100+ rally against proposed education cuts in Florida, nationwide

Oviedo High School junior Sara Sobik isn’t old enough to have voted in last November’s election – but she’s paying attention to the news. And she’s angry. 

Holding a sign that says “Save AP,” Sobik was one of more than 100 people who rallied against state and federal cuts to education ahead of the Seminole County Public Schools board meeting Tuesday. Sobik is taking three Advanced Placement courses right now, which allow high school students to get college credit if they can pass an exam. 

Florida lawmakers are debating a proposal to cut funding for AP, dual enrollment and similar programs by half – which would cut $8.6 million from education in Seminole County alone.

“All my best classes and all my best teachers have been AP teachers and classes …and I really appreciate them and how it helps college cost less overall,” Sobik said. “It’s made me very angry and I haven’t been able to really do anything about it. I’m just excited to be here and hopefully make this issue more seen.”

People driving by the rally honked their horns in solidarity. Some held signs reading “Can’t control facts? Silence teachers,” and “Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing Army.”

The Seminole Education Association, the union representing Seminole County teachers, organized the rally as a way to raise awareness about the possibility that the federal Department of Education could be eliminated. 

“In Seminole County, you’re going to see larger class sizes, you’re going to see less one-on-one services for students with the most needs, you’re going to see less free and reduced lunches,” said Seminole County union president Thomas Bugos II. 

Oviedo High School Speech Language Pathologist Sasha Ruiz was also at the rally, helping make signs for others and handing out water and snacks. 

She was more concerned about President Donald Trump’s executive order to close the federal Department of Education. Speech Language Pathologists also get funding from the Department of Education, as well as from Medicaid, another program that could see cuts. 

“I think right now what we’re looking for is a stance from our school board in support of our programs, our policies, and standing up at the state and federal level and saying education needs to stay at the local level,” Ruiz said. 

SCPS board members did ask members of the public to lobby state lawmakers in particular over the proposed education cuts in Florida. Senate Bill 5101, which includes the cuts to AP and career and technical education programs, is headed for a vote Wednesday, April 9 in the Florida Senate.

SCPS Board Vice Chair Autumn Garick said if the cuts go through, the board will have to make some tough decisions.

“Do we consider scaling back on sports? On Arts? On music?” Garick said. “Do we charge families for transportation, as some other districts throughout the country have done? Do we close a school?”

Check here to watch Seminole County Public Schools board members react to possible budget cuts. Check here to watch public comment at the meeting. 

After the meeting, Garick shared phone numbers for local elected officials and asked people to call and email their local elected officials. SCPS Chair Kristine Kraus said it feels like the schools are “being attacked from both the federal government and the state government and we’re just swimming as hard as we can to plan accordingly.” 

Newly elected school board member Robin Dehlinger said there’s a misconception that the funding only helps people going to college. She said the programs also include industry certifications for careers like auto mechanic, welder and heating and AC repairs. 

“Thousands of our students are engaged in these programs,” Dehlinger said. “These are skills that are needed in the workplace.” 

School board member Abby Sanchez said with three weeks left in the session, they need constituents to speak up. “Without your voices, we don’t know what to do.”

Oviedo High School AP teacher Jessica Jenkins was at the rally before the board meeting, and later addressed the board. She said she was worried that federal money sent to the states wouldn’t go toward the same programs, and could end up in charter schools and vouchers. 

And as far as the state budget cuts?

“I believe it might be because they want to cut your property taxes significantly in Florida,” Jenkins said. “Where’s that funding going to come from? Education.”

For Sobik, the Oviedo High School student, she wanted to speak out in part because she didn’t see many teenagers at the rally. She worries about people who aren’t getting involved because they don’t think the cuts will affect them. 

“We’re gonna see probably a lot more control, too, from the government,” Sobik said. “The more people become uneducated, that’s the first step to communism and dictatorships.”