My name is Vickie Fulmer and I am here tonight because I feel that my family is being unfairly discriminated against by the District School Board of Pasco County in more ways than one. However, I understand that I have only 3 minutes to speak, so I will address the most pressing situation at this time and that pertains to our son Will Fulmer.

First off, a little background information needs to be given to those that aren’t privy to the Fulmer family dynamics.

Both myself and my husband Jay Fulmer teach for Pasco County schools. Our daughter attends Bayonet Point Middle, and our son has attended Gulf High the last 2 years. My husband was the Head Football coach at Gulf High for 5 years until last August when he was FALSELY accused by 2 coaches at another school of recruiting 2 kids that lived in Gulf High’s attendance zone! He resigned and then he was also indefinitely suspended from coaching by Heather Fiorentino and sent to teach Elementary PE at two different schools. As a result our son was in a dilemma for transportation to and from Gulf High since we live approximately 25 minutes from Gulf.

Therefore, in approximately November, we applied for school choice to Land O’ Lakes H.S. (For transportation reasons) because Jay was driving past LOL HS daily. We were denied and then last week we were denied him attending Fivay High School for the Criminal Justice Academy. We were told many different reasons why depending on WHO we spoke with. Grades (3.3), Core classes are full(Hire more teachers), He’s an athlete (Are all athletes being denied?). He can’t finish the program in 2 years. (Told by Principal at Fivay that he could finish it) Also, Lizette Alexander said to a Board member that was looking into this issue that it was for “Athletic gain!” On what grounds can she say this? Phil Bell called Fivay and asked if any of their coaches had been contacted by the Fulmer’s and they were told “NO!” The bottom line is that our 16-year-son is being denied admittance to the Criminal Justice program at Fivay High
because the district has a personal vendetta against Will’s Dad.

Will has been accepted to an excellent school in another county and could attend there and move in with his grandmother. However, as a family we feel it is more important for the 4 of us to be on the same school schedule and if he attends school in the other county- our breaks & days off would be different. It is also ludicrous that 2 school Bd employees would have to send their son to school in another county. Gulf High is not safe for our son due to mistreatment, bullying, and harassment by staff & students and his lack of respect for the administration there! Hudson is our home school that does not offer Criminal Justice and has been a “D” school for several years.

Lizette never returned any of my e-mails regarding this situation nor would she take my calls or return my calls. Is this how we want our parents treated in this county?

The Board policy, as I understand it, states that if an Academy is not full, then a student should be allowed to attend the school that has the desired program that the student is interested in pursuing.

Therefore, I implore you to not cause the Fulmer family any more unnecessary stress and allow Will to be enrolled immediately into the Criminal Justice program at Fivay High School.

Our family has kept quiet about many issues that take place in the district and now that our son is being targeted, it is time for us to speak up and stop the politics and the sweeping issues under the rug that has been going on for years! I hope you understand my position, and like any good parent, I only want what is best for my child and for him to be treated fairly! Isn’t that what we are trained to do as educators?