During the informal school boardmeeting on 08/16/16, School Board Member Mark Johnson discussed the upcoming legislative platform for the Florida School Board Association (FSBA). School districts can submit ideas to the FSBA by 09/09/16 so that it can be developed and brought before the State Legislature in their next session.
Johnson’s idea was to submit a “grow your own” teacher program, with high school students earning a CTE (Career & Technical Education) certificate and acting as teachers to elementary students. If the high school students then go to college and come back to the home districts as teachers, Johnson stated they should get loan forgiveness on the state level. Students would be exposed to the love of teaching, he said, and the State of Florida could help them to achieve that financially.
Board member Susan Duval asked Johnson whether additional staff would be needed, and whether Dr. Marcia Austin from CTE had been involved in the concept. Johnson stated that at a meeting he had attended, it was suggested that guidance counselors or volunteers could be utilized to provide training in the classrooms. Duval felt concerned that guidance counselors are already “maxed to the hilt.”
Duval asked to see a plan before submitting the idea to the FSBA, stating, “The devil’s in the details.” While not opposed to the concept of a “grow your own” program, she would not commit to it.
Johnson pressed the issue, stating that “the Legislature…would set the parameters of the program and all the details would be ironed out.” Superintendent Dr. Lori Romano agreed, as there are other districts with teacher preparation programs in the CTE curriculum. “It is a good concept,” she said, “in that we have a need for teachers.”
Board Chairman Matt Foreman stated two main issues with Johnson’s suggestion: consequences for taxpayers who did not vote for the program, and having someone else work out the details for Hernando County. By the time any legislation made its way through all the changes, Johnson’s idea and good intentions might look totally different, Foreman said. Johnson then suggested using lotto money as a funding source, and stated the Legislature might not even approve it.
Foreman asked for an informal vote, needing three votes either way. Johnson was for it. Board Member Beth Naverud said she needed more information to make a decision either way and suggested bringing the idea to the FSBA as an idea for the next year.
Board Member Gus Guadagnino said he was in favor of getting the ball started, “of planting the seed.” Johnson said, “In reality, we are one of 67 districts submitting different plans to the FSBA. There may not be any traction for it.”
Foreman ultimately gave the third vote in favor of Johnson’s idea. He stated that while he was in favor conceptually, he was afraid of what would come out of it.