As the legislative session entered its second half, both chambers unveiled their education budget proposals for the coming fiscal year.
Though they adhered largely to the wishes of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the spending plans included some surprises. Perhaps the biggest one came out of the House.
Rep. Randy Fine, who chairs the PreK-12 Appropriations subcommittee, recommended punishing the dozen districts that implemented strict mask mandates against state rule and law. He said they should have $200 million taken away, with that amount to be distributed to the 55 other districts that followed instructions.
The idea could prove a hot potato, because Fine said the money represented the salaries of 1,600-plus district-level officials in those counties. How those school systems, which include some of Florida’s largest, might operate without the department directors and other decision makers who currently receive those salaries remains an open question. Leon County superintendent Rocky Hanna called Fine an “childish, immature bully,” the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
