The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 56

B2-Th Post, Tuesday, September 21, 1982 JLocal News Post Raises Questions About Survey of Teachers survey cost them the election. -School Directory Basis for Paper's Poll-i When contacted about the results of The Post's tele phone survey, Covington and Ms. Miller said ihey would seek legal counsel as a first step toward bringing a possible suit against the Martin County Education Associabn. "I feel like what they did cost me the election," STUART The Post's survey of Martin County schoolteachers to determine how many responded to a union survey of incumbent School Board members' performance was conducted by telephone after school hours in all but three cases. Using the 1981-82 Martin County school directory, the same used by the Martin County Education Association for its post card survey, four reporters telephoned teachers at their homes between the hours of 3:30 and 9:15 p.m.

Teachers were asked two questions: Had they received a post card from the teachers' union asking them to rate the performance of two incumbent School Board candidates and if they had, had they sent the card back. Teachers were not asked how they rated the candidates or their opinion of the union poll. Three teachers were contacted during school hours by a reporter researching a separate but related mat ter. A fourth teacher was called by a reporter during school hours She returned the call the day the survey was started. All other calls were made after school hours.

The Post survey revealed the following: 126 teachers said they received a rating card and returned it. 103 said they received a card but did not return it. 70 said they never received a rating card. 29 said they would not answer the questions or couldn't remember. Teachers who were not included in the poll were those whose names were not in the 1981-82 directory, whose phones were out of order or disconnected, who were not home, or whose lines were busy more than two times.

The residences of those who responded to the poll in general were called only once. By Chris Kelly VV STUART A recent post card survey of Martin County teachers by the local teachers union, which incumbent School Board members Norma Miller and Charles Covington said caused them to lose the Sept. 7 election, is "inaccurate, according to an Independent sucvey of teach-enrby The Post. Four Post reporters contacted 328 Martin County teachers and asked them if they received and returned a post card sent by the union to rate the two candidates. Fewer than half said they had returned such a card.

Judy Burgess, president of the Martin County Education Association, claimed in the union's official publication Chalk Talk, that 78 percent or 406 of the 521 cards mailed to Martin County schoolteachers were returned. She said only 115 of the cards mailed were not returned. Of the 328 teachers Post reporters contacted in all but three cases by phone 173 said they either never received a card or received one and did not mail it back. A total of 126 teachers questioned by reporters said they returned the rating card. Ms.

Burgess said yesterday she would stand by the union's survey figures and claimed The Post figures "couldn't be accurate." She said a history of intimidation by some school "'system officials would have made teachers hesitant to respond candidly to The Posts poll. The Post asked teachers two questions: "Did you receive a post card from the teachers union asking you to rate two board candidatesincumbents?" and "If so, did you return the card?" A union official said yesterday the post cards from the afijuial survey have been destroyed. IrThe main problem is people were frightened said. "They were put on the spot (by reporters' know which ones I'll take. It all depends on when l.talk to some other people." i Covington said legal action "def initely'f was an option "because I feel I lost the election becaus of this." "I'm absolutely shocked the union would do something like this to deliberately get somebody out of office," Ms.

Miller said. "I really do feel that had a lot to do with it, if it wasn't the topmost thing that caused me to lose the election, a "I'm going to have to, see an attorney." The Post survey was conducted to determine If the number of cards union officials claim were sent back were actually returned. Ms. Burgess was critical of the telephone survey. She claimed she received reports from teachers that reporters called late at night, that four teachers asked for additional information concerning the survey but were not answered, and that in some cases, respondents other than teachers answered the questions.

She said teachers may have been confused by reporters' questions because they had been asked since the poll was conducted to sign three separate post card petitions to halt a proposed tuition tax credit. Those cards, unlike the candidate report card which was sent to teachers' homes, were hand-delivered and collected at each school. 4p) Barbara Logan, a union official, said the post cards from the School Board incumbent survey were kept for more than six weeks but have been thrown out. tures. According to figures released at that time by the union, Covington received a satisfactory or above average rating from only 6 percent of the respondents.

A total of 379 teachers for 93 percent of the 406 cards the union says were returned gave him an unsatisfactory job rating. Ms. Miller received an unsatisfactory rating from 76 percent, or 310 of those teachers the union said returned the cards. A total of 96 gave her a satisfactory or above approval rating. The Post reported the union figures along with comments from Ms.

Miller and Covington in an Aug. 24 story. Both board members said the union questions). People are still frightened because it's still the same board members there now." She said with about 200 people not on continuing contracts, "I can't imagine how you could get a proper poll. "Teachers are extremely careful what they say and who they say it to.

Teachers are hired and fired by what, they say," she said. The union post card, which was mailed to teachers prior to the election, listed the names of both board members. Teachers were asked to rate the two incumbents as excellent, satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Space was provided for additional comments but none for signa Hernando Man Gets County 3 Years for Pot Trafficking I ONE-ON-ONE Elliot John-son and Rivers staged a basketball ballet as they faced off on a court. 'Johnson, playing without a shirt, took on Rivers at Jo- seph Reed i1 Park in Hobe Sound.

iH Pholt by Stivt Crowlty V. By Ken McKinnon Staff writer OKEECHOBEE A 31-year-old Hernando County man was sentenced to a minimum mandatory three-year prison term for marijuana trafficking yesterday. Circuit Judge G. Kendall Sharp sentenced David Winston Sickler to the three-year term despite Chief Assistant State tty. Bruce Col-ton's claim that Sickler cooperated with law enforcement officials in the arrest of 12 other men in an alleged statewide drug smuggling ring, Sickler was arrested March 20 at his Ridge Manor home near Brooksville.

He was charged with Robert (Sonny) Hullett in connection with an alleged marijuana smuggling attempt Jan. 10 on the Appaloosa Acres' airstrip, where a plane crashed and later was intentionally burned, according to deputies. Hullett and Sickler were hospitalized with serious injuries the day of the crash. They told doctors and deputies they were beaten by five or six Mexicans while hitchhiking. Colton said the investigation into the Jan.

10 smuggling attempt led to the arrest of 12 Okee chobee, Fort Pierce and Broward County men and revealed a large-scale marijuana and cocaine trafficking operation. i Sharp yesterday scheduled the trials of those men for Dec. 7. Hullett has pleaded guilty to marijuana trafficking but has not been said he is cooperatlngflthr law' elor'cement officials in tie-other drug cases. In other Circuit Court action yesterday 'Miguel Valdez Perdomo and Orlando G.

Hernandez were released from jail, given five-year probation terms and told to pay $50 a month (o Raulerson Memorial Hospital for medical for Austin Vazquez. Perdomo and Hernandez pleaded no contest to aggravated battery in connection with the April stabbing of Vazquez. Perdomo and Hernandez have been in the County Jail since thir arrest April 29. Sharp sentenced Earnest Lamont Austin, 23, to two years probation for the June 2 burglary of an Okeechobee home. Sharp also ordered Austin to repay the home's owner $250 for damages to the house.

uitw ft 9 NO. 766348 Toughlove Support Group Provides Help to Parents With Problem Teens Datebook NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THE BUDGET Town of Jupiter will receive an estimated $300,508 from the Local Government Half-cent Sales Tax for the upcoming budget year. Toughlove, a self-help parent sup-. group, holds meetings in Martin for parents troubled by their teenager's behavior in school, with the family and involvement with drugs and alcohol or with the law. The Toughlove program deals with stresses and strains on families, helps parents learn to use community re- sources and will help parents develop the strength to give young people firm, selective and loving support.

'For information, call Sally or Don Whitehouse at 335-5938 or Cathy Gale rt at 283-9597. The group meets at 7:30 Mondays at Martin County High Members of the Port St. Lucie chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons will get tips on what to do if a disaster hits this area when they resume their monthly meetings Phil Rodi, St. Lucie County disaster preparedness chief, will discuss what to do during a hurricane or other disaster and will show a film on the effects of a hurricane and the dangers v.it oan pose to life and property, i The 1 p.m. meeting will be at the Community Center.

The YMCA Indian River Newcomers Club meets at 10 a.m. today at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Port Salerno with John Read, vice president of the Martin County Orchid Society, as the guest speaker. For more information, call Jean McCormick at ter on Flagler Avenue. The classes, which are open to beginning, intermediate and advanced players, started yesterday at the tennis courts located at Georgia Avenue and Stypmann Boulevard, adjacent to Stuart Middle School.

The adult program will include eight lessons in a four-week period for $20. The youth program will include four lessons in a four-week period for $9. For information, contact Robert Dent at 287-3445. A sing-along will be held at the Stuart Recreation Center on Flagler Avenue at 7 p.m. Thursdays.

Those who play musical instruments are asked to bring them to the center. Song books will be available. For information, contact Robert Dent at 287-3445. A new program for nurses will be offered at the Jensen Beach campus of Florida Institute of Technology. The program enables registered nurses who are graduates of associate degree programs or diploma schools of nursing to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing science on a parttime basis.

The classes, offered at times to accommodate work schedules when possible, will be held in the late afternoon or early evening. The nursing program is expected to begin with the January term. In the meantime, a whole range of prerequisite and required general education courses will be offered in the fall quarter, starting Monday. For information, call 334-4200 and ask for the admissions office. i.

)'0 The Civitan Club is having a gourmet dinner 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Women's Club on East Ocean Boulevard in Stuart. The donation is $10 per person. For more information and tickets, call Sue Dougherty at 283-9915 or in the evening, at 334-4411. Bus transportation for the schools will be the topic Wednesday when the Martin County Council PTA meets at 7:30 p.m.

in the Stuart Middle School cafetorium. The discussion will range from the qualifications required to become a driver to bus stops, bus safety and pickup times. A question-and-answer period will follow. A panel including Dr. Clifford Rollins, assistant superintendent for facilities and operations; Marty Terra, supervisor of plant safety and operations; Willie Smith, route specialist; three lead bus drivers, and Steele Ritter, representing the Florida Highway Patrol, will answer questions.

A free seniors' fitness class, sponsored by the Indian River Community College and the Council on Aging, will be held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday a.m. in the Log Cabin in Jensen Beach. The program is open to everyone. Registration for tennis lessons is being held at the Stuart Recreation Cen State law requires $120,203 to be used for PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION. Of the remainder, Town of Jupiter proposes to use $180,305 for ENHANCED PUBLIC SERVICES.

Smuggling Suspects Held in Jail All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing to be held on September 24, 1982 at 7:30 pJm. in the Jupiter Area News lownhall, 210 South Perry Avenue, Jupiter, Fla. '1 Roger L. Byrd Port St. Lucie Funeral Home.

Funeral today. Matheson, Roth 66, of 902 Florida Fort Pierce. Yates Funeral Home, Fort Pierce. Funeral Wednesday. Rogers, Susan 79, of 3318 Orange Fort Pierce.

Baird Funeral Home, Fort Pierce. Funeral today. A DECISION on the use of these monies will be made at STUART Five men who were arrested over the weekend on drug smuggling charges remain in the Martin County Jail, unable to post bonds of $100,000 each. Sheriff's deputies yesterday burned all but about eight bales of the 5 tons of marijuana they seized following a chase and exchange of gunfire off the St. Lucie Inlet Saturday night.

It. Skip Heckendorn said yesterday that investigators took the marijuana to Vero Beach where it was burned. The eight bales retained will be used as evidence if the nien demand trial. Charged with trafficking in marijuana are Douglas Alan Adams, Milton DeSoto, Michael Lee Wade, John Wade and Marcos Ramirez, all of Miami. Crash Victim Suspect in Burglary STUART Billy Dupree, 20, of 1027 E.

Hall who died Sunday when the van he was riding in ran off Hale Dairy Road near Indiantown and rolled over, had faced trial as a burglary suspect. According to Detective Merv Waldron, Dupree had been scheduled to stand trial on burglary charges next jnonth. Dupree was arrested Aug. 10 for the July 26 burglary of a home on Arapaho Street. this hearing.

Movie Clock Jean Beck rt it Town Clerk .1. FORT PIERCE Centre West Theatre "Pink Floyd the Wall," 6:45, 9 Centre West Theatre II: "An Officer and a Gentleman," 7, 9:15 Fort Pierce Drive-In: "Private Lessons," "Paradise," 8 Sunrise Theatre: "Night Shift," 7:15, 9:15 Village Theatre "Poltergeist," 7, 9:15 Village Theatre II: "E.T.," 7, 9:30 OKEECHOBEE Brahman Theatre: "Zapped," 7, 9 Skylake Twin "Murder in 3," "Blood Fingers," 8 Skylake Twin II: "Poltergeist," "Cannery Row," 8 l1 IT Area Deaths ish: September 21, 1982 'itir Kuceh, Robert 73, of 120 Estia Lane, Port St. Lucie..