Now the governor is worried about too many book bans? | Editorial

Book ban hypocrisy. When the arsonist calls in the fire, is he a hero? That’s the question this week after Gov. Ron DeSantis and his education department tried to quiet the furor over school book bans. The governor signed a new law Tuesday that will limit to one per month the number of times a parent without children in school can challenge a book. DeSantis said the move should curb frivolous challenges; how it passes constitutional muster is anybody’s guess. The State Board of Education also voted unanimously this week to punish school principals who bar access to appropriate materials. This is the same state government that inflamed the book bans to start, and which instructed local schools to “err on the side of caution” when selecting controversial books for school libraries. Now Tallahassee is pivoting and making principals the bad guys. Let’s not forget who started this mess, and the confusion and anger it’s caused. No wonder so many teachers, administrators and other school professionals are so looking forward to summer break.

SPC’s new degrees. On a brighter note, the Board of Education this week also cleared St. Petersburg College to offer a trio of new four-year degrees that meet Florida’s labor market demands. Degrees in English education and digital media for middle and high schools will be taught in-person and online, while a new degree in cardiopulmonary sciences will be offered online. The programs will address workforce shortages in Florida’s school systems, the rising corporate demand for digital talent and the growing need for respiratory care specialists in hospitals and health care settings across Tampa Bay. Students in these programs can look forward to rich opportunities and good-paying jobs. The college has rightly focused on the needs of local industry, while giving younger residents a chance to plant stakes here and contribute to the community long-term. This speaks highly of SPC’s focus on student success and its broader role in strengthening our region.

Pinellas’ day care. Florida has its share of problems, but two are particularly acute: a shortage of teachers and affordable day care. To its credit, the Pinellas County School District is doing something positive about both, giving school district employees more affordable options for their children’s day care needs. Beginning in July, the district will include daylong child care services for kids ages 1 to 4. School Board chairperson Laura Hine called the program “a natural fit,” giving teachers an affordable child care option while providing the district another tool for recruiting and retaining staff. The program would begin with 160 seats, divided among teachers, administrators and support staff according to their proportion of the district’s overall workforce. For clients, the cost would be about half the average child care expense of other Pinellas County providers, officials said, while the fee-based program should be self-sufficient. This is another example of the Pinellas school district being creative in addressing its staffing needs.

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