Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 7-24-20

State News
FEA Sues DeSantis To Stop ‘Reckless’ Order To Open Schools
back into the classroom five days a week, especially as the Coronavirus spread is skyrock- eting. The FEA represents nearly 150,000 teachers and staff and is the largest union of its kind in Florida.
Florida is the epicenter of the deadly COVID-19 pan- demic that has gripped the na- tion. The governor has made clear that he is following Pres- ident Donald Trump’s lead to open public schools. Ingram says the risks are too great.
“The order is reckless and unconscionable. Until we get control of the community spread, we cannot open in this manner. No one wants to be back in the classroom more than teachers, but we want to do it safely. The known risks have to be mitigated by the state. We have to use distance learning until it is safe to re- turn to the classroom,” he said. Ingram added that more im- portantly, teachers are anxious to get back to the work of teaching children.
Like Trump, DeSantis left the ultimate decision-making responsibility and planning to
local school boards. Ingram says if that’s the case he should rescind his emergency order. Critics say DeSantis is en- gaged in a PR stunt to appease the president and offer the ap- pearance of jump starting the economy when he is really cre- atingspreaderenvironments. Ingram also pointed to the vio- lation of the State Constitution
that states, “Adequate provi- sion shall be made by law or a uniform for a uniform, effi- cient, safe, secure and high- quality system of free public schools.”
Reopening the bricks and mortar classroom is a huge problem for students and teachers of color. Those ethnic groups, African Americans in
particular, are disproportion- ately impacted by killer dis- eases that are complicated by the virus. Blacks are three times as likely to die from the combination of chronic dis- eases and COVID-19.
Both the state and national NAACPs joined the lawsuit that was filed in the 11th Cir- cuit Court in Miami.
FEDRICK INGRAM Florida Education Associa- tion President
State and National NAACP Join Suit
TALLAHASSEE -— The Florida Education Association is suing the state to block plans for the August brick and mor- tar reopening of the state’s public schools. President Fedrick Ingram says Gov- ernor Ron DeSantis and the Education Commissioner do not have a responsible plan or the legal authority to send mil- lions of children and teachers
Children's Board To Host 2020 Town Hall Meetings
NOTE: The Town Hall date are subject to change due to any COVID-19 con- cerns.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County will host its 2020 Town Hall meetings on Thursday, July 23rd, at 5 p.m. The purpose of the meet- ings is in anticipation of the major funding releases in the years 2022 and 2024.
Nestor Ortiz, with 16 Point Compass Consulting, will facil- itate the meetings on behalf of the Children’s Board. It will take place at the North Tampa Children’s Board Family Re- source Center, 116 W. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, 33612.
The meetings will be con- ducted at each of the seven Children’s Board Family Re- source Centers. Hillsborough County families can participate via community survey or by at- tending the event in person or virtually.
The goal of the meetings is to have better insight into the needs and concerns of children and families in Hillsborough County. During the meetings, organizers will gather informa- tion at the micro and macro levels, which will let them know how to provide the nec- essary support for families to thrive.
The meetings will also give parents, stakeholders, care- givers, and members of the community the opportunity to discuss issues of concern and to provide meaningful solu- tions.
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 11-A