By Phil Whelpton
On January 13th Florida became the latest state embracing the “red wave” in support of public education that began in West Virginia in 2017.
Public education workers and their local supporters from across the state answered the Florida Education Association’s call to “Rally in Tally”, on the opening day of this year’s legislative session, in support of FEA’s “FUND OUR FUTURE” campaign, which demands a “Decade of Progress” to restore funding and reverse the damage done by four decades of neglect, designed to literally dismantle the traditional public school system and bring our public colleges and universities under corporate control of the billionaire class.
In response to Gov. DeSantis’ divisive plan to raise the salaries of first year teachers, with no proportional raises across the entire work force, including Education Support Personnel; and his “more of the same” cuts in funds for traditional public schools, to increase the already obscene amount of state money currently being wasted on unaccountable charters and private schools; “FUND OUR FUTURE” puts forth specific proposals to responsibly increase funding for all facets of public education, while restoring local control to school boards and citizens in every district.
The Decade of Progress calls for a 10 year investment of $22 billion in education funding through 2030. Lawmakers must make a serious down payment this year in the form of a $2.4 billion opening investment, which represents a 10% increase in per-student funding in our traditional public schools. It sounds like a lot, but will only move Florida up 4 spots in the national rankings. The investment will increase the per-pupil funding by $767, of which at least $614 must go to the base student allocation, the flexible money under local district control. This will allow for across the board raises of 10% for every public school education worker in Florida; teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, secretaries, media specialists, social workers, cafeteria staff etc.
Along with the increased funding for the K – 12 schools, the Decade of Progress demands increased funding to Florida’s colleges and universities.
The investment will restore electives including art, music and drama; along with additional funding for lab materials, so students don’t just read about STEM, but can engage in it.
It will ensure access to mental health services, making school counselors, social workers and school psychologists readily available to assist struggling students and families.
And it will help Florida districts better address the struggling schools that have suffered the most from decades of underfunding.
The program also demands loan forgiveness for teachers and laws to protect all college students from predatory lending.
It calls for reducing the cost of teacher certification tests; and a halt to linking student test scores to teacher evaluations by redesigning evaluations to align with teaching and learning.
In support of this bold, but realistic program, 15,000 people traveled in buses arranged by the local FEA affiliates in each school district, or drove their own vehicles to Tallahassee the morning of January 13th to gather in the Tallahassee Civic Center in preparation for the march.
Our Alachua County Education Association, in conjunction with the United Faculty of Florida and the Graduate Assistants Union at UF, organized 300 union members along with members of the ACLC, Democratic Socialists of America, Indivisible, Socialist Alternative of Florida and individual supporters of teachers and public education, for the rally.
As each new district arriving at the Civic Center received an ovation from their colleagues and friends already in the building.
The highlight came late in the morning when the announcement was made that the Polk County Education Association had arrived.
As many of you may know Polk County’s Superintendent, when she realized that more than 600 Polk County teachers and support workers had asked for, and received, a personal day off to attend the rally, contacted the Florida Dept. of Education and Education Commissioner, Richard Corcoran, about any “help” the DOE could provide in covering for those workers. Responding for the commissioner and the department, the general counsel of DOE advised the superintendent that this could be construed as a strike action and she could fire the workers and fine the union $20,000 a day for any missed days. The workers could also have their retirement cancelled under Florida’s law that precludes public employees from engaging in strike activities.
Under this potentially devastating threat Polk County brought their entire contingent of more than 600. Their entrance set of a sustained standing ovation from the crowd.
As did the introduction of the union president, Stephanie Yocum.
From the Civic Center we marched to the steps of the old capitol building where speakers including FEA’s top leaders, President, Fedrick Ingram, VP, Andrew Spar and Secretary-Treasurer, Carole Gauronskas; plus both national education union presidents, Randi Weingarten with AFT and Lily Eskelsen Garcia from NEA; and even the Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as public advocates for education from around our state, addressed the gathering on the urgency to support the plan for a “Decade of Progress” for public education in Florida.
The day ended with everyone energized and ready for the fight to “FUND OUR FUTURE”. The January 13th “Rally in Tally” is only the beginning!
You can join us in this fight: Text EdActivist to 31996.