FEA LEADERSHIP

Making Our Schools a Priority

reform movement? Testing companies, for-profit charter school companies, and voucher providers with little public oversight. Its all about private businesses getting as much of the taxpayers dollar as possible. Its not about our children and its not about the teaching profession. Thats why were worked hard during this legislative session to build support for public education. Investing in public education is investing in a 21st century economy and it needs to be a top priority. We will always fight to invest in public schools, keep smaller class sizes and prevent layoffs of school employees. Your FEA officers and our lobbying team were at the Capitol every day this session working to build consensus around the idea of investing in our public schools. Even after the session we continue to work to defeat the most dreadful measures that will cause harm to our students, to teachers, ESP, professors, and to all other public school employees. When harmful measures do get passed by the Legislature, FEA will not hesitate to challenge them in court if there is a basis to do that. Last session, the Legislature imposed a 3 percent income tax on all public employees throughout the state. We took that to court and the Judge ruled that the pension tax was unconstitutional (see full story on Page 5). The Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott immediately appealed the decisionspending even more taxpayer money on out-of-state lawyers to attack public employees in the process. Later this year there will be court proceedings over our challenge to the constitutionality of last years SB 736, which curtailed bargaining rights and fundamentally changed evaluations and rights to due process, among many other bad things. We anticipate there will be more challenges to that law once local

Andy Ford FEA PResident

I believe in our public schools. I

believe that they provide the children of our state with the best opportunity for a top-notch education so that they can improve their lives and grow into productive leaders in our society. I believe in the value of all of youthe professionals who are responsible for the safety, health and growth of our students. I know that you believe this as well. So do the parents of the children in our public schools. And the public is overwhelmingly in support of our public schools. So why do we face a massive struggle each year to persuade our political leaders to properly invest in our public schools? Why do they continue to ignore any of the expertise from teachers, ESPs, professors, and administrators as they continue to shake up the education profession? Political leaders want education to be fast and cheap, but they demand high-quality results on test scores. Though it may seem like theyre some sort of medieval alchemists trying to turn lead into gold, the real goal seems to be to hand over as much of public education as possible to for-profit entities. Over the past dozen years, who has benefited the most from the education

Over the past dozen years, who has benefitted the most from the education reform movement? Testing companies, for-profit charter school companies, and voucher providers with little public oversight. Its all about private businesses getting as much of the taxpayers dollar as possible. Its not about our children and its not about the teaching profession.
school districts try to implement this seriously flawed law. Ultimately, the voters throughout this state can make a stand for public education. In this very important election year, every voter in the state will have the opportunity to send senators and representatives to Tallahassee who will fight for our children, invest in public education and make our schools a priority. FEA will be right there making sure that we find lawmakers who believe in our public schools every bit as much as you and I do. FEA

spring 2012 advocate