Stan Van Gundy Promotes Seminole School Funding
Thursday, September 6, 2012
By: Matthew Peddie

Seminole public schools facing a funding squeeze have a new champion: Stan Van Gundy. The former Orlando Magic coach is leading a Political Action Committee pushing a referendum to increase property tax increase to raise money for schools.

The Citizens for Preservation of Property Values PAC wants a property tax increase of up to one mill- which would generate up to 25 million dollars annually and cost the average property owner about 108 dollars a year.

Committee chair Stan Van Gundy- who has two children in Seminole County public schools- told reporters in a news conference in Altamonte Thursday about the need for the millage increase.

“How did I get to be the chairperson? That was really easy. The rest of them all had jobs," said Van Gundy, who was let go by the Magic earlier this year.  

"I had the most time to devote.”

Van Gundy says unless more money can be found, more cuts could be made to extracurricular programs and AP programs at public schools, and the arts will be affected also.

"These are things that will take Seminole county from one of the premier school districts in Florida- and actually nationwide- to mediocrity. I just can't accept that and I don't think the citizens of this county will accept that either."

The PAC is asking voters to support a referendum for the millage increase on the November ballot.

Meanwhile Seminole schools superintendent Walt Griffin says 750 jobs have already been eliminated, and the board is running out of things to cut.

Van Gundy says he will be fully focused on the committee for the next few months, but when basketball season starts up again he has plans to provide some TV analysis for NBA games.

He says he's missing basketball coaching "a little bit." 

"This is the time of year right after Labor day when generally the whole team's back in town and getting ready to go to work. It's only the second time in 30 years I haven't been busy this time of year."