April 15, 2010

“Governor Crist’s decision to veto SB 6 is not only a disappointment to Associated Industries of Florida and the businesses we represent, but also demonstrates the Governor is not a champion of true reform, choosing instead to preserve the status quo despite a growing national trend toward more accountability. There are many who may feel they’ve won a battle today, but ultimately, we all lost. The teachers who are the bedrock of our public education system will continue to be locked into incremental pay raises based more on the length of time they sit in their chairs versus the outputs they are achieving in the form of student learning gains. New teachers who see a bleak future of waiting many years to reap any monetary reward for their work will leave the profession before their full potential is unlocked. School administrators will have to stand helplessly by as they watch their best and brightest walk out of the classroom for other career opportunities. Businesses across the state will continue to struggle to find the educated, skilled workforce they need to compete. The loss to parents and students is the greatest as one superb teacher after another leaves what truly is the world’s noblest profession.”