Florida Educators to Governor and Legislature: “Fund Our Schools, Fund Our Students, Fund Our Future” Contact: Linda Mincey, lmmincey@att.net, 850-541-8444
On Monday, March 4th, thousands of teachers, parents, students and community members will be waving signs at major intersections, wearing red (#Red4Ed)and leafleting events across the state urging the Governor and Legislature to Fund Our Future by making make neighborhood public schools and public school students their top priority. The 2019 legislative session convenes the following day. This session, educators are particularly concerned about two big funding issues: school safety and a growing teacher shortage. “All of our children-every one of them- deserve a world class education,” said Linda Mincey, Washington County teacher and President of the Washington County Education Association.“ That starts with a safe learning environment and a certified teacher.” Florida is suffering from an alarming teacher shortage, in part, because legislators have for decades engaged in ‘bonus pay’ schemes rather than adequately funding teacher salaries. Even though student performance on standardized tests is among the best in the country, Florida ranks 45th in the nation for teacher salaries and 47th in pay for education staff professionals. Overall, no other state collects less to fund our neighborhood public schools than Florida. Florida ranks 51st in public school revenue for every $1000 of personal income generated in-state. Florida started this school year with over 4,000 teacher vacancies. At midyear, less than half of the vacancies had been filled and many were filled by ‘full time substitutes’ without appropriate certification. The Florida Department of Education projects Florida will have over 10,000 teacher vacancies at the start of the next school year. In Washington County, public school advocates will be wearing red and will be holding signs and on the corner of Hwy 77 and Hwy 90 in Chipley from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. “We hope this action reminds the Legislature to work harder to solve the widespread teacher and staff shortages facing our public schools,” said President Mincey. The Washington County Education Association represents the teachers in the Washington County School District.