Pasco County Schools has joined other school boards around the state in seeking changes to state regulations relating to schools.
School board member Colleen Beaudoin put it this way during the board’s Dec. 5 meeting: “This is an opportunity to help shape the future.
“Florida has expanded vouchers and scholarships, and now it is time to further the deregulation to help traditional public schools, as well.
“We are not asking on compromising on accountability — I am sure that we all agree that accountability is important,” Beaudoin said.
“It’s just that we don’t want students penalized, or kept from graduating, because of one score on one assessment, and these are decisions best made by educators, working with their parents.
“This is important advocacy that we can do right now.
“We can even ask our parents for help,” she said.
She told her colleagues: “I’m sure you probably got some of the same emails as I’ve received from parents.
“There was one just last week about a child who has met all of the graduation requirements, except for a test score. So, I hope we can do something to help these students,” Beaudoin said.
School board chairwoman Megan Harding agreed.
She said a letter that will be sent to state lawmakers notes the number of students within the district that have been affected by that.
School board member Cynthia Armstrong said the board’s approach must be positive, to avoid risking deregulation all together.
Harding agreed: “So, I do want to make it positive, 100%, but I do think it’s important that we do put how it’s affecting our kiddos,” she said.
Armstrong responded: “That’s a positive thing. The deregulation would help our kids.”
School board member Alison Crumbley noted: “The district wants to make sure its advocacy is student-focused.”
Assistant superintendent Betsy Kuhn said statistics were compiled by district staff to help the district’s lobbyist, but the letter itself will have a more general tone.
Harding expressed appreciation for the research that was done to gather the statistics.
“Thank you for that. I know that was an undertaking, so I appreciate that,” Harding said.
Published January 03, 2024
