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Union representative urges St. Lucie school board to oppose HB 123, warns of charter conversions
Summary
A leader of the Education Association of St. Lucie asked the board to publicly oppose House Bill 123, saying it would allow charter operators to convert public schools without board votes and could exclude vulnerable students.
A classified-union leader urged the St. Lucie County School Board to take a public stance opposing House Bill 123, saying the bill would hand decision-making about charter conversions to small groups and could allow charter operators to select students.
Laura Levitt Estima, executive board member and classified-union vice president for the Education Association of St. Lucie, told the board she traveled to Tallahassee and asked the board to oppose HB 123. In prepared remarks she said the bill “silences the voices of educators, families, and the broader community” and could permit a small group to convert a public school into a charter school without meaningful transparency or school board approval. Levitt Estima added that, as she understood the bill, the decision would be placed with parents of enrolled students rather than school boards, teachers or administrators.
Levitt Estima said the association believes public schools are accountable to the community and serve all students; she contrasted that with charter operators, who she said are not held to the same public-accountability standards. The board did not take immediate action on the request during the meeting.
Levitt Estima identified herself as a St. Lucie Public Schools education support professional and said she had recently attended sessions at the state capitol. She asked board members to “stand with your students, your educators, and your community” by publicly opposing HB 123.
