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By STEPHEN HEGARTY
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 7, 2000
TAMPA -- Gov. Jeb Bush and Education Commissioner Tom Gallagher took the state's school recognition program on the road Wednesday, visiting hundreds of cheering students in Tampa and two other cities while bringing cash rewards for academic achievement.
"I'm so proud of what you've accomplished," Bush told the students of Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary Wednesday during a late-morning rally in the front of the stately old brick school.
With 700 excited children looking on, Bush and Gallagher handed over a check for $67,345 to principal Arlene Babanats, a reward for her school's improved test scores. The school earned an A grade from the state for the 1999-2000 school year, up from a C.
Overall, the state is spending about $80-million on rewards for 997 schools. The schools either had an A, but still improved test scores over last year, or improved at least one letter grade (for example, from a D to a C, or C to B). They get $100 for each student. Even more money might be needed; 80 schools have appealed their letter grade and should learn soon whether they, too, qualify for school recognition money.
Last year, 319 Florida schools shared $30-million in school recognition money.
The reward program, now in its third year, is one of the more high-profile components of Bush's controversial A+
Education plan. Critics of the overall plan are numerous. And during this political season when education is the issue, most candidates have an opinion about the high-stakes testing, the awarding of A through F letter grades, or the cash rewards.
The Florida Democratic Party was critical of the 10-city tour by Bush, Gallagher, and Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan to give out school recognition awards this week. They called it a political trip designed to tout the governor's education plan in Florida and keep the focus on education for his brother George W. Bush's presidential campaign.
"You don't have to connect every dot to see this picture," said Tony Welch, spokesman for the Democratic Party.
But despite misgivings regarding the A+
Plan, many principals found it difficult Wednesday not to smile at the prospect of having a little extra money.
"A+
is there and we have to work with it," said Babanats at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary. "Our motivation is that we want to do right by the children, and if that means we get extra money, that's great. We have a big wish list."
Unlike last year, when the rewards were a genuine surprise, this year's were expected. There are few strings attached to the money. It can be used for equipment, staff bonuses, or hiring temporary personnel. Last year, schools organized committees to make sure everyone had some say in how the money was spent.
"It's like the biggest windfall, the most wonderful thing that could happen," said St. Petersburg High School principal Linda Benware. "This is a huge amount of money."
Her school received a check for $209,000.
On Wednesday, three state schools -- one in Tallahassee, one in Tampa, and one in Miami-Dade -- got personal visits from Bush and Gallagher.
In Tallahassee, Bush and Gallagher visited a Spanish class, attended a school assembly and presented a $46,625 check at Lillian Ruediger Elementary school, which moved from a C to an A grade in the 1999-2000 school year.
The improvement stemmed from several changes, including adding an extra hour to the school day for struggling students, said principal Doug Caylor. The school had already been on a path of improvement for several years.
"I don't think the A+
plan drove us," Caylor said about Bush's agenda to test students, grade schools, and make vouchers available to students at F schools.
In Tampa, Bush and Gallagher, in shirtsleeves under the sweltering sun, gamely shook hands and did high-fives with as many students as they could. Both signed their names in black marker on the spotless new blue cast on the leg of a very excited third-grader, Danielle Oliva.
Standing in front of her school, as the children headed back to class, and the governor and education commissioner stood before television cameras, principal Babanats started thinking about what to do with the money.
"We want to do something that's substantial," she said. "You know, you start with "This is really fun,' but then it's hard work."
But the first order of business, she said, was getting the $67,345 check into the hands of her bookkeeper.
Said Babanats: "That's a lot of money."
- Times staff writers Diane Rado and Kelly Ryan contributed to this report.