FMEAFSMA Legislative Issues

1
The following slides are part of the presentation
by James Perry, Executive Director of the Florida
Music Educators Association. Members of FEMEA
who saw the presentation at FEMEA summer
workshops requested that the information be
posted on the web. The subject of this
presentation is the proposed amendments to the
Florida constitution that voters will vote on in
November, 2008. Amendment 5 was removed from
the ballot by Judge John C. Cooper on August 18,
2008. An appeal is expected. Amendments 7 and 9
remain on the ballot and are considered very
problematic by the state education community.
2
Public Education How Important?

• Constitutional Amendments and Education Funding

3
Florida vs Southeastern States
4
Floridas Local Share of K-12
5
2008 Required Local Effort
6
(No Transcript)
7
2008 Funding?

• Total Legislative Funding Cut 4.62
• Asked by Governor in June 2008 to hold back
  additional 2 -- increasing cut to 6.62
• First reduction in 37 years

8
Adding to the Problem

• Mandated Funding
• 1993 -- 8.67 categorical
• 2008 -- 33.58 categorical
• Cost of Electricity 12 increase
• Cost of Diesel Fuel 30 increase
• Cost of Food 12 increase
• Cost of Medical Benefits 12 increase

9
Constitutional Amendments Nov 4

• Amendments 5, 7, and 9 if taken as a whole
• The public schools no longer the primary way
  designated in the constitution for education
  and no longer required as the primary system by
  state funding.
• Dedicated funding source for education is
  removed replacement funds unclear.
• Removes the prohibition between church and state
  vouchers widely available for students to leave
  public schools and take the student funding with
  them.

10
Amendment 5

• Replacement of ad valorem taxes required by the
  legislature with other funds for education

11
Amendment 5

• Removes approx 9.5 Billion
• Remedies to replace
• Repeal tax exemptions
• Increase of one percent of state sales tax (nets
  approx 3 Billion)
• Reduce other components of state budget
• Other revenues identified or created by
  legislature

12
Amendment 5

• What taxes will replace property taxes is unknown
• Dedicated source for public education removed
• Schools are only held harmless one year

13
Amendment 5

• Link to full language
• http//election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fullte
  xt/pdf/12-6.pdf

14
Amendment 7

• Religious Freedom

15
Amendment 7

• Repeals prohibition between church and state
• Removes prohibition of state revenues use for aid
  of church, sect, religious denomination, or
  sectarian institution.

16
Amendment 7

• Re-directs education funding away from public
  schools
• Public dollars supplied to religious
  denominations or sectarian institutions

17
Amendment 7

• Link to full language
• http//election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fullte
  xt/pdf/12-8.pdf

18
Amendment 9

• Public Funding of Education

19
Amendment 9

• Would change title of chapter in constitution
  from
• Public Education
• to
• Public Funding of Education

20
Amendment 9

• Constitution currently states
• Adequate provision shall be made by law for a
  uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high
  quality system of free public schools..

21
Amendment 9

• Amendment would change to read
• This duty education shall be fulfilled, at a
  minimum and not exclusively, through adequate
  provision by law for a uniform, safe, secure, and
  high quality system of free public schools..

22
Amendment 9

• 65 Rule
• Establishes that a school district must spend 65
  of school funding on classroom instruction

23
Dollars Spent on Instruction

• Lowest Percentage
• Dixie County 72.13
• State Average 80.32
• Why Is A 65 Solution Needed?
• This is a solution without a problem!

24
Amendment 9

• Link to full language
• http//election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fullte
  xt/pdf/12-10.pdf

25
Economy in 2008

• Florida revenue down 5 billion
• Amendment 1 promised to hold schools harmless,
  but did NOT

26
(No Transcript)
27
Floridas Spending Choices

• 50th in Per Capita Spending (U.S. Census)
• 50th in Health Care for Children
• (Commonwealth Fund)

28
State Budget Choices

• Education Funding Minus 332.3 Million
• Corporate Vouchers 30 - 118 M
• New Prisons 309 Million (10 M more than all
  K-12 construction)
• Tax Watch Turkeys 109 M
• Green Energy (mostly research) 78.5 M
• Business Incentives 95 M
• Tourism Marketing 35.5 M

29
How to Approach?

• Great challenges also present great opportunities
• Democracies require
• Individuals to have an interest in the protection
  of minorities
• Empathy for the minority to drive civil liberties
• An educated and literate electorate

30

• Public schools are a significant equalizer in our
  society -- creating opportunities for students to
  improve their expectations.
• The arts are a significant equalizer in the
  public schools creating opportunities for
  students to recognize creative and innovative
  possibilities for themselves.

31
Our networks power

• Amendments present a challenge to the existence
  of the public school system
• If passed will remove a primary equalizer within
  our communities that works for students.

32
Talking points

• Illustrated in these slides
• For senior citizens or people with no children,
  point out
• They had the benefit of a well-funded public
  education themselves
• They had access to arts education
• The future depends on the kind of education
  provided to their grandchildren and that
  generation
• This generation needs their support

33
Elections

• Primary Election
• Deadline for registration July 28, 2008
• Election August 26, 2008
• General Election
• Deadline for registration October 6, 2008
• Election November 4, 2008

34
Voter Registration
http//election.dos.state.fl.us/regtovote/webappfo
rm.pdf
35
Action?

• Adapt this presentation for use in your own
  community
• Educate our own members
• Educate booster groups, community music
  supporters, music friends
• Find an articulate booster parent to assist in
  carrying the message in your community
• Register like minded people to vote

36
Never Doubt

• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
  committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,
  it is the only thing that ever has.
• Margaret Meade