| Throughout the past eight weeks, we've reminded you to keep your eyes open for education bills in the Florida House and Senate that don't generate lots of public outcry or media headlines. Quite often, they pack a significant punch in terms of their potential effect, and they skate through with little attention. Sometimes, though, the most diligent observers can miss proposals through no fault of their own: Lawmakers drop new ideas into bills late in the two-month session. That's happened a couple of times in the past week, causing consternation when potentially affected parties stumbled upon the amendments.
— Jeffrey S. Solochek, jsolochek@tampabay.com |
| [JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK | Times] |
| Where did that come from? When new ideas arise in existing legislation. |
| For your consideration, we offer House Bill 1203.
This measure, filed by DeLand Republican Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff, began life on Jan. 5 as a two-page measure aimed at doing one thing: Taking the details of teacher performance review terms out of the realm of collective bargaining.
Assigned to three committees, it made its way out of its first stop three weeks later with some minor changes, but still focused on the single subject requested by the Orange County school district after it lost the point in an unfair labor practices hearing.
Though distasteful to teacher bargaining units, It garnered little attention at its second committee, even as representatives expanded the bill to 19 pages, adding rather uncontroversial language about certification and background checks. They also gave the bill a new, broader title — an "act relating to education."
That change left room for HB 1203 to become a vehicle for all sorts of education-related topics. And before long, that's what happened. And some teachers were none too thrilled. Throughout the summer and fall, several teacher groups argued that the state's rules regarding pay and raises hurt veteran teachers. To overcome what they've called "wage compression," where the salaries of new and longer-serving teachers are nearly the same, many argued for a supplement based on years of service. The Orange County School Board, for one, agreed to the concept. The Pinellas County School Board, by contrast, refused to go along, saying it was not legal. On Sunday, less than 24 hours before the bill hit its final committee, a 48-page substitute appeared on the House website. New language, not yet heard anywhere during the session, would tie any longevity supplements to the existing pay structure, so raises for teachers on annual contracts should continue to exceed those on continuing contracts, which most veteran educators still hold. Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar said this change could lead to more teachers quitting, at a time when it's already difficult to fill vacancies. He acknowledged lawmakers can do such things, but added, "I think any citizen would look at it and say it is frustrating." That's not all. The substitute bill also added a provision to allow lawmakers to visit any public school in their district without making an appointment — a concept that hadn't been discussed in Tallahassee since 2017. It's not the only bill to get such treatment. Senate Bill 1300 started as a measure to require school boards listen to public comment at meetings. It later was amended with language aiming to eliminate board member pay, and most recently was replaced by House Bill 1467, which also began focusing on salaries but shifted to term limits in its final stop. A subject of past sessions, board term limits had not been proposed in 2022 until this addition. Wayne Bertsch, president of the Florida Education Legislative Liaisons, said the late insertion of proposals that had not previously been introduced has led to confusion. But he added that it appears the way of business in Florida's Capitol, as chambers sometimes don't bother to send bills to committees for thorough review. "It's probably part of the deal making," Bertsch said, reminiscing for the days when the Schoolhouse Rock version of how a bill becomes a law rang true. "It's now the way things happen." One more thing before the story links. |
| Times political editor Emily Mahoney attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando last weekend. She reports that school boards were a hot topic: Republicans made clear that they see the new political engagement of conservative parents, outraged about what their kids learn in school or school boards' response to the pandemic, as key to winning the midterms in 2022. Multiple panels featured speakers giving advice on how to run for office for the first time or submit public records requests to dig through school board members' emails. Several speakers compared the energy of this "parent revolution" to the Tea Party movement. "We are looking at a moment where we have the potential to build the biggest bloc of single-issue voters in the history of American politics," said Ian Prior, who previously worked in the Trump Administration and co-founded an organization to fight school board members in Virginia. Want more of Emily's political dispatches? Click here to subscribe to her weekly newsletter. |
| TAMPA BAY EDUCATION ROUNDUP |
| [Times file photo (2012)] |
| A growing number of Florida school districts are asking voters to increase property taxes to boost teacher pay. The Pasco County School Board is the latest to explore the idea. Members said they want to act quickly.
The University of South Florida has two finalists for its president job. A consultant said most potential candidates didn't apply after learning interim leader Rhea Law would be considered.
Students at Blake High in Tampa said their complaints about sexual harassment were being ignored. School officials are working to change that situation.
The Pinellas County school district is looking for its next superintendent. Members of the community offered thoughts about what qualities the School Board should seek among the applicants.
Stay on top of regional and state education issues. Visit the Tampa Bay Times online for the latest news.
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