Ed. overhaul close to Senate OK

A few Senate Democrats including Ted Deutch (left) questioned the need for a proposed constitutional amendment overhauling K-20 education governance, but SB 2308 - a priority of Senate President Ken Pruitt - appears headed for passage in his chamber, based on the lack of spirited debate on the floor just now. It rolled over and is headed to a final vote in coming days.

The bill reinstates an elected education commissioner, shrinks the Board of Governors created in 2002 to oversee universities, created a "college system" for community colleges, and seeks to clarify once and for all that the Legislature - not the BOG - sets tuition.

"If education is of paramount importance in the state of Florida, the person heading up that department, a K-20 system, should be accountable to the people of Florida," said bill sponsor Lisa Carlton. "This resolution does not strip the authority of the BOG to set tuiton. The Board never had that authority. This body has been setting tuition, and guess what? We'll set it again in 2008."