University leaders balk at ballot proposals

Florida's state university presidents reject the November initiatives on class sizes and the higher education system.

By ANITA KUMAR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 16, 2002

TALLAHASSEE -- The presidents of the state's public universities voiced opposition Thursday to two November ballot initiatives that would reduce class sizes in public schools and revamp Florida's system of higher education.

The presidents said they worry an expensive amendment to reduce class sizes in public schools would cost so much that it would take money away from universities.

"It causes us a great deal of discomfort," said John Hitt, president of the University of Central Florida. "It's too inflexible. It would soak up so much funding."

Hitt, head of the State University Presidents Association, said the presidents do not oppose reducing class sizes, but they do oppose mandating them in the state Constitution.

State economists have estimated that reducing class sizes could cost Florida $27.5-billion for the first seven years and $2.5-billion every year after that. The amendment says the state, and not school districts, would have to find a way to pay for it.

Gov. Jeb Bush, who met with the presidents later at the Capitol, said the estimates don't include inflation and other costs, which would make the proposal even more costly. If voters approve of the change, Bush said, taxes would go up and programs would be cut.

"Everybody will be at risk," he said. "It will have an impact on learning. It's a big problem."

The presidents also reaffirmed their opposition to a proposal to revamp higher education in Florida.

The plan, supported by U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, would restore a version of the old Board of Regents, which had been in place for 36 years, but keep new boards of trustees at each university.

"We see the new system working," Hitt said. "We are all now committed to it. What is it we're fixing?"

The presidents' group, which meets regularly across the Florida, also agreed Thursday to form a consortium and hire an executive director.

But Florida State University president Sandy D'Alemberte called the move premature, saying he wanted to wait until the state hired a chancellor of colleges and universities.

Earlier in the day, University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft met with Bush.

She talked with him about what she planned to do about Sami Al-Arian, the tenured professor who made national headlines after allegations that he had ties to terrorists were aired on national television a few weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"She said where she stood, what her legal advice has been that she's received," Bush said. "It's her decision to make."

Genshaft put Al-Arian on paid leave and later announced that she intended to fire him. She won't make a final decision until sometime before classes start Aug. 26. She would not comment on her conversation with Bush on Thursday or when she would make her decision.

Later, Bush joked that his problems with the state's beleaguered Department of Children and Families have helped keep Genshaft and the Al-Arian matter out of the national spotlight.

Genshaft laughed.

"I'm trying to provide support for our university presidents," Bush quipped.

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