State Capitol Briefs - Thursday, March 11, 2010

The News Service of Florida

STRICTER CLASS SIZE COUNT WOULD PRECEDE LOOSER STANDARD

Senate budget-writers Thursday outlined plans for enacting class-size limits – even as they push for putting back on the ballot an amendment that would ease upcoming strict standards. Senate Pre-K-12 budget chief Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, said schools will face financial penalties if they exceed classroom caps at the beginning of the next school year – the first in which the phased-in limits are counted room-by-room. Currently, the 2002 amendment’s limits are calculated at a more lenient school-wide average. Wise suggested that administrators may consider urging some students to enroll in online classes, allowing these “virtual” students to take pressure off meeting the stricter standards. If voters in November agree to revamp the limits, schools will be allowed to return to the lesser, schoolwide level at least by the second semester beginning in January 2011. The overhaul of the class-size amendment is being driven hard by House and Senate Republican leaders, who need approval from three-fifths of each chamber. Many Democrats so far have resisted the move. Along with the proposal for class-size, the Senate unveiled an early version of its public school spending – calling for a $15.41 increase in per-student spending – a .22 percent increase over the current $6,866 level. Class-size funding would be increased $34 million under the proposal, to $2.8 billion. Because of declining property values, the required local effort sought from districts to receive state funding has been reduced $681 million, with tax-rates maintained at the current levels. The loss of local dollars is forcing the state to kick-in more, Wise said. Student enrollment, after falling in recent years, is expected to climbed 19,763 students next fall, with 2.6 million kids in Florida classrooms.

VANSICKLE HELPING FORMER EMPLOYER

Former Republican Party communications director Erin VanSickle is returning to her party roots, assisting with media relations for the state GOP. Ronnie Whitaker, executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, sent a note to capital reporters Thursday, saying that “due to the increased volume of media calls, we have retained Erin VanSickle to assist with communications and media relations on behalf of the Republican Party of Florida.” VanSickle left the party to start a new lobbying firm with former state Rep. Jerry Paul over the summer. The firm, Capitol Energy Florida LLC, advises a number of clients in the energy and environmental fields.

This information originally published on March 11, 2010.

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