Florida's parent trigger bill, i.e. the bill that would lead to "strife, communities torn asunder and trickle-down divisiveness

From the Associated Press

A bill that would let parents "trigger" turnaround plans for failing public schools through a petition drive cleared its last Florida Senate committee on Saturday and heads to the floor.

The "Parent Empowerment in Education Act" (SB 1718) cleared the Senate Budget Committee on a 13-7 vote, after several Democrats unsuccessfully tried to tack on amendments, including one that would have required verification of parents' signatures.

Committee chair JD Alexander, a Lake Wales Republican, and other panel members then stuck around for nearly two hours after the meeting to continue listening - and sometimes arguing - with speakers about the measure. Despite being early on a weekend morning, more than 100 people attended.

Jason Flom, a parent and private school teacher in Tallahassee, told committee members that the bill would lead to "strife, communities torn asunder and trickle-down divisiveness" as it pitted parent against parent in a school's potential closure.

But Matt Minnick, with former Gov. Jeb Bush's Foundation for Florida's Future, said it would give a voice to those who children are stuck in the state's worst schools. It would affect only failing schools.

Florida had 38 schools that received an F in the state's grading system, but changes recently approved by the State Board of Education are expected to increase that number in the future.

Under the proposal, which already has passed the House, parents could "trigger" a plan to turn around a failing school, including handing it over to a private management company. The bill is based on a similar parental trigger law in California.

A school district would be required to put a turnaround plan into action if a majority of a school's parents support it by signing a petition.

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, the Wellington Republican sponsoring the bill, and other supporters say the measure will encourage parents to become more engaged in their children's education. One speaker didn't agree.

Being able to sign a petition "does nothing to ensure the involvement of parents," said Mary Beriau, a mother of four from Alachua County.

Other opponents argue that private management or charter school companies would be able to take advantage of the legislation by obtaining control over public assets. The proposal, however, prohibits the use of paid signature collectors.

Sen. Evelyn Lynn, an Ormond Beach Republican, a public schools advocate, railed against the bill.

"We are more and more playing around with the lives of students in our schools and it's time to stop," she said.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120303/APN/1203030767?p=2&tc=pg