Unfortunately, we are fighting another attempt to privatize our public schools in Florida by the DeSantis administration. Our voting map has been redistricted for more than 20 years and we now have a state trifecta allowing this type of onerous legislation to occur. Unfortunately, it will affect children for many generations. I’m very concerned as I’ve watched the Indiana legislature and Governor do similar damage in big cities like Indianapolis. Luckily, my high school, which was the first public high school in Indiana, has been spared for now but the stats are grim since they closed many schools including other high schools and the charter school management companies are licking their chops.
We are well on our way to a three tiered system in Florida with charter school management companies stacking their industry sponsored charter school boards with people who’ll only allow successful students with active parents to remain in their classes. In most cases charter schools don’t ask the struggling student to leave until after the state FTE student count in October. The charter school is allowed to then keep ALL of the FTE money for that school year. The receiving traditional public school must still educate every child even though the charter company kept this year’s funding for that child. I believe that the unfairness of this system has been put into law to eventually destroy real public schools.
Vouchers for private schools and home schools are now being paid out to parents and as has almost always been the case, they will only keep the students who continue to be successful and follow all the rules. In some areas this means there will be more and more traditional public schools which must be closed because of a dwindling student population.
Even though the district spokesman made it sound like this wasn’t final, I don’t think the Board should let portions of our public schools go without a fight. I hope that today you will discuss what you plan to do to avert this takeover of our public schools by the charter school industry. The time to fight is NOW.
My name is Dr. Trudy Jermanovich.
Unfortunately, we are fighting another attempt to privatize our public schools in Florida by the DeSantis administration. Our voting map has been redistricted for more than 20 years and we now have a state trifecta allowing this type of onerous legislation to occur. Unfortunately, it will affect children for many generations. I’m very concerned as I’ve watched the Indiana legislature and Governor do similar damage in big cities like Indianapolis. Luckily, my high school, which was the first public high school in Indiana, has been spared for now but the stats are grim since they closed many schools including other high schools and the charter school management companies are licking their chops.
We are well on our way to a three tiered system in Florida with charter school management companies stacking their industry sponsored charter school boards with people who’ll only allow successful students with active parents to remain in their classes. In most cases charter schools don’t ask the struggling student to leave until after the state FTE student count in October. The charter school is allowed to then keep ALL of the FTE money for that school year. The receiving traditional public school must still educate every child even though the charter company kept this year’s funding for that child. I believe that the unfairness of this system has been put into law to eventually destroy real public schools.
Vouchers for private schools and home schools are now being paid out to parents and as has almost always been the case, they will only keep the students who continue to be successful and follow all the rules. In some areas this means there will be more and more traditional public schools which must be closed because of a dwindling student population.
Even though the district spokesman made it sound like this wasn’t final, I don’t think the Board should let portions of our public schools go without a fight. I hope that today you will discuss what you plan to do to avert this takeover of our public schools by the charter school industry. The time to fight is NOW.