Florida Schools in danger of not receiving any money from Stimulus package.
Attached is an Orlando Sentinal memo that outlines how Florida may not get money from the stimulus package just passed. I'm sure many Florida Legisatures were counting on this funding to save our schools because they, our own lawmakers, have new proposals to cut educational funds again in March. Where does all this leave us? Crisis mode -- overload!
Show up and fill a seat - UNITE
Each community is rallying Florida residents to show up in force and be heard.
> Brevard schools will each have a meeting to explain what will be cut from their own school.
> February 23 at King Center Brev. meet legislatures and express your opinion. No more budget cuts we cannot afford it. DRESS IN BLACK
> February 28 UCF Arena rally to show the lawmakers no more cuts.
Write your lawmakers
Let them know how this will affect your child
Did you know...
> Since '07 education budget was passed it has taken 4 budget cuts already?
> The Florida Constitution says it is the duty of the state to provide a high quality education system.
With no stimulus money coming in and the legislature looking to cut more then...
> Most likely JV sports or sports entirely will be cut starting in August '09.
> Educational support staff will be gone. IEPs will not be in compliance.
> The state has mandated Pre-K, PE, classroom size programs (all fine programs) but they have pulled funds that would support them. The state cannot have it both ways.
Mail...
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Find your lawmakers mail addresses and e-mails here...
http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm
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2 comments:
Seminole County is holding a rally too...
SCCPTA is holding a rally on Wednesday Feb. 11 at Lyman High School Stadium at 4 p.m. to show our support of public education, Seminole County schools and PROTEST any further cuts to education.
- We need PTA leaders, parents, teachers, community members and children to attend.
- We must join others around the state in communicating our message to our elected officials: Invest in Children, Invest in Education.
- While we don't know the effects of the next round of cuts to specific programs, we know that any further cutting potentially will have a dramatic impact on all programs and academics, arts, and athletics at all schools.
- The quality of schools affects the economy, housing market, jobs and much more.
Please contact and invite groups in your schools to attend with you: Teachers, Administrators, Band Boosters, Athletic Boosters, Chorus Boosters, arts supporters, ROTC Boosters, Club Sponsors, Students, neighbors, and friends.
We want speakers: Band Boosters, parents, teachers, community leaders, anyone that can share a good message.
- Dress is BLACK
- Signs – Message:
Invest in Children
Governor Crist QUOTE: From Miami Herald, Thursday, Jan. 15, article by Mary Ellen Klas:
"Just hours before legislators finished their budget-cutting package, Governor Charlie Crist pointed to the empty Capitol plaza and told supporters that Floridians 'know and understand' the difficult cuts lawmakers have to make. 'That's why you don't see protesters outside,' he said."
We have been protesting, letter writing to all of our legislators, even the Governor. However, all has been on deaf ears. It's time to make noise. Join with us and let's make our voices heard.
This is serious business! Crist LOVES to bury the truth in his quest for higher office. He is obliterating Florida 's education budget!! I strongly encourage you to attend the rally...bring signs, make noise. Enough is enough already.
WE NEED TO FORWARD TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO HAS A CHILD/CHILDREN OR WILL HAVE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM OF THIS STATE. THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO SEMINOLE COUNTY ; THESE CUTS WILL BE STATE WIDE. PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW! WE CANNOT AFFORD FOR THIS STATE OR THIS COUNTRY TO HAVE FUNDS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE FUTURE GENERATIONS!!!!!
Florida may come up short in stimulus
Leslie Postal and Mark K. Matthews | Sentinel Staff Writers
January 30, 2009
Florida leaders counting on more than $3.5 billion from a massive federal stimulus package to shore up the state's education budget learned Thursday there could be a catch.
The state may not qualify for the money because the Legislature has cut its schools budget too much.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an $819 billion economic-recovery plan Wednesday. Under that bill, money in a special "state stabilization fund" would go only to states that could fund schools for the next two years at the levels they had in the 2005-06 school year.
But the state is below that threshold. In fact, school funding coming directly from the state is now lower than it was in the 2004-05 school year. With Florida's budget shortfall for next year ballooning toward $4 billion, it's not clear it could meet that requirement.
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More Orlando Sentinel blogs That would mean it could not get the $3.5 billion in estimated stabilization funds, though it would still be eligible for about $2.3 billion earmarked to help poor kids and to renovate schools, among other items.
Florida's congressional leaders said Thursday that they were already working to get that 2006-funding provision altered or deleted.
U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D- Miramar, tried to help Florida before the House vote, filing an amendment that would allow the education secretary to give states a free pass when it comes to the funding requirements. The language was tailored to fit Florida; a waiver would be granted due to "exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances such as . . . a precipitous decline in the financial resources of the state," according to the legislation.
But the amendment was rejected. His staff said Hastings is working to include the language in future negotiations. U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., is shopping his own proposal.
"There's a problem with the funding formula that could prevent Florida from getting a fair share of the education dollars. I'm hopeful for an open and healthy amendment process so we can address this and other problem areas," Martinez said in a statement.
In Florida, state funding of education is based largely on student population. As the state's student population has decreased in recent years, its per-student spending has declined as well.
The Senate must still vote on its version of the stimulus bill and then work out any differences with the House plan before a final bill is sent to President Barack Obama. Congressional Democrats want that done by Feb. 16.
Some in Florida are counting on the federal stimulus money to help patch up their spending plans during the state's worst budget crisis in decades. Without help, Florida educators expect they'll have to slash millions from their budgets this spring, possibly laying off teachers, cutting salaries, closing schools and shuttering athletic programs.
The federal plan holds out the hope of nearly $6 billion for Florida education. Gov. Charlie Crist has delayed the release of his 2009-10 budget until next month to work in federal money he expects to come Florida's way.
"It's a tremendous amount of money that could flow into an area where there's a tremendous need and backlog," said Ruth Melton, director of legislative relations for the Florida School Boards Association.
Melton said the association, like other education advocates, was worried about the 2006 funding requirement but also confident it could be resolved. A delegation of Florida School Board members heads to Washington today for a conference and will discuss the issue with lawmakers.
"It's clearly an important question and a point of concern, but I'm not sure it's really going to hamper Florida's ability to draw down these funds," Melton said.
It is common for federal money sent to states to come with a "maintenance of effort" requirement like that in the stimulus package.
The federal government wants to make sure the states are paying their fair share of school funding, said Marjorie Murray, a Seminole County school administrator whose duties include overseeing federal programs.
But in a plan meant to help restore cuts brought on by the nation's recession, such a rule becomes self-defeating, Murray said.
"This makes no sense," she added. "The reason we need this is because there's a shortfall of state money. It's contradictory."
Orange and Seminole school leaders are to meet with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D- New Smyrna Beach, today and plan to discuss the issue with her.
Leslie Postal can be reached at lpostal@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5273. Mark K. Matthews can be reached at 202-824-8222 or mmatthews@orlandosentinel.com.
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