Corey Simon wrote and passed a bill that drained more than $90 million from North Florida public schools. This year alone, Simon’s attack on our local schools has cost:

• Leon County Schools – $20.7 million
• Gadsden County Schools – $4.3 million
• Suwannee County Schools – $3.7 million
• Jefferson County Schools – $2.6 million
• Taylor County Schools – $1.8 million
• Wakulla County Schools – $1.6 million
• Madison County Schools – $1 million

Simon’s law uses that money to fund corporate-run schools, where millions of your tax dollars are being spent with no accountability. Unlike public schools, these schools pay bloated salaries to unqualified administrators and teachers. They aren’t even required to conduct background checks on all of their employees — putting our kids’ safety at risk. Meanwhile, local school districts are so underfunded that some are being forced to close our neighborhood public schools.

Our schools should be a safe environment where all of our children get an honest, high-quality education.

While our teachers need a raise and our students need supplies, politicians like Corey Simon are spending millions of our taxpayer dollars in court defending extreme book bans that violate our First Amendment right to free speech. We should focus on funding our neighborhood public schools and leave decisions regarding a child to their parents working with their teachers, coaches, and counselors.

In the Florida Senate, I will make sure you take back control of your local schools and overturn Corey Simon’s attacks on public education.