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Schools

Plan to split up big districts advances

TALLAHASSEE - A proposed state constitutional amendment that would divide Florida's largest counties into anywhere from two to 18 school districts won approval from a House committee Tuesday.

Supporters said studies show smaller districts have better student performance. Opponents argued that the measure would set back racial integration and economic equality while creating costly new bureaucracies.

Each of Florida's 67 counties now has a single school district. The proposal (HJR 213) would set up a commission to divide counties with more than 45,000 students into multiple districts of fewer than 20,000 each.

Commission decisions would then be reviewed by courts for compliance with state and federal laws and would require approval by countywide referendums.

The amendment, which next goes to the Education Appropriations Committee, would immediately affect 15 counties. Miami-Dade, the largest with 364,203 students, could be split 18 ways. Among other affected counties, Hillsborough could have nine districts and Pinellas five.

The Prekindergarten-12 Committee voted 8-3 for the measure. Yea votes included Frank Farkas, R-St. Petersburg, and Trey Traviesa, R-Tampa.

The proposal has Gov. Jeb Bush's qualified support although it's not necessary - the measure would go directly on the ballot if passed by the House and Senate.

The governor said Florida's large districts result in large schools, which he sees as a bigger problem for student achievement.

"I think it's worth considering it, but it ought to be done very thoughtfully and cautiously, a lot of hearings, a lot of discussion because it may have some unintended consequences," Bush said.

[Last modified January 11, 2006, 00:40:10]