Agenda - 09-05-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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13 1 Superintendent Rhodes referenced bills to allow homeschoolers and private schoolers 2 to play on public school sports teams and participate in extra-curricular activities. He said this is 3 an example of inequities that exist. He noted that charter schools do not have to pay the state 4 sales tax. He said In Florida there is a movement to set up vouchers for public school students 5 to go to other schools; and this is one of many examples of movements that he feels de- 6 legitimize public education. He said the one size fits all reform models do not help all the 7 districts. He said he has never seen this level of legislative activity associated with public 8 schools. 9 Commissioner porosin said he too believes that there is a movement to de-legitimatize 10 public education. He said the vouchers and bills are designed to incentive people to leave 11 public education. He said that the Charter Schools are not really a choice for everyone 12 because there is no requirement for free and reduced lunch to be offered. He said these 13 Charter Schools are more racially and socio-economically segregated than Public Schools and 14 he expressed anger about what is happening to Public Schools and said the County needs to 15 raise a collective voice to uncover what is happening. 16 Superintendent Forcella said the governor's budget includes a reduction in teacher 17 assistants that would equate to a loss of about $1 million for the district. 18 Chair Jacobs said there will be more discussion of Charter Schools and some creative 19 approaches to prevent the district from being a sitting duck for the raiding of funds. 20 Commissioner Price asked both school systems to clarify what cuts are being made to 21 teachers in the face of budget cuts. She asked if this will affect class sizes or course offerings. 22 Todd Lofriese said both of these issues could be a reality. He said, with the 23 discretionary reductions going back to state, the cuts equal over $3 million. He said this leads 24 to the 30-31 student class sizes, as this reduction means 50 teachers less. 25 Commissioner Price asked if this reduction has already taken place and if it will 26 continue. 27 Todd Lofriese said this reduction has been happening since the 2009-2010 school year. 28 Superintendent Rhodes said there was a reduction of 33 teachers for OCS. 29 Todd Lofriese said this has not just affected teachers. The district has returned funding 30 for teacher assistants as well. He said there has been an attempt to use fund balances to fund 31 these positions. 32 CHCCS Chair Brownstein said the class size really does matter in the lower grades, and 33 with the some of the bills in legislation there will be an effect on K-3. This will stretch teachers 34 thin and impact school safety and behavior. 35 OCS Chair Coffey said public schools struggle with educating the public about what is 36 going on with their public education system. 37 Chair Jacobs referenced the segregation occurring in schools in Mississippi and 38 Alabama and how the voucher system will only worsen this situation. He agreed that there 39 needs to be an effort to fight back against what is happening and to educate the public about 40 the value of quality public education. 41 Commissioner Price asked if anything has been done to support legislative efforts to 42 help with the situation. 43 Superintendent Rhodes said the CHCCS has passed several resolutions in opposition of 44 many bills and Representative Foushee has been very supportive. 45 Commissioner Price asked about the Board of County Commissioners sending a letter 46 or resolution expressing their viewpoint on the situations. 47 Chair Jacobs said this viewpoint was expressed at the legislative breakfast but a letter 48 can also be sent. 49 CHCCS Chair Brownstein said the legislative delegation is aware of this but their efforts 50 have been frustrated.