Thursday, February 17, 2011

SB736: Senate Budget Sub-Committee votes 8-1 in favor

The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education Pre-K12 Appropriations voted 8-1 in favor of SB736. The lone "No" vote was caste by Senator Paula Dockery, who took a stand against SB6 last year because she believed Florida could not afford it. I am assuming she believes the same this year.

Committee member Senator Evelyn Lynn, however, suggested that the bill needs improving, but "suggested that the kinks could be worked out over time, saying that this legislation is the 'next major logical step in education reform,' building upon the state's A-Plus system." Next logical step? Senator Lynn also noted that money would be required.

“I do believe we’ll need the dollars. I don’t want the dollars to be taken away from one group of teachers to pay another group.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, "most of the bill’s provisions don’t kick in until 2014, so supporters said there will be time to work out the finances — and the details of a bill that aims to use tests (some not yet developed) to help determine teacher quality and pay."

Others on the committee "cautioned that the bill needs more work before they're will to back it on the floor. " More revisions? Like what?

Questions remain over how to pay for raises, for instance, and how the bill jibes with other endeavors, such as Race to the Top."

Sounds like a rerun. Pass a flawed bill in committee, send it out to the floor in whatever shape it is, and promise to fix it later. Avoid the entire issue of the price tag.

Thank you Paula Dockery!

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_education_edblog/?p=16940

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/

6 comments:

  1. What the heck is in the water, Jack Daniel's?
    Only a drunk would ignore their own words. Someone needs to play back the day's events prior to that last nightcap of MD 20/20. It's a bad idea spiraling into another boondoggle.
    Stop the ride, we're dizzy, and broke.

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  2. Madpole, nor sure I ever got that drunk, and I've been real drunk a few times. I was thinking more like LSD in the Statehouse Water.

    I wish Dockery had been able to stay in the Governors race.. She's not a GOP Machine Republican, she has a good head on her shoulders, she's fiscally responsible and not afraid to buck the system.

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  3. It is a good time to write or call Dockery's office and let her know what you think.There is not much to have to say..the bill has the same problem as last year...there is a serious funding problem that bill proponents do not seem to take seriously enough.

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  4. Sandra, I think thats do able.. I'm not in her district so I won't be leaving myself open for a barage of vote for me emails.

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  5. Is there any way to follow you both, here on this subject, like a string format. I like the straight forward text here, as I have no patients to read the full bill. Google guided me here.
    Another side, having spent a few years doing fund raising for all of the Dade county schools, I worked with the positive side (principals, school staff, PTA staff, teachers & few parents). The lack of parents and parent interest was THE Main problem. The majority of parents didn't care about whats going on in the schools. (Let alone helping with homework). Compared to Broward county, where there was great interest and support.
    Brian N Miami

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  6. Brian on the right side of the page under other Grumpy Sites, you can click Grumpy Educators, all Sandra's Education Reform blogs are there, in a easy to find format. You might want to look at the older ones first, Comments are moderated on that site, but all her material is there

    http://grumpythings.blogspot.com/

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