Charter donations: Charter school companies have donated heavily to statewide candidates over the past 20 years. Now, increasingly, the donations are trickling down to the school board level. That development is causing concern for some in educational circles, while others see the money flow as a counterbalance to donations from teachers unions. Florida Times-Union.
School budgeting: The Hillsborough County School Board approves a tentative $2.8 billion budget that includes a drop in the tax millage rate. Increasing property values will more than offset the drop. Tampa Bay Times. The 3 percent pay raises Pasco school officials wanted to hand out this year are down to 2.6 or 2.7 percent, School Superintendent Kurt Browning says. The $1.2 billion budget could continue to change until its final approval next month. Gradebook. The Leon County School Board approves a tentative $498 million budget that includes money to put an armed resource officer at every elementary school. Tallahassee Democrat. The St. Johns County School Board approves a tentative budget that calls for per-pupil spending of $7,008.93. St. Augustine Record. The Florida Cabinet agrees to borrow $285 million to build and maintain facilities for schools at all levels. It’s the first time the state will borrow money for educational infrastructure since the 2010-2011 budget year. News Service of Florida. WFOR.
Bathroom policy: The Sarasota County School Board again declines to set a districtwide policiy that would, among other things, allow transgender students to use restrooms corresponding with their gender identities. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Gifted plan delayed: The Duval County School Board delays a vote on adding gifted programs to more elementary and middle schools. The board wants even more gifted programs spread throughout the county. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says some schools don’t have enough gifted students to justify a fulltime program. Florida Times-Union.
Satanic club denied: A proposed After School Satan Club for C.A. Weis Elementary Community School in Pensacola is denied by Escambia School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. The club was proposed as a balance to existing programs sponsored by First Baptist Church. Thomas says now that Weis is a community school, it has no time for any after school programs. Pensacola News Journal.
Online programs: The Broward County School District plans to expand its online math program for gifted students from the current 40 to several hundred over the next few years. T.H.E. Journal. The Flagler County School District’s iFlagler virtual learning is named small district franchise of the year by Florida Virtual Schools. The program has more 3,000 students. Palm Coast Observer.
Free meals: All children at 60 Orange County schools will get free breakfast and lunch this year through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Orlando Sentinel.
Employees honored: Five county teachers of the year are awarded Shine awards from Gov. Rick Scott. The awards, given for making “significant contributions to the field of education,” go to Johanna Lopez of Orange County, Georgette Allbritton of Suwannee County, Jeffrey Johnson of St. Lucie County, Kelly Kunde of Washington County and Laurie Zentz of St. Johns County. Orlando Sentinel. Earl Johnson is named Flagler County principal of the year and Kenneth Seybold is assistant principal of the year. Both work at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School elections: Polk County School Board District 1 candidates field questions on a half-cent sales tax and collaboration between schools and community groups at a forum in Lakeland. Lakeland Ledger.
Payment sought: A bill is introduced to require the St. Lucie County School Board to pay a family $8.7 million for the death of their 9-year-old son in a 2012 school bus crash. Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, filed the bill. News Service of Florida.
Academy forfeits: Oxbridge Academy agrees to forfeit all the wins by its sports teams over the past two years. Numerous improprieties were discovered in recent investigations, and the Florida High School Athletic Association accepted the school’s self-imposed penalty. Palm Beach Post.
Teacher sentenced: A former Turkey Creek Middle School teacher is sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual battery and lewd and lascivious battery. Megan Christine Connors, 30, was having sex with a 15-year-boy at the school in Plant City. Tampa Bay Times.
Opinions on schools: The Manatee County School District and United Way kick off the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Bradenton Herald. Why is Seminole County so much better at preparing high school students for STEM careers than nearly every other district in Florida? Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
Student enrichment: The Summer Treatment Program at Florida International University is helping children ages 4-12 with various behavioral and learning issues learn to focus on solving problems. Miami Herald. Parents of Alta Vista Elementary School students get training to help their children read at home. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
