House education funding bill targets class size, VPK and more

To combat Florida's financial crisis, the House has put forth its proposal to deal with education funding.

It includes a 2 percent cut across the board. That would affect local districts as follows:

• Hernando, $3.03-million
• Hillsborough, $26.7-million
• Pasco, $9.25-million
• Pinellas, $14.8-million

Gov. Crist, meanwhile, has urged lawmakers to cut less and borrow more, the Buzz reports. The Senate's plan is due out tomorrow.

To make their plan work, House leaders aim to amend laws to allow for more flexibility in how districts use their money. For example, the bill would:

• Allow all school districts to use capital improvement money to pay for driver's education and maintenance vehicles, and to cover property and casualty insurance premiums.
• Lessen the penalty for districts that fail to meet the class-size amendment requirements.
• Increase the class size for summer prekindergarten, from 10 children per teacher to 12.
• Not require districts to implement the Merit Award Program for 2008-09.

The bill also would change the way the state handles school district financial emergencies. It sets forth methods for avoiding an emergency, but it also, in the words of Pre-K-12 Appropriations chair Anitere Flores, "creates a stick" for districts that can't find a solution.

Specifically, it would allow the state education commissioner to require districts to reduce all employee salaries (including School Board members') proportionately to ensure that the unreserved general operating fund balance remains at a minimum of 2 percent. For more details, read also the staff analysis of the bill.

During session this morning, lawmakers discussed the possibility of more flexibility in the use of categorical funds, such as money for textbooks. They also heard from members of the public who urged them to consider comprehensive changes to the tax structure.

Rep. Marty Kiar, the Democrats' point man on education in the House, called the bill "an easy no vote," in part because it would again cut per-student funding.

The Senate has some different provisions pending. Flores told her committee that the Senate bill is due to be published tomorrow.

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Comments

[Garry]

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[postpartum blues]

I always believed that our future is built on early intervention. Our children must be given the chance to develop the skills in early childhood programs(VPK) that can prepare them for their future. We must not downgrade with cut backs, let's upgrade with proper funding and resources.

[bushwacked]

So how come we - the voters and citizens - allow these detrimental cuts to education continue? Are we so uneducated that we don't value education? Do we not recognize that education is a necessity, not a luxury? What has happened? Stupid happened.

[Teacher]

3:56 and 3:58, read Reality's post again. I believe you are all on the same side.

Reality, go after the palm tree and median projects, not children and the people that teach them.

Give me a break, Reality. Read the constitution. All children are guaranteed a free, public education. It is in our state constitution. The voters have voted, class size amendment is to be sufficiently funded. We cannot tolerate Jeb Bush politics. Our children deserve better.

[Reality]

Why is it that every time we seek to add a little fiscal responsibility to our government’s operations, it is our children – and thereby our future – that come under attack. What the hell happened to my country? When did we lose control, and more importantly, WHY did we give it up?

This entire situation is a sham. The politicians – as supported by a reprehensibly irresponsible media – intentionally use scare tactics designed to bring about a predetermined and desired response. Blame the Teachers, blame the workers, blame the students… but keep the corrupt fat-cat politicians and their corporate sponsors sipping the Chardonnay and nibbling on the caviar on our dime.

This budget “shortfall” equates to approximately 3.5% of the State’s budget – following an increase in revenue of approximately 75%. On average, government budgets are loaded with no less than 30% pork, waste, and irresponsible spending habits. It is here that cuts are needed; not in education; not in our future!

America is on the verge of total collapse, teetering on the brink of becoming a third-world country veiled with a materialistic façade. All in the interest of corporate profit.

It is not the American worker, it is not the American Teacher, it is not the American unions, it is not the American student… it is the American politician as directed by self-serving special interests that has orchestrated the mess we’ve found ourselves in… and it is a multi-tasking and apathetic electorate that has allowed it to happen by discarding its’ Constitutional right and duty to choose honorable leadership… and moreover, remove dishonorable government that no longer serves the best interest of its’ people.

Your want to blame someone; take a good long look in the freaking mirror – then act! It is your responsibility; it is your duty to your country, its children, and its future.

[Big Man]

I am graduating from USF in December with my Education degree and will be leaving the state. Crist is a clown and so is everyone else associated with cutting education. This state is a joke!

This is sick. Florida does not care about children or our future.

The goal has been to bankrupt the system. That way, we can transfer the public funds into private hands. It’s called treason.

[Fed Up Reading Teacher]

Ok...so cut MAP bonuses.... after they were promised to us. GREAT. Cut our salaries and our bonus. Florida is pitiful. I can't wait to graduate with my second degree and get out of this field.

Cut the ft, not the future!

This is an assult on education. Call and contact your senators. They are not following the constitution. They are trying to bankrupt our system. Go away Jeb Bush! Stop going after teachers and the workforce(page 7).

[terminator]

let the cutting begin.
all the downtown bureacrats are lined up at the feeding trough and waiting to be slopped.
instead the truck to take them to the slaughterhouse just pulled up outside.
party's over boys!
can you hear the chainsaws whizzing yet?
it was a masterful performance in the House K-12 appropriations hearing!

[Mr. Concerned]

Teachers as Billie jean would say fair is fair you must stand up and take your fight to them!!!!!!!!!!!

A 3.5% reduction, following a 75% increase in revenue… being sold as the end of times.

BRILLIANT!

[Andy]

We're going through an attitude readjustment period. Let's face it, all of the bloated budgets throughout our governmental agencies have finally come home to roost. The party is over.

[Anne]

I hope they are voting to reduce their salaries significantly- legislators that is-- How can they expect teachers to keep all the balls in the air if they keep reducing our number of arms??

[Floriduuuh!]

Edjimication!… we don’t need no stinking edjimication! We’ins gots them belegal migrains to cuts da grass, and dem neeegras to washum da food! Now, if’in we can gets dem wimmins to keep acookin da grub and cleanin da house… we’ins is good to go!

Another pay cut?? I'm outta here ASAP!!!
Gone to Georgia...

[Chris Cantwell]

Our government and monetary system do not work for we the people, we the people work for it, as slaves. You'd think by now, with all the information, with all the abundant resources, and all the previous history, that we as a people would be able to be free in the sense of, absence of debt. We pay for food. We pay for water. we pay for power. We pay and labor our entire lives realistically to support an quasi-empirical empire who's only objective, being monetarily based, is PROFIT. Our society is being held back by the amount a time required to sustain any kind of decent quality of life. and for what? to be SAFE? to be Happy? No, to continue to fund a corrupt government that serves corporate interests, not the peoples, it serves profit interests. Wake Up!!! Down here in Bradenton, they just hired a new Superintendent who has never taught in his life, he's a certified public accountant!

[Mr. Concerned]

if our school districts have already made cuts!! all the way down to the classroom door as they say they have and they now face another 2% across the board cut does that mean the classroom door just got kicked in ?

[andrea]

I hope that the legislators do NOT vote in favor of lessening the penalty for districts that fail to meet the class-size amendment requirements. Classrooms are already too large and if we take away this requirement, we are sure to have more stressed out students and teachers and ultimately, a further watering down of education.

[Economist]

This is what happens when you attempt to fund reoccurring expenditures with non-reoccurring revenue source… or… a known with an unknown… or… a consistent with an inconsistent.

Take note all you “sales tax” fanatics!

Here’s an analogy you simps might understand… If a hotdog, chips, and a drink cost $1.50. If you want to eat a hotdog, chips, and a drink, you NEED $1.50.

Last in Education; First in Corruption.

... go figure