I think school has to reopen. Distance learning didn't work for many children and it is a reality that parents have to work and children can't be left alone. That being said if we don't do it safely and if we don't do it right we will be right back to where we were or worse. Then this is the kicker we only get one chance to do it right.
Governor DeSantis's plan is underwhelming to say the least. It does not provide districts with the resources they need when schools will need more resources than ever before.
Now if the state did not want to do things the right and decent way, holding a special session to allocate more resources, there are ways to get around this at least in the short term.
The state could waive the three percent rule. School have to save 3 percent of their budget in reserves and several districts like to keep more. For Duval county that would be around 50 million dollars.
The state could also waive districts contributions to the Florida Retirement System. Tallahassee pulled a fast one this year when they raised the per pupil allotment but then said districts had to greatly up their contributions. The FRS despite the gloom and doom that republicans in Tallahassee often spew is in good shape and this would free up millions of dollars districts could use.
Thus far there is no special session and no plan to help districts get the resources they need and that's unacceptable.
Florida has a long and sordid history of doing things on the cheap and I fear this time it may cost lives.
We need serious people to come up with serious solutions and thus far Corcoran and DeSantis haven't proved capable.
To learn more, click the links,
https://www.flgov.com/2020/06/11/governor-ron-desantis-announces-recommendations-to-safely-reopen-floridas-education-system/
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/06/15/desantis-decision-reopen-schools-not-safe-opinion/3189330001/?fbclid=IwAR2ln1U7hy0fLYgZuuRcB10lG9e-
Governor DeSantis's plan is underwhelming to say the least. It does not provide districts with the resources they need when schools will need more resources than ever before.
Now if the state did not want to do things the right and decent way, holding a special session to allocate more resources, there are ways to get around this at least in the short term.
The state could waive the three percent rule. School have to save 3 percent of their budget in reserves and several districts like to keep more. For Duval county that would be around 50 million dollars.
The state could also waive districts contributions to the Florida Retirement System. Tallahassee pulled a fast one this year when they raised the per pupil allotment but then said districts had to greatly up their contributions. The FRS despite the gloom and doom that republicans in Tallahassee often spew is in good shape and this would free up millions of dollars districts could use.
Thus far there is no special session and no plan to help districts get the resources they need and that's unacceptable.
Florida has a long and sordid history of doing things on the cheap and I fear this time it may cost lives.
We need serious people to come up with serious solutions and thus far Corcoran and DeSantis haven't proved capable.
To learn more, click the links,
https://www.flgov.com/2020/06/11/governor-ron-desantis-announces-recommendations-to-safely-reopen-floridas-education-system/
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/06/15/desantis-decision-reopen-schools-not-safe-opinion/3189330001/?fbclid=IwAR2ln1U7hy0fLYgZuuRcB10lG9e-
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