The school year begins with a significant expansion of vouchers for parents who want to send their children to schools other than public ones.

Financial support for private and home schooling takes money away from public schools, but candidates for Lee County superintendent of schools said they are not opposed to vouchers. They said they see vouchers as motivation to improve public schools.

Nallely Almodovar said she was grateful for the vouchers that helped pay for her son and daughter’s private schooling, as she said they had struggled in public schools.

“It’s reassuring for parents to know they can give their child the best opportunities,” she said.

She said her family receives about $10,000 for each child to attend De LaSalle Academy in South Fort Myers, a school for children with learning disabilities.
Almovdovar added that she could not afford private school without education vouchers.

“Honestly, it’s about doing what’s best for the kids,” she said.

Almodovar liked the private school option so much that she left public schools to teach at De LaSalle.

But Sally Butzin claims vouchers are like vampires – they suck the blood out of public schools. She is a longtime educator and author who lives in Tallahassee.

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“So our children are being monetized,” said Butzin. “We have to do the best for our children. Not just make money.”

According to the Florida Policy Institute, the state budget for this fiscal year alone includes up to $3.9 billion for school vouchers and businesses to administer the program.
Butzin criticized a lack of transparency in the voucher programs.

“Parents think they are making the right choice for their children,” she said. “But often they make uninformed decisions. That’s really disturbing.”

Denise Carlin is unopposed in the primary election and will therefore be the Republican candidate for superintendent of Lee School in November.
She said vouchers should motivate public schools to improve.

“I believe with all my heart that competition is good for us. It will make us better,” she said.

Victor Arias is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for Lee’s post as superintendent, meaning he will compete with Carlin for votes in the general election in November.

“I don’t see a problem with that – giving parents the opportunity to find alternatives,” Arias said. “If they find something better than what we are offering and will be offering.”

Republican Rep. Denise Carlin said Lee County lost about $6 million in state aid because of the vouchers. The district did not confirm that figure but said the number of new students far exceeds the number leaving with vouchers.

Carlin argued that the biggest problem is that Lee ranks 9th among Florida’s 10 largest school districts in student achievement in reading, writing, math, social studies and science. She said that means there is a clear goal for Lee’s public schools.

“We need to teach these subjects like nobody else’s business,” Carlin said. “We need to be the best in the class. And I think we can do that, as I keep saying during the campaign, by focusing on the essentials.”

Democrat Victor Arias said if elected, he plans to reach out to local leaders and businesses to support public schools and prevent students from going elsewhere.

“I can stay out here and say something is wrong, but that means I’m staying out here,” Arias explained. “But I want you to come in and tell us what’s wrong and help us fix it.”

WGCU News is your trusted source for Southwest Florida news. Mike Walcher is a reporter at WGCU News and can be reached at: [email protected]