Head Of Miami-Dade Schools Reacts To Scott Budget
MIAMI (CBS4) - Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho minces no words about Governor Rick Scott's proposed education budget ax.
"The face of public education would change dramatically," he told CBS4's Michael Williams.
The Miami-Dade School District, the fourth largest public school system in the nation with 342,000 students, has led the way in belt tightening the past two years, slashing a combined $500 million out of its budget over that time.
Now, Scott's blueprint calls for more. Miami-Dade educators say they are staring at a possible $215 million reduction for the next school year because of Scott's desire to cut more than $3 billion statewide from education. Broward educators say they are looking at the same scenario.
Carvalho said, "Layoffs would be a clear reality. Program reductions would be a certainty under this budget scenario." I asked about the possibility of teacher layoffs. Carvalho responded, "I don't think we could exclude anybody."
Florida lawmakers, including Republicans who control the purse strings, are lukewarm at best over Scott's budget proposals which they say lack detail and may not add up under tough scrutiny. No educator, though, is taking that for granted. Indeed some worry that lawmakers may scale back Scott's proposal and then try to sell it as a victory for school systems. Educators say they increasingly have nowhere left to turn for budget relief.
Dr. Wilbert "Tee" Holloway is a Miami-Dade school board member. He said, "Now is the time for citizens to say to Tallahassee and those who represent us, when will we make education a priority?"
That question and the huge debate behind it will be front and center when state lawmakers hammer out budgets this spring. They will do so with educators across Florida speaking in one loud voice that says "enough is enough."
