Gov. DeSantis signs bills limiting School Board terms, chipping away at teachers unions
The Governor signed a slew of bills likely to shake up public education’s status quo, with new limits on School Board terms, the end of automatically deducting union dues from paychecks and a block on students using social media via school Wi-Fi.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared at a Miami charter school, True North Classical Academy, with a full complement of legislators highlighting the education legislation that moved across the finish line during the Session that wrapped Friday. He also signed a bill that will create new pathways to become a certified Florida teacher.
“I think we’re leading the way when it comes to teacher empowerment,” DeSantis said, noting record pay increases for teachers and legislation (dubbed the “teachers’ bill of rights”) that will allow teachers following state law to go around “rogue” School Board members or administrators directly to the state.
The legislation (HB 477) limiting School Board members to eight years of service comes one year after the Legislature passed legislation limiting School Board terms to 12 years. It’s the first bill the Governor signed out of three passed during this Legislative Session which potentially alter School Board governance.
The Legislature also passed a bill (HB 411) that would loosen residency requirements so that candidates don’t have to be residents of the district they want until assuming office. And another measure (HJR 31) that the Legislature approved, but not needing the Governor’s signature, will ask voters on the November 2024 ballot to approve making School Board races partisan affairs
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/610870-gov-desantis-signs-bills-limiting-school-board-terms-chipping-away-at-teachers-unions/
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