Crist vetoes Senate Bill 6

In a move that’s sure to garner a collective sigh of relief from Santa Rosa County educators, Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed Senate Bill 6 today.

The closely-watched bill proposed to link teachers salaries to student performance, and would have eliminated tenure and special compensation for teachers with master’s degrees.

In a statement released this afternoon, Gov. Crist defended the veto claiming “it is the right thing to do for the people.”

Crist went on to say the bill infringed on “local decision-making” and challenged the constitutional authority of school boards.

“SB 6 places teachers in jeopardy of losing their jobs and teaching certificates without a clear understanding of how gains will be measured, and without taking into account circumstances beyond the control of teachers,” said Crist.

For more on this story, check out the April 22 edition of the Navarre Press.