Ideas from FREEPers NEEDED: How can Florida pay for this expensive Class Size Amendment? (HELP!)

FREEPers everywhere ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

AMENDMENT 9

ARTICLE IX, SECTION 1

Section 1. Public Education.-

The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require. To assure that children attending public schools obtain a high quality education, the legislature shall make adequate provision to ensure that, by the beginning of the 2010 school year, there are a sufficient number of classrooms so that:

1. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 does not exceed 18 students;

2. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 does not exceed 22 students; and

3. The maximum number of students who are assigned to each teacher who is teaching in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 does not exceed 25 students.

The class size requirements of this subsection do not apply to extracurricular classes. Payment of the costs associated with reducing class size to meet these requirements is the responsibility of the state and not of local school districts. Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the legislature shall provide sufficient funds to reduce the average number of students in each classroom by at least two students per year until the maximum number of students per classroom does not exceed the requirements of this subsection.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The voters of Florida approved this amendment. (Hey, they were smart about Jeb! but really really short-sighted about this...)

This is projected to cost 22 BILLION dollars.

Any ideas on how to raise enough $$ for this? Honestly, put 'em down, and we'll email them to JEB!. He now has this as a challenging opportunity. He'd prefer NOT to have thousands of portable classrooms all over....this is a real problem.

Alternatively, if you have an idea how to create an atmosphere where this amendment could be stricken down, bring that on too.

[KQQL]

TAX HIKE !!!!!!

[Lunatic Fringe]

Legalize casino gambling.

[kapj]

Vouchers are cheaper than new schools. Reduce classroon size by removing students to voucher schools. I believe that is what JEB has in mind.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Legalize casino gambling, tax the casinos at 15% of their take. The tourism business in Florida will boom, plus you could have sports books in the Bermuda Triangle of college football.

[Registered]

Well?

[HEY4QDEMS]

Kick illegal aliens out!!!

[Alta Mura]

It is not a duty of the state.

Charter schools first, than waive taxes on schools, and on parents sending kids to schools.

Stop tax funded schools.

Stand back and watch 'em grow!

[nicmarlo]

Bookmark; initial thought.....how about recruiting volunteers (retired teachers, for example, at a lower cost than otherwise?). Will read article later and try to give better idea.

[try phecta tom]

Simple, Jeb says it costs too much, push for vouchers, get vouchers, use vouchers, people yank their kids from gubberment schools, BINGO smaller class size.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Another unfunded mandate? Have the voters decide how to pay for it in the next election.

[jrawk]

Legalize and sell marijuana, tax it like cigarettes.

You'll be able to afford one on one tutoring in no time!

I don't use it folks, just tired of seeing folks going to jail for using it.

[Ingtar]

Put an INS Officer in every school. That, along with vouchers, might just help.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Not a bad idea. Ask the question(s) like this:

Revision to Class Size Question 1
1. Should there be an income tax on all citizens to pay for class size amendment? yes or no?

Revision Question 2
2. Should there be a property tax increase on all citizens to pay for the class sizes? yes or no?

Revision Question 3
3. If no funding can be found or approved, should the remainder of the amendment be voided? yes or no?

[summer]

I think people should engage in a long term discussion and study what happened in CA, after CA implemented the same state law - and later found out no amount of money was ever enough; unqualified teachers were constantly being hired; and the poortest children suffered the most. Finally, even though this is still the state law in CA, local districts are asking for waivers and bakcing away from it constantly.

FL does have a law allowing a "charter school district" category, whereby, each public school district requesting such status is exempt from certain state laws. The idea is that this will enable the school districts to regain more local control, and be able to move ahead more quickly with student achievement and innovation. Orange County, in Orlando, was recently granted "charter school district" status by FL.

Since this amendment was actually opposed by all the superintendents, principals and some teachers, especially art and music teachers (who fear they will be the first to lose their classroom space and/or their jobs), maybe there will be a huge increase in the number of applications to FL for "charter school district" status, with all these school districts asking for a waiver from this new state law.

Because that is exactly where CA's school districts are right now with this - trying to find legal ways to be waived from compliance.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Now you're talking!

[grwcfl537]

One way that would fit Jeb's agenda is to push vouchers very hard in the areas that are overcrowded. Vouchers are cheaper than adding more union members, physical plant and infrastructure.

A concurrent program of reducing the number of employees whose podium time is less than 70% should be undertaken. Non-academic activities should be monitored by minimum wage employees.

Someone will need to define how an "average class size" is calculated. Will it be statewide, by county, or by school district?

[summer]

Re my post #15 and CA:

Money also matters
[How CA's landmark law to reduce class size was a disaster for poor students]

[summer]

poortest = poorest

[tiki]

Send the illegals home.