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.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

My first grader is in a Christian school where all classes max out at 20 students. Every classroom is assigned a teacher and a paid teacher assistant. Personally, I would prefer to have one teacher and one assistant for 20 children, rather than one teacher responsible for 18.

Not to mention...teacher assistants will cost school districts less money.

But then again...my husband is in charge of our budget for a reason. LOL!! :)

[nonliberal]

Who cares. They voted for it, let them figure it out. If the people of Flori-duh are going to support things like this, they deserve whatever they get.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

As a fellow Floridian, I've heard some rumors about this and love it:

1. Vouchers, vouchers, vouchers. Tax breaks for private schools that build like crazy.

2. Year round schools. Some students go from Jan-October some go from March - December. Split shifts also. The parents wanted smaller classes, they can now be inconvenienced by the stupidity of their vote.

3. Increase the property taxes on dwellings only, not businesses. They voted for it, they can pay for it.

4. A series of bonds structured as annuities to pay back into the system over 20 year periods. Freeze all adminsitrative pay levels for 5 year periods to help pay for it. Establish a merit based pay system for all NEA members (teahcers and principals, etc.). They want it, now perform you union dirtbags.

5. A 1 % increase on the sales tax AND an introduction of a 5% service tax. Add a $1.00 per pack tax increase on smokes. I like the idea of the poor paying higher taxes. Let the lawyers remember this , with the service tax, since it's their party of favor (the rats) who wanted this.

Last but not least, do what needs to be done. Begin a recall petition for this amendment. It's time to do it now. We have a basic economic analysis. Show the elderely that they will have to choose between their prescription medication, food or paying for the smaller class sizes. Feed this crap right back at the liberals and hit them where it hurts. I'll bet 500,000 signatures might just be a piece of cake. We're looking into it on the West Coast.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

We're actually waiting on Castro to die so we can annex Cuba.

[dinodino]

I particularly like the pay freezes of #4. The !@#$!@#%#!@!@ folks in this State who pushed (and voted for) all this crap now need to feel the pain, as far as I'm concerned.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Exactly. And apply the bonds and tax increases fairly. Since there are more students and more demoratic voters who liked this stupid amendment in Broward, Volusia, West Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, then they should pay proportionate increases of their property taxes. Why should a farmer in Alachua county pay more than those dimwits?

[M Kehoe]

We can't pay for it. Unless...there are more home schooled children. More private schools. Vouchers, in other words.

Sometime I think we deserve the moniker 'Floriduh".

5.56mm