Don't everyone get up at once and rush to the County Courthouse to buy her "Support Education" license plate. I wouldn't want to cause a ruckus.
I've noticed the concern over low teacher salaries in this County and the desire of many people to change that. Buying a License for Learning helps education in this County as proceeds goes directly to the Flagler County Education Foundation, of which I am a member.
It's ironic that Flagler County heads the State of Florida with the highest percentage of schools receiving grades of "A" and "B" from Tallahassee. Of course, that only proves the belief that many hold that money alone doesn't necessarily guarantee school success. In fact, all our schools received such a grade except for the high school (C).
Given our schools' successes and these positive educational results, wouldn't we want to reward those professionals who helped us achieve this great milestone? Because of our size and economy, Flagler doesn't usually lead in the pecking order of key salaries compared to other counties. For example, newly-hired school teachers with Masters Degrees earn $27,060 in Flagler whereas the statewide average is about the same at $27,227. Volusia and St. John's teachers earn $28,386 (higher) and $26,500 (lower), respectively. The recently negotiated seven percent raise, if approved by the School Board, should help teachers nicely.
Salaries for Constitutional Officers provide another example of Flagler's standing. Sheriff is the highest paid while School Board member is the lowest. Interesting irony, eh? Our Sheriff earns $90,512. Glades County is lowest at $81,575 and Miami-Dade is highest at $145,166. Flagler's School Board members are paid $22,076 whereas the statewide range is $18,876 (Lafayette) to $33,810 (Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade).
The point is that there is something we can do to help education, even if only in a small way. By purchasing the Support Education license for learning plate, Flagler County's Education Foundation receives $15 every year that the owner renews and retains that tag. The first-year cost of the plate is $27 and the renewal fee is $17 every year thereafter. Again, $15 comes to Flagler County for education year-in and year-out. Once the license is purchased, people tend to keep and renew it, which helps local education. The Education Foundation's mission is simple: support and enhance education in Flagler County and it awards scholarships to deserving kids and in-classroom grants to teachers.
This past Fiscal Year (ending June 30), the Education Foundation received $2,600 from license plate proceeds. That means about 180 county residents have this tag on their automobiles. Since this license tag's inception on October 1, 1994, Flaglerites have purchased 295. Having current tags equal 60% of all those issued over six years suggests a rather healthy retention rate given that folks relocate, etc.
If you think that this article is asking you to consider switching to a Support Education license plate when your annual tag renewal comes due, you'd be right.
If you think that having only 180 of some 32,000 County registered passenger vehicles (slightly more than one-half of 1%) sport this special tag is too low to rather painlessly support the future of our children, community, and economy, you'd be right.
If you think that I want more, more, more, you'd be right.
Seriously, next time your license tags need to be renewed, think about the Support Education plate. I know that everyone has a cause. Education is merely just one more, which must compete with the panthers, manatees, college alumni, and many others.
But I ask you to think about what's at stake. It's really about the health and vibrancy of our community. I've heard many reports from reliable sources that companies don't want to relocate to Flagler because the workforce is not sufficiently educated, trained, or train-able.
Clearly our recent educational results punch holes in that argument large enough to drive the earthmovers that could clear the land for new companies offering careers, high-paying salaries, and real opportunities for our children to stay in Flagler County after high school or college.
But this won't happen without continuing positive results. I believe that our teachers and administrators are competent and conscientious enough to ensure that this year's success is repeated again and again. And if this happens, then Flagler will be better able to control, define, and forge the type of community and economy we want.
Education does many things, all of which are positive. All you have to do is just one thing. Buy a License for Learning. It's one investment that keeps on paying.
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Fred W. Apelquist, III, M.Ed.
Approximately 750 words.
(c) 2000