Florida’s families have been trying to persuade Governor Scott to place our schools ahead of his special interest pals. Parents, teachers, and activists will again gather in Tampa – this time at Hillsborough Community College at 4:30 PM on Tuesday – to keep the pressure on Rick Scott on the crucial issue of education and to show him that they will not be shut out in favor of special interests.
Just over a month ago, Tampa area residents held a protest at Raymond James Stadium to highlight the need to invest state surplus in education shortly before the Governor arrived for his special interest tax cut tour. Residents came face to face with the Governor that day. They outlined specific needs of local schools and pleaded with Scott to choose education over corporate tax cuts.
Rick Scott has ignored those pleas and now we see news that the Governor’s special interest donors are lining up in Tallahassee to get their tax carve outs. Why are Rick Scott and the Tallahassee establishment listening to the special interests and ignoring the critical issue of education?
In an attempt to kowtow to another special interest group, the Tea Party, Scott recently reversed himself on the issue of Common Core Standards. In August, the Governor skipped out on his own education summit, where he might have had the opportunity to listen to real education experts: teachers and parents. He did however find time to go before an audience of right-wing conservatives and corporate donors to pander on tax cuts.
Kenny Blankenship, Vice President of the United School Employees of Pasco, will be joined by fellow teachers, parents, and community activists to again call on the Governor to put our schools before his special interest backers.
Florida Education Department representatives will also be at Hillsborough Community College that day to discuss what to do now that Rick Scott abandoned Common Core Standards.
What: A press conference and rally to call on the Governor Scott to prioritize education over special interests.
Where: Outside Hillsborough Community College Student Services Bldg.
4001 West Tampa Bay Blvd. Tampa, FL
Day & Time: Tuesday, October 15, 2013
4:30 PM
Who: Kenny Blankenship, Vice President of the United School Employees of Pasco
Parents, teachers, community activists
