State Board Set To Request More Money For Florida Schools
September 26, 2016
The Florida Board of Education appears ready to request another record figure of per-student funding for public education, setting a starting point for what is annually one of the most politically charged debates over the state budget.
But the increase is likely to draw some of the same complaints as it has in the past: While the proposed per-student spending is more than ever in raw numbers, it has not kept up with inflation since a previous high-water mark was set nearly a decade ago.
A draft of the request, posted on the Department of Education’s website Thursday, proposes spending almost $20.9 billion in state and local tax dollars next year through the main formula for funding public education in Florida, an increase of $721.6 million.
The request is set to be adopted by the board at its meeting Friday, then sent to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders for use in crafting the overall state spending plan for the fiscal year that will start July 1.
On a per-student basis, the figure would grow from $7,183.92 in the current budget year to $7,359.85 next year. That represents growth of almost 2.5 percent. That is slightly above the amount that state economists project would flow to schools based on increased tax dollars from local property values if the state invested nothing more.
That could allow state budget-writers to substantially increase funding for education with only a portion of the new funding — about $222.2 million — coming from a state budget already expected to be stretched thin. But it also could tangle the politics of the issue after lawmakers and Scott trumpeted an effort this year to hold property taxes flat, offsetting the lost income with state money.
That left room for just a 1 percent increase in student funding this year.
While Scott and other state leaders have bragged about increasing spending on state schools to record levels, the Florida Education Association teachers union has disputed that idea, saying those pronouncements don’t account for inflation since the 2007-08 budget year, when legislators hit what used to be the historical record.
“Florida’s public schools and their students continue to make gains despite tepid financial support from the state,” said Mark Pudlow, a spokesman for the union. “When adjusted for inflation, this proposed budget still doesn’t equal what we were investing on our public schools a decade ago.”
The plan to be considered by the board Friday would also do away with the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program — which received $49 million in the current budget year. Instead, the department would create a $43 million program that would “support bonuses for new teachers who show great potential for and veteran teachers who have demonstrated the highest student academic growth among their peers,” according to meeting materials.
Best and Brightest has been controversial because it bases teacher bonuses on educators’ scores on college-admissions tests.
State officials were traveling for the board meeting, which will be held in Tampa, and could not immediately be reached to further explain the changes.
In higher education, the budget requests an additional $29.1 million for the Bright Futures scholarship program to cover the costs of expanding the scholarships to cover summer courses. And a program aimed at drawing high-achieving students who receive national merit scholarship recognition to Florida colleges would grow by more than 41 percent, to $18.2 million.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Bonus Gallery: Northview Beats Vancleave
September 26, 2016
The Northview Chiefs beat Vancleave, MS, Friday night.
Click here for a photo gallery from Friday night’s Northview at Vancleave, MS game.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Over 5800 Local Ballots Headed To Military, Overseas Residents
September 26, 2016
The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office is sending over 5,800 vote-by-mail ballots to eligible military and overseas citizens. Voters will either receive their ballot by mail or electronically, depending on their chosen method of delivery. Absent military voters and those living overseas can request, mark and track their vote-by-mail ballots electronically.
Vote-by-mail ballots for all eligible domestic voters will be mailed beginning on Tuesday, October 4. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed for the General Election is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2. To request or track your vote-by-mail ballot for the General Election, visit EscambiaVotes.com and click “Vote by Mail”, or contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (850) 595-3900.
Bonus Gallery: Niceville Tops Tate
September 26, 2016
Friday night, the Tate Aggies fell to Niceville High School.
For a photo gallery of raw, unedited photos from the game, click here.
For a game summary, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Held In Stabbing Death
September 25, 2016
A Cantonment man is being held in connection with a stabbing death in Freeport.
Jefferson Charles Michael Helton, age 26 of Rose Petal Lane, was apprehended Friday afternoon after fleeing the scene on foot.
Helton and the victim, identified as 26-year old Sandy James Berlin of Alabama, were involved in an altercation on LaGranage Road in Freeport just after 12:00 a.m. Friday morning. Berlin was stabbed several times in the chest. He was transported to an area hospital where he died Saturday.
Helton was captured Friday with help of a Good Samaritan. He was transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the altercation with the victim. He then fled the scene on foot.
Helton approached a nearby residence asking for cigarettes and water. The Good Samaritan, recognizing he was probably the suspect, acted like he was going to take him the store and drove him right to a nearby deputy.
“We certainly don’t encourage any resident approach a suspect,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “But, we appreciate his help. The situation ended as well as it could have.”
Charges related to the stabbing against Helton are still pending the conclusion of the investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. He remains in the Walton County Jail without bond on a violation of probation warrant for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon from Escambia County.
Pictured: Stabbing suspect Jefferson Charles Michael Helton of Cantonment is taken into custody. Pictured below: The scene of the stabbing in Freeport. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Flomaton Celebrates Railroad Junction Day
September 25, 2016
Flomaton celebrated the town’s heritage Saturday with Railroad Junction Day. The day featured a variety of free activities, demonstrations, entertainment including the Northview High School Dance Team, food and vendors.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
September 25, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase 1 – The inside lanes of U.S. 29 north and southbound near the I-10 interchange will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 through Thursday, Sept. 29 for drainage improvements.
- 9 Mile Road (from Pine Forest Road to U.S. 29) Widening - Clearing of trees and shrubs on the 2.6 mile segment between State Road (S.R.) 297 (Pine Forest Road) and S.R. 95 (U.S. 29) began Thursday, Sept. 22. Drivers are reminded to watch for workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway. Lane closures are only permitted between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- U.S. 29 (from I-10 to 9 Mile Road) Widening – Motorists will encounter lane closures near the U.S. 29/9 Mile Road overpass as workers prepare the area for the bridge replacement. Lane closures will only be permitted between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- I-10 (from Davis Highway to Scenic Highway)Widening – Traffic on Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) northbound will be shifted to the newly constructed northbound travel lanes beginning Wednesday, Sept. 28. The shift will allow crews to install the concrete traffic separator in the median between the north and southbound lanes and open the park and ride facility.
Santa Rosa County:
- I-10 Resurfacing - Intermittent and alternating lane closures east and westbound between the S.R. 87 interchange and the Okaloosa County line from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 through Friday, Sept. 30 as crews perform construction activities. Motorists are reminded the speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH within the lane closure.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Molino VFD Holds Open House, Live Burn Demonstration
September 25, 2016
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue held an open house Saturday afternoon, including a live burn demonstration. The event also included a variety of activities for the entire family, including free food, entertainment and activities for the kids. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Seat Belt Use At All-Time High
September 25, 2016
Seat-belt use is up to nearly 90 percent in Florida, the state Department of Transportation said Thursday. Of 31,055 drivers and 7,426 front-seat passengers observed in June, 89.6 percent were using the safety devices, the agency reported.
The mark is the highest the state has recorded, with slightly lower percentages each year since 2009 when a law went into effect allowing police to pull over and ticket drivers and passengers for not wearing seat belts. When the law took effect, compliance was estimated at 85.2 percent. A year ago, the mark stood at 89.4 percent. In 2000, seat-belt use was estimated at 60.1 percent.
The latest projection is based on observations of motorists taken at 165 sites in 15 counties.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: The Times, They Are A-Changing
September 25, 2016
As fall settles over Tallahassee — at least in terms of the season, not the weather — state government is also going through some changes.
There’s the actual, physical changes underway at the state Capitol, a construction project meant to repair parking garages and spruce up a main way that people enter the halls of government.
There are the personnel changes, as a longtime member of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration retires and another agency head gives way to someone Scott has wanted to bring into state government.
And there’s the other seasonal change that takes place every year, as state agencies ready their spending requests for Scott and the Legislature to consider. It marks the unofficial beginning of the process of haggling, bargaining and horse-trading that ends up with lawmakers approving a budget in the 11th hour of the spring legislative session — never before.
But just like the green leaves are still on the trees in Tallahassee, there are a few old storylines to dispose of before moving on. And one of them dealt with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
BONDI TALKS TRUMP
There’s been plenty of speculation in 2016 about whether and how support for presidential nominee Donald Trump might hurt Republicans. But most of that has been speculative. Bondi is one of the few GOP officials to actually see her reputation undermined in real time by her association with Trump.
And on Tuesday, just before the start of a Cabinet meeting, Bondi tried another round of damage control over assertions that a $25,000 political contribution from Trump influenced her office in 2013 to dismiss allegations that Floridians had been bilked by the modestly named Trump University.
In Bondi’s telling, only a single complaint had been filed by a Floridian against the Trump educational company between the time she took office in 2011 and the time of the donation. She also said she had no knowledge of the complaint at the time it was made and that a lower-level staff member found no justification to investigate.
“There was one complaint by one citizen against Donald Trump in 2011,” Bondi said. “I had absolutely no idea, nor would I have had an idea that there was one complaint.”
Bondi said she had no regret about the contribution, which was made from Trump’s charity foundation to a political committee known as “And Justice for All,” which helped in her successful 2014 re-election bid. She said her mistake had been in failing to personally address media questions about the contribution earlier.
“I hate that this is taking away from all the things we can be doing to help people,” Bondi said.
Despite Trump’s statements on the campaign trail that he has given contributions to other politicians to get favors, Bondi said there were no strings attached with the 2013 contribution to her re-election effort.
“I would never, ever trade any campaign donation for some type of favor to anyone,” Bondi said.
PUTNAM AND THE PARKING DECKS
If he still has some spare money lying around, maybe Trump could help the state pay for emergency repairs to two underground parking decks at the Capitol and planned upgrades to a main entry plaza. The potential bill for those changes is a bit more than $25,000 — in fact, it’s 3,000 times as much, or $75 million.
Department of Management Services Secretary Chad Poppell, whose agency oversees the complex, said officials should have a better grasp on some of the costs in about a month when updated figures are available on the already-closed Senate garage.
“These projects are very complex, about half of the cost is just getting the building ready to work on,” Poppell said.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam had aesthetic and fiscal concerns with the project, describing the minimalistic renderings that Poppell’s office is using to showcase the project as “not particularly attractive” and asking about less-expensive options.
“Seventy-five million (dollars), and to only have to show for it two parking garages that are not collapsing on each other and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility, is extraordinary to me,” Putnam said.
ALL SHOOK UP?
It might be a bit much to say that Scott’s administration underwent a shake-up this week, but there were changes atop two of the agencies that provide services to vulnerable Floridians.
Liz Dudek, a longtime state health official who helped lead an overhaul of the Medicaid program, is retiring as secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Scott announced Wednesday.
Dudek is one of the longest-serving officials remaining under a governor known for agency-head turnover. She has served as secretary since March 2011, shortly after Scott took office.
“Liz Dudek has been a part of my team since my first year in office and has spent over four decades serving Florida families,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “She cares deeply about making our state the best place for families. Under her leadership, we have worked to make hospitals more transparent and accomplished historic Medicaid reform.”
Dudek will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Secretary Justin Senior.
The announcement did not explain Dudek’s reasons for leaving the agency, which is primarily responsible for running the Medicaid program but also is involved in regulating hospitals, nursing homes and other health providers.
Meanwhile, after having sent his resume to seemingly every human-resources office in state government, Jeffrey Bragg got a government post: The insurance expert will head up the Department of Elder Affairs, which as the name implies oversees services for older Floridians.
Just hours after Dudek’s retirement was announced, Scott sent out another press release saying Bragg will serve as secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs. Bragg follows Sam Verghese, who began leading the department in December 2014 and will now “pursue opportunities in the private sector,” Scott’s office said.
In a statement announcing the appointment, Scott said Bragg’s experience would prepare him for the job at the department.
“He has over 40 years of experience in the public and private sectors, and is a proven leader who is uniquely qualified for this position,” Scott said. “His experience as well as his management skills will bring new ideas to the department. I am confident he will be a great advocate for the elderly in our state.”
The 67-year-old Palm Harbor resident, a former executive director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Terrorism Risk Insurance Program and senior vice president at Zurich Risk Management in New Jersey, had already tried unsuccessfully for the job of state insurance commissioner and a spot on the Public Service Commission. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater nixed Scott’s push for Bragg to be insurance commissioner, and a PSC nominating council did not forward Bragg’s name to Scott.
SCHOOL ECONOMICS
Even in tight budget years, like the one the state will face come July 1, it’s politically expedient for lawmakers to try to hold public education harmless or even spend a bit more on schools. The debate over what that means for 2017 began in earnest Friday, when the Florida Board of Education approved a request to plow another $721.6 million into the main formula for public education.
Nearly 70 percent of the new funding would come from local property taxpayers, who will see their bills climb along with their property values. But the money would allow the Legislature to spend $7,359.85 a student, an increase of almost 2.5 percent from the current budget year.
The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, highlighted a common caveat used whenever a new “record” is set on per-student spending: The previous high-water mark was set in 2007-08.
“Florida’s public schools and their students continue to make gains despite tepid financial support from the state,” said Mark Pudlow, a spokesman for the FEA. “When adjusted for inflation, this proposed budget still doesn’t equal what we were investing on our public schools a decade ago.”
The Department of Education is just one of several state agencies trying to complete legislative budget requests — wish lists that Scott and the Legislature use to construct the budget.
For example, state universities are asking for an additional $14.5 million to hire more mental-health professionals as they deal with a 48 percent increase in the number of students seeking counseling.
At least eight out of the 12 universities don’t meet staffing standards recommended by experts, because they have more than 1,500 students for each mental-health professional on campus. The inadequate staffing has led to waiting lists, fewer counseling sessions and the need to rely on off-campus services, which are not covered by student health fees.
“What we can’t do is see every student who walks in our door for psychotherapy,” said Carlos Gomez, a licensed psychologist and director of Florida State University’s counseling center. “We are referring in record numbers out into the community.”
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced that Liz Dudek, who led the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration for more than five years, is retiring from her post.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I attended funerals with the governor. I went to the morgue. We can never let that happen again here in Florida.”—Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen, remembering the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting and explaining a proposal to set up seven anti-terrorism squads.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida