The School Board at Orange County agreed to support the proposed lawsuit challenging segments of a controversial education law passed by the Florida Legislature this spring. Orange School Board is the 10th district to join the multi-school-district campaign on the new school regulation.
Board members are outraged against the unconstitutional provisions contained in the law, HB 7069, linked to funded charter schools run by private groups publicly. “This is not about whether we are pro-charter or anti-charter,” Chairman Bill Sublette said. “This is about upholding the Constitution of the state of Florida.”
Orange County has more than 30 charter schools — requiring board approval to operate but overlook the law and go ahead without the necessary approvals.
Expressing further on his views regarding the contentious issue, Bill reiterated the importance of the new law to curb teaching malpractices and the need to share local taxes with all stakeholders. Orange County does not have public schools but wholly relies on school boards to regulate the available earning institutions.
The Orange board intends to send a letter to the county legislators expressing the importance of those questionable segments of the law, that if removed, the Board shall pull out from the lawsuit.
“We’re willing to work with you, but we want to see some changes,” said board member Joie Cadle. “And if we have to, we’re willing to fight this out in court.”
The deeply dissected Education Act— has been divisive since its inception. Many educationalists pushed for its veto, but Governor Rick Scott signed it in June, in Orlando.
Nevertheless, key supporters of the legislation, among them, House Speaker Richard Corcoran, said the bill seeks to progress public education. It gives students under the current public school’s system by giving students another studying option outside their district schools. Mr. Corcoran described the bill as being comprehensive and revolutionary. He insisted that the reforms will leave a mark on the state’s history.
In his article featured in the Sun-Sentinel, Corcoran retaliated at the school board members pushing for legal redress saying that certain school districts are terrified of innovations that school going children deserve while spending the taxpayer’s money to preach against this opportunity.
