TAMPA, Fla. - Superintendents from around the Tampa Bay area came together Thursday morning to address concerns over the state education budget's impact on students, teachers and staff.
The superintendents are encouraging Gov. Rick Scott to call lawmakers back to Tallahassee to "fully fund education" and to "do more."
"Gov. Scott proposed an increase in student funding of $152 per student in his initial budget," said Hillsborough County Superintendent Jeff Eakins. "The final state budget diverts nearly all of that money into school safety.
"That means the final amount of flexible funding for schools is increasing by just 47 cents per student."
Eakins was joined by Manatee County Superintendent Diana Greene, Pasco County Superintendent Kurt Browning, Pinellas County Superintendent Dr. Michael A. Grego and Polk County Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd at Thursday morning's news conference.
Each superintendent placed coins on a table to demonstrate the difference between the increase of 47 cents per student and $152 per student. A quarter, two dimes and two pennies totaled 47 cents.
"School security is an important priority, absolutely, but the state is looking at a $5 billion increase to its budget next year," Eakins said. "That means there's enough money available to fund we need for both security and classrooms."
McKinley Lewis, who serves as Scott's deputy communications director, issued the following statement on behalf of the governor:
“In this year’s budget, K-12 public schools are provided hundreds of millions of dollars and the flexibility needed to make each school safer while still increasing Florida’s per-pupil funding to a record high. Since Governor Scott has taken office, total operational funding for Florida schools is up 27 percent, while the amount of flexible funding to school districts has grown by 21 percent. Student enrollment has only grown seven percent in the same amount of time.
“The Governor has been clear – the number one priority right now is making our schools safer, and he’s glad that the Legislature provided funding for that specific reason.”
The superintendents urged parents and Floridians to email the governor at rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com.
The last day of the regular Florida legislative session was on Friday, March 9.
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