| Happy 2022! Are you ready for another session of the Florida Legislature? It's an even-numbered year, so lawmakers return to Tallahassee next week to kick off their annual two-month effort. Republicans hold a veto-proof majority in both the House and Senate, so their agenda can rule the roost on education (and pretty much every other policy issue). Where does that leave the Democrats?
— Jeffrey S. Solochek, jsolochek@tampabay.com |
| [Florida House of Representatives] |
| Without power, the minority party aims for small victories — if it can muster any |
| State Sen. Shevrin Jones doesn't kid himself when it comes to legislative business. "I think it's clear," said the Broward County Democrat who sits as vice chairperson of the Senate Education Committee. "The Republicans are going to do what they want to do, because they can."
Democrats can't pass bills on their own. They don't have enough members in either chamber to block measures that require a supermajority, such as a proposal to return school board seats to partisan positions. Historically, they've struggled to mount a coordinated offensive on issues. Take, for instance, their failed attempt to stop a new public records exemption during the November special session.
Jones wants to be optimistic that the minority party can play defense as the GOP presses its advantage in areas such as charter school expansions, testing changes (where the governor and lawmakers in his party don't agree on specifics), and other subjects where give and take might be possible. As one of the most well-liked lawmakers in the Capitol, Jones more than most has earned enough goodwill to accomplish small wins. He's tight with some of the most conservative Republicans despite his liberal viewpoints (don't look for any give from him on such issues as the teaching of race issues in schools), and has brokered deals with the upper echelons of leadership. Entering the session, though, he's worried. Despite being vice chairperson, Jones has yet to receive a briefing on the Education Committee's agenda from his chairperson — Republican Party state leader Sen. Joe Gruters. The Democrats haven't laid out much of a game plan, he added, as they don't know what's really coming down the pipeline. He held out little hope for his own education bills on issues such as school discipline report cards. "Everything is so polarized," Jones said. "It's unfortunate, but it's the climate that we're in.... The people are the only ones who are hurting in all of this." He anticipated that many lawmakers will come to Tallahassee itching for the fight of the day, instead of looking for ways to govern for all Floridians. "Yes, there are some areas we can work on" together, he said. "The question is, will we?" With people choosing friends based on political party affiliation, he feared partisanship will dampen most (all?) Democrat initiatives in the education arena. If the minority can muster any minor victories, he said, they'll have to celebrate them, "because you don't know when the next one is going to come."
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| TAMPA BAY EDUCATION ROUNDUP |
| [MARTHA ASENCIO-RHINE | Times] |
| Gov. Ron DeSantis repeated his expectation that schools remain open despite a surge of coronavirus positivity. Tampa Bay area school districts aimed to comply.
University of Florida president Kent Fuchs announced he would step down. Plagued by accusations that the school has violated faculty academic freedom, Fuchs played up his successes at UF and said he planned to return to teaching. Two other universities in the state system also are seeking new presidents.
Pasco County school district leaders unveiled plans to collaborate with certain charter schools. They're investigating partnerships with locally operated charters to help cope with booming growth along the State Road 54 corridor.
Florida's Constitution instills school boards with broad powers. State officials, from the Governor's Office on down, have taken steps to dilute boards' authority and fill the void themselves.
Stay on top of regional and state education issues. Visit the Tampa Bay Times online for the latest news. |
