Education budget talks: The Florida Senate and House begin discussions to reconcile their significantly different education budgets, and leaders in both chambers are promising that the conference committee negotiations and decisions will be more transparent and open to the public. Critics are skeptical, and say if history is any guide, the talks will be a "horse-trading" session behind closed doors. Once the conference committee comes to an agreement, the bill is final and goes to the floors for an up-or-down vote. Some of the major issues to be decided are the House's proposed $200 million fund to attract charter schools to areas with persistently low-performing schools, changes to the teacher bonuses program, and a change in the formula to determine how much districts - and charter schools - get from the state for school construction and maintenance. Miami Herald.
Financial crunch: The Escambia and Santa Rosa county school districts are preparing for tight financial 2017-2018 school years. The proposed Senate budget would add $5.2 million to the money it sends to Escambia County. The House budget would reduce money from the state by $2.6 million. "Once we get a budget and we know what the reality is, we'll take a pencil to it and make it work," says Escambia Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. "It's going to be a tight year either way it goes." Pensacola News Journal.
Rewriting amendments: Critics call the state Legislature's rewrites of five constitutional amendments approved by voters a "hijacking" the will of Florida's voters. Legislators say they're introducing common sense into the amendments to both serve and protect Florida residents. The class sizes amendment is one of the five. Passed in 2002, it imposes specific limits to the number of students per classroom, but legislators have altered its rules to make it easier for schools to comply. Miami Herald.
A school's struggles: The Orange County School District's proposed turnaround of Carver Middle School has made progress, though it hasn't gone exactly according to the plan presented to the state. The district vowed to compile an "all-star team" of teachers to improve Carver, which received a school grade of F and had some of the lowest reading and math scores in the state. That didn't happen. About a quarter of the teachers are in their first year, and 50 percent have less than 2 years of experience. Still, there have been improvements in academic performance and discipline. Orlando Sentinel.
Statue change blocked: A move to replace the statue of a Confederate general in the U.S. Capitol stalls because the chairman of the committee that must approve it thinks the selection process was flawed. Rep. Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, has pulled bills that would replace Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith with one of Marjory Stoneman Douglas or Mary McLeod Bethune. According to Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami, Plakon wants Walt Disney to be the second statue representing Florida. The other is of John Gorrie, who is credited with inventing air-conditioning. Associated Press.
Police review charter: A critical audit of the Cape Coral Charter School Authority is forwarded to the Cape Coral Police Department for a review. The audit found several deficiencies in the way the authority handled its finances. Pine Island Eagle.
School discipline survey: The Lee County School District is conducting an online survey to gauge how people in the community feel about school discipline. Fort Myers News-Press.
Notable deaths: Jimmy Sauls, a longtime teacher and football coach at Tallahassee's Leon High School, dies at the age of 71. Tallahassee Democrat. St. Augustine Record.
Teachers honored: Thirty-three first-year teachers in the Santa Rosa County School District are nominated for the rookie of the year award. The winner will be announced May 10. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Exploring the issues: Talk about the challenges facing educators dominates the discussion at a Real Talk gathering in Tampa, which is part of a statewide campaign to encourage more participation into decisions made by the Legislature. The racial achievement gap, charter schools, scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools and more were brought up. Tampa Bay Times.
Wanted teacher kills himself: A Palm Beach County teacher on the run for weeks after being charged with producing child pornography kills himself in Tennessee. The FBI and police in Nashville say Corey Perry, 33, shot himself in the head when authorities approached him at a motel. Perry taught computer science and was a basketball coach at Howell L. Watkins Middle in Palm Beach Gardens. Palm Beach Post.
Textbooks. The Collier County School Board votes to adopt new social studies and language arts textbooks, but one final vote remains. Naples Daily News.
AD removed: The longtime athletic director at Palm Beach Gardens High School is removed after he became a subject in a child sexual exploitation investigation. Bill Weed was placed on an alternate assignment about a month ago, after police searched his home while investigating suspected video voyeurism and possession either of images or electronic depictions of a minor engaged in sexual activity. He has not been arrested or charged. Palm Beach Post.
Student arrested: A 10-year-old autistic student is arrested and handcuffed at his Okeechobee County school and accused of battery on a school employee. The incident happened in November, but the boy just returned to school last week after a suspension. WPTV.
Schools burglarized: Police arrest a man and accuse him of stealing copper pipes from air-conditioning units at two Miami elementary schools. WPLG.
Parent involvement. Teachers in high-poverty schools take to Facebook to complain. Gradebook.
English language learners. Assessment data show academic progress in Pinellas. Gradebook.
Opinions on schools: Imagine a crazy law that would empower anyone, regardless of credentials or expertise, to alter their local school’s curriculum, and would require the school board to hire and pay a legal specialist to be an arbiter between the school and special interest groups. This is a very real possibility if HB 989/SB 1210 passes. Jiri Hulcr, Andrea Lucky and Brandon Haught, Gainesville Sun. Florida school boards, not lobbyists, should make the decisions on what curriculum schools use. Dennis McDonald, Tallahassee Democrat.
Student enrichment: Lake Gibson High School students compete in creating chalk renditions of famous paintings on the sidewalks at the Lakeland school. Lakeland Ledger. Four teams of Manatee County high school students will compete in the Odyssey of the Mind world finals in Lansing, Mich., May 24-28. Bradenton Herald.
Travis Pillow contributed to this morning's roundup.
