Many of us have heard the rumors in regard to the Charter School provisions titled “Schools of Hope.” While the Schools of Hope as a program have been around for nearly a decade, in the current iteration, it has become less of an equal opportunity for student education and more a parasite who has found an unprotected host in every school district in the state we call home.

Originally submitted as an appropriations bill back in March of this year, no one could have ever imagined the momentum that quietly built up behind it and the nefarious intentions that revealed themselves just a few weeks ago.

A Bill Passed in the Shadows

Just a mere 20 minutes after the bill left the House, the Senate passed it with a nearly 90% yea vote, snuck in under the cover of a larger omnibus bill for appropriations on the 106th day of a 60-day legislative session.

With little observation and even far less debate, this bill carried with it two potential disease-laden provisions designed to rot Public Education from within its own institutions.

It means the vote to recertify our union is officially happening—finally.

Here’s what you need to know:

Back in April of last year, we collected 724 white card signatures to get IRCEA on the ballot. These cards were required just to have the opportunity to vote on keeping our union.

Then… nothing.

The vote we were told would happen in December was delayed for months. In fact, it was delayed so long that we have already collected white cards all over again this year—yes, this is now an annual process.

The Indian River County Education Association (IRCEA) strongly condemns the inaccurate and harmful accusations made by School Board member Dr. Gene Posca at the April 22nd board meeting regarding the teachers at Sebastian River High School. We demand an immediate retraction of these statements and a formal public apology to our dedicated educators.