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Bargains begin over class size

The GOP courts Democrats in the Senate showdown to loosen voter-approved limits.

By LETITIA STEIN and STEVE BOUSQUET
Published April 27, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Old-fashioned pork-barrel politics could shape the outcome of today's Senate showdown over a Republican plan to weaken the voter-approved class size limits in Florida schools.

Every vote will count in the controversial effort to ease the hard limits on class size, and that puts the handful of undecided senators in a strong position to bargain.

Case in point, Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee. Although his party sharply opposes the GOP war on the class size limits, Lawson made clear Thursday he might break from his Democratic Party colleagues and support the GOP plan.

In making that point, Lawson mentioned that he has a series of priorities for his constituents, many of whom are state employees and low-income rural residents. Lawson mentioned his interest in seeing higher travel reimbursement and pay raises for state workers, as well as $8-million to replace an aging public health clinic in Jackson County.

Lawson pointed out that the state's $70-billion budget is not yet finalized, so there's still room to add a few things: "In politics, sometimes timing is everything. There's going to be a lot of arm-twisting. There's going to be a lot of offers."

In a flush budget year, money for local priorities factors into the debate over public education. Gov. Jeb Bush and Republican leaders want constitutional amendments asking voters for a class size do-over, plus support for private school vouchers. Close votes in the 40-member Senate could decide the outcome of both.

Senate President Tom Lee, R-Valrico, sees nothing wrong with helping lawmakers who aid him with priorities like class size.

"There's all kinds of influences in the outcomes of votes in the political process. There's nothing new about that," he said. "As long as its handled in a way that doesn't make members feel intimidated, or doesn't make them feel like you're trying to buy their principles."

Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, who isn't committed on the class size issue, said additional money for South Florida schools in his district have become involved in the discussion of how votes are cast.

"I'm just saddened by the politics that are being used in the debate," he said. "Fairness and distribution of dollars should not be on the backs of the children of Florida."

Another key GOP vote, Senate Majority Leader Alex Villalobos is threatening to abandon his party for parochial needs. He had stressed early in the session that he wanted to see how his Miami schools fared in the budget before making a decision on the class size amendment.

"South Florida schools aren't adequately funded in the budget," he said. Then added of this year's proposed increases, "The budget isn't closed yet."

From the beginning, the class size debate has centered on dollars. Campaigning against the 2002 constitutional amendment, Bush claimed the costs would "block out the sun."

The new plan that Republicans want to put before voters would freeze class sizes at current levels on a district basis, and raise caps in each classroom. No more than 23 students could be in a class in prekindergarten through third grade. The cap would be 27 students in Grades 4-8 and 30 students in Grades 9-12.

Supporters say school districts need more flexibility.

"If we do nothing, then all of our school districts are going to be incapable of meeting the requirements of the class size amendment, which then calls for some really draconian things like busing," said Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville.

But Democrats, who want to leave class size as is, say Republican leaders haven't spent sufficient money to make smaller class sizes work. Now they are fighting the GOP plan, which includes an allowance for two teachers to share a classroom.

"Aren't we really saying that, if we don't like the answer you give us - if it's too hard to do - we're going to send it back to you?" said Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, a candidate for governor.

To help sell voters, the Republican plan also requires schools to pump 65 percent of operating funds into classrooms. Polls show that voters love the concept, but some of the Republicans whose votes are needed are skeptical.

Lawson's potential switch is important because several of the 26 Republicans may vote against the class size changes, and 24 votes are needed to put the revised amendment on the November ballot.

Lawson did not promise to vote with Republicans if his projects are funded. But the 24-year veteran of the Legislature realizes his constituents will judge him in part on what he brings home.

"There comes a time in all of our lives when we can't do everything the party wants us to do," Lawson said.

Letitia Stein can be reached at lstein@sptimes.com or 850 224-7263.

[Last modified April 27, 2006, 23:01:06]