School Boards Battle Teachers Union on Amendment 8
Amid concern over $1 billion in new costs, South Florida braces for ad blitz on class-size proposal
One represents the taxpayers; the other fronts for the teachers. And they're taking opposite sides on Amendment 8, which would maintain class-size formulas at school-level averages.
The FEA wants school districts to take the next step and lock in pupil-teacher ratios at each individual classroom. That's what the original 2002 class-size amendment ultimately called for, and reneging on that promise will shortchange academics, the FEA argues.
But, after eight years of successive tightening, nearly every school board in the state says taking that final step doesn't pass the cost-benefit test. The elected boards voted twice in the past year to suppor