Independent commission: Gov. Bush's One FL plan working [Jeb's former critics: 'no comment']

AP ^ | June 18, 2002 | VICKIE CHACHERE

[summer]

From AP article, below:

"Committee chairman Bishop Frank Cummings [far right of photo, seated], who heads the
African Methodist Episcopal churches in Florida, said he was at first skeptical about the
plan, but has since realized it has the possibility of working. Cummings was not
a political supporter of Jeb Bush when the governor was elected in 1998."


Independent commission: Gov. Bush's One Florida plan working

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press

TAMPA - A two-year study of Gov. Jeb Bush's One Florida plan for minority college enrollment and state contracting shows the plan is working, but the governor's work is not done, a review committee composed of minorities said Monday.

While the figures show that the percentage of minorities in the state university's freshman class has been nearly unchanged since One Florida went into effect in 2000, the panel pointed to other improvements they say should increase the number of minority college students in the future.

Twice as many minority students are taking pre-college exams, more are taking advanced placement courses in high school and the number of minority graduate students is also on the rise, the committee said.

In the 1999-2000 school year, there were 10,609 minorities among the 28,989 new students in the state university system or 36.6 percent. Last year, there were nearly 11,954 minority students out of 32,589 new students or 36.7 percent.

For minority businesses, the state has more than doubled its spending with those companies since One Florida began, topping $549 million last year, the committee said. Most of that increase was attributable to agencies the governor directly controls.

The 15-member review commission was made up of blacks and Hispanic educators, civic leaders and business people. Bush appointed the panel's chairman and two others, and they appointed the remaining 12 members.

The report comes more than two years after substantial criticism was aimed at the governor's plan to eliminate race as a criteria in college enrollment and state contracting in favor of a program which relied heavily on outreach programs and financial aid.

"It proves every child can learn, it proves all the excuses we heard before are no longer acceptable," Bush said after receiving the report. "I am glad the critics are wrong, because it would be a horrific day in our state if opportunity was limited."

Critics of the governor's plan did not immediately return calls for comment. Concern over One Florida prompted a series of statewide protests, a sit-in by black lawmakers in the governor's office and a massive march on Tallahassee in early 2000.

The group found that achievement gaps still remain that leave some minority students without the same opportunities as white students.

Among those shortcomings: more schools need to offer advanced placement classes to give minority students the same educational background as whites; there need to be more teachers prepared to teach those classes; and better efforts are needed to keep minorities enrolled in college after they are accepted.

The University of Florida, where minority enrollment has declined under One Florida, also remains a concern. Enrollment of black freshmen dropped from a high of 829 students in 2000 to 461 students in 2001.

Bush said he is hoping that trend will reverse itself this year after the university developed better targeted recruitment programs, including one-on-one attention for some minorities who are admitted to the university but are considering going elsewhere.

Committee chairman Bishop Frank Cummings, who heads the African Methodist Episcopal churches in Florida, said he was at first skeptical about the plan, but has since realized it has the possibility of working. Cummings was not a political supporter of the Bush when the governor was elected in 1998.

"I guess overall the negative reaction was overstated," said panel member Don Bowen, president of the Urban League chapter in Broward County.

"I say give it a chance. For the last 10 years, I hadn't heard anyone else come up with any new strategies."

March, 2000: Jesse Jackson in FL, protesting Jeb's One Florida Plan.

June, 2002: "I guess overall the negative reaction was overstated," said panel member Don
Bowen, president of the Urban League chapter in Broward County.
"I say give it a chance. For the last 10 years, I hadn't heard anyone else come
up with any new strategies."

[summer]

From AP article above:

Critics of the governor's plan did not immediately return calls for comment.

Actual translation of the meaning of this particular 'no comment':

"What the heck can we critics say, now that the loudest critics of Gov. Bush's One Florida Plan -- those who served on that truly independent committee, above -- have decided to support One Florida????"

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[Bahbah]

Summer, this is great news. Thank you for keeping us up to date on the Florida situation and the good job that the Bro is doing.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Big ping! (^:

[summer]

Gov. Bush is doing a great job. he has changed hearts and minds in this state. Thanks for your post, Bahbah.

[summer]

he = He

[summer]

bttt

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[E=MC²]

Funny how so called progressives can only propose the same OLD "fixes" to problems that never change the resules (e.g. smaller class size, more taxes for schools, get rid of portables, raise teachers' pay) whereas Jeb's maligned plan is actually working!

[summer]

True, Gov. Bush has been much mailigned -- and yet, he keeps on ticking... Also, I don't like division; I appreciate how Gov. Bush has changed the tone of FL. In fact, FL's future seems a lot brighter, for all, thanks to his leadership....

[summer]

mailigned = maligned

[summer]

FYI. :)

[A CA Guy]

Thanks.

[JulieRNR21]

"I say give it a chance. For the last 10 years, I hadn't heard anyone else come up with any new strategies."

JEB has come up with new strategies to help solve long term problems that Childs ignored. So glad that he's finally getting some recognition....these quotes would be great for a campaign ad!

[summer]

Gov. Bush really deserves a lot more recognition in education than he has received thus far. Thanks for your post, Julie. And, great idea about the ads! :)

[summer]

Statement by Governor Jeb Bush Regarding the One Florida Accountability Commission Report on Equity in Education and Contracting

For Immediate Release
Monday, June 17, 2002

Contact:
Elizabeth Hirst
(850) 488-5394

"Four years ago in Florida we had a tremendous educational achievement gap between minorities and non-minorities, and the number of minority companies doing business with the state had actually declined -- today that has changed. Under the One Florida Initiative we have seen success as the report outlines. I want to thank the Commission for all their work, I know this has been a challenging task and appreciate your service.

"This report shows that we are headed in the right direction. More minority students are preparing to enter college by taking AP classes and the PSAT, and the number of minority students enrolled in the State University System is up. On the contracting side, certified minority business spending is up over 100 percent in just two years. I am especially proud of the fact that most of that success occurred in agencies accountable to the Executive Office of the Governor.

"One Florida policies have proved that attaining diversity need not rely on questionable constitutional set aside or preference programs. We should not rest on this success, but continue to strive to open more doors of opportunity for all of Florida's citizens."

[dalebert]

Thanks for the update. Can hardly wait for Reno to comment. Ha!