Education bill: The Florida Senate passes a sweeping education bill (HB 7029) that would, among other things, allow any student to choose any school that has a vacancy, allow athletes who transfer to play immediately and adds some charter school accountability. It now goes back to the House for approval of the more than a dozen significant policy changes added by the Senate. Orlando Sentinel. Miami Herald. Politico Florida. News Service of Florida. Sunshine State News. WFSU. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, says the House is open to agreeing on a compromise on HB 7029. Politico Florida.
Teacher bonuses: The Florida Education Association is urging Gov. Rick Scott to veto the teacher bonuses program. Joanne McCall, president of the teachers union, says the bill had not been “thoroughly vetted” in the Senate, so its $49 million should stricken from the budget. The teachers union has opposed the program, arguing that it discriminates against older teachers and those who are minorities. Orlando Sentinel. Miami Herald. Education Week. Four challenges to the teacher bonuses program have been filed by the Sarasota teachers union, which says the way the bonuses are awarded is unfair. In one case, a teacher was awarded an $8,200 bonus. The three other cases are pending. Saintpetersblog.com.
Revenue availability: The Legislature passes a bill that will give school districts quicker access to their tax revenue and the ability to better budget. Many school officials have complained for years that delays in tax collections have shortchanged public schools. Miami Herald.
Superintendent evaluation: The Broward County School Board evaluates Superintendent Robert Runcie, but this time with no ratings. Board members noted Runcie is providing leadership, has improved district communication and graduation rates, and is well-respected by his peers. Areas for improvement: having staff be more responsive to board requests and delays in filling open positions. Sun-Sentinel.
Lawsuits dismissed: Three lawsuits over the construction of a high school in West Orange County have been dismissed. The school will be built to relieve overcrowding at West Orange High School, where 4,200 students attend in a school meant for 3,000. The new school is expected to open in August 2017. Orlando Sentinel.
Schools merge: The Broward County School Board approves a boundary change that allows Hallandale Elementary and Gulfstream Middle schools to merge into a K-8 school in Hallandale Beach. Sun-Sentinel.
Citrus Bowl repairs: The Indian River County School Board approves borrowing $5.5 million to make repairs on the Citrus Bowl. TCPalm.
Contract negotiations: The Clay County School Board meets with the teachers union today to try to resolve a contract negotiations impasse. The union accepted all seven nonbinding recommendations from a special magistrate, but the district has accepted just two. Salaries, insurance benefits and job security issues are the primary points of dispute. Florida Times-Union.
Arrest in threats: The FBI has arrested a 25-year-old Georgia man and charged him with making bomb threats to several Palm Beach County schools. Preston Alexander McWaters was stalking a woman who moved to Palm Beach County, officials say, and he also tried to frame the woman’s boyfriend for making the threats. Palm Beach Post. Sun-Sentinel. Florida Times-Union.
School faulted: South Vero Charter School parents are upset with the way the school handled a social media post that they considered threatening. A boy in a ski mask holding a gun along with the words “goin to the shootin range today (school)” was posted on Snapchat 10 days ago. Most parents did not know about the incident until the school sent out an email Tuesday. The gun was a BB gun and authorities concluded there was no threat. The student no longer attends the school. TCPalm.
Substitute arrested: A substitute teacher at Bentley Elementary School in Sanford is arrested after she was accused of being drunk in the classroom. Holly Joel, 52, is accused of disorderly intoxication, child neglect and disturbing the peace. Orlando Sentinel.
Sex extortion: A Homestead High School student is arrested and charged with sexual battery by coercion and extortion. Terry Fenelon, 18, is accused of forcing three teenage girls to have sex by threatening to harm their families or post their nude photos online. Miami Herald.
Opinions on schools: Tying teacher bonuses to SAT or ACT scores is a good example of the Florida Legislature achieving new lows of ineptitude. Dan Ruth, Tampa Bay Times. Why is anyone shocked that Lee County continues to have problems finding substitute teachers? Marvin Goetz, Fort Myers News-Press. Collier County school officials get extra credit for being open to more community input before making important decisions. Naples Daily News. The Legislature’s massive education bill is a mess that does not deserve to be approved. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Student enrichment: A 17-year-old junior at Bishop Verot High School is staging a 24-hour Fast-A-Thon next week to raise money to fight world hunger. David Mahan has been working with Orphan’s Heart, which helps needy families in Guatemala. Fort Myers News-Press. More than 1,200 students who don’t speak English are getting instruction through the Okaloosa County School District’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. Northwest Florida Daily News. Students savvy in social media form a marketing team to put their school, Zephyrhills High School, on the minds of students. Tampa Bay Times. The annual Walk and Roll 5k and Fun Run in Brooksville raises money for special education students in Hernando County to attend a summer camp. Tampa Bay Times. Leon High School senior Bailey Houghton is named student of the month by VSA Florida, the state’s organization on arts and disability. The group celebrates the work of artists with disabilities. Tallahassee Democrat. Okaloosa County’s charter schools join 227 U.S. school districts competing in the Sodexo 2016 Future Chefs Challenge. Northwest Florida Daily News.
