Commissioner John Winn talks about class-size caps and a proposed amendment to force school spending on classroom expenses.

By RON MATUS, Times Staff Writer
Published March 21, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Florida's top education official expressed reservations Monday about legislative plans to mandate a rigid formula for classroom spending.

But Education Commissioner John Winn said the so-called "65 percent solution" is worth supporting when coupled with efforts to ease multibillion-dollar class-size caps.

"Without the context that we're in, I would not be in favor of just passing (the 65 percent rule) in a constitutional amendment," Winn told the St. Petersburg Times editorial board.

But, he said, "I've been on record for quite some time saying that this particular class-size amendment ... is too restrictive for Florida schools."

At issue is a proposed constitutional amendment being considered by state legislators and backed by Gov. Jeb Bush, the Board of Education and legislative leaders. If the Legislature approves it, voters will see the measure on the November ballot.

The amendment would force school districts to spend at least 65 percent of their operating budgets on classroom expenses including teachers, computers and student supplies. At the same time, it would water down the stringent class-size caps voters approved in 2002.

Supporters see that as an easy way to shift $1-billion per year into Florida classrooms without raising taxes.

Critics call it a cynical ploy to cripple the class-size rule.

Winn said both the class-size caps and the 65 percent threshold were picked "out of the blue," echoing observers who see the proposed amendment as an attempt to substitute one gimmick not grounded in education research with another. But he also said that given the huge costs of fully implementing the class-size amendment, the new measure offered a more "balanced approach."

By 2010, the class-size amendment would limit schools to 18 students per classroom for kindergarten through third grade, 22 students for grades four through eight and 25 students for high school.

The proposed amendment would re-set the caps as districtwide averages. But it would prevent any classroom from being more than five students above the average.

Winn said that revision would still be enough to fix school overcrowding, while the 65 percent measure would ensure more money is funnelled to smaller class sizes or higher teacher pay.

Still, he remained concerned about how "in-the-classroom" expenses would be defined.

Some amendment backers want to use a federal definition, which counts teachers as in-the-classroom expenses, but not administrators, librarians, guidance counselors or many other personnel. Under that definition, none of Florida's 67 school districts in Florida meet the 65 percent standard.

Reading coaches - a key part of Bush's education revamp - also wouldn't count toward classroom spending under the federal definition.

Other amendment supporters say a more flexible definition is likely, prompting some education groups, including the Florida School Boards Association, to sign on. Lawmakers wouldn't craft the language until 2007.

"I'm supporting the 65 percent solution, but ... as we define it in Florida," said Winn, who is expected to recommend a definition at a later date.

Also Monday, Winn defended the state's proposed performance pay plan for teachers, which has drawn fire from teachers, superintendents and school board members since Winn unveiled it last month.

Under the plan, the state's top teachers would earn 5 percent bonuses, with performance in many cases measured by student scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

"Like it or not," Winn said, the FCAT "is probably the best assessment in the nation."

-- Ron Matus can be reached at 727 893-8873 or matus@sptimes.com

Source: St. Pete Times