By Reggie Connell, Editor in Chief

Melissa Byrd is more than just an Orange County School Board member—she is a tireless advocate who has turned her passion for education into a mission to create lasting change. From her work to end unfair treatment of female students in dress code matters to fighting for the early construction and opening of District 7’s first K-8 school (Kelly Park School) to relieve overcrowded Wolf Lake schools, Byrd’s work is deeply rooted in her belief that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. Her hands-on approach and unwavering commitment to her community have made her a standout leader in the ever-evolving landscape of public education.

I reached out to Byrd earlier this summer, shortly after she won a third term on the Orange County School Board as an unopposed candidate for District 7. In a three-part series called “A Conversation with Melissa Byrd,” we discussed a number of issues affecting Apopka students and their families.

In part three, we talked about teacher salaries, education budgets, and the impact of charter, home, and private schools on public schools.

In 2024, Florida ranked 50th in average teacher salaries, according to the National Education Association. That’s pretty alarming in a state that many believe has the strongest economy in the country. What do you think Florida lawmakers should do to improve this statistic and the education budget in general?

I would like see The state values ​​public education in a way that is reflected in the budget. I would like to see them make significant investments in education beyond just training teachers.

Raising the starting salary for teachers was a good start, but if the starting teachers will make the same as 10-year veterans, that’s a problem. There is a significant shortage of staff, not just in teaching but in all other areas of the public service, because we cannot offer competitive salaries or even salaries that provide a living wage in our expensive communities.

Something has to change, because fewer and fewer and fewer students attend the teaching profession every year. Public education is vital to society as a whole to ensure that all of our children the education they need to become productive citizens. If we do not invest in it, we are literally no investments in our own Future. When society is better educated or trained for the labor market, all other areas of society improve How crime Prices, and even improved health.

I think we can change our current path But It becomes We must get our leaders to commit to making education funding a top priority.

Should charter, residential and private schools receive State funds at the expense of public schools?

That’s a difficult question because we know that parents want to have choice in education and I believe they should have that choice. This means said, I believe that the public tax The use of dollars should be transparent and accountable to The Taxpayer.

The problem of taking public tax money and allowing it to be used at private, for-profit schools is that it is no Supervision. The same goes for home schools. There is no way to know what be taught or as it is used. Private schools are not kept are accountable to the state or the public and must ensure that they teach the state standards (what the state has decided our children should learn), There are certified teachers who teach the children or that all students served. Actually, Private schools can exclude any student they want, unlike public schools, which are required to educate all children. this walk through their doors.

Responsibility is another big miss Piece for the taxpayers. Public schools are required to test their students every year to prove The Taxpayers that their tax money is working as it should. The Children learn. There is no so for the Taxpayers should know that money given to private schools is wasted.

Another problem is that you cannot compare them on an equal footing. Private schools receive the same amount per student as public schools with vouchers still Public schools are required to provide services such as transportation, exceptional educational opportunities, psychological support, and food and nutrition services And many others. It is Really quite great considering that and that our public schools produce equally competitive students and have equally high college admission rates, or that In the most Cases Our public schools offer many more programs and opportunities than many private schools.

Charter schools are a little different because they are taken into account public schools by are held to many of the same standards that apply to traditional public schools and continue to be overseen by the Florida Department of Education. although are not administered by the local school board. They must comply with state education laws and the same accountability standards.

Charter schools in our district have for the best Part were great partners and helped very differentiated educational needs for many of our students How some students with special needs or students who require a smaller and more individualized teaching approach.

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We at The Apopka Voice would like to thank Melissa Byrd for taking the time to speak with us about Orange County Public Schools, particularly those in Apopka.

To read part 1, click here.

To read part two, click here.