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You may have never heard of Roberto Martinez but he has a lot to say about public education in Florida. Mr. Martinez is a member of the Florida Board of Education. A Georgetown Law graduate, he also holds a Masters in Accounting and a B.S. in Economics from the prestigious Wharton School of Business at…
This week, Kathleen Oropeza and Linda Kobert visited Bradenton to attend a meeting of parent representatives from local schools. Their group, headed by Christine Sket, has decided to join forces with FundEducationNow.org. About 40 parents in the Manatee school district formally merged with the group during the district’s Joint Parent Organization quarterly meeting on Tuesday.…
The White House released a report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act last week. The study shows that the money saved 250,000 education jobs this year. 9% of Florida’s education budget is being propped up this year by Federal money. However, the crisis has not been averted. States nationwide are experiencing severe budget shortfalls…
Leaders of three organizations — the University of Miami, the Miami Business Forum and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce — contend an investment in young children can help fuel Florida’s economic revival. Research shows that for every dollar that is invested in the best early childhood education programs, there is a $3 to $18…
Lawton “Bud” Chiles, son of the late Governor Chiles, is retracing his father’s 600 mile walk around Florida to raise awareness for children’s issues. This weekend, his walk took him through Okaloosa County in the panhandle where he visited a pre-K facility and learned how a decline in state funding has put a burden on…
We at FundEducationNow.org have been traveling around the state talking about the economic importance of investing in a world-class education system. As a state, we have sent a clear and consistent message that we do not put a high value on education or on anything child-related. We consistently rank in the bottom quartile of states…
As the Florida legislature continues to shift the burden of funding schools to local property owners, the colossal cost of the unfunded class size amendment looms. Joe Callahan with The Gainesville Sun wrote a thoughtful story today on the dense subject of education funding. A decade ago, voters overwhelming passed an amendment to the…
Orlando Sentinel http://bit.ly/pXNXR Threat of school cuts sent Orlando mom into action Leslie Postal Sentinel Staff Writer August 2, 2009 Sunday Spotlight Kathleen Oropeza Birthplace: Atlanta Resides: Orlando Occupation: Stay-at-home mom, active in PTA and school advisory council at Blankner School, one of the founders of Fundeducationnow.org Family: Husband, Keith; sons Nicholas, 9, and Alexander, As economic news…
Editorial, Miami Herald Thurs. July 16, 2009 Gov. Charlie Crist keeps hailing the federal stimulus package as a magic job-saver — on Wednesday he pointed to $2 billion of the money helping 26,000 teachers stay employed in Florida. The governor’s pronouncement came a day after President Barack Obama pledged $12 billion for the nation’s community…
BY SCOTT ANDRON sandron@MiamiHerald.com Miami Herald July 15th http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1142158.html Florida’s economy needs less onerous regulation of international banking and more investment in education, local business leaders told the state economic development agency Tuesday morning. More than 100 people turned out for a forum at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens to discuss the state economy as…