Speaking at a Candidates Forum on Thursday, Mr. Homer Hartage, one of the candidates in the race for Orange County School Board Chair, said he did not support the proposed class size amendment which eases the existing class size limits in the Constitution and which is being placed on the November ballot.  Hartage said he would do everything in his power, if elected, to keep the current class size caps that Floridians had approved in 2002.
Meanwhile, Ms. Leona Rachman, another candidate running for Orange County School Board Chair noted that the matter of class sizes was raised in better economic times, but agreed that class sizes should be capped.  Rachman said that she would adhere to the new mandate of class sizes, if approved by Florida voters in November. She added that, she did not support cutting teachers and would favor putting the over 5,000 resources teachers into the class room.
Responding to a direct question on whether or not the candidates were supportive of alternative education, both Hartage and Rachman said that they did support alternative education options, including charter schools, special needs education and online education.
Hartage and Rachman were participants in a Candidates Forum at the Pine Hills Community Center on Thursday.
Mr. Bill Sublette, another candidate running for Orange County School Board Chair did not participate.
Hartage noted that the was not supportive of the class size amendment which is being put to voters. He would do everything in his power to keep up with what Florida voters had earlier approved in terms of class size caps, he said.
Rachman, for her part, opined that the matter of class size was raised in better economic times and she was in favor of putting resource teachers into the class room.
She does not support cutting teachers and will adhere to the new class size mandate, if approved by Florida voters.
Both Hartage and Rachman said that they are supportive of alternative education, including charter schools and alternative education. Both said they believed that students should have various options as regards education.
