Politics

Florida Education Association blasts Gov. DeSantis budget, says it doesn’t adequately fund public education

Published

4 hours ago

February 6, 2025

The Florida Education Association, a union representing teachers, support staff and higher education faculty, is blasting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget as inadequate, and calling on the Legislature to “fully commit to students” and public schools.

In a sweeping rebuke to DeSantis’ budget, chock full of tax cuts, and a plea to lawmakers who will take up the budget next month during the annual Legislative Session, the group noted “nominal increases for educators and support staff,” but argued the hikes don’t keep pace with inflation and won’t “move the needle on per student funding.”

It further noted Florida’s ranking near dead last in average teacher pay, as well as ongoing teacher and support staff shortages, declining college admission test scores and declining reading and math scores. The point: “Current policies are failing our students.”

“Educators in Florida want what every hardworking American wants: to pay their bills with a single job, have healthcare without premiums that push them into debt, work without political interference, and retire with dignity after a lifetime of service. They want to build better lives for themselves and their families,” FEA President Andrew Spar said.

“This budget proposal is legislators’ chance to take a bold stand and commit to our students, educators and their constituents by fully investing in public education. As we head into this legislative session, we are eager to work with leaders in Florida’s Legislature to focus on what truly matters: providing the resources and support educators and students need to thrive. Now is the time to prioritize the resources and policies that will strengthen our schools, uplift our communities, and help build better lives for every child in Florida.”

The lengthy memo details failures it identified in DeSantis’ proposed budget, including some that may be hard to spot for the uninitiated. The group claims a 2023 bill (SB 256) that removed the ability for some union members, including those in the FEA, to pay dues from their paychecks came at a steep cost, despite DeSantis saying at the time that it would not cost taxpayers. Instead, the group argues DeSantis is seeking $1.7 million from the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) to fund increased workload they say was created by the law.

The group further laments DeSantis’ prioritization of school vouchers in his budget, which seeks to allocate $3.3 billion to the program allowing students to use taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. FEA leaders note his budgeted amount for school vouchers is double the amount set aside for teacher salaries in the proposed budget.

“Today, estimates reveal that 70% of voucher students have never attended public schools, meaning public tax dollars are being used as private tuition assistance for families who could already afford it,” the press note claims.

It further complains that additional funding for school vouchers exacerbates the already troublesome cost to public education, arguing $4 billion “is siphoned from public education to fund corporatate-run charter schools and voucher programs.” That is a common refrain among school choice critics who argue money being spent to help kids go to private schools, or to create privately-run, but publicly-funded charter schools, takes away from funding that could be used to better the public school system.

The back and forth is about as old as time, and amounts to something of a, “which came first, the chicken or the egg” scenario. School choice supporters say vouchers and charters are needed to give parents options when their kids are stuck in failing schools, while school choice critics argue schools are struggling because funding is being diverted.

While school choice was initially pitched to Floridians — and parents throughout the nation — as a way to help low-income families attain quality education for their children, FEA argues programs are now catering to people who don’t necessarily need the help. Indeed, the Legislature in 2023 passed a universal school choice measure (HB 1, which was substituted for SB 202), which allows for $8,000 per student to attend private school and is available to all families, regardless of household income.

But the press note isn’t just an airing of grievances. It also offers a path forward, and pleads with lawmakers to take action.

The FEA recommends investing $1,000 more per student each year and fully funding the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) program to make needed facility repairs at school campuses, including to rid aging schools of mold, replace water fountains that may produce lead-containing water, ensuring working air conditioning and providing proper ventilation.

The FEA also asks the Legislature to prioritize developmentally appropriate, teacher-led assessments, rather than mandated standardized tests. And it asks lawmakers to pass legislation that would safeguard families from unaccountable private and charter schools.

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Thoroughbred racing decoupling measure clears first hurdle as tracks hope to level the playing field

Published

47 minutes ago

February 6, 2025

May Greene

A bill aimed at saving thoroughbred horse racing in Florida and leveling the playing field for the parimutuel industry easily cleared its first committee Wednesday with a 12-4 vote.

Rep. Adam Anderson’s measure (HB 105) cleared the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee easily, signaling that passage may ultimately be coming when Legislative Session begins next month.

The bill would allow Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach to continue operating its on-site casino without a contingency that it also operate horse racing. The measure is meant to align thoroughbred tracks with other parimutuel facilities that were decoupled from ancillary activities under a 2021 law (SB 2A).

Rep. Brad Yeager filed a strike-all amendment that would expand the legislation to cardroom license holders, a change that would affect Tampa Bay Downs. Currently, Gulfstream Park is one of two thoroughbred tracks in Florida, but the only with slots. Tampa Bay Downs has a card room, but no slots.

Supporters of the legislation say it is necessary to level the playing field for horse race tracks, by giving them the option to maintain certain gambling activities even without live horse races. It would make each activity independent.

But the measure is not without opposition. Critics include the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the National Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association. They worry the measure would further degrade the horse-breeding industry and thoroughbred racing.

Horse racing is declining, but Gulfstream Park is still trying to preserve it as a significant industry. The park hopes to attract more attention to its racing activities by improving its facility and expanding its gaming beyond parimutuel, supporters argue. The decline is apparent through horse breeding statistics. In 2002, about 4,500 foals were bred. By last year, that number had dropped to just 1,000.

The breeding association collects a percentage of revenue from every race conducted at the parks, even if a Florida horse isn’t in the race.

Anderson’s legislation heads next to its second committee, the House Commerce Committee. The Senate companion (SB 408) by Republican Sen. Danny Burgess has not yet been assigned to committee.

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UCF professor was suspended after a night of partying with students

Published

1 hour ago

February 6, 2025

May Greene

A University of Central Florida (UCF) professor was recently placed on unpaid suspension after he partied with his students after a conference and was accused of driving drunk in downtown Orlando last year, school records show.

A school investigative report ruled associate psychology Steven Berman “placed these students in a dangerous situation that could have resulted in an accident.”

Berman, who is paid $96,163 a year and worked at UCF for 23 years, was put on unpaid suspension from Dec. 13 to Jan. 2, school records showed.

Berman promised to never go out with his students again and denied being drunk, according to the University Compliance and Ethics investigation report released to Florida Politics after a records request.

The investigation into Berman began following the Southeastern Psychological Association conference held in Orlando in March 2024.

On March 15, Berman “appeared inebriated” when he met up with students at a group dinner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill as part of a social gathering with the conference, the report said.

Then the next day — the last day of the conference — Berman joined a small group of students at one student’s apartment and took a shot with them. Berman also admitted he drank a mixed drink in the 30 minutes he stayed at the apartment, the report said.

Then Berman drove the group to downtown Orlando to meet up with a larger group of students to go bar hopping.

“One student stated that Dr. Berman was driving erratically, and it was a little scary,” the investigative report said. “Another student recalled telling Dr. Berman that he was driving in a bike lane, and Dr. Berman swerving to get back into the right lane. Another student corroborated this student’s account by stating Dr. Berman had confused a bike or bus lane for a regular lane.”

The report added, “When confronted by investigators, Dr. Berman denied hearing any comments about his driving and denied being inebriated.”

Once out in downtown Orlando, they went to three different bars.

“Witnesses further stated he became increasingly inebriated as the night went on,” the report said.

That night, Berman put his fingers through one student’s belt loops to steady himself — which UCF investigators observed when they got videos and pictures from downtown during their probe.

Students began complaining that Berman got too close to them and made them feel uncomfortable.

Another student said Berman put one of his hands on her lower back and the other hand on her abdomen, just below her chest. He spoke “very closely to her,” the report said.

“The student reported feeling violated and caged in,” the report said.

When confronted by investigators, Berman denied touching the students. “… He stated he could not recall this happening, but that he would never do something like that,” the report said.

At the end of the night, Berman got a ride home from his adult child.

It wasn’t the first time Berman partied with UCF students at conferences.

For instance, one person said Berman drank with students during the 2023 conference in New Orleans and became so drunk, a student helped him back to his hotel room.

“Investigators reviewed a video of Dr. Berman dancing in the street to music during this trip where he appeared to be inebriated,” the report said.

Berman denied being drunk in New Orleans.

The report said another faculty member warned Berman about drinking with students at conferences.

“Dr. Berman dismissed the caution and responded that it was what he did with his supervisors in grad school, and it’s what he’s always done,” the report said.

Throughout the investigation, Berman was cooperative and seemed honest in his interview with UCF investigators who believed he “is in denial about his excessive drinking.”

“He admitted to drinking alcohol and driving although he denied that he was inebriated,” the report said. “Dr. Berman expressed his genuine regret to investigators, stating that he was truly sorry if he ever made a student feel uncomfortable. He also committed to never socializing with students again.”

Berman did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

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Ashley Moody says fentanyl deaths are on Democrats’ ‘hands and heads’

Published

2 hours ago

February 6, 2025

May Greene

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is tired of Democratic moves to “obstruct and delay” confirmations for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, especially given that new Attorney General Pam Bondi needs help combatting the scourge of drugs brought in the country by illegal immigrants, she said.

“She needs her people in place to effectuate these things. She needs the Director of the (Federal Bureau of Investigation) ready to go. Her passion to secure this nation based on her decades as a prosecutor and Attorney General? I mean, it is still lore back in Florida when she went into lawmakers’ chambers and said, this amount of fentanyl will kill you,” Florida’s newest Senator said Thursday.

She then offered a chilling warning and possible blame about potential fentanyl casualties if FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, who is stalled in Judiciary, and others aren’t confirmed in a timely fashion.

“And remember, that is the number one killer of working and fighting age Americans right now. There is no more time to waste, and if Democrats stand in our way, it is on their hands and heads if we cannot control the crime and devastation that was the result of the Biden administration.

The Plant City Republican made the comments on “The Faulkner Focus” Thursday.

As Attorney General, Moody focused heavily on the fentanyl surge, with statistics backing her read.

“The New England Journal of Medicine reported that after more than a decade of remaining relatively stable, overdose deaths among 14- to 18-year-olds more than doubled. Since then, the issue has intensified, with the national teen overdose rate climbing to 22 deaths a week. Fentanyl is now involved in at least 75% of adolescent overdose deaths,” read a release from her former office last year.

She issued Spring Break advisories, partnered with McGruff the Crime Dog and warned about vape usage.

And she emphasized the danger to young users specifically, messaging that fentanyl could harm children and teenagers in ways they wouldn’t suspect, especially in light of evidence that children under the age of 14 are most likely to suffer fentanyl poisoning.

In May, she blamed President Joe Biden’s border policies after a report highlighted that Florida leads the nation in fentanyl seizures.

During Thursday’s interview, Moody said Trump was “charging ahead” to “protect this house” and make it “safe and secure,” in contrast to what she and other Republicans view as the previous administration’s permissive detente on border crossings.

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