SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
The group opposing Seminole County's ballot tax referendum for schools is irate with the school district for allowing a video message in favor of the tax to parents at a school open house.
The video was made by former Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy and presented at an open house at Lake Mary High School where his daughter attends. Becky Erwin, with NoSeminoleTaxHike.com, says allowing the message was wrong.
"These are not Stan's schools, these are taxpayer schools, and for him to go in and use taxpayer resources, and taxpayer equipment really is not appropriate and I believe it violates school policy."
Erwin said she wants to now speak at her daughter's school on Open House Night, but has been told no by the superintendent.
"To his credit, he says he was not aware that this had happened, and was going to go forward and let the principals in the district know that campaigning on school property using school and taxpayer resources is not proper."
Van Gundy's video addressed the importance of an upcoming referendum that asks Seminole County voters to raise their own property taxes by as much as one mill, or about $200 a year for the average home, and give it to the school system of operations. Erwin says keep that kind of talk off campus.
"The parents that were there last Thursday night at Lake Mary High School for the open house, were there to meet the teachers and to go into the classrooms, not be subjected to campaigning."
A person working for the group promoting the tax said Van Gundy was very careful in his video message not to use any kind of language like "vote for," or other key words, that would make the video message a violation of the law. This person said Van Gundy was simply asked to speak at his daughter's school, before he even became involved with promoting the tax, and simply did what he was asked.
