Florida senators taking aim at class-size reduction amendment

The class-size amendment's smaller classes are supposed to take effect in 2010, but Florida Republican senators are trying to stop that from happening.

Their attempts aren't new, but this time around they might have more political traction thanks to the state's projected 2010-11 budget deficit of more than $2 billion.

The time has come, says state Sen. Mike Bennett, to "repeal it and start over." He filed legislation this week to do just that.

The way Bennett sees it, it's a good idea in theory but not in practice.

"All of the studies show it's not working out the way we thought it would," said Bennett, a Bradenton Republican. "The costs are out of control. The schools are begging for relief. We didn't give them enough flexibility in it."

Bennett figures that, based on conversations with colleagues, the bill might eke through the Senate, though politics might prevent a two-thirds vote from emerging. "We're certainly going to take a run at it."

Expect the repeal idea, which Senate Education Appropriations Chairman Steve Wise deemed a "rogue bill," to have competition.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, plans to file joint legislation with state Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, to stop the amendment at school averages rather than let it progress to classroom counts.

Gaetz expected a complete repeal would be more difficult to achieve with voters than a freeze. But he welcomed Bennett to the debate.

"This session will be our last chance to put some common sense into the class-size issue before we all go into an inflexible per class cap that will hamstring schools and dramatically decrease the amount of money that is available for curriculum and extracurricular activities," Gaetz said.

Lawmakers can talk all they want, he observed. But voters will have the final say. Changing the amendment would require a 60 percent vote.