School shooting. A 19-year-old injured one victim during a shooting at an Ocala high school. He faces terrorism charges. Washington Post. Associated Press. Ocala Star-Banner. Students at Forest High plan a rally in response. Ocala Star-Banner.
Student walkouts. Students across Florida, and across the nation, marked the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre with marches against gun violence. Orlando Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Today. Naples Daily News. WFSU. Among their demands: A ban on assault weapons. Bradenton Herald. After Manatee County bars protests, students find other ways to voice their views. Bradenton Herald. Meanwhile, a conservative student hosted a Second-Amendment forum. Sun-Sentinel.
School safety. Hundreds of Alachua County parents sign up for active-shooter training. Gainesville Sun. Clay and St. Johns County schools struggle with resource officer funding. St. Augustine Record. Florida Times-Union. Student fighting appears to be on the rise in Duval County. Florida Times-Union. A Fort Myers High School bomb threat is deemed not credible. Fort Myers News-Press. Protesters vow consequences at the polls for Brevard County School Board members who support arming employees through the state's new school marshall program. Florida Today. School board members are undeterred. Florida Today.
Teacher qualifications. Some private schools employ felons, despite state rules. Orlando Sentinel. Hillsborough County's struggles finding qualified substitute teachers continue, with few answers emerging from the district's staffing contractor. Tampa Bay Times.
Charter schools. A closely watched debate on two charter applications is set to come before the Leon County School Board Tuesday. Tallahassee Democrat.
Turnarounds. Hillsborough County's school superintendent, Jeff Eakins, announces plans to reorganize the district's administration and create a new "Achievement Zone" for persistently struggling schools. Tampa Bay Times.
Top teachers. A Deltona middle school teacher has a knack for connecting with students. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Construction. The Hillsborough school district gets a $15 million-plus estimate for rebuilding an elementary school destroyed in a fire. Gradebook. The cost of repairing Broward County's aging school buildings keeps rising. Sun-Sentinel. Supporters of a Polk County tax referendum that helps pay for school construction gear up to advocate renewal. Lakeland Ledger.
Top job. Duval County receives 26 applications to be its next district superintendent. Florida Times-Union. Manatee County's superintendent is among those in the running. Florida Times-Union. Bradenton Herald. The district now proceeds to one-on-one interviews with candidates. Florida Times-Union.
Honors. Lake County schools highlight top employees. Daily Commercial. Sumter recognizes volunteers and mentors. Daily Commerical.
Living history. A special education pioneer and school namesake turns 100. Panama City News Herald.
Opinions on schools. Florida needs to promote apprenticeship programs for students. David Silvers, Palm Beach Post. Gov. Rick Scott should partner with Parkland students. John Dos Passos Coggin, Palm Beach Post. Leon County does not need a new charter school because its public schools already provide "classical" education. Francine L. Hearn, Tallahassee Democrat. Classical charter schools are part of a separatist project. Will Hanley, Tallahassee Democrat. The story of a just-approved classical charter in Martin County is just beginning. Gil Smart, TC Palm.
