[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.

[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.

[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?

[tiki]

Send the illegals home.

[PaxMacian]

No problem, just divide all the existing rooms in half making two rooms then squeeze in a few more kids into each.

[arthurus]

The State government needs to throw great resources into promotion of homeschooling and vouchers. This ammendment seems designed to reduce the average quality of teachers
in the system. The system must take a larger portion of the available graduates and that means reaching lower on the GPA. Ultimately when class sizes are reduced to a one-to-one ratio NEA will have actual dictatorial political power.

[RicocheT]

Have public school kids and teachers go out and sell candy and pizza door to door just as parochial school parents and kids now do. Share the pain!

[jbg]

Read the amendment carefully. It requires classrooms, and limits the number of students assigned to a teacher, but it does not actually require teachers for all of those classrooms. So they can fire the teachers, and use the money saved to pay for building the classrooms.

[SGCOS]

$.10 tax on every 3 oz. tube of Jointritis

[RandyRep]

Can you give us more information? How many students are there in Florida schools? What is the current Florida state budget?

This appears to mandate a 50% increase (approximately) in classrooms and teachers by 2010, with interim reductions to get there.

Some things that could be done:

1) Short term - portable classrooms or re-dividing existing classrooms is the only answer. Put 3 classes in 2 classrooms somehow.

2) Long term - pass a big bond issue to build the classrooms and provide college scholarships for student teachers.

3) Have a real debate if the people want to raise taxes or cut expenses. If the former, which taxes - sales, property, income? If the latter, which expenses - welfare, healthcare, etc. In the end - put the choices on the ballot and MAKE THEM CHOOSE!

4) Reduce the number of students in public school - reduce the minimum compulsory attendance age to 14.

5) Put requirements on continued public school attendance - good behavior, doing homework, high test scores, etc. Penalize (with fines, etc) parents of kids who are disruptive or non-learners (kind of reverse vouchers!).

[yoswif]

An excise tax on advertising.

[Libloather]

Tax abortions...