have watched the dismantling of the school system under the leadership of Dr. Smith. Morale is poor at best and it is my intention to use up every dime of time guaranteed to me upon hire before it is thieved from me. When the mill came up for a vote, my mom, a retired teach voted against it...why?.. because so many people in this community believe the money would have just been wasted."

Get rid of OVERPAID government officials

This woman is old, ugly and overpaid like so many rotten government people

Cut her salary by two thirds and make her get a face transplant

I love that the truth is coming out ! Would like to see these people pulling in this much per year teach a day in the class room! The top dogs make all the cuts, changes and decisions but couldn't do a teacher's job. This I know.

I love that the truth is coming out ! Would like to see these people pulling in this much per year teach a day in the class room! The top dogs make all the cuts, changes and decisions but couldn't do a teacher's job. This I know.

I love that the truth is coming out ! Would like to see these people pulling in this much per year teach a day in the class room!

buddyroe what in the world were you doing hanging out in bathrooms?

Involved Parent - I too (along with my wife, the lovely and gracious Mrs. Abby Afterwit) are involved parents. Very involved. My 12 year old sons middle school principal knows us by name, because we are at so many events. My oldest son has teachers asking about us because we are so involved.

Don't assume that you are better than us, assume we have higher standards than you do.

We don't really see our childrens schools as failures, we see the entire public school system as a failure.

The responsibility is at the top.

Unless you are the President of the United States, you can't blame someone else for your failure (well neither should he but the media lets him get away with it).

The best part is, with all that money (and supposed education), go ask them who they work for.

I did, I got answers like "the county", "the school board", "the state", etc.(I also ask teachers this all the time, same type of answers.)

I always look them square in the eye and say "Wrong, you work for me."

They never understand.

To "Involved Parent" there is no question that there are parents who are not involved in their son or daughter's education. I am a parent of 3 kids who attend Volusia County schools. My wife & I are very involved in teaching our kids. We teach them so they can be competitive with other students but also to prepare them for when they look for a job. It is frustrating to see so many kids not knowing the basics! It is the responsibility of the School Board, the superintendent and the teachers to teach our kids to know the basics. If that is not done and we see a continual slide in educational performance, someone needs to explain why this is so. It is incumbent upon Ms. Smith to address this to us! We are the bosses. We are the taxpayers. We want answers. If she is not willing to address this, she must go!

I for one am glad the janitorial staff is getting what they deserve, a chance to work for a living instead of playing games in the bathroom, or driving around and around the DAC complex when they should be working....

Search "The Dark Intentions of Public Education" and "The Deliberate Dumbing Down of Students"

M Smith and the VCSB are doing exactly what they have been trained to do in running the Education system in Volusia Co. That's why the Federal Gov't is involved in local education.

Also search "The War On Kids". It is by design. Search Charlotte Iserbyt, she took part in the design as it goes back a century at least. The kids are dumber by design, M Smith knows **** well.

"It reminds me of the village people waving pitch forks and torches going after Frankenstein"

Well I can see the comparison, this story does include a photo, after all.

Pssst.. "Involved Parent", maybe you didn't get the the memo but Superintendent Margaret Smith has been attacking and taking away school-based management for a number of years, because.. well you know.. she knows better than the Principals at the schools on how to best run THEIR school.

It becomes increasingly difficult to work with the local school when they have been stripped of their ability to make sound decisions, no?

We are not a mob, we are a movement.

I just can't believe the mob mentality on this blog. It reminds me of the village people waving pitch forks and torches going after Frankenstein. If all of you would just put your focus and efforts on working with your child's local schools instead of throwing stones at Dr. Smith, then maybe you will see change. If you see schools as a dismal failure, then you are also part of the problem. Stop dropping your kids off at the school doors and expect the schools to be nursemaids, mother and father to your children. There is considerable evidence that some the fault lies with parents who take little interest in their children's school work.

Can we also get rid of Tyssinger, his gang, and the culture of waste and bullying that the Maintenance Department has become? Was at my daughter's school today...watched the Grounds Guys from Trailer 718 sit around for 2 hours doing nothing until they saw me watching and took off on lawn mowers, went back at 3pm, school still looks awful with weeds everywhere, would contact Costello, but from previous experience she does not respond...it's like we never voted out Conte.

Are you kidding me?

I am flabergasted that the Superintendent (and her gang) make that much money!(and that was 2010)...and why is there a need for 3 deputy and 3 area superintendents?...since they don't seem to be making any improvements in the school system, except to line their own pockets.

The teachers still make pee-on wages and work much harder than the pencil pushers on the school board. I say they all go and put a new fresh team in there who are willing to take a pay cut to give the teachers a raise and really make some changes!

My two boys graduated from that system over 7 and 10 years ago. It was a lousy system then and even worse now.

The bad attitude trickles all the way down to the office workers. Unless your in the "click", and/or an alumni, you get very little help with concern for your students needs.

Clean house and begin with all new people who care and want to do real work!

morton "FINEmargaretsmith.com" is still available. :)

Why would someone pay an old ugly grandma that much money.

She is uglier than Pat Northey....both make too much money for what they do.

She should be fined $200 per day for being that ugly, her face is a visual pollution issue that needs to be addressed

I had no idea you could get a PhD from a box of Cracker Jacks until now.

FIRED? She should be in jail. She's been robbing her employees and taxpayers for years. If there wasn't such a misappropriation of funds in the district no one would lose their job. And when it comes to job cuts, how about starting at the top where all the over-paid deadwood is, not at the bottom where the back-bone employee is already trying to make ends meet on their pittance of a salary. Cut the roots, the tree dies. Remove the foundation, the building collapses. Who are all these Administrators going to administer if she keeps firing the people who are actually doing the work? And SHE's and educator?!?! Hopefully karma will rear its head in her direction, and the useless board members she sleeps with, SOON!!!

We the taxpayers will be paying the fine, ie tax for the incompetency of Margaret Smith and the School Board. I to signed the petition. With 3 kids in this school system, I like a lot of parents are more than concerned about how the schools are run. My wife and I have taught our kids the basics and more. Mrs. Smith could care less. She needs to go!

Look at what she cost the tax payers this year alone. She created TOA positions and took teachers out of the classroom. She is paying them millions this year and they do NOT teach children. Then we do not have enough classroom teachers to meet class size and get fined several million by the state.

For those that have questioned the amount of salary, here is what I have, which I received from VCSB for FY 2009/2010:

Dr. Smith $171,665.00, plus benefits for a total of $245,792.38

C.C. (Deptuy Superintendent) $127,957, plus benefits total $158,972.09, plus Drop - 20% Six Leave payment of $14,025.09

T.H. (Deputy Superintendent): $88,505.68, plus benefits total $113,868.51, plus "Terminal Leave Pay $33,498.17

R.M. (Deputy Superintedent) $127,957.00 plus benefits - Total $161,378.84

M.K (Area Superintendent) $118,205.00 plus benefits & bonus total $148,583.83, plus "Terminal Leave" of $105,229.63

L.M. (Area Superintedent) $116,205.00 plus benefits total $137,906.71, plus "Terminal Leave $5,769.21.

S.W. (Area Superintendent) $116,205.00, plus benefits total $145,733.07, Plus (Drop 20% Sick Leave Payment of $16,963.64.

That is just Superintendents in Volusia County for the 2009/2010 Fiscal Year which total $1,287.721.08!

If she is fired, maybe she can apply for the City Manager's position with Deltona.

If you support this effort Please go to web site WWW.firemargaretsmith.com and show your support it will take all of us to change this tide! Thanks for all your help OUR children need us!

As long as we are getting rid of the good ole boy network let’s not forgot about Pork Barrel Patty who is fighting against the development of west volusia.

The only time you hear anything about growth and development from Northy is during election time

Smith needed to be fired long ago. And then hopefully taxpayers can see how poorly the system has been run. After that, James Dineen needs to get the boot as well for his mismanagement of the County. These good ole boy networks have to go.

I agree totally. She should have been fired long ago. She has done NOTHING but line her own pockets and those of her "favored few". She does NOT have the best interest of students nor teachers in mind and is only doing things that will under mind the attempt to educate our students. Her interest lies with her own salary and those of her upper management staff. She and her whole "crew" are the laughing stock of the district. It would be in the best interest of the county to get rid of her NOW!!! School Board, are you listening. The majority of comments support her dismissal. NOW!!!

The Beacon should get a West Volusia Pulitzer for this piece. It would be good to see more of these stories in the Beacon. Remember the school boards solution for the 1 year $2.8 million fine was to hire new teachers, benefits and staff to the tune of $7 million a year until they all die. The class size regulations have been known for years. Leadership has to take responsibility for their own action or inaction.

amen!!!! WHEN IS THIS GONNA HAPPEN? SOON I HOPE!!!!!!!

hey kudatz

sure, with her getting only 9 paid holidays or so, a light summer schedule, 2 weeks while shut down at christmas, a week for spring break while they shut down, 20 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 6 personal leave days in which to do so, she is surely under a lot of stress while trying to figure out how she's going to put bread on the table.

I'm on board... and come next election of school board members I'll be voting for someone new!!!!

I agree, she should be fired. I have a 17 year old in the Volusia County school system and it's a joke. The schools do not care about our children "AT ALL". My child is not doing well and I do not forsee him graduating. I have gone to the school administation for help so many times and the only answers they give me each time is, maybe you should look for other options outside of public school system. HELP! I remember when the schools cared and assisted parents and students when they were struggling. I have noticed too many times, that when a child is struggling in school, they just want to get rid of them. I believe because the child is bringing down their numbers. I have personnally witnessed this at least seventeen times this year alone. For those parents with children in the Volusia County School system, no need to ask for help because there is none. The school system does not care! We need someone in charge that will be there for our children and not there just for the pay check.

I agree Dr. Smith does need to be FIRED. Instead the backbone of the school system is hit hard because of her big paycheck along with others. Promotions are given to certain individuals but no raises because there is NO MONEY. go figure............ Then the school board needs to be looked at next.

Superintendent Margaret Smith’s salary is currently $171,665.00 per year. She can be paid a performance bonus of almost 10 percent of her salary, or $17,166.50 per year. It would be interesting to see how much in performance bonuses she has received, and we will.

She also receives an annual vehicle allowance of around $7,800. Unless something has changed, I've not seen her drive anything but a School Board vehicle. Maybe this has indeed changed, but if not they are paying her to drive a taxpayer funded vehicle?

The double dipper also gets about $22,000 a year put toward her retirement.

An additional $25,000 in "deferred" compensation is put into a tax sheltered annuity. Since it is deferred, the School Board does not, of course, include it when mentioning her pay.

The School Board also pays roughly $13,000 per year for Smith’s health insurance, nearly $600.00 for her dental insurance, and over $1,500 for her disability insurance.

The question is obvious, are WE getting our money's worth?

Grammer Gary, wow!

She should get minimum wage and be forced to do overtime as a janitor.

Then make her shop at WAL MART and eat at Mac Donalds

remember this MLK quote? nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

or maybe you are sleep walking and need to go back to bed, gary.

I think she is doing a great job, And i hope she continues has the head of our school.All everyone is worried about is they want too close BOSTON SCHOOL. Which i agree they should. They have not had a passing grade since they open. Mrs.Smith Keep up the good work....

all i know is that if the school board members don't listen this time, it is time for a serious push for term limits. they better start listening.

What took so long?? This should have been done along time ago

I just learned from that website that she gets an extra 25K a year as some kind of deferred compensation, no one ever talks about this money when I read about how much she makes! Top heavy, top heavy, and I say it again, TOP HEAVY! CLEAN HOUSE!!!!

Delander, www.firemargaretsmith.com! I wish them nothing but success!

It's about time!! Some people will say, "it's not all her fault"....to them I say that since she is the captain of the sinking ship she should be held liable, responsible, and accountable. And by that I mean FIRED. I will sign any petition that gets rid of Margaret Smith.

I think She should get a raise and a extra 2 weeks of Vacation.

Amen Finally Someone has the courage to come forward and say enough is enough! get rid of her! this is way overdue wake up Elected School board Officials your next!!!

There is nothing that gets me motivated more than good old fashioned grass roots activism, I have signed your petition and best of luck, this is long overdue!