Your Mission

supportdadeschools.net

The Mission; revised sample letter

You must contact the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House along with key senators and representatives from Miami-Dade County. The following page will provide all of the necessary contact information.

Supportdadeschools.net is urging parents, teachers, students and informed voting taxpayers to address the following points:

1. Children are the foundation of Florida's future.

2. PreK-12 Education funding must be held at 2009-2010 levels.

3. School districts must be provided with some form of class-size amendment flexibility when school begins in August...if they plan to put the measure before voters in November. If schools are forced to the letter of the 2002 law, current educational programs, including the arts, language and technology could be decimated.

4. Businesses will not relocate to or remain in Florida if the state can not provide a viable, educated work force able to compete in a global economy.

5. Businesses will not relocate to Florida if their employees find the quality of public education lacking.

6. Legislators must revisit existing tax exemptions and explore revenue enhancements.

7. Allow school districts freedom to work with available financial resources.

8. Teachers are the engines that drive learning in our classrooms.

9. Stop further reductions to K-12 education in the coming year.

Write, e-mail or call today! You pay taxes;be informed and be heard; make politicians accountable to you, the voter!

A sample letter is provided below for your use; it is appropriate to send to the Governor or any legislator. Please cut and paste at will or use it as a guide:

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, FL Your Zip Code

March 21, 2010

The Honorable Charlie Crist
Governor of the State of Florida
Plaza Level 05, The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-001

Dear Governor Crist:

My family members are the faces of Florida's challenging economy. We've been forced adjust and evaluate our finances. However, one area that remains a priority is the education of my children. It is an investment that will provide a guaranteed positive return.

Education is the foundation of Florida’s future. Not only is a high quality education a mandate of the Florida Constitution, a strong school system is the bridge to a viable workforce in a global economy, vital to attracting business and revenue to Florida.

As a voting parent of a child in the Miami-Dade County Public School system, I ask that you work diligently to protect the classroom as you consider budgeting options. While the House and Senate budget efforts show progress, they do not provide for Florida's constitutionally-mandated high quality education; Please maintain 2009-2010 funding levels for PreK-12 education.

Should federal funds become available to support state programs, please consider shifting now-available state dollars toward the filling of gaps in the education budget.

In terms of class size, I support the presentation of a school-wide average compromise to voters in November; however, please provide Districts starting school in August with some flexibility. Implementation of strict class size in Miami-Dade County is anticipated to cost the District more than $100-million, likely at the expense of electives, including the arts and technology. We must educate the "whole child" as opposed to FCAT subjects only.

I also ask that you work to protect teachers as they are the engine that drives learning.

I support the consideration and evaluation of creative revenue streams; consider all options please. And in this election year, I, along with likeminded voters now networking throughout Florida, will support those candidates who support the special interest that can afford no well-funded lobby: our children.

Sincerely,

Your Name