We are blessed with great school systems.

Nonetheless, problems exist county and statewide. There are too many trailers in use as classrooms. We have failed our inner city students. The ratio of administrators to teachers is way out of line with modern management systems. The bang for the buck we are getting is not in line with what we are spending. Change is needed.

I support pay for performance. Let the best earn (much!) more and force the worst to work to improve their performance, or be left behind. That's how the real world works. It's time for a dose of reality in the education system.

I support hardship differentials to attract exceptional teachers to our most challenged schools.

I support outsourcing. If Marriott (for example) can deliver better food at a lower cost, with fair wages, we should use them. The school system should be in the business of education , not food vending. The private sector has figured this out. It is time for the public sector to learn how to maximize its return on the people's capital (tax dollars).

Of course, existing school system employees impacted by outsourcing should be given the opportunity to relocate within the system or be offered financial incentives to retire.

I support vouchers and magnet programs, especially in the inner city where we have failed our students. Let's at least throw a life preserver to those who can escape the cycle of poverty. This is not a threat to the public school system! Less than 1% of public education funding goes to such programs. The public school system can withstand and should have competition.