Charter schools: The Lake Wales Charter School system is creating a new position to help with private fundraising. The Ledger.
Magnet schools: Beginning next school year, Hernando County’s magnet schools will be able to send students with attendance problems, excessive tardiness, behavior issues or poor grades back to their zoned schools. Tampa Bay Times. Pinellas County School District officials want to add more magnets, fundamental programs, career academies and other options to the district’s school choice mix. The Tampa Tribune.
Achievement gap: Two prominent community leaders say Pinellas County schools could do more to close the achievement gap between black and white students. Tampa Bay Times.
School safety: Pinellas considers scaling back five school police officers’ schedules by June 2014. Instead of working 12 months, these officers would work 10, aligning with the school year. Tampa Bay Times.
School nurses: The Palm Beach County School District plans to ask the health care district for help finding as much as $600,000 for eight additional school nurse positions this year. Palm Beach Post.
Overflow: A St. Petersburg Women’s Club building may soon take on a new role: overflow space for about 400 Melrose Elementary students. The Tampa Tribune.
Legislative agenda: A lawmaker argues against much of the Pinellas County School District’s legislative wish list. Tampa Bay Times.
Donations: Pencil manufacturer Dixon Ticonderoga donates 1.2 million pencils to Central Florida teachers through A Gift for Teaching. Orlando Sentinel.
School closures: Brevard County School Board members discuss changing criteria for closing a school. Florida Today.
Conduct: A St. Johns County high school student is arrested for bringing a gun on campus. Florida Times-Union.
