Florida Teachers Union Files Suit
(Posted July 25, 2011 06:59 am)
By Les Coleman
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Individuals and groups representing Florida's public schools and some religious communities have filed a lawsuit in state Circuit Court (2011-CA-1892) in Tallahassee. They are challenging a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the Florida Legislature. Amendment Seven would substantially alter the constitution's no-aid provision, which has been in effect for more than 125 years. This provision (in Article 1, Section 3) protects the religious freedom rights of all Floridians by barring taxpayer-funded aid to religious institutions.
The proposed amendment, if approved by voters, would gut
that protection, according to
Florida
Education Association (FEA) President Andy Ford.
"If Amendment Seven were to pass, it could open the
flood gates for any school of any type to try and get
state funding, at the expense of the public schools."
The lawsuit points out that voters throughout the nation
have repeatedly rejected voucher initiatives. Plaintiffs
claim the leadership of the legislature realized this,
so they approved an amendment with the ballot title,
"Religious Freedom," which plaintiffs say twists the
measure's actual meaning.
The amendment's supporters say vouchers would improve
the quality of schools across the state.
Co-plaintiff Rabbi Merrill Shapiro of Temple Shalom,
Deltona, claims the proposed amendment is an effort by
legislative wolves to wrap an unconstitutional issue in
sheep's clothing.
"Our lawsuit is based on Article 3 of our Florida
Constitution, which says you can't write a check from
the state to a Christian college."
Among others joining the FEA in the legal action are the
president of the
Florida
School Boards Association, the president of the
Florida
Association of School Administrators, the conference
minister for the
Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ
and a retired Baptist minister from Clay County.