Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis education plans gloss over what matters most to Volusia and Flagler counties

With one month to go before the general election, Florida gubernatorial candidates Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum have starkly different plans for the future of Florida’s education system, with $1 billion in spending dividing them, along with different views on school choice and Florida’s voucher system and ideas for curriculum.

The conflicting plans could paint a very different picture for K-12 education in Florida that will affect the more than two million students and 180,000 teachers in the state.

Yet neither addresses what Volusia and Flagler district officials have long marked as a priority: the state’s funding formula that strips money from the local districts every year. While calling for more equitable funding, neither candidate touches on the topic in their platforms.

Still, a lot of eyes are on this race and its ultimate ramifications for the education system.

“For this race, really consider voting just education,” said Amy Dorton, a teacher at Forest Lake Elementary in Deltona. “The future’s at stake. I hate to be dramatic, but it really is.”

[READ MORE: Gillum, DeSantis offer sharply different plans for Florida schools]

The spending plans

Education spending makes up about one-third of the state’s budget — that’s more than any other spending area except for health care administration. But based on each candidates’ proposals, the effects to local districts could go to either extreme: a cash windfall in Volusia and Flagler counties, or even more belt tightening.

DeSantis is focusing on changing the way school districts spend the money they already get. He wants to make sure 80 percent of school funding is spent “in the classroom,” and not on administration. He said the plan could help boost teacher pay.

DeSantis has not outlined what “in the classroom” means exactly, but the plan aims to “cut bureaucratic waste and administrative inefficiency.”

In their current budgets, less than 10 percent of expenditures in Volusia and Flagler counties go toward general administration, school administration or administration technology services. But there's some concern that other budget line items, like student transportation, food services or facilities may not be included in DeSantis' idea of "classroom spending." The impact of the restructuring largely depends on that definition.

“That’s a misnomer, we’ve heard that for years,” said Volusia United Educators President Andrew Spar about DeSantis’ plan to redistribute existing funding. “The idea that if we just spend the money that’s already there in the classrooms that will solve it. Florida is one of the wealthiest states in the nation, yet most of our students don’t benefit from that.”

On the other hand, Gillum proposes a 2.25 percent increase in the state corporate income tax, which would provide $1 billion to invest in education. It also calls for legalizing and taxing marijuana and using that money for education. His plan, released in January, sets aside specific things to invest in: public school construction, increasing the starting salary for teachers to at least $50,000, early childhood education programs and vocational training.

Flagler School Board Chair Trevor Tucker worries how a higher corporate income tax might affect existing partnerships with local businesses.

“I don’t know the impacts of how that would affect education,” he said. “Is that going to drive away businesses and the tax burden becomes more on the local homeowner?”

What the districts want

Despite these platforms, neither candidate has outlined plans to do what Volusia and Flagler officials really want and have been asking for for years: Do away with the district cost differential.

That’s the funding formula the state uses that accounts for cost of living and wages in a district. The result: More money goes to districts where it’s more expensive to live, meaning Volusia and Flagler get back less money than they put in.

Volusia gets back 96 cents for every dollar it sends to Tallahassee, which was a loss of $10 million this year alone. Flagler gets back 95 cents, which was a loss of close to $3 million this year.

“What we would like out of either candidate is equitable funding for our students,” said Flagler Superintendent James Tager. “We truly need the governor’s support to move things forward for us.”

Volusia County Superintendent Tom Russell declined an interview on the subject of the candidates' budget proposals. Eliminating the DCD was one of the district's legislative priorities in 2018, and Volusia County School Board Chair Linda Cuthbert also emphasized the importance of equitable funding.

“We have to make sure we have a governor and a state legislature that supports the fair expectations and funding for public schools," Cuthbert said. "Our community has already stepped up to the plate. They have already agreed graciously to the half-cent sales tax. It’s the state’s constitutional responsibility to finance the public schools to the best ability it can.”

Checks and balances

Although both gubernatorial candidates have big plans for education, both would face challenges if elected.

Whatever happens, “the Legislature has to agree to it,” Tager pointed out.

Gillum would likely be up against a Republican-led legislature that would oppose increases to corporate taxes. And although DeSantis’ spending plan may be easier to push through, depending on how he defines “classroom spending,” it may not elicit much change at the district-level. Volusia and Flagler already put most of their money in classrooms.

[READ MORE: Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis give voters a choice to turn left, or right]

Outside of spending, there are the other issues for voters to consider when it comes to education. Gillum wants to limit the use of private school vouchers; DeSantis wants to expand them. DeSantis is vocal against Common Core and wants to review Florida’s curriculum standards; Gillum wants to invest in early childhood education and get more students reading on grade level. They both want to emphasize career and technical education programs.

“I think this is a pivotal race,” Spar said. “We’re certainly starting to see people pay attention to it.”

The candidates for Florida governor have very different views on education issues. Here's a quick look at how Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum compare.

Spending

DeSantis is focusing on changing the way school districts spend the money they already get. He wants to make sure 80 percent of school funding is spent “in the classroom,” and not on administration. He said the plan could help boost teacher pay, how he defines his terms is key.

Gillum proposes a 2.25 percent increase in the state corporate-income tax, which would provide $1 billion to invest in education — beginning with a minimum $50,000 starting salary for teachers.

School choice

DeSantis wants to expand the private school voucher programs Florida has put in place. These are scholarships for low-income, disabled or bullied students to attend private schools, funded from corporate tax credits. Last year, the state gave out almost $1 billion in vouchers.

Gillum vowed to end what he called the “voucherizing of the education system.” He also opposes “unaccountable, for-profit charter schools.”

Vocational ed

DeSantis wants to incentivize schools to offer career and technical education programs, allow students to complete programs as soon as they display competency and implement apprenticeships.

Similarly, Gillum’s “SHOP 2.0” plan calls for integrating computer education into all vocational programs. He wants graduating seniors to have access to training that won’t leave them in debt and will encourage businesses to share responsibility for educating the workforce they want to hire.

Curriculum

DeSantis has called for civics education in classrooms, and decried Common Core standards. (Florida schools already teach civics and use a curriculum that was modified from Common Core). He plans a review of Florida’s curriculum standards.

Gillum wants to invest at least $250 million in early childhood education programs, and make sure every student is reading on grade level by third grade.

Education plans at a glance