The Florida Legislature dropped from its health care budget funding Hope Florida staff positions at the Department of Children and Families, eliminating over $2 million initially allocated by both chambers.
A separate plan for six Hope Navigator positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs was also rejected. This stems from an ongoing scandal investigating whether $10 million in Medicaid settlement funds given to Hope Florida was diverted to an anti-marijuana political campaign. The House led efforts to zero out the funding during their investigation, with the Senate ultimately agreeing.
- Best Line: In his “Capital Directions” chart, Peter Schorsch gave a “down arrow” to Hope Florida, adding this: “Well, there’s always money in the banana stand.” To understand the reference, see this.
Get to Know Us
The out-of-town UWF trustees showed their cluelessness during the June 12 board meeting, mispronouncing well-known local names repeatedly. “Quina” really stumped them.
Zack Attacks
Zack Smith has made history, simultaneously serving on the Board of Trustees for UWF and Pensacola State College. He has disrupted standard policies for teachers at both institutions. I reported yesterday his “procedural” issues with the tenure of a Criminology professor at UWF. In March, Smith fought a request for sabbatical leave over “DEI concerns.”
According to the board minutes, Dr. Erin Spicer presented three faculty sabbatical recommendations for Board approval, explaining the application and review process as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, including the requirement for faculty to return for two years post-sabbatical or repay their salary.
During the discussion, Board members raised concerns about the clarity of project deliverables, compliance with regulations regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) content, and the lack of formal procedures for handling unsatisfactory sabbatical reports. Some members questioned whether sabbaticals are appropriate for a non-research-focused institution like PSC and suggested a broader review of sabbatical policies.
After the discussion, the Board approved two sabbatical proposals and tabled the third for further review and clarification regarding DEI compliance. The Board also unanimously agreed to have Dr. Meadows and his staff gather information for a comprehensive evaluation of the college’s sabbatical policies.