New scholarship: The Florida Senate votes 23-17 to approve a K-12 education bill that would establish a new scholarship for students funded by tax dollars. The first goal of the Family Empowerment Scholarship is to eliminate the 13,000-student waiting list for Florida Tax Credit Scholarships. Up to 18,000 grants will be available in the first year. That number can grow by 1 percent of the state’s total public school enrollment in following years. Low-income families will be given preference for scholarships, but the income eligibility index is being broadened to include families making up to $77,250 a year. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, called its passage “monumental.” Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, said the bill “strikes the perfect balance between parents and the system. … This bill gives the ultimate choice to for parents to have the same choices as every other parent.” The bill also would revise the educator bonuses program and expand the number of areas with persistently struggling traditional public schools in which Schools of Hope charter schools could open. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. redefinED. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times. GateHouse. Florida Phoenix. Politico Florida. Florida Politics. WFSU. Capitol News Service.
Help for charter schools: The Florida House approves a bill that would require school districts to share proceeds from voter-approved tax hikes with charter schools. The bill would affect about 20 school districts, including Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, Pinellas and Hillsborough. By definition, charter schools are part of the public school system. Tampa Bay Times. The House passes its version of a bill that would give colleges and universities the authority to sponsor charter schools. That role is currently reserved for local school boards. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, says the measure offers a new level of accountability for charter schools, and also should improve workforce readiness. Gradebook. Florida Politics.
Virtual school board: Florida House leaders are proposing to disband the Florida Virtual School board of trustees and replace it with the State Board of Education. The provision has been inserted into the legislative budget negotiations. It would move oversight of FLVS to the BOE, which would also appoint an executive director for the school who would report to Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. SLVS has been dogged by a scandal involving the former general counsel and the board. Orlando Sentinel.
Security in schools: The House approves a bill that would allow authorized persons to carry concealed weapons in churches that also have a school on their property. Associated Press. News Service of Florida. Add Citrus County to the list of school districts that won’t arm teachers even if the Legislature gives them the option of doing so. Several other districts have said the same in the past week. Twenty-five of the state’s 67 districts say they will allow willing teachers to be trained and armed in schools. Citrus County Chronicle. A Duval County circuit judge will decide if a lawsuit challenging the legality of the school district’s decision to hire armed security guards instead of sworn resource officers should move forward. About a dozen districts have the same structure, but Duval is the only one being sued. Florida Times-Union.
Human trafficking: The Senate passes a bill that would incorporate information about the dangers and warning signs of human trafficking into health classes now taught in Florida schools. Associated Press.
Groundskeeping alternatives: The grounds services department at the Brevard County School District is so understaffed and underfunded that officials have explored the possibility of using inmates, students, volunteers, robot lawnmowers, and even goats to keep the grass level down. All were rejected for financial or liability reasons. So the district has decided to just accept whatever the 23-person department can get done at the 1,976 acres it maintains. Florida Today.
MRSA scare at school: A Palm Beach County high school gets a thorough cleaning after someone on campus was diagnosed with MRSA, a drug-resistant staph infection. Cleaning crews scrubbed and sanitized Suncoast Community High School in Riviera Beach under the standards established by the state’s health department. Palm Beach Post.
Impact fees for schools: Santa Rosa County School Board members unanimously agree to ask the county commission to reinstitute impact fees on new housing. Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick says the district needs the fees to help pay for new schools. He wants a $5,000 fee on new single-family homes, $3,000 on multifamily homes in the north part of the county and $1,500 on multifamily homes in the south part of the county. A meeting is set for May 15. Pensacola News Journal.
Complaint about book: Orange County school officials say they are reviewing a complaint made about the content of a book by a Palestinian author that was assigned to 9th-graders at Orlando Science High School. The parent, Wendy Nissan, claims the book, A Balcony over the Fakihani by Liyana Badr, creates a skewed and unfair view about Israel. “The only inference you can make is Israel is mass killing Palestinians,” Nissan said. Orlando Sentinel.
Interim superintendent: Indian River County School Board members say they will appoint an interim superintendent to lead the district from May 24, when current Superintendent Mark Rendell steps down, until a permanent replacement is hired. School Board chair Laura Zorc says the process could take four to six months. TCPalm.
Education podcast: Should parents have a greater say in the education and care of their children in schools? Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler, who helped write legislation that would include such provisions, argues her case. Gradebook.
Bullying complaints: Parents of children at Medulla Elementary School in South Lakeland complain to the Polk County School Board about bullying at the school and say the principal isn’t doing anything to stop it. Board member Sarah Fortney issued an apology on behalf of the board, and member Lori Cunningham told parents: “All I can say is I’m saddened and embarrassed and I promise it will be addressed.” Lakeland Ledger.
Student hit and killed: A 10-year-old Orange County student riding his bike home from Wetherbee Elementary School in Orlando on Wednesday was struck and killed by a semi-truck turning right at an intersection. Troopers say the truck’s trailer struck Kevin Pope, who had the green light to cross. The driver did not stop, but troopers say it’s not clear if the driver realized what happened. Orlando Sentinel.
Students arrested: A 16-year-old Cape Coral high school student is arrested and accused of having a Taser-like weapon at Mariner High School. Fort Myers News-Press. An 18-year-old Charlotte County High School student is arrested for a drawing he made depicting school violence and then posting it on Instagram. The case has been referred to the State Attorney’s Office to decide if charges will be filed. Charlotte Sun.
Opinions on schools: The first thing Florida Virtual School’s new leader, “Lady” Dhyana Ziegler, needs to do is create a course called Avoiding Scams 101. Then she needs to become the first student to take it. David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel. A community-wide literacy campaign could be a vehicle for getting the private sector more engaged with the most struggling school populations. The entire region has a stake in the quality of Hillsborough County’s schools, and the reading gap seems a perfect fit for an ambitious civic effort. Tampa Bay Times. The Legislature is on the verge of shifting an awesome responsibility — protecting students — onto teachers by permitting some of them to be armed in schools. Bill Cotterell, Tallahassee Democrat.
Student enrichment: Students at Matanzas High School’s construction academy build a courtroom for a classroom for students in the school’s new law and justice flagship program. Flagler Live. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Ocala Forest High School senior Cody Moore wins the gold medal in the Florida SkillsUSA cooking competition to qualify for the national competition in Kentucky in June. Ocala Star-Banner.
