The chairman and vice chairman of the Florida Senate Education Appropriations committee have challenged education commissioner Pam Stewart’s plans to distribute $60 million in classroom technology funding without conducting an independent needs assessment.
Gov. Rick Scott vetoed the $3 million study, saying it was duplicative of other plans. Within their budget bill, lawmakers had made the review a prerequisite to spending the larger pot of funds.
Scott’s office staff suggested the veto negated the connection. Senators Don Gaetz and Bill Montford questioned the administration’s position this week in a letter to Stewart.