When It Comes to Priorities, We’re With John Hill

Maybe not always, but lately we’ve found ourselves agreeing with Tampa Bay Times columnist John Hill.

First, we both questioned the wisdom of using taxpayer money to study a new convention center for the Gas Plant site. We said it isn’t the answer.  Hill said: Ugh, please.

Now, we strongly agree with his recent column,  “Reading, math and Florida’s lost generation.”

In it, Hill poses a critical question:

“What’s more important to Florida’s future—that our kids can read and write, or that we warehouse undocumented immigrants in an Everglades encampment?”

Then he drives the point home:

“Where are our priorities?”

That’s Why Home Runs Matter Exists

That question – where are priorities – has always been at the heart of our mission at Home Runs Matter. It’s about putting public resources toward what really matters to make life better – for everyone.

And what matters most?

• • A quality education for every child

• • Affordable housing

• • Infrastructure that supports opportunity

The Hard Truth About Florida’s Education Numbers

Hill’s column highlights a crisis we should not continue to ignore:

• • 43% of Florida students in grades 3–10 can’t read on grade level

• • 41% are not on grade level in math

And it’s not just Florida. Nationwide, we’re falling behind:

According to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP):

• • Nearly two-thirds of 4th and 8th graders aren’t proficient in reading or math

• • Eighth-grade math scores have dropped to their lowest level in 20 years

Compared to Other Countries

According to the 2022 PISA rankings:

• • U.S. students rank 28th in math and 13th in reading out of 81 countries

• • Countries like Singapore, Estonia, Japan, and Canada are far ahead

With all of our wealth and resources, how can our children be so far behind?

Action We Can Take Right Now

As Hill points out, improving outcomes doesn’t have to wait for policy changes or city budgets. The Florida Chamber Foundation has laid out a practical path forward:

• • Mentoring

• • Internships

• • Stronger school–business partnerships

We couldn’t agree more.

Mentor a Student Through Lunch Pals

I mentor a student at Lakewood Elementary through Lunch Pals. It’s a simple, and a powerful way to make a difference.

Anyone can mentor during lunch—at any school in Pinellas County. 
👉 [Learn more and sign up here.]

Business support for Lunch Pals

Your company can promote the Lunch Pals mentoring opportunity to your staff.   There is no cost. 

👉 [Learn more here.]

Support Student Internships

Local businesses can also offer internships to Pinellas County high school students, giving them hands-on experience and exposure to career paths.  

Connect with us at Homerunsmatter@gmail.com

How can redevelopment of the Gas Plant site help?

With a new baseball stadium deal off the table, we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity:

The Gas Plant site can be more than a real estate deal. It can be a catalyst for long-term change—if we make smart choices.

We believe that the city should ensure that any profits from the site are not just absorbed into general spending, but set aside for what truly matters—starting with education (but also affordable housing, and infrastructure).

That could mean:

• • Hiring more teachers in schools with the greatest need

• • Reducing class sizes in struggling neighborhoods

• • Supporting tutoring and literacy programs that target early learning gaps

 

Let’s Get Serious About What Matters

The future isn’t defined by publicity stunts.  

Let’s be honest — the idea of a detention center in the middle of the the Everglades feels more like a publicity stunt than a real solution.

 

 

Don’t we have sufficient systems and short-term facilities to handle people who enter the U.S. illegally? Most don’t stay long, and the immigration process is complex — but manageable.

So why is building a massive, taxpayer-funded facility in a swamp being treated as a top priority?

It’s a distraction — one that pulls focus and resources away from what actually matters to everyday Floridians: housing, safety, good jobs, and planning our cities wisely.

 

The future is defined by how we care for our children and what kind of opportunities we give them.

So let’s stop talking about priorities—and start showing them.

Because nothing matters more than helping our kids succeed in life.