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privatization

Sharp Acceleration of Shifting Tax Dollars to Private Schools Clears Senate and Heads for DeSantis Signature

April 27, 2021 | FlaglerLive | 10 Comments

A postcard of one of the oldest schoolhouses in the country, in St. Augustine, pre-vouchers. (Boston Public Library)

The proposal also would increase the maximum income eligibility to receive vouchers to 375 percent of the federal poverty level, meaning a family of four making nearly $100,000 a year would qualify.

Gov. DeSantis Could Use a Civics Lesson on the Florida Constitution

March 19, 2021 | FlaglerLive | 42 Comments

Ron DeSantis during a visit to Flagler before he was governor. (© FlaglerLive)

Even as they push a $106 million proposal to improve civics education, our legislators and our governor persist in violating the Constitution by supporting legislation authorizing programs to send nearly $1 billion to private, religious schools in our state.

Senate Panel Signs Off on Vast Expansion of Use of Tax Dollars for Private Schools

February 4, 2021 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

school vouchers

The measure (SB 48), filed by Republican Sen. Manny Diaz of Hialeah, would expand eligibility for school-voucher programs and allow parents to use taxpayer-backed education savings accounts for private schools and other costs.

Florida Senate Proposal Would Vastly Expand “School Choice” and Use of Tax Dollars for Private Schools

January 21, 2021 | FlaglerLive | 16 Comments

The now-retired Mike Judd, once Flagler Schools' long-time facilities director, gave the Flagler Ciounty School Board a primer on rezoning in 2017. If the Senate proposal to broadly reconfigure school choice is adopted, the Flagler district, which has been discussing rezoning for several years, would face a serious challenge on that score. (© FlaglerLive)

The legislation, filed by Republican Sen. Manny Diaz of Hialeah, would expand eligibility for school-voucher programs, consolidate existing school-choice programs and allow parents to use taxpayer-backed education savings accounts for private schools and other costs.

Florida’s GOP Lawmakers Accelerate Plan To Use Far More Public Dollars for Private Schools

March 16, 2019 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

Sen. Kelli Stargell, R-Lakeland, prefers to peg the voucher program closer to the poverty line. (Florida House)

The House Education Committee on Thursday approved a bill (PCB EDC 19-01) that would create a new voucher program, known as the Family Empowerment Scholarship program, which would be open to many middle-class families.

To Protect Public Use of Private Beachfronts, Flagler Calls on Memories of
Long-Timers’ Customs

May 23, 2018 | FlaglerLive | 23 Comments

customary use

To ward off a new state law potentially allowing private property owners to fence off beach sands, the Flagler County Commission is enacting an ordinance to preserve public use and forbid fencing.

Judge Rejects Local Districts’ Challenge of Controversial Law Shifting Money To Charter Schools

April 20, 2018 | FlaglerLive | 6 Comments

Charter schools like Imagine in Palm Coast are now entitled to a lot more money from the school district to apply to renovations, new construction or a variety of other uses. (© FlaglerLive)

The controversy highlights continuing tensions between local school districts and the state about oversight and expansion of charter schools, which are public schools but are often run by private operators.

Teacher Unions Protected But Public Funding of Private School Students Advances

February 20, 2018 | FlaglerLive | Leave a Comment

A rare victory for teacher unions, but another loss for publicly-funded education as the Senate approves paying for private school students' tuition through a controversial 'scholarship' program. (Classroom Camera)

The Florida Senate rejected a House proposal to dissolve teacher unions if membership falls below a certain point, but also approved a version of a school voucher program funding private school students.

County Eliminates 15 Jobs, Outsourcing Janitorial Contract Commissioners Had Saved in 2015

February 5, 2018 | FlaglerLive | 20 Comments

county commissioner charlie ericksen

Three years ago then-Flagler Commissioner Barbara Revels saved the jobs, arguing they were more important than outsourcing’s modest savings. This time, the commission voted 5-0 to outsource.

Both Sides Pressuring Scott on School Bill That Drew Protest Firestorm from Education Leaders

June 14, 2017 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

rick scott school bill veto

The bill’s passage infuriated school boards, superintendents, the state’s main teachers and other education advocates. Scott hinted that he was considering a veto at the time.

Lawmakers Are Reducing Florida’s Public Schools To Factories of Failure and Inequity

April 28, 2016 | FlaglerLive | 6 Comments

florida public education failure factories delegal

Time to take a good look at whether the changes we’ve endured — mass privatization, real-dollar funding decreases, high-stakes testing, and loss of local school board authority — gets us closer to carrying out our constitutional duty to our children.

Party On: Flagler Beach Commission Approves Policy For Private Events on Pier, 4-0

September 11, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

flagler beach pier

The Flgler Beach City Commission Thursday voted 4-0 to approve a new policy regulating how the Flagler Beach pier may be rented out for private parties–and closed to the general public–up to six times a year.

Don’t Privatize The Postal Service.
Build On It.

March 7, 2015 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

Blaming deficits created by a bogus retirement-fund requirement, the USPS is closing distribution centers, cutting worker hours, eliminating delivery routes, and slashing jobs. It needn’t be that way, argues Katherine McFate.

Lawsuit Opposing School Voucher Expansion Is Thrown Out Again, Likely Ending Challenge

December 31, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 15 Comments

A judge rebuffed claims by a teacher and two parents who joined the new lawsuit that the expansion of the Tax Credit Scholarship Program hurt them because it could lead to reduced funding for their schools.

Judge Throws Out Union’s Challenge of School Voucher Expansion, But Only on Technicality

September 24, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

The judge gave opponents of the law 15 days to try to amend their complaint and come up with another way to challenge the legislation after ruling that the plaintiff in the challenge, teacher Tom Faasse, doesn’t have the legal right to file suit.

Voucher Scams: Floridians Should Be Fighting the Privatization of Public Schools

May 6, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 30 Comments

We’re decades into a war waged by shadowy business interests and religious groups, working through “cooperative” legislators and governors to gradually undermine most of the state’s public schools and ultimately privatize them, argues Daniel Tilson.

“Opportunity Scholarships”: Lawmakers Revive Vast Expansion of School Vouchers By Riding Coattails of Students With Disabilities

March 29, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

The House Education Appropriations Subcommittee voted 8-4 to introduce the measure, which would bind together a program aimed at students with disabilities and the voucher expansion. Senate leaders last week pulled their counterpart to the House voucher bill, but the measure for students with disabilities remains alive.

The Problem With “Step Up for Students,” Florida’s Voucher Jockey

March 24, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

Step Up For Children CEO Doug Tuthill is shameless about the way his organization–the administrative agent for Florida’s school voucher program–spends lavishly on political races, which may explain why a Senate proposal to vastly expand the voucher program this year foundered.

Bill Vastly Expanding School Vouchers Dies As Questions About Accountability Mounted

March 22, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

No reason to mourn the latest attempt by the Florida Legislature to privatize education at public expense. (Andy Jones)

The decision represents a defeat for the GOP’s Will Weatherford, who was home schooled as a child and strongly pushed the expansion of the system, which gives companies tax credits for donating to scholarship funds that help children attend private schools. Under the bills, retailers would have been allowed to divert sales-tax payments to the system.

Florida’s Corporate Step-Up Scheme: 51,075 Students Now Enrolled in Private Schools at Taxpayers’ Expense

July 8, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 17 Comments

Under the program, corporations are allowed to take tax credits for money that they contribute to Step Up for Students, which then uses those funds to essentially provide private-school vouchers.

Parent-Trigger Bill Fails on Tie Vote in Setback for Charters and Jeb Bush’s Foundation

May 1, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

In a stunning vote Tuesday, the Senate rejected on a tie vote a controversial bill that would have given parents the ability to register their wishes with a district that’s choosing how to turn around failing schools.

Charter-School Trigger Bill Passes House 68-51; Flagler’s Hutson Among Dissenters

April 5, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 11 Comments

Rep. Travis Hutson was among the Republicans crossing party lines to oppose the bill, favered by the charter-school movement, as it would let parents petition their school district to consider a turnaround option for a school that receives an “F” on the state report card for two consecutive years.

Parent Trigger Bill: A Trojan Horse of Corporate Charter Schools

March 20, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

The so-called parent-trigger bill does not empower parents. Rather, it empowers out-of-state corporate interests and their lobbyists to siphon Florida tax dollars away from our already underfunded public school system, argues Paula Dockery.

Parent Trigger Bill That Would Boost Conversions to Charter Schools Nearing Law

March 20, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 4 Comments

The measure would allow parents to petition their school board to adopt a specific turnaround option for any school that draws an “F” on state report cards for two straight years.

“Parent Trigger” Bill Advances In Backdoor Victory for Charter School Lobby

March 8, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

Supporters say the proposal will improve chances for children trapped in failing schools.Opponents worry that politically savvy for-profit corporations could encourage parents to back the charter school option.

Partisan Vote Approves 401k Plan for State Workers’ Retirement as Showdown Looms

February 10, 2013 | FlaglerLive | 9 Comments

The measure passed the House Government Operations Subcommittee after a contentious and at times emotional three-and-a-half-hour meeting. The bill would require all employees who begin working for the state on or after Jan. 1 to join a “defined contribution” plan.

Voting Time Again as State Asks Floridians To Click on Their Favorite License Plate

November 26, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is asking Floridians to vote on one of four choices, online, starting today and until Dec. 14. The redesigned plate with the most votes replaces existing plates beginning in 2014.

Flagler Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston Criticizes State’s License Plate Rule Changes

October 9, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 19 Comments

The local tax collector's office stocks almost all the state's varieties of license plates. If the motor vehicle department has its way, that'll end in January 2014, when drivers will have to get their plates by mail from Tallahassee. (© FlaglerLive)

Citing a likely drop in customer service and an eventual increase in costs, Flagler County Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston joined tax collectors across the state to criticize parts of Florida’s plans to redesign the state’s license plates and end local residents’ ability to get their plates locally and immediately.

Romney-Ryan’s Voucher Plan for Medicare, Long the Third Rail of Florida Politics

August 31, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 16 Comments

saving medicare lyndon johnson

GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan said the nation must rethink Medicare as he and Mitt Romney propose changing the health-insurance program for 65-and-over Americans to a “fixed-amount” voucher that would essentially privatize the benefit.

A Few Florida Facts for Republican National Convention Delegates

August 27, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 15 Comments

republican nationbal convention florida tampa

Florida under the leadership of Republican icons like Bush, Scott and Rubio, and supported by proud and unthinking GOP legislatures for the last 15 years, has happily served as the grow house for Republican policies. The results are stunning, writes former lawmaker Dan Gelber.

Prison Privatization Still Unconstitutional As Court Rejects Attorney General’s Appeal

July 25, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 3 Comments

In a victory for police unions, an appeals court ruled against Attorney General Pam Bondi in a long-running battle about the Legislature’s attempt last year to privatize prisons across southern Florida.

As Florida and Other States Privatize Prison Health Services, Care Standards Suffer

July 22, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

nurse ratched prison health services

Florida and other states, in an attempt to cut costs, are increasingly outsourcing health care for inmates to for-profit companies, but the trend is raising concerns among unions and prisoners’ rights groups.

A Lifeguard’s Soul,
Outsourced to the Bottom line

July 8, 2012 | Pierre Tristam | 13 Comments

Thomas Lopez was fired by Jeff Ellis and Associates, the private company to whom Hallandale Beach outsourced its lifeguard services, when Lopez tried to save a drowning man beyond his jurisdiction. It’s an example of privatization’s immoral priorities.

Parent Trigger Bill: Florida Senate’s Rebel Republicans Help Defeat Charter School Ploy

March 9, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

The Senate on a tie vote defeated a bill that would have let parents turn failing schools into charters, the latest and perhaps final victory for a dissident faction of the GOP caucus as the curtain came down on the 2012 legislative session.

Charter School Giveaway Bill Veiled as Parental Control Drawing Frantic Opposition

March 8, 2012 | FlaglerLive | Leave a Comment

Democrats are looking to the Senate and a rogue set of lawmakers to help them defeat an education bill they think is a giveaway to the charter school industry at the expense of public schools.

Defying Legislature’s Rejection, Gov. Scott Says He’ll Look to Privatize Prisons Anyway

February 17, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 21 Comments

Scott’s jump into the controversy – after months of refusing to answer directly what his position was on the idea – drew immediate criticism from the opponents of privatization, including the union that currently represents most state corrections officers.

Scott’s Prison Privatization Scheme Dies

February 15, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 11 Comments

In a rebuke to Gov. Rick Scott, a bipartisan coalition of senators bucked the chamber’s Republican leadership Tuesday and rejected a proposal to privatize several prisons on a 19-21 vote.

Bill Requiring Property Tax Revenue to Pay For Charter School Construction Advances

February 7, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 21 Comments

Supporters say the measure creates more parity between charter schools and other public schools. Opponents slammed the measure as corporate welfare that would provide tax dollars to the private operators of charter schools — despite the fact that supporters of charter legislation said years ago that they would not ask for capital outlay dollars.

Florida’s Plan to Privatize 30 Prisons Fast-Tracks to the Dismay of Guards and Others

January 26, 2012 | FlaglerLive | 21 Comments

A legislative proposal to privatize about 30 prisons in most of the southern part of Florida is headed for the Senate floor after a vote in the Budget Committee that angered prison guards who feel they’re not being heard.

Florida Charter Schools: A Go-Go Industry Awash in Tax Money and Little Oversight

December 12, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 11 Comments

Florida lawmakers have been more concerned about promoting rather than regulating charter schools, so bad charter schools operate with impunity. A Miami Herald investigation uncovers the charter school bandwagon.

Bunnell Commission, With 14 Jobs in Jeopardy, Calls Emergency Meeting for Today

November 2, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

The Florida Department of Transportation has contracted with Bunnell for the past six years for road maintenance. Now Bunnell is one of 24 bidders on the same contract, and it’s heavily disfavored as Gov. Rick Scott pushes for privatization.

Florida’s Plan to Privatize 29 Prisons Halted As Judge Rules Process Unconstitutional

October 1, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 4 Comments

Leon County Curcuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled that lawmakers violated the Florida Constitution by approving prison privatization in the fine print of the state budget rather than by changing the law explicitly.

Students as Customers, Universities as Businesses: Scott’s Plan To Texify Higher Ed

July 29, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

Gov. Rick Scott is following Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s lead in higher ed: merit pay for professors, tenure reform, and generally a greater emphasis on business-like measurement of whether professors are turning out students that meet certain goals.

Soaring Corporate Tax Credit Voucher Program Costing Flagler Schools Half a Million Dollars

July 28, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

A new law passed by the Legislature last year increased the amount of taxpayer dollars available for private-school vouchers, from $118 million to $140 million-money denied the public school system. Some 33,000 students, including 86 in Flagler, are enrolled.

How School-Voucher Lobbyist John Kirtley Buys Florida Lawmakers’ Votes

May 22, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

John Kirtley successfully lobbied in 2001 to get the corporate tax credit scholarship program approved, and has since, with generous contributions, shifted numerous lawmakers to his crusade.

Corporate Tax Cut Out, Privatizing Prisons and 3% Public Pension Contributions In

May 1, 2011 | FlaglerLive | Leave a Comment

As the Legislature’s 2011 session veers uncertainly toward its final days, lawmakers struck deals Saturday on privatizing prisons and compromising over public employees’ pension contributions, but no deal yet on health care and education cuts.

From Teacher Merit Pay to Charter School Expansion: Legislature Marches On

March 28, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 13 Comments

Old school: the Florida Legislature is demolishing education as the state knew it. Charter schools and merit pay.

Like the swiftly-approved teacher merit pay reforms, the push to expand charter schools, including expanding preferential admittance, has the strong backing of Gov. Rick Scott, and continues to revamp education.

Gov. Scott Orders Florida’s 33 Public Hospitals Reviewed for Possible Privatization

March 24, 2011 | FlaglerLive | 10 Comments

As the former CEO of a private hospital chain, Scott was opposed to publicly-run hospitals, which he considers to have an unfair competitive advantage over the privately run sort. The commission is a first step toward privatization.

Floridians, Start Your Orwells: Rick Scott’s Buzzword-Assault on State Health Care

December 27, 2010 | FlaglerLive | 15 Comments

Judging from a 68-page transition team report, Rick Scott will seek to accelerate privatization of state health services. He has a willing audience among business-friendly Republican legislative leaders.

Abu Ghraib Brutality in Florida’s Youth Prisons: Suit Charges Rape and Other Abuses

October 11, 2010 | FlaglerLive | 6 Comments

handcuffs children

A class-action law suit against a private Florida juvenile prion contractor claims children were physically abused, forced to have sex with counselors, and kept from seeing lawyers.

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