Florida voters will decide this November on Amendment 8, which would scale back the original 2002 class-size amendment. Advocates say the measure would keep class sizes essentially where they are now, but get rid of what they term the law's costly and inflexible final requirements, which go into effect late this month, on the first day of school.
Certain school districts, like Hillsborough County, are vehemently against the hard caps and are very supportive of the measure. Tuesday afternoon school board members discussed the issue.
Jennifer Faliero said "if you want this to go away so we can do something right for our teachers, vote this thing out of the constitution."
School Board Superintendent MaryEllen Elia told board members that "what I believe is that we provide the facts for the public so that can make the appropriate decision (at the ballot box). This will affect schools, teachers, students and families. It may not be your family now, but it could possibly affect your family in the future."
Elia said that if the district isn't in compliance – which would be determine on a single day sometime in October – the financial penalties could be in the millions. Conversely, if the district is in compliance, it could receive millions of dollars.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2010.