White House: Florida has used only half its COVID vaccines: The Biden administration Monday said Florida had used only half the COVID vaccines given to it by the federal government, challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attempt to blame the slow pace of vaccinations on a lack of federal supplies.

Attention has been focused on the transition in Washington, DC , but our state legislature is up to its old tricks while there is little “on-the-ground” oversight in Tallahassee. Instead, public input is being restricted and we need to pay especially close attention to legislation which would undermine our public education system, disenfranchise the voices of educators, and trample workers’ rights.  
 
 Here are dangerous bills we are watching: 

·         SB 48 would dramatically expand unaccountable vouchers, draining our already underfunded schools, so they can line the pockets of those who seek the profit off of our kids

·         SB 84 would take away retirement security for teachers, staff, first responders and other front line workers who sacrifice so much for our community

·         SB 78 would force teachers, staff, first responders and other front line workers to cut through a bunch of bureaucratic red tape and jump through hoops when they decide to join and/or remain a member of their professional organization/union

For those you following education news locally, the Broward Teachers Union won a critical victory for information from an arbitrator even in a somewhat split decision that found the district had the right to return teachers who had been out with accommodations back to the classroom.

“Principals must now provide documents justifying their decisions,” Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco said. “We have been asking Runcie to give us information for months. He stonewalled and prevented BTU from finding out how principals reached their decisions. Now there is a binding decision that Runcie must follow. Runcie will finally be brought to account.”

Support builds for Florida teachers to get vaccinated sooner Gov. Ron DeSantis has turned away requests to move educators to a higher priority. A big “thank you” goes out to the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, who passed a resolution asking Governor DeSantis to prioritize frontline workers for the vaccine distribution, including teachers, on Thursday, January 21st. 

On this Day:  January 26, In 1863: Black Troops Recruited for the Union Army. Also,  in keeping with the concept of second doses, here is today’s second dose of “this day in history”:  on Jan. 26, 2010, The World Health Organization rejected claims that it overstated the severity of the swine flu pandemic under pressure from vaccine companies.