Charter schools: Hillsborough School Board officials should ease anxiety for MacDill Air Force Base families when they consider a proposal for a new charter school at the base, writes The Tampa Tribune. The Orange County school board denies Renaissance Charters’ application for three K-8 schools, but approves Advantage Academy of Hillsborough, Inc. – a math and science charter school. Orlando Sentinel. An 8-year-old Miami-Dade charter school that gave hundreds of young adults a second chance at a high school diploma suddenly closes. Miami Herald. The Polk County school board votes down a maritime charter school application, fearing the school won’t be able to fill seats in a community that already has schools with low enrollment. The Ledger.
Private schools: After some tough economic times, Hernando County’s private schools report slight increases or steady enrollment numbers for the 2013-14 school year – and they attribute as a major factor greater awareness among parents of Florida’s tax credit scholarship. Tampa Bay Times.

Biz ed: The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, prepares the next generation of CEOs in Pensacola by helping sixth- through 12th-grade students start their own successful businesses. Pensacola News-Journal.
Pay bumps: Hillsborough County school support workers get raises, with higher amounts going to bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Tampa Bay Times. A new plan for paying Broward’s principals factors in a school’s size and its number of low-income or special needs students. Sun Sentinel. With $30 million of state-allocated money hanging in the balance, the teachers union and Palm Beach County School District have yet to reach an agreement on raises. Palm Beach Post.
Future teachers: Valencia College adopts an Orange County elementary school, where most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. to attract future educators – and college students. Orlando Sentinel.
Solar program: Twenty-one schools in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties use solar power to reduce energy costs and provide students with a learning opportunity. Fort Myers News-Press.
School work: The Leon County School Board considers an estimated $14 million in school renovations. Tallahassee Democrat.
Principals: Former Tampa teacher, football coach and principal Vincent Sussman, who added a new dimension to an inspirational career after a fall that left him a quadriplegic, has died. Tampa Bay Times. More from The Tampa Tribune.
Exceptional ed: The Hillsborough County school board unanimously approves new policies and procedures governing the district’s exceptional student education. The Tampa Tribune.
Charity work: A Broward County 17-year-old senior recycles used pacemakers from funeral homes. Sun Sentinel.
Bullying: Florida school districts struggle to meet requirements on tracking investigations of bullying. StateImpact Florida.
School spending: The Brevard County School District will use $8.3 million in impact fees collected by the county to help pay off debt. Florida Today. The Pasco County school district test-drives a propane bus to decide whether money can be saved by shifting from diesel. The Tampa Tribune.
Bus drivers: Pinellas County recognizes 30 bus drivers with perfect driving records. The Tampa Tribune.