Teacher Merit Pay, Revenue Caps On Agenda For Senate’s First Week

March 1, 2011

The Senate’s proposed overhaul of the way teachers are paid, ending tenure and phasing in short-term contracts where teachers are evaluated in part on student performance, is set for a vote next week.

The bill (SB 736) is on the floor calendar for a likely vote on Wednesday, March 9, just the second day of the legislative session. While not as controversial as last year’s proposal, the measure is still disliked by the teacher union and many rank and file teachers.

Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a similar proposal last year – Gov. Rick Scott is in favor of the plan.

Also up for a vote the first week in the Senate will be the proposed new revenue cap for the state. Lawmakers are proposing to change the constitution to limit revenue using a formula based on inflation plus population growth, rather than the current personal income growth formula. Backers say it will be a more restrictive cap.

Opponents say the state hasn’t ever bumped up against the less restrictive cap so it’s not really needed. The joint resolution (SJR 958) is on the special order calendar for Thursday, March 10.

Also up for a vote on the first day of the session is the Senate’s proposed block of the federal health care law (SJR 2.)

Comments

5 Responses to “Teacher Merit Pay, Revenue Caps On Agenda For Senate’s First Week”

  1. Dorothy on March 5th, 2011 1:30 pm

    The students and parents should be aware they they are the ones who should be responsible for homework after they leave the classroom. The teachers teach, babysits kids and then are held responsible if “poor little Johnnie” is failed. The teachers in all counties do a great job, only to be told they may not be good enough. Shame on you Gov. Scott.

  2. hmm... on March 2nd, 2011 2:06 pm

    Art…You have said everything that needs to be said about this topic!!!

  3. Jim W on March 1st, 2011 4:48 pm

    I have to agree with Art on this one. Spot on man.

  4. You Who on March 1st, 2011 10:40 am

    I Agree with you ART

  5. art on March 1st, 2011 6:13 am

    the only thing that will encourage teachers to perform better will be to give them autonomy and the freedom to do what they love…teach. now they are forced to spend way too much time on standardized test preparation and there is little time and energy to give to reading writing and ‘rithmetic. it doesn’t look like “No Child Left Behind” is going away, so parents do what you can to educate your children before and after school. the only thing they are going to be taught is how to take tests.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News