FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1,
2005
CONTACT: DEENA REPPEN (850) 488-5394 or JENNIFER
FENNELL (850) 245-0413
Governor Bush and Education
Commissioner Winn Announce Plan to Assist Schools
Impacted by Hurricane Wilma
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush today
announced that public schools in counties most affected
by Hurricane Wilma will receive waivers from the
Department of Education (DOE) on a variety of issues,
including compliance with class size requirements,
flexibility on the required number of school days,
suspension of immunization requirements, and eligibility
for McKay and Opportunity Scholarships.
“Continuity in the wake of a hurricane is critical
for returning community life to normal,” said Governor
Bush. “The Supplemental Order I signed today provides
school districts with support and needed flexibility to
provide educational services for students affected by
Hurricane Wilma.”
Supplemental Order 05-219 grants the authority for
the Department of Education to waive certain rules:
- To the extent caused by Hurricane Wilma,
school districts unable to meet class size
requirements for this school year will not be
considered in noncompliance.
- School districts unable to open on their
normal schedule or that lost school days because of
Hurricane Wilma, and did not have extra days in
their schedule to constitute makeup days, can
request a waiver from the 180-day school year
requirement.
- Students will not lose eligibility for McKay,
Opportunity and Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships if
re-enrolling in a public school because of hurricane
damage to the private school they attended.
- Superintendents may determine whether using a
facility to temporarily deal with the results of
Hurricane Wilma does not present a danger to
students or staff. The Department of Education must
be notified should the superintendent make such a
determination.
- The Department of Education will coordinate
with school districts and local education
authorities to obtain a waiver for any necessary
federal statutes, rules or regulations.
- The Department of Education may waive
timelines for reports, applications, contracts or
grants for individuals or entities in the impacted
areas.
- School entry health examinations and
requirements for immunization are suspended for
thirty days for students in declared disaster areas
to the extent attributable to Hurricane Wilma.
“After last year’s hurricane season, we learned that
students showed tremendous resolve in dealing with the
hardships caused by the storms,” said Education
Commissioner John L. Winn. “We will continue to work
with school districts to restore a sense of normalcy
that allows students to focus on learning.”
In seeking any waivers, school districts must support
requests with appropriate documentation. Since the
recovery process is on-going, further needs for waivers
and adjustments to rules and statutes may be made during
recovery operations. For the most up-to-date hurricane
information and Florida’s schools, please visit
www.fldoe.org.
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