State of Florida passes the Teddy Bridgewater Act

[passitback]

this. i think they get a small stipend but nowhere near enough for really anything for the school year.

its sad that the people in charge of shaping future generations get paid the worst and put up with a lot of stress.

not a shock why kids are dumber and dumber and easily influenced by algos on their phone.

I had a free ride to law school, but opted for a career as a teacher in NYC.

We make well over 100k, have amazing medical benefits, and a solid pension.

If I resided anywhere else in the country, I'd quit immediately. Truth is I wouldn't give the profession (or your children by extension) a single thought.

You pay for what you get, and I don't know too many people with degrees thrilled to make 50-60k...

 

[passitback]

This isn’t even close to the same thing. Schools are massively overfunded on a per student basis. If teachers are forced to pay for their own supplies, they should take it up with their unions and how that money is spent.

High school athletics, especially coaches, in most states are severely underfunded. With no Union or support system to fight for them.

***This is not an attack on you. Just a factual statement***

They may be massively overfunded.

It doesn't change the fact that the pay sucks balls in far too many states.

You should be lucky anyone even wants to work with the kids in your community - especially if you're too cheap to get them pencils and pens, lol.

I don't know where you live, but based on your reply, I'd imagine the salaries being bottom of the barrel.

God bless them, because I'd never do it.

 

[3rd-43]

Good idea, instead of paying better wages let’s allow them to fund out of their own dime so all politicians can continue enriching themselves with our money by eating children.

This isn’t a political take as it covers everyone in power.

 

[RozayCane]

Good idea, instead of paying better wages let’s allow them to fund out of their own dime so all politicians can continue enriching themselves with our money by eating children.

This isn’t a political take as it covers everyone in power.

Apparently Jimbo the Bimbo Fisher is currently working to get the HS coaches in the state a raise.

 

[Applecane]

I had a free ride to law school, but opted for a career as a teacher in NYC.

We make well over 100k, have amazing medical benefits, and a solid pension.

If I resided anywhere else in the country, I'd quit immediately. Truth is I wouldn't give the profession (or your children by extension) a single thought.

You pay for what you get, and I don't know too many people with degrees thrilled to make 50-60k...

Thank you for your service...

 

[Groz73Cane]

I had a free ride to law school, but opted for a career as a teacher in NYC.

We make well over 100k, have amazing medical benefits, and a solid pension.

If I resided anywhere else in the country, I'd quit immediately. Truth is I wouldn't give the profession (or your children by extension) a single thought.

You pay for what you get, and I don't know too many people with degrees thrilled to make 50-60k...

Agreed. Back in the 80’s in Metro Atlanta I made just under 21k with a Masters degree and 9 urs experience. Thank God , like a lot of teachers, had my own business also. I realize it’s 40yesrs ago, the the circumstances are similar. Cost of living, cost of Housing, cost of everything is up. Wages and salaries for public employees are mostly flat or increased modestly. Yes, you get what you pay for. We need to be better, do better.

 

[pacusmc]

This is so dumb on so many levels. Can we find another underpaid group who are now able to spend their own money on something they should not have to spend their own money on? How about teachers can spend their own money on school supplies? Or maybe a waitress can buy food for her customers?

And why $15,000? Seems incredibly arbitrary. Why not $50,000? or as much money as the coach wants to spend?

Only politicians could see this is an answer.

They give you something and pretend it’s freedom when it’s really just a method of control disguised as freedom.
I would like to know if the penalties/punishment also changed or have become more punitive.

Also, 15 K for a high school football program is nothing. A new weight room for a football team is easily 50k on the low end unless your buying some temu sht.

I really don’t get the public education system anymore. So you can have a car wash and a bake sale and make some money. And even that is regulated to certain activities and capped depending on your local school board.
They completely erases the development of any entrepreneurial spirit.

I’m not running for Office, but if I was the director of a school board, I would allow any school to have the kids raise as much money for their school privately by any means they can imagine as long as it was legal and ethical. We underestimate the brilliance of young minds, especially when they start to cooperate towards a common goal.
And I guarantee you if they allow them to do this, we wouldn’t have the current economic and political outlook of a lot of of the youth today.
We basically forced an entire generation of kids and to learn helplessness.

 

[Coach Macho]

I mean... coaches been buying food and users for kids since day one, this just makes it legal.

Here's the bill I'm more happy about...

Senate Bill 538 (2026), sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, aims to boost compensation for Florida high school athletic coaches by allowing booster funds to be paid directly to them. It also revises eligibility for extracurricular activities and shifts some policy control from districts to governing associations to help retain coaching talent.

Key Aspects of SB 538 (2026 Regular Session):
•Coach Compensation: Allows public schools to increase pay for coaches using funds raised by boosters and support organizations, bypassing some union-negotiated salary schedules.
•Extracurricular Eligibility: Revises requirements for student participation in interscholastic/intrascholastic activities.
•Transfer Process: Standardizes transfer eligibility and sets specific timelines for eligibility appeals.
•Support: The bill has gained support to prevent poaching of coaches by other states, with proponents arguing current structures often result in pay below minimum wage.

 

[NC_Canes_11]

They may be massively overfunded.

It doesn't change the fact that the pay sucks balls in far too many states.

You should be lucky anyone even wants to work with the kids in your community - especially if you're too cheap to get them pencils and pens, lol.

I don't know where you live, but based on your reply, I'd imagine the salaries being bottom of the barrel.

God bless them, because I'd never do it.

I wasn’t arguing they aren’t underpaid or anything about teachers. I simply stated the difference in budgets. Coaches are essentially volunteers. A small stipend isn’t ****, if they even get one. The teachers have a union that lobbies on their behalf and the money is there. So If they can’t get their pay up to standard, maybe they should stop paying dues or vote out the leadership of the union that doesn’t actually help them.

 

[AtlAtty]

They give you something and pretend it’s freedom when it’s really just a method of control disguised as freedom.
I would like to know if the penalties/punishment also changed or have become more punitive.

Also, 15 K for a high school football program is nothing. A new weight room for a football team is easily 50k on the low end unless your buying some temu sht.

I really don’t get the public education system anymore. So you can have a car wash and a bake sale and make some money. And even that is regulated to certain activities and capped depending on your local school board.
They completely erases the development of any entrepreneurial spirit.

I’m not running for Office, but if I was the director of a school board, I would allow any school to have the kids raise as much money for their school privately by any means they can imagine as long as it was legal and ethical. We underestimate the brilliance of young minds, especially when they start to cooperate towards a common goal.
And I guarantee you if they allow them to do this, we wouldn’t have the current economic and political outlook of a lot of of the youth today.
We basically forced an entire generation of kids and to learn helplessness.

Really well argued.

 

[E1k]

Imagine having to pass a bill because a coach ordered an uber for a kid to get home or paid for kids to eat before and/or after games. What a ***** disgrace

 

[theuksu]

I mean... coaches been buying food and users for kids since day one, this just makes it legal.

Here's the bill I'm more happy about...

View attachment 357124
Senate Bill 538 (2026), sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, aims to boost compensation for Florida high school athletic coaches by allowing booster funds to be paid directly to them. It also revises eligibility for extracurricular activities and shifts some policy control from districts to governing associations to help retain coaching talent.

Key Aspects of SB 538 (2026 Regular Session):
•Coach Compensation: Allows public schools to increase pay for coaches using funds raised by boosters and support organizations, bypassing some union-negotiated salary schedules.
•Extracurricular Eligibility: Revises requirements for student participation in interscholastic/intrascholastic activities.
•Transfer Process: Standardizes transfer eligibility and sets specific timelines for eligibility appeals.
•Support: The bill has gained support to prevent poaching of coaches by other states, with proponents arguing current structures often result in pay below minimum wage.

make that money @Coach Macho

 

[El Orange]

Bill is kinda silly as there are very few multimillionaire high school football coaches.

But more importantly, **** Teddy Bridgewater's backstabbing ***.

 

[Unsider]

I'm an elementary school principal and my teachers routinely spend ridiculous amounts on supplies including clothes, backpacks, shoes socks, food. You name it. The state gives 300 to them and the district throws in a bit more depending on budget and grant funds that may be available. But never enough. We fund raise like crazy to try and offset as much as possible, but teachers will do whatever it takes for their kids to be Happy, safe and successful. Even if it means going broke.

If you have a gofundme or some established site for collecting funds, I'm good for $100 immediately. Let me know.

 

[passitback]

I wasn’t arguing they aren’t underpaid or anything about teachers. I simply stated the difference in budgets. Coaches are essentially volunteers. A small stipend isn’t ****, if they even get one. The teachers have a union that lobbies on their behalf and the money is there. So If they can’t get their pay up to standard, maybe they should stop paying dues or vote out the leadership of the union that doesn’t actually help them.

I understand exactly what you wrote. And you're right.

I would like to highlight that all coaches aren't destitute and picking lint from their pockets.

Some districts, like in Georgia, crowd source to pay coaches over 6 figures. I can promise you very few, if any, teachers make that amount in Georgia. Heck, I'd be surprised if principals did - lol.

Unions can only do so much, and the amount teachers make is directly reflective of the municipalities in which schools are located, and how much they do / don't support the educational system.

It's a moot point for me... I love my care, but would NEVER advise someone to enter the profession outside of NYCPS.

 

[404Usernamenotfound]

They give you something and pretend it’s freedom when it’s really just a method of control disguised as freedom.
I would like to know if the penalties/punishment also changed or have become more punitive.

Also, 15 K for a high school football program is nothing. A new weight room for a football team is easily 50k on the low end unless your buying some temu sht.

I really don’t get the public education system anymore. So you can have a car wash and a bake sale and make some money. And even that is regulated to certain activities and capped depending on your local school board.
They completely erases the development of any entrepreneurial spirit.

I’m not running for Office, but if I was the director of a school board, I would allow any school to have the kids raise as much money for their school privately by any means they can imagine as long as it was legal and ethical. We underestimate the brilliance of young minds, especially when they start to cooperate towards a common goal.
And I guarantee you if they allow them to do this, we wouldn’t have the current economic and political outlook of a lot of of the youth today.
We basically forced an entire generation of kids and to learn helplessness.

The issue is the "ethical" part. How are you going to ensure its ethical? What if Coach A giving money to student B is his way of controlling him? Now the athlete owes him, now he is beholden to him. Is that ethical? At what point is coach doing it for himself and not the kid?

where is the line between generous coach looking out for an underprivileged kid and a grifter looking to take advantage of a potential high earner?

HS football is not typically a revenue generating sport. Ask yourself why a HS coach, who are by and large of modest means, can/will/needs to drop more than 15k personally on kids? The rules are in place to limit cheating or other nefarious behavior that can arise from large amounts of cash being handed out.

Further, in your examples you fail to mention that said coach can donate what he wants to an athletics department. he can donate his entire salary if he wants.

In a perfect world where everyone is on honest actor - sure limits are stupid. But in real life, limiting financial contributions a coach can give a student makes sense when you consider student-coach power imbalance, amateur nature of hs sports, and possibility of coercion or predatory behavior.

 

[Groz73Cane]

I wasn’t arguing they aren’t underpaid or anything about teachers. I simply stated the difference in budgets. Coaches are essentially volunteers. A small stipend isn’t ****, if they even get one. The teachers have a union that lobbies on their behalf and the money is there. So If they can’t get their pay up to standard, maybe they should stop paying dues or vote out the leadership of the union that doesn’t actually help them.

If they can even have a Union. The right to work States are Union killers.

 

[NC_Canes_11]

If they can even have a Union. The right to work States are Union killers.

I’m definitely not suggesting coaches follow that path and get a union. I’m just stating that coaches in most states don’t really have recourse or anyone backing them. A far different situation than teachers

 

[Groz73Cane]

I’m definitely not suggesting coaches follow that path and get a union. I’m just stating that coaches in most states don’t really have recourse or anyone backing them. A far different situation than teachers

Agreed, but some schools are at an advantage and have strong parent support, which usually extrapolates to funded sports programs. Other schools have very little parent support, fo a lot of reasons, and those programs are often underfunded. My kids all played varsity sports in Palm Beach, Fl. All our sports were supported and funded. Go 10miles East and those programs except for FB weren’t supported and minimally funded. I don’t have stats for this, just personal experience. Both my oldest went to the East school for 2yrs, and participated in multiple sports. But when the new HS opened all the kids went there and again played multiple sports. It was like Night and Day. IMO, the biggest factor was socioeconomics in those communities.

 

[NC_Canes_11]

Agreed, but some schools are at an advantage and have strong parent support, which usually extrapolates to funded sports programs. Other schools have very little parent support, fo a lot of reasons, and those programs are often underfunded. My kids all played varsity sports in Palm Beach, Fl. All our sports were supported and funded. Go 10miles East and those programs except for FB weren’t supported and minimally funded. I don’t have stats for this, just personal experience. Both my oldest went to the East school for 2yrs, and participated in multiple sports. But when the new HS opened all the kids went there and again played multiple sports. It was like Night and Day. IMO, the biggest factor was socioeconomics in those communities.

Correct. Unlike teachers coaches and their programs are heavily reliant on the surrounding community for monetary support.