VIDEO: Crist gets voicemail from Jeb Bush on teacher bill
by Michael C. Bender | April 13th, 2010Not much new this morning from Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who met with reporters before the twice-a-month Cabinet meeting. But with all the interest in the issue, you can watch the entire six-minute press conference above.
During the briefing, Crist said he did not promise Sen. John Thrasher, the Republican Party chairman sponsoring the bill, that he’d sign the controversial teacher legislation. Crist said that yesterday, as we reported here and here.
Crist said he still hasn’t made his decision yet on whether to sign or veto the bill — he has until Friday — and implied that he favors accountability more than eliminating teacher tenure.
He also said that former Gov. Jeb Bush left him a voicemail asking him to sign the bill.
“Shocking,” Crist laughed.
No, it wasn’t a robo-call. But Bush’s education group is also airing an ad asking people to call Crist and urge him to sign the bill.
Tags: Charlie Crist, merit pay
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April 13th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Someone please remind Jeb Bush he isn’t a Governor anymore
April 13th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hey, Don Kreig, you weighed in on this blog. I’m apt to believe if you had the Governor’s phone number, you would probably call him yourself. Leaders can be found everywhere, in and out of elected office. You might not like him, but Jeb is doing what true leaders do. They step up to make a difference. Pity a nation where that is a bad thing.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Dear Govornor Crist,
Is Former Govenor Jeb Bush angry at you because you guys cannot go to Europe together with your wives and spend tax payers money? Poor Jeb!
April 13th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
The LAST thing Crist needs is advice from anyone named BUSH. Crist will find a smarter way to go if he keeps his distance from those Tea Bagging Neo-Cons.
I never met a Bush that I liked.
April 13th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Matter OF SURVIVAL.
Governor Crist is “monitoring”the clouds over the teacher bill.No job should be beyond scrutiny,much less untouchable.I managed a municible transportation fleet for 25 years and was performance reviewed every six months.Why not an educator,who already has weekends,holidays,and summer off,reviews of their duties? And the pay is good too,last I looked.
April 13th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Good comment Rick. Pass SB6!
April 13th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Hey Rick and Rae
Teachers are evaluated each year as just like other positions. For several years we’ve had to also carry documentation portfolios to show evidence of achievement and align them to school improvement goals. SB6 adds something though that your evals probably didn’t.In this bill, if there is a problem you cannot practice at all. Besides, basing teacher quality on student behavior/discipline is ridiculous. We do what we can but in the end the responsibility falls to the student. They take the tests. Spend a day in a class, one with 20% non-english speakers and 70% without any parental support and you will see a complete different picture where a teacher has to deal with way more than academics to even get a student to pick up a pencil. Plus elementary teachers especially take work home and on weekends too. VETO 6!
April 13th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
This bill, separation of church/state and attacking our retirement; Republicans are sending us back to the dark ages…no,no wait; the dark ages are better.
I can only hope if this “stuff” passes that the people who can accomplish this; vote each and everyone of you who have supported this out of office. Good God Jeb Bush again messing with Florida.