Talking Points
- For too long, state legislators have thought they know better than locally elected school board members. This proposed constitutional amendment would put the power to make employment and salary decisions back where they belong, in the hands of locally elected school board members.
- While the needs of the students in all of Florida’s 67 counties are the same, the best way to meet students’ needs varies significantly by county. By encroaching on local control over the last few legislative sessions, the Legislature has effectively decided to apply one size fits all solutions to counties as varied as Miami-Dade with its 392 schools and Franklin County which has only one school.
- Florida has an unelected commissioner of education as well six unelected state board of education members. These unelected bureaucrats have imposed their wills on local communities ignoring what is best for individual students. It’s time to return control to the local level.
Updated Information
SJR 1364, filed by Jose Javier Rodriguez, would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for all Floridians to vote on. Specifically, the amendment would clarify that school boards “shall set the wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment for all school board employees.”
What’s Next
Because a joint resolution is the method the Legislature uses to propose amendments to the state constitution, they require a three-fifths vote in each chamber instead of a simple majority.
SJR 1364 has been referred to the Senate Education, Governmental Oversight and Accountability, and Rules committees.
Companion Bill
Currently, there is no companion bill in the house.
Vote History
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Our Position
We support this bill.
Video Updates
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