Governor Jeb Bush’s class-size reduction proposal has stirred up a bit of controversy among some educators. Although $250 million in new school construction is being earmarked for Miami-Dade to reduce the number of students per classroom, the question that’s being raised: Just what is the number of students in a classroom that defines a reduction?

U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek, the legislator leading the fight to place a cap on the number of students in a classroom, is not happy with the governor’s proposal. Bush, however, is arguing that more money should be doled out to hire teachers at a higher pay level. The Legislature will soon decide which way to go.

In its continuing effort to instill a better check and balance between the office of executive mayor and the commission, Miami-Dade Commissioner Jimmy Morales sponsored an ordinance to create a special auditor to review the county’s $4.6 billion budget, contracts etc. At last week’s meeting, the commission unanimously approved Morales’ ordinance, which peeled away one more layer of Mayor Alex Penelas’ power.

During the past couple of months the commission has restructured county government to give itself back a number of controlling legislative powers and responsibilities that were held in recent years by the mayor. A leader in county government reform, Morales was the first of many candidates to announce his interest to replace the termed-out Penelas in 2004.   

Miami Beach’s bond rating has reached its highest mark in the city’s history. Moving up in 2003 from an A to A1 rating is even more remarkable considering the shaky national economy and decline in tourism following the events of September 11^th. While the fiscal policy of the Miami Beach City Commission and the administration’s carrying of said policy deserves a lot of credit, the real unsung hero may be Finance Director Trish Walker. 

The Miami Beach Design Review Board unanimously voted to elect renowned landscape architect Ted Baker to sit as the board’s vice chair. Considered one of the best in his discipline, the DRB and the city is fortunate to have Baker serving on the board. 

Congratulations to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cecilia Altonaga, just named by President George Bush to fill a federal judge’s seat in South Florida. Born in Baltimore, Altonaga graduated from Florida International University and received her law degree from Yale University.   

The Miami Beach Police Department promoted ten of their own at a ceremony at city hall. Promoted to the rank of major was James Mazer; to captain John Bambis, Brian Sliman, Angel Vazquez; to lieutenant Peter Bitume, Jennifer Elmore, Lawrence Hankoff; to sergeant Paul Acosta, Mark Defusco and Joseph Prevish.  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the steam out of an Aventura boiler room operation with a five-count complaint, alleging GetAnswers misled investors about the safety and rate of return on the firm’s stock.

U.S. Federal Court Judge James Lawrence King has issued temporary restraining orders against GetAnswers Inc. and its two principals, James Koenig and Robert Cournoyer. The judge’s order also has frozen the assets of the firm and principals.

According to the federal regulators, more than half the money that GetAnswers raised went to pay salaries, luxury cars and corporate credit card expenses for management and employees. The SEC complaint also seeks a permanent injunction against GetAnwers, a company that allegedly raised $6.3 million from investors to start an interactive website for high school and college students.   

Congratulations to Miami Beach Senior High School’s Marcos Santos for being named to the All-Dade Boys’ First Swim Team; and to Rudolpho Pinto and Carlos Delsolar for being named to the Second Team.