Steve Wise and the Florida legislature’s complete lack of understand about education

The following was in the Florida Times Union, by Mat Dixon:

School buses may resemble NASCAR racers under a bill that passed out of the Senate Prek-12 Committee Monday.

The bill tries to drum up “investment free revenue” for district transportation programs but faces pushback from people who charge it could compromise the safety of the bus or expose students to inappropriate ads.
The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Bill Montford, D–Tallahassee, says that there are safeguards in the bill to prevent things like alcohol, tobacco and political ads from popping up on buses. He pointed to current advertising to make his point.

“Districts already do this on ball diamonds, and that has worked fine,“ Montford said.

He conceded he was uneasy with some aspects of the idea, but said tough budget times necessitate new ideas.

State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Meyers, opposed the bill because it could lead to students taunting each other.

“Some might see a product they can’t afford or something they can use to tease each other with what one has and what one doesn’t have,” she said.
Under and amendment offered by chairman Stephen Wise, R–Jacksonville, 50 percent of the revenue would go to district transportation programs, 25 percent would be discretionary, and 25 percent would be used to set up an education endowment that can attract private contributions.

Wise has also proposed sweeping 2 percent of state gaming revenue into an education endowment. If the ideas move forward, those sources of revenue would go into the same fund, he said.

The original bill sent 50 percent of revenue to district transportation programs, made 40 percent discretionary, and gave 10 percent to district’s driver education classes.

The bill has two more committee stops.

You know what is most ridiculous thing about this bill? It’s not how it is more evidence that the legislature doesn’t properly fund education and it’s not how they are trying to make busses look like Nascar cars. It’s how once again they are telling districts how to spend money. It’s once again the fact they are trying to usurp local control and I thought a tenant of the Republican Party was local control?

Hey Tallahassee how about letting local districts determine how they spend the money. What gives you the hubris to think you know better?

Ridiculous