Pasco educators say 'thanks' to governor

Originally, it was supposed to be a protest urging Gov. Charlie Crist to veto an education bill.

When Crist did just that today, though, the planned demonstration by Pasco County teachers was quickly changed to a celebratory rally and a thank you to the governor.

"Kudos to Gov. Crist for listening to the people and not following the party line," said Wayne
D'Anunzio, a language arts and gifted teacher at Bayonet Point Middle.

D'Anunzio was among numerous sign-waving members of United School Employees of Pasco who celebrated the governor's decision to veto Senate Bill 6, which would have ended tenure for new teachers and would have linked teacher pay and recertification to student learning gains as measured by standardized tests.

D'Anunzio was part of a group that waved signs at U.S. 19 and State Road 52 in west Pasco. Others held similar rallies at the Kmart Shopping Center on U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills and at State Road 54 and U.S. 41 in Land O' Lakes.

The teachers said they aren't afraid of accountability, but they said it was a mistake to put so much emphasis on tests. They also were unhappy that legislators didn't seek more input from teachers when crafting the bill.

Robert Moore, a union vice president, said it was important to thank the governor for listening to the pleas that came not just from educators, but from parents and other members of the community as well.

"I think this really energized the community," Moore said.

Kathy Kennedy, a Deer Park Elementary teacher, said there was an upbeat mood at her school Thursday as word spread about the governor's veto.

"I felt very proud because so many people pulled together and stood behind us," she said. "It was a very good moment; very satisfying."

The governor's office reported this week that Crist received thousands of telephone calls, letters and e-mail messages about the bill, the vast majority asking him to veto it. He complied on Thursday, bucking his own Republican Party.

"Obviously, we're very pleased," said Lynne Webb, president of the union.United School Employee of Pasco. "One of the things I'm most pleased about is not just the veto, but the clear, strong, compelling reasons the governor gave for his veto."

Crist said among his concerns was that the bill did not accommodate special education students and teachers. He also said he was concerned that the state's control in the bill would infringe on the constitutional right of local control, and by the way the bill went through the Legislature, bypassing teachers and others.

"The process is something we felt was dehumanizing," Webb said. "Our own representatives didn't listen to input from their constituents."

Not everyone was happy with the governor's veto. State Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, chairman of the House Pre-K-12 Policy Committee, said Crist made the wrong decision.

"It is unfortunate that the governor has endorsed the politics of misinformation that will ultimately deprive Florida's most deserving teachers of the raises they have rightfully earned," Legg said in a prepared statement. "I am convinced, no matter how difficult the challenge before us, we can still achieve this goal."

Legg and other proponents of the bill and a similar bill in the House had argued that the best teachers would earn more money earlier in their careers because of the bill's emphasis on "performance pay."

"A quality education can change lives and is essential for the opportunity and success of our future generations and our state," Legg said. "Rewarding our teachers and ensuring that every student in every classroom has a quality teacher is a critical component of a quality education."