After a marathon debate that dragged into the early hours of Friday -- and increased speculation that Gov. Charlie Crist plans to veto the measure -- the House joined the Senate in passing a bill that creates a performance pay standard for Florida’s teachers.
The bill passed 64-55 at 2:26 a.m. with 11 Republicans joining all 44 Democrats in opposing it.
Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, opened the session by saying the House had already passed 18 hours in discussion. Cretul said he was prepared to keep the House in session as long as it would take, and he held numerous quorum calls to keep representatives on the floor.
The proposal restructures teacher salary calculations, giving more emphasis to student performance based on standardized testing at the start and end of the school year and less emphasis to degrees held or time in the classroom.
The measure was introduced in the Senate by John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, and passed on March 24 by a 21-17 vote. On Thursday, as Crist continued to indicate that he is not certain he will sign the bill, Thrasher said he was open to crafting a second bill that would restructure the initial one.
Despite this, the House passed the measure after trudging through marathon debate that included 68 members speaking on the bill.
Democrats offered six amendments to the bill on a number of issues, ranging from allowing school districts to opt out of the performance pay standard, to requiring the State Board of Education review the standard on an annual basis. All of the amendments failed on votes that closely mirrored party lines.
Saying he represented an “impotent majority,” Democrat Evan Jenne of Dania Beach opened up debate by blasting the bill. “We cannot support punitive language that lashes out at one of the most honorable professions, the teaching of children,“ he said. “We will not prostrate ourselves at the temple of false promise and retired politicians.”
Minority Leader Franklin Sands, D-Weston, invoked scripture, saying the Bible held that teaching should be honored. He said, “Under this legislation, I doubt if Abraham would get tenure.”
Sands was reading letters and emails from teachers when he was called out by Rules Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. Invoking Mason’s rules of parliamentary procedure, Galvano called for the speaker to admonish House members who were reading materials from constituents or other Floridians.
“By not allowing public hearings all around the state, we are telling our citizens we do not care what they think,” Sands replied. “How arrogant of us.”
Noting that the sponsors talked about the hours spent in debate and taking testimony, incoming Minority Leader Ron Saunders of Key West said that nothing was going to be said about what they heard in those forums.
“Parents and teachers did not just say no to this bill,” said Saunders. “They said hell, no.”
Saunders also reached out to Gov. Crist by quoting the words of former U.S. Senator Connie Mack, whom the governor has always singled out as his political mentor.
Invoking his family background as well as his own in education, Democrat Keith Fitzgerald of Sarasota said he agreed with much of what the sponsors were trying to implement. However, he said, the entire end product was flawed.
“What I see is a Frankenstein’s monster,” Fitzgerald said. “All the parts are there, but they are not put together the right way.”
“Democrats hammered on the lack of teacher support for the measure. “Just about every teacher in the state of Florida opposes this bad bill,” said Marty Kiar, D-Davie.
Republicans acknowledged the measure was controversial, but said that the bill had great merit.
“It assures that in every classroom, every student will receive a quality teacher,” said bill sponsor John Legg of Port Richey.
“This reform, this bill we are considering tonight, has created controversy, but we know we are voting on the future of education in the state of Florida,” said John Wood, R-Winter Haven.
“I know there’s a lot of fear out there on this bill,” said Bob Schenk, R-Spring Hill. “Do not let fear stand in the way of paying teachers what they deserve to be paid,” he pleaded to the House.
Republicans said the measure would add incentives to spur teachers to improve their classroom performance.
“This bill will reward teachers for their excellence,” insisted Republican Tom Grady of Naples. “Let’s motivate everyone throughout the system.”
Not all Republicans supported the measure; some even spoke out against it.
Julio Robaina of Miami said the bill was incomplete, that all amendments were defeated so the House would not have to send the bill back to the Senate.
“Unfortunately, politics triumphed over good public policy,” he said. “We’re going to send the bill to the governor full of flaws.” Robaina said he hopes the governor will veto it.
Members of the House leadership said that the reforms in teacher performance pay were a historic challenge to the status quo.
“This is one of the most transformational changes this state and this nation has ever seen,” said Speaker Designate Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. “We will be the first state in the nation to pass this type of measure.”