Staff Writer
Each Wednesday throughout the 2010 legislative session, the Daily Record will report the news, views and features from the capital, particularly in terms of how what transpires affects businesses and residents of Northeast Florida.
Before the start of the 2010 legislative session, Sen. John Thrasher said education was a passion and that he would look to add new policies and ideas over the 60 days.
One education personnel bill he filed last week has spurred just as much passion from its opposition and will see its first committee later today.
The wide-ranging measure, SB 6, includes provisions that would partially shift teachers’ pay from years-of-service to student performance and would penalize schools that don’t comply with a percentage loss of funding.
In addition, it would extend to five years the time new teachers could be fired without cause. Thrasher has said the bill would reward performing teachers while also getting rid of those who poorly perform.
The bill, which is co-sponsored by State Rep. Stephen Wise among others, will see its first action today when the Education Pre-K-12 Committee hears it at 1 p.m. Opposition will likely be as passionate as it was Monday when Florida Education Association officials from across the state gathered in Tallahassee to combat the bill. The organization has mounted a campaign against the bill, as it “would do everything from crippling the idea of community control of public schools … to threatening to push experienced teachers out of the classroom and place students in classrooms with teachers of little experience.”
“It lashes out at the teachers who have made Florida schools ‘a model for the nation’,” said FEA President Andy Ford during Monday’s opposition press conference.
Closer to home, one member of the Duval County School Board and former member of the Florida House said he saw the same issues crop up during his time as a representative and hopes the issue doesn’t divert too much attention.
“There are so many other issues facing education today, including the reduction of the budget,” said Tommy Hazouri, who served the Florida House from 1974-86. “I hope this doesn’t take away from the focus and hope it’s not a distraction.”
In addition to the Pre-K - 12 committee later today, the bill will also go to the Senate’s Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means at a later time. It does not have a House companion bill.
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