Will Weatherford

Will Weatherford’s rise to next House speaker is swift

kris — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

The swift political rise of Will Weatherford began with a college assignment: keep the freshmen in line.

This was 2002, and Weatherford was a senior defensive end for Jacksonville University’s football team. One young player he helped was the son of Allan Bense, soon-to-be speaker of the state House.

Bense and his wife attended games, and immediately liked the affable and mature young man from Pasco County.

"He just had a lot of things going for him," Bense said, "so I kept him on my radar."

By chance, by charm, Weatherford had begun cultivating one of his most important political — and, it turned out, personal — relationships. Bense would become his boss, his mentor and his father-in-law. Weatherford married Bense’s daughter, Courtney, in 2006.

Next year, just a decade after the men first met, Weatherford, 31, follows in Bense’s footsteps as speaker of the Florida House.

That close relationship provides a powerful explanation for how a young man without a lengthy private-sector resume, who’s held office for only four years, can rise so high, so fast.

But it’s not the only explanation. Those close to him point to the quality that attracted Bense: Weatherford has a natural gift for making people like him.

"Whatever it is, Will has it," said Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, a friend in the Pasco delegation. "He’s charming, he’s smart, he’s a quick study of people, and he’s a quick study of policy."

Bense is more blunt.

"Will has an ability to tell people to go to hell," Bense said, "and make them look forward to the trip."

• • •

Weatherford honed those skills at an early age: He was child No. 2 in a Land O’Lakes family of nine.

His father, Bill, was a real estate agent who moved the family from Texas to Florida after losing his job. His mother, Cathy, was the daughter of Carolyn Warner, a prominent Arizona Democrat who once ran for governor.

Deeply religious, Weatherford’s mother homeschooled her children before high school. Will’s younger brother, Drew, remembers him being a goofoff one minute, a leader the next. In a family that big, a sense of humor was a must — their dad, after all, bought a 1985 airport limousine to ferry them around — as was a sense of responsibility.

"Will was sort of like a father figure to me," said Drew Weatherford, who played quarterback at Florida State University. "Your parents only have so much time."

That was especially true when one child, Peter, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. With their parents at Peter’s hospital bed nearly every night, it was up to Will, then 14, and his older sister, Jackie, 16, to look after the rest of the children. Peter died when he was 2 1/2.

Said Weatherford, who now has two young daughters: "It’s one of those things where you have to grow up."

• • •

After Bense gave him a $24,000-a-year job in 2004 to work on House Republican campaigns, Weatherford, then 24, got a closeup look at how races are won.

"He’d go campaign to campaign, wherever we had a crisis," Bense said. "Candidates liked him. I don’t brag much, but at the end of the day, I ended up with 85 (Republican) House members."

When Bense assumed the speaker job, Weatherford took on more policy duties, staying late nights to talk about legislation.

Legg, then a rookie legislator, said he got good political advice from the even younger Weatherford.

"One of the principles he helped me understand is that if you want to be successful, your name might not be on the bill," Legg said. "You’ve got to be willing to get the concept passed."

• • •

Another bit of luck came in 2006 when Ken Littlefield vacated his House seat to join the Public Service Commission rather than run for re-election. That meant Republicans needed a replacement.

Legg said he had heard Weatherford was looking to move back to Pasco. "I said, ‘Will, would you ever think of running?’ "

Weatherford convinced the party he was their guy. He faced a Democratic newcomer who had a nervous breakdown during the campaign. He coasted through two more elections after that.

Since then, he has made education his signature issue. He championed a class-size amendment, which failed, and supported last year’s controversial SB6 bill, which would have abolished teacher tenure.

Teachers have protested outside his office. But he’s avoided any sustained anger. A couple of weeks ago, he met with more than a dozen of them in Dade City for a 3 1/2-hour discussion about education legislation, said Pasco School Board member Allen Altman.

"I have learned he’s a person of tremendous integrity," Altman said.

Weatherford’s voting record has rarely deviated from that of other House Republicans. Even so, some Democrats say Weatherford seems open. Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said he had seen Weatherford offer to make legislation more palatable to opponents.

"I don’t find him to be the rigid ideologue that we might find on the other side of the aisle," Rouson said. "I would love to see a Democrat as speaker. But Will is an even-tempered, fair-minded kind of guy."

• • •

Over the last decade, Weatherford’s private fortunes have risen, too. He and his wife live in a $428,000 home in Wesley Chapel. In addition to his state salary, he works for Breckenridge Enterprises, an employee leasing company for the construction industry, and Simpson Environmental Services, a Dade City firm owned by Wilton Simpson, who met Weatherford when he ran for office in 2006.

Back in Tallahassee, Weatherford said, his hardest political moment was helping persuade now-indicted Speaker Ray Sansom to resign amid questions about whether he falsified the state budget in return for a six-figure college job.

"I don’t feel comfortable talking about it," Weatherford said. "I like him. I know his family. But we knew he couldn’t lead the Florida House with that distraction."

Legg said he believes Weatherford took away lessons from that experience.

"One of the things he shared with me is you have to surround yourself with people who will say no," Legg said. "There were folks around Ray that were suggesting, ‘Hey the power’s getting too concentrated, you need to spread it out,’ and that advice may not have been heeded. What Will has shared with me is to surround yourself with good people, to never think you know everything."

Little surprise that Weatherford has a model speaker in mind: the well-regarded Bense, who returned home to Panama City after his term ended.

"He was fair-minded, conservative and had principles," Weatherford said. "He was just a regular guy."

Bense, for his part, wants no credit for Weatherford’s early success. "Will would’ve gotten where he was with or without me," he said. "Did I speed up the process? A little bit. But with his principles and values, he’s a born leader."

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.

House Republicans Recognize Will Weatherford as Incoming Speaker

kris — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

House Republicans met Monday to honor Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, tabbing him officially as speaker designate who will wield the gavel before the Florida House when the 2012 elections end.

As expected, Weatherford was elected without opposition from the Republican caucus.

Speaking from the well of the House, Weatherford praised “servant leadership” and said he will try to be a “servant leader” in his time as speaker.

Weatherford praised “the promise of Florida” and, while he avoided talking about specific policy, the future speaker touched on his principles.

“Our rights come from God, not from government,” said the future speaker, taking aim at legalized abortion.

“All life is precious and worthy of our respect. We can never call ourselves a truly just society as long as we fail to recognize the rights of the unborn.”

Invoking the American founders, Weatherford called for government to stay out of the way of the private sector and singled out California, New York and Illinois as examples of states with too much taxation.

Weatherford touched on the protests that will occur Tuesday from groups opposed to Gov. Rick Scott’s plans to cut the state budget.

“No matter who steps up to protest, we are not looking at the next election,” said Weatherford. “We are looking at the next generation.”

Weatherford received the praise of Florida’s Republican leaders, many of whom were in attendance — including Scott, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, the state Cabinet, members of the Senate led by President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, two Republican members of Congress in Mario Diaz-Balart and Sandy Adams, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, former Gov. Bob Martinez, former Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan, and a host of former House speakers, House leaders and Senate presidents.

“Will’s a committed conservative leader,” insisted Scott, who praised Weatherford’s commitment to luring jobs to Florida by fighting for “lower taxes” and “smaller government.”

“Representative Weatherford’s a leader in education reform,” added Scott, who singled out the future House speaker’s commitment to school choice.

Weatherford, who represents parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, worked in real estate and as an aide to former House Speaker Allan Bense, who was in attendance, before being elected to the House in 2006 — the same year that he married Bense’s daughter, Courtney. The older brother of former Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford, the future speaker studied business at Jacksonville University where he played football for the Dolphins.

“Will Weatherford is the entire package,” said a beaming Bense, currently leading the Florida Chamber of Commerce, as he praised his son-in-law. “Will understands public policy as good or better as anyone I’ve ever met.

“Will reminds me of former Governor Jeb Bush,” added Bense, who served as speaker in the last two years of Bush’s tenure as governor.

Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, nominated the future speaker, praising Weatherford’s family and drive.

“We knew he would make a great speaker,” said McKeel. “He is a real conservative in every sense of that word.”

Weatherford thanked God, his family and the Republicans who backed him in his remarks.

“I hope I can live up to half of what was said about me in the last hour,” said Weatherford.

Waiting in the wings after Weatherford is Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Heathrow, who represents parts of Orange and Seminole counties. Dorworth, who introduced Scott at the meeting on Monday, is penciled in to serve as speaker after the 2014 elections.

The House Democrats will meet on Tuesday to select their leader who will oppose Weatherford after the 2012 elections. Two representatives who represent parts of Broward County — Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Joe Gibbons of Pembroke Park and Rep. Perry Thurston of Plantation — will square off to determine who will lead the House Democrats in 2013 and 2014.

Weatherford, who is only 31, could use the speakership to move up the political ladder. William Jennings, Albert Gilchrist, Cary Hardee, Dan McCartey and C. Farris Bryant all served as governor after their tenures as speaker. Simon Conover, Samuel Pasco and Marco Rubio were elected to the United States Senate after serving as speaker of the Florida House. After his tenure as speaker in 1885, Robert Davis was elected to the U.S. Congress. Bill Chappell served in the U.S. Congress for two decades after his tenure as House speaker in the early 1960s. Fred Davis, who served as House speaker in 1927, went on to become chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court less than a decade later.

Jackson: Florida’s promise will endure

kris — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

TALLAHASSEE – In a ceremony the subject himself described as "humbling" and "amazing," Will Weatherford, the Republican wunderkind from Wesley Chapel, ascended to state House of Representative speaker-designate Monday.

The unanimous approval of 77 Florida Republican representatives present in the House chamber put Weatherford, 31, in line to succeed current Speaker Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) during 2012-2014. Barring unforeseen events, Weatherford will become Pasco County’s first speaker in more than 100 years, and the first from the Tampa Bay area since Plant City’s Johnnie Byrd (2002-2004).

The celebrant’s abashed response to a solid hour of reverse-roasting was typical. The oldest male among nine competitive and accomplished siblings from Land O’ Lakes, he is far more accustomed to needles and headlocks – what the brood calls "growing up Weatherford" – than unceasing admiration.

Nonetheless, an assortment of colleagues and confidants – including Rep. Seth McKeel (R-Plant City), once his top rival for leadership; and his father-in-law, former Speaker Allan Bense – took turns waxing rhapsodic.

* * * * *

If they sometimes sounded like they were describing a blue-chip recruit – Bense called him "the entire package" – well, politics and football both involve collisions and committee meetings. Cape Coral’s Gary Aubuchon described "a natural-born leader." Marianna’s Marti Coley said Weatherford would "get in the trenches and take the hits with us."

Small wonder, then, that in this moment of moments, Weatherford stumbled at the onset of an acceptance speech he’d been rehearsing for nearly a month. Locking both hands on the lectern, Weatherford conceded later, "I really didn’t know what to say. I hope I can live up to half of what they said about me."

His recovery, however, was seamless, reaffirming the praiseworthy qualities others had stacked like so much cordwood. Under the full glare of the capitol spotlight and with the gallery groaning with several hundred Pasco County supporters and dignitaries, Weatherford delivered a crisp 20-minute speech that was equal parts personal narrative, statement of principles and rallying cry, all wrapped around a promise to be a "servant leader."

* * * * *

Citing the Founders’ "radical experiment" and rights "descending from God," Weatherford spoke of the enduring "promise of Florida" – the kind that prompted Cathy and Bill Weatherford to load five youngsters into the family station wagon and set out halfway across the country from Texas in pursuit of no more than a dream.

On behalf of others just like them, "We will not be looking at the next election," Weatherford said, "but at the next generation."

No one within the sound of Weatherford’s voice mistook the speech for anything besides what it was: A launching vehicle. Rep. Richard Corcoran (R-New Port Richey), former chief of staff to now-Sen. Marco Rubio, called it "Marco-esque."

Former Dade City Mayor Hutch Brock – not such an old fellow himself – provided the coda: "Can you imagine being that guy? That age and that future? Incredible."

Will Weatherford Officially Selected to be Next Speaker of Florida House

kris — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The House Republicans met on Monday to hold a ceremony honoring Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and tabbing him as speaker designate who will wield the Florida House after the 2012 elections.

As expected, Weatherford was elected without opposition from the Republican caucus.

Speaking from the well of the House, Weatherford praised “servant leadership” and said he would try to be a “servant leader” in his time as speaker.

Weatherford praised “the promise of Florida” and, while he avoided talking about specific policy, the future speaker touched on his principles.

“Our rights come from God, not from government,” said the future speaker, who took aim at legalized abortion.

“All life is precious and worthy of our respect,” said Weatherford. “We can never call ourselves a truly just society as long as we fail to recognize the rights of the unborn.”

Weatherford touched on the protests that will occur on Tuesday from groups opposed to Gov. Rick Scott’s plans to cut the state budget.

“No matter who protests, we are not looking at the next election,” said Weatherford. “We are looking at the next generation.”

3/7/11 Republican Caucus Speaker Designation for Representative Will Weatherford

kris — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Click the link below to watch the video:

http://thefloridachannel.org/video/house-speaker-designation-for-representative-will-weatherford/

Republican Conference to Hold Speaker-Designation Ceremony

kris — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Contact: Rebekah Hammond (850) 488-1993

Tallahassee, Fla. – House Majority Leader and Republican Conference Chair Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R-Miami) announces that on Monday, March 7, 2011, 2:00 p.m., the House Republican Conference will meet to conduct the ceremony to nominate Representative Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) to serve as the Speaker of the Florida House for the 2012-2014 legislative term.

ALL INTERESTED MEDIA ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND:

Event: Speaker-Designation Ceremony

Date: Monday, March 7, 2011

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: House Chamber

A public reception in the 4th Floor Rotunda of the Capitol will immediately follow the designation ceremony.

Members of the community who cannot attend the ceremony will be able to watch the proceedings on the Florida Channel live stream at www.wfsu.org or on one of the following cable channels: Bright House Networks – Channel 622 or 623, and Verizon, FIOStv – Channel 22.

Florida State Representative Receives Education Leadership Award

kris — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Orlando, FL (October 26, 2010)—State leader, Will Weatherford recently received the 2010 Florida Virtual School (FLVS) Leadership Award for his unyielding commitment to ensure Florida’s children have an opportunity for a virtual education.

The FLVS Leadership Award is presented annually to public officials who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to online Kindergarten – 12th grade education policies. This year’s award presentations were held at the Florida Virtual School Professional Learning Conference in Orlando. The conference showcased effective teaching practices and new technologies to optimize learning in online courses.

“Representative Weatherford is a true advocate of innovative learning solutions and fully deserving of this award. Over the years, he has been instrumental in laying a solid foundation and practical policies that have allowed online learning to flourish in Florida,” said Julie Young, President and CEO of FLVS.

About Florida Virtual School
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is an established leader in developing and providing virtual K-12 education solutions to students all over Florida, the U.S. and the world. A nationally recognized e-Learning model and recipient of numerous awards, FLVS was founded in 1997 and was the country’s first, state-wide Internet-based public high school. Today, FLVS serves students in grades K-12 and provides a variety of custom solutions for schools and districts to meet student needs.

View FLVS Leadership Award

Five Florida Legislators to Receive Moffitt Momentum Award

kris — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:00:00 +0000

TAMPA, Fla. Moffitt Cancer Center announces that five Florida legislators are the recipients of the inaugural Moffitt Momentum Award, at a special ceremony was held on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at Moffitt’s Stabile Research Building at 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa.

“The Moffitt Momentum Award is our way of honoring outstanding public servants who have been tireless advocates for Florida citizens battling cancer,” said William Dalton, Ph.D., M.D., Moffitt’s President, CEO and Center Director. “The leadership of these legislators has been instrumental to building our cancer center’s momentum and for a wide range of public policies that benefit cancer patients in Florida.”

The following legislators are the 2010 Moffitt Momentum Award recipients:

Rep. Marti Coley (Marianna, FL)
Ardent supporter of cancer research initiatives throughout the state, including Bankhead-Coley biomedical research grants and the Florida Cancer Control Research & Advisory Council.

Rep. Oscar Braynon, II (Miami Gardens, FL)
Advocate for statewide cancer initiatives and patient protection policies. Strong proponent of state investment in cancer research as economic development and business growth mechanism.

Rep. Seth McKeel (Lakeland, FL)
As Chair of the Bay Area Legislative Delegation, galvanized Tampa Bay lawmakers in support of state funding for research and treatment initiatives at Moffitt Cancer Center and throughout Florida.

Sen. Ronda Storms (Brandon, FL)
Vigorous advocate for variety of measures to provide funding for cancer research to improve survival rates for cancer patients throughout Florida.

Rep. Will Weatherford (Wesley Chapel, FL)
Outspoken advocate for state investment in Moffitt’s statewide research enterprise, including support for ongoing scientific investigations as well as development of new cancer research facilities.

Reactions from Moffitt Momentum Honorees

“Each and every one of us has been affected by cancer in some way, which is why supporting the Moffitt Cancer Center is so important for our state,” said Rep. Will Weatherford. “Simply put, the men and women who work at Moffitt bring hope when others cannot. I am extremely grateful for this recognition and remain committed to help move their research forward towards a cure for this devastating disease.”

“I have had multiple friends who have battled various cancers and have spent many hours on Moffitt’s leukemia floor,” said Sen. Ronda Storms. “I have seen firsthand the tolls cancer takes on lives and families. It is imperative that we continue to fund cancer research and work to save and improve as many lives as possible. Moffitt is a stellar facility and it is my honor to continue to work on Moffitt’s behalf
in Tallahassee.”

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center – a designation that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country’s leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for cancer. Moffitt’s sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

In a ceremony held at Moffitt Cancer Center on September 28, 2010, five Florida legislators received the Moffitt Momentum Award in recognition of their leadership and advocacy on behalf of state residents battling cancer. Pictured from left are the cancer center’s founder, H. Lee Moffitt, Senator Ronda Storms, Representative Will Weatherford, Representative Marti Coley, Representative Seth McKeel, Representative Oscar Braynon, and former U.S. Senator Connie Mack, the Chairman Emeritus of Moffitt Cancer Center’s governing board.

State universities awarded Research Commercialization grants totaling $2M from Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board

kris — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:00:00 +0000

R&D projects represent first phase of awards in three categories from 2010 New Florida Initiative funds, in the partnership between Board of Governors, Florida Legislature

Legislative leaders cite grants as ‘creating the high-paying careers of the future here in Florida’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 2010 Florida Legislature appropriated $2 million for the State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grants program, and 21 projects amid 10 state universities* have been announced as the award winners, ranging from wireless health care medication regimens and technological devices to help premature babies survive to an array of alternative energy projects.

Following the process outlined in statute, the awards were reviewed and approved at a recent meeting of the Florida Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board (FTRSB). Proposals were submitted in late summer, and the statute requires award recipients to be chosen by October 30.

Individual awards range from $30,000 to $200,000. The complete list and short descriptions of each project are posted on a spreadsheet at http://www.flbog.edu/new_florida

"This is an exciting day for the dedicated researchers, faculty members and students who work so hard conducting lab work, testing the theories and innovations that will help create jobs and transform our state into a knowledge-based economy for long-term economic growth,‖ said Ann Duncan of Tampa, the Board of Governors representative on the FTRSB who is also the chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee on the 17-member Florida Board of Governors of the State University System. ―We appreciate the legislative support for commercialization grants, and the Board of Governors is confident that these awards will translate into extraordinary examples of collaboration across our public university system."

Overall, there were 45 proposals submitted requesting (a total of) more than $5 million.

Proposals for these State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grants were received in one of three areas (the second and third areas requiring a dollar-for-dollar match):
grants that explore initial ideas for commercializing university research;
grants that create business plans to commercialize university research; or
grants for implementing business plans.

The Legislature tasked the Board of Governors’ office with reviewing the proposals and providing funding recommendations to the FTRSB, which was established in Florida law in 2006 through the 21st Century Technology, Research, and Scholarship Enhancement Act. For more on the Act, see http://www.flbog.org/about/cod/asa/21stcentury.php

Board of Governors Chair Ava Parker of Jacksonville and State University System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan say the day represents the first milestone for the New Florida Initiative, a partnership launched in 2010 with the Legislature. The initiative recognizes that Florida’s economic history has been dependent on agriculture, tourism, and growth. While those sectors have formed the Florida we know, it is clear that a more diverse, sustainable economy is needed. The New Florida Initiative is a multi-year endeavor to ensure that Florida’s knowledge and innovation economy is sustained by high-technology, high-wage jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (or ―STEM‖). A true and holistic transformation will also involve the areas of medicine and health care, finance, insurance, professional services, education and the arts, which are the foundation of a modern society. The New Florida Initiative is the State University System’s collaborative effort — alongside business and government — to deliver the economy, talent and innovations that Florida must have to be globally competitive.

The announcement of awards for the remaining $10 million of the 2010 New Florida Initiative funding from the Legislature will occur in early November.

Proposal reviewers at the Board of Governors utilized a National Institutes of Health model to construct procedures for review and scoring. The core criteria, stipulated in statute, are as follows:

The potential return to the university which may be reasonably assumed based on the business case presented in support of the proposed project.
The potential for the creation of high-wage jobs resulting from the success of the proposed project.
The potential of the proposed project to address pressing needs of the residents of the state.
The potential of the proposed project to enhance the economic competitiveness of the state and the university.
The technical, financial, organizational and marketing feasibility of the project and its business plan.
The potential of the proposed project to create other related business enterprises.

Although relatively nominal in terms of traditional research and development awards, the commercialization grants speak volumes and will have clear results and contributions toward the Legislature’s commitment to help diversify the state economy in a progressive way.

Top leaders for the higher education policy and budget issue in the Legislature heralded the awards:

"Florida’s universities have some of the nation’s finest researchers, and their success can help recharge our state’s economic engine – so as we connect the work at our state universities with the private sector, we create the nexus to move Florida’s economy forward,‖ said Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. ―The Legislature is working very hard to create the high-paying careers of the future here in Florida, and this program attracts and keeps those jobs in our state."

Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine: "Our ability to take to market promising research from our public universities is critical to Florida’s future economic health and is one of the best investments that we can make on behalf of the citizens of our state."

Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach: "These funds make it possible for the extensive research results to be successfully marketed."

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville: "If Florida is to be truly competitive in job creation, we must connect our higher education system to the needs of the economy. Our universities ought to be the cradle of economic development – that is the purpose of this commercialization provision within our ‘Jobs for Florida’ law: to encourage research that has value to Florida’s economy and then not stop there, but bring that research to market."

Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford were primary sponsors of the 2010 bills that appropriated the $2 million for the commercialization awards. Sen. Lynn and Rep. Proctor are the respective higher education budget chairs and were co-sponsors of the bills.

For full details about the New Florida Initiative of the Florida Board of Governors and State University System, and for a complete list of awards and project descriptions, see http://www.flbog.edu/new_florida

* New College did not pursue grants in this phase, because research commercialization is not part of its mission. It has submitted a proposal for the next round of awards for the 2010 New Florida Initiative, to be announced in November.

Florida Education Leaders, Parents, Teachers and Principals Call for Class Size Flexibility and Increased Local Control by Urging Voters to Pass Amendment 8

kris — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Tallahassee, FL – Joined by school leaders, parents, teachers and principals, state education leaders today urged the passage of Amendment 8 to provide Florida schools with the flexibility they need to promote increased local control in regulating class size.

Among the state leaders in attendance were State Representative Will Weatherford, Past President of Florida Association of District School Superintendents David Miller, Florida School Boards Association President Candace Lankford and Executive Director Dr. Wayne Blanton, Florida Association of School Administrators Interim Director Dr. Larry Wood, and Madison County Superintendent Lou Miller.

"Across the state, students, parents, teachers, principals, and taxpayers are feeling the unwelcome impact of unyielding hard caps on class sizes in Florida public schools. Amendment 8 will rightly put more control in the hands of local parents, teachers and educators – where it belongs,” said State Representative Will Weatherford.“In order to provide our local school leaders with the flexibility they need to address Florida’s rapidly changing population, voters must pass Amendment 8 in November. Providing schools with the ability to be flexible on class sizes is in the interest of students, schools, and hard-working, tax-paying families.”

Since the implementation of hard caps on class sizes at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, parents, teachers, principals and superintendents around the state have reported disruptions to the school environment due to the challenges associated with capping class sizes.

These include:

Principals moving elective teachers into core subject classes to create more slots for students.
Students missing out on the opportunity to take honors or AP classes in situations where classes are filled.
In some cases, the number of students in special needs classes has increased to accommodate the need to move teachers into core classes.
New students moving into schools after scheduling has completed has resulted in fewer choices in classes.
Currently, a number of Florida school districts are considering proposals to raise local taxes to meet the new class size requirements.

In 2003, the state started to implement the changes from the 2002 class size amendment. First, classroom reductions were measured at the school district average, then at the school average. Over the past seven years, the outlay of the more than $19 billion spent has achieved results with the average class size in Florida’s schools falling dramatically.

Since 2003, per class average class sizes have fallen from 23 students to 16 students in Pre-Kindergarten through third grade, 24 students to 19 students in grades four through eight and 24 students to 22 students in grades nine through 12. If passed, Amendment 8 would return Florida law to 2009 requirements, which uses school averages instead of hard caps to determine class sizes.

The hard caps are forcing school districts to tax and spend huge sums to construct additional classrooms – even though there currently are 825,000 student stations sitting empty across Florida in every district and at every grade level. If Florida fails to act, these caps will pose serious fiscal and logistical challenges that will force districts to divert money away from classroom instruction to pay for building unneeded classrooms – while increasing property taxes for families and employers.

The proposed amendment has been endorsed by a broad coalition, including education leaders across the state through the Florida School Boards Association, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and the Florida Association of School Administrators. Both major 2010 gubernatorial candidates – Alex Sink and Rick Scott – have voiced strong support for the “right-size” plan.

For more information, please visit the Yes On 8 Florida campaign website and follow updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/yeson8florida and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Yes-on-8-Florida/157441634265998?ref=ts.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT AMENDMENT 8

“Amendment 8 will build on the successful reduction in class sizes by allowing educators to apply a common sense approach that maintains the spirit of the law without overloading taxpayers. Amendment 8 will provide a more flexible, efficient approach in a fiscally responsible fashion that keeps class sizes at a level where teachers can teach and students can learn. Our children’s success in the classroom now means that our workforce of tomorrow will be better prepared, highly skilled and sufficiently motivated to position Florida as a leader in the global economy.”
- Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce

“Amendment 8 will allow schools to focus on what really matters in promoting student achievement while keeping a responsible eye on tax dollars.”
- Dominic M. Calabro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida TaxWatch

“No school year has been more difficult to prepare for than the 2010-2011 school year due to the hard caps on class sizes. Returning to per student school averages to determine class sizes makes sense for school leaders, teachers, parents, and students.”
- Jeff Bergosh, Escambia County School Board Member

“As a parent with children in Florida public schools, I want school leaders to have the ability to do what’s in the best interest of the students. Capping class sizes has only created more distraction and confusion within our schools. By passing Amendment 8, Floridians will empower parents, teachers, and principals to make decisions in the best interest of our schools.”
- Renee Bookout, Pensacola, FL

WHAT FLORIDA OPINION WRITERS ARE SAYING ABOUT AMENDMENT 8

“If the Supreme Court refuses and 60 percent of the voters approve, school districts will have more flexibility in meeting class-size requirements. Without the change, school districts and the state will have to come up with billions of dollars to add classrooms and teachers. In my book, that’s money that could be better spent on other ways to improve education.”
- Ron Littlepage, Florida Times-Union, 9/21/2010

“In a world ruled by common sense, it would pass easily. We are about to spend millions of dollars, perhaps billions of dollars, to simply meet numbers in an amendment that has no bearing on the quality of education. In fact, a new Harvard study indicates that all the classroom shrinking we’ve been doing the past several years, all the billions we’ve spent, has not paid off in learning gains.”
- Mike Thomas, Orlando Sentinel Columnist, 9/12/2010

“This more relaxed approach to class size is beneficial and worth supporting because it does give school officials more flexibility to use their best judgment in managing resources.”
- Tallahassee Democrat Editorial, 2/5/2010

Amendment 8 is “a commonsense proposal” that provides the “best alternative … to reflect some common sense and save tax money that could be better spent.”
- St. Petersburg Times Editorial, 2/3/2010

Amendment 8 will “relieve principals from having to scramble to bring in a portable classroom, hire a new teacher or break up classrooms every time a new student enrolls.”
- Treasure Coast Newspapers Editorial, 2/4/2010