CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR

Why would we move backwards?

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Rick Scott’s budget proposal

• During his campaign and his first month in office, Governor Scott promised education funding would not be cut, but his budget cuts education by 10% – billions of dollars.

• These funding cuts will certainly result in layoffs throughout our schools, for teachers and other school employees, more privatization, and will lead to the loss of thousands more jobs throughout the state.

 

Teacher quality

• The new “teacher quality” bill, SB 736, is this year’s version of SB 6, and raises many of the same concerns.

• The legislation increases the number of tests that must be developed and given to every student every year – and shifts millions of dollars to pay for these new tests. It will tie teacher salaries directly to student tests.

• SB 736 allows all new teachers – regardless of rating – to be fired without a reason or a hearing.

 

Retirement

 

• Tallahassee wants to take 5% out of the paychecks of teachers and school and public employees – not because the pension fund is in trouble, but so they can spend the money elsewhere, including tax cuts for corporations. These proposed pay cuts will harm small businesses and local economies all over Florida.

• Pensions for teachers and education staff are very modest, and are taxable. Teacher pensions average about $325 per week, and other school employees get much less – about $195 per week. Teachers and education employees earn these modest pensions through decades of public service.

Education reform in our state is working:  Education Week just rated us fifth in the nation, up from 31st just five years ago. Only one other state has improved so much so fast. Florida’s teachers were instrumental in winning a $700 million “Race to the Top” grant, one of only 11 states to win. Florida already has one of the strongest school accountability systems in the country. So why would we move backwards? The Governor’s proposed budget slashes school spending by billions and it could mean tens of thousands of school layoffs. The Legislature wants to cut teacher pay 5% to cover the budget shortfall, but give more corporate tax breaks. At the same time, they want to pass a so-called ‘teacher quality bill’ that will frustrate our best teachers and could cause chaos in our schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the questions that need to be answered:

 

On Scott’s budget

(1)  How many teachers and other school employees will need to be fired to meet Scott’s education cuts?

(2)  These cuts will mean the direct loss of jobs that will multiply across the state and local economies. How does this help the state pull out of its economic woes?

On teacher quality

(1)  Does the bill empower principals to evaluate teachers constructively, or just fire them if their students underperform?

(2)  Is there one state or even one school district that has successfully implemented a similar program over three years or longer?  If so, what were their results?

(3)  How many millions of tax dollars will be needed to pay for still more tests? Where will that money come from?

On retirement and pensions

(1)  Taking 5% out of the pockets of every teacher, custodian, school-bus driver, police officer, firefighter and state worker is going to have a huge impact on businesses in my community. Won’t this make the economic crisis in Florida worse?

(2)  The Governor says state workers should contribute to their retirement because that’s how other states work. But shouldn’t we look at salary, benefits and retirement as a total package in determining fair compensation?

 

 

• TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS ABOUT THESE ISSUES
• BRING THESE ISSUES AND QUESTIONS UP AT COMMUNITY, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, CLUB AND PTA MEETINGS
• WRITE A LETTER TO THE LOCAL PAPER
• CALL IN TO LOCAL TALK-RADIO SHOWS, AND . . .

PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR TODAY

AND ASK FOR ANSWERS!