School Board Issues Position Statements On Two Amendments

October 4, 2010

The Escambia County School Board has issued position statements on two statewide amendments that will appear on the November ballot.

Amendment 4

Amendment 4 would require a referendum for adoption and amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans.

“The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, recognizes the potential adverse consequences of proposed Amendment 4 and urges the citizens to carefully consider them before voting in the 2010 general election.”

Amendment 8

The class size amendment would remove current class size caps from Florida’s classrooms.

“The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, recognizing the need for smaller classes and the need for flexibility at the school level in providing the best education for students of this District, encourage citizens to support proposed Amendment 8 in the 2010 general election.”

Comments

8 Responses to “School Board Issues Position Statements On Two Amendments”

  1. David Huie Green on October 6th, 2010 10:16 am

    REGARDING:
    “if I want to develop that property I don’t think all the voters in the whole county should decide what I can do with my “private” property.”

    I agree but point out that you can no longer decide what you can do with your “private” property. We already have zoning restricting what you can do. The difference is that currently to change it, you have to convince a few people and as proposed you would have to convince a majority of those affected by your plans.

    For example, if prostitution were legal, you could easily convince a few commissioners to allow you to open a brothel but it might be harder to convince your neighbors it was a good idea. Other money-makers are currently legal but might not be welcome and who knows what will be legal in the future?

    David knowing it would restrict development

  2. Just My Thoughts on October 5th, 2010 6:58 am

    How many people have read the land zoning amendment? I go to work everyday to pay for my property everyday as do all my family, and if I want to develop that property I don’t think all the voters in the whole county should decide what I can do with my “private” property.

  3. interested reader on October 4th, 2010 3:57 pm

    How many more times do we have to say VOTE NO on amendment 8. Please do this for our children and the excellant teachers we have in the school system. The schoolboard does not have the best interests of the children or teachers when they choose to raise class limits. Each one needs to be in a class room with one teacher and 18 to 22 children. How long would they last? Not long. Try it , then add a few more children to the mix and see if it gets better. Teachers are entrusted with our children and do the best job they can with no, or very little help.

  4. anydaynow on October 4th, 2010 1:41 pm

    Sorry, I forgot to add this to show that they actually support larger class sizes.

    http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_Class_Size,_Amendment_8_%282010%29

    And about Amendment 4, which gives voters in their communities a voice in what development projects are approved. It’s clear that the Escambia County Board of Education doesn’t want voters to have a say in development of the land in their community.

    http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Florida_Comprehensive_Land_Use_Plans,_Amendment_4_%282010%29

    http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/amendment-8-asks-florida-voters-to-reconsider-class-sizes/1115586

    Is it appropriate for a Board of Education to be issuing statements such as this, especially when those statements are misleading? Jus’ sayin’

  5. anydaynow on October 4th, 2010 1:07 pm

    That’s a very misleading statement that they made in regard to Amendment 8. That statement suggests that they support limited class sizes, but that’s not what Amendment 8 does. Not at all, and they should be called out for what they’ve done.

    I think that crowd is better suited for the private school sector, where they could have 40 kids in a class and all the parents that don’t care how many students are in their childrens’ classroom could send their kids there to the Loud Crowd School.

  6. weird on October 4th, 2010 7:07 am

    If you would like your child to have to wait for more unruly children to calm down before the teacher can talk to them then vote for Amendment 8.

    If you are simply content with your child waiting longer with his/ her hand in the air waiting for the teacher to answer their question then vote yes for Amendment 8.

    If you like waiting in the longest line possible then vote yes for Amendment 8. This is what will be created by the amendment. As many kids will be stuffed into classrooms as possible. We all know children have to go one at a time.

  7. David Huie Green on October 4th, 2010 6:56 am

    they didn’t really, but they did only recognize the negative aspects. that’s similar to a VOTE NO reccomendation from them

  8. Oversight on October 4th, 2010 6:02 am

    Did the school board really take a position on Amendment 4? Don’t step around the issue; either the board is in favor or it is against – not just some wishy washy recognition of “the potential adverse consequences” statement. If the board is against it, then say it: VOTE NO on 4!