Controversial bills up for votes: Two controversial, Republican-backed education bills were fiercely debated and ultimately approved by House committees on Tuesday, and are now on schedule to get a vote by the full House as early as Thursday. LGBTQ and Democrats won one fight in the Parental Rights in Education bill when a controversial amendment that was written into the proposal last weekend was unexpectedly removed by House leaders. It would have required school employees to notify parents within six weeks of learning personal details about a student’s “mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.” Critics said the amendment would force schools to “out” LGBTQ students. “Nothing in the amendment was about outing a student,” contended State Rep. Joe Harding, R-Williston, the bill’s sponsor. “Rather than battle misinformation related to the amendment, I decided to focus on the primary bill that empowers parents to be engaging in their children’s lives.” The other bill, the “Individual Freedom” proposal, would prevent schools and companies from assigning guilt or blame to students and employees based on race or sex. It does not include a provision allowing parents to sue schools for teaching critical race theory, as Gov. Ron DeSantis wants. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald. Politico Florida. USA Today Florida Network. Tallahassee Democrat. Here are answers to some common questions about the Parental Rights in Education bill. Sun Sentinel. Florida voters are divided over the bill, according to a University of Florida poll. Forty-nine percent strongly or somewhat disapprove of the legislation and 40 percent somewhat or strongly approve. Sun Sentinel. A Florida Education Association teachers union poll shows strong support for the instruction of subjects relating to racism, but less for teaching gender expression issues. Florida Politics.
Tax breaks growing: The House’s tax cut package approved Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee has grown to $325 million. The annual back-to-school tax holiday component of the bill would eliminate sales taxes from purchases of clothing, school supplies and personal computers valued at less than $1,500 and would run from July 25 to Aug.7. It’s projected to save consumers about $100 million. Other proposed tax break periods include the “Freedom Week” holiday July 1-7 on sports events, movie tickets, museum passes, state park entrance fees, tickets to a ballet, play or musical, gym memberships as well as outdoor recreational equipment and pool supplies, a 14-day disaster-preparedness tax holiday in late May and early June, a one-year exemption for baby and toddler clothes, shoes and diapers, Sept. 3-9 on skilled workers’ tools, and on children’s books for three months. News Service of Florida. Florida Politics.
Also in the Legislature: Nov. 7 would become “Victims of Communism Day” in Florida under a bill ready for a final vote in the House. Students would also be required to take 45 minutes of instruction about communist leaders in Cuba, Russia, China, Venezuela and Thailand, with examples about “how these policies have failed people throughout history,” said state Rep. David Borrero, R-Sweetwater, the bill’s sponsor. Florida Politics. The House is also ready to vote on a bill updating school safety rules so all school districts will be able to comply. Right now, none do. Florida Politics. The Baker Act would be revised under a bill approved Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee. Among the changes are giving law enforcement greater authority to use alternative methods instead of involuntary commitment, and requiring law enforcement to use the least restrictive methods possible, meaning fewer children could be placed in handcuffs. Florida Politics.
Around the state: Broward Superintendent Vickie Cartwright agrees to a contract through 2024 that will pay her $350,000 a year, Duval Superintendent Diana Greene said a property tax increase is needed to “move our district to the next level,” two executives associated with the Compass charter company that runs a school in Polk County resign after videos surface of them participating in bondage or sadomasochistic activities at a sex club, Citrus schools propose a raise in pay for substitute teachers, and the Flagler County Commission has again delayed a vote on the school district’s proposed school impact fees. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: Newly appointed Superintendent Vickie Cartwright has tentatively agreed to a contract that runs through Dec. 31, 2024, and will pay her $350,000 a year. That’s slightly less than the four years and $365,000 a year she originally wanted. The contract also includes a contribution of 7 percent of her base salary to a tax-sheltered annuity, medical, vision and dental insurance, a car from the district’s fleet, and a provision that she be evaluated by the school board every nine months. Board members are expected to vote on the contract at a meeting Thursday. WLRN.
Duval: Superintendent Diana Greene said this week that approval of a proposed property tax increase this year is needed to stay competitive with charter schools and “to move our district to the next level.” Enrollment in public schools is down 8 percent in the past five years, but up 46 percent in charter schools. Greene said the pandemic, low teacher pay and burnout are contributing to an unprecedented vacancy rate of about 400 teachers. A projected $81.8 million would be raised by the tax, with 65 percent going for higher teacher salaries for teachers, 12.5 percent for arts and athletics, 12.5 percent to charter schools and 10 percent to school staff. One of the high-profile projects could be the installation of artificial turf on all high school football fields. Florida Times-Union.
Polk: An official and consultant of the Compass charter school company that operates Navigator Academy of Leadership in Davenport have resigned after a video and photos have circulated showing them engaged in bondage or sadomasochistic activities at a sex club in Kissimmee. Melissa Aguilar is Compass’ director of academics, operations and governance, and Ivan Hernandez owns S&T Educational Support Services and acted as a consultant to Compass. Navigator Academy also withdrew its application to expand to a high school after the disclosure and an e-mail complaint to the school district. Lakeland Ledger.
St. Johns: Judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta peppered attorneys on both sides in the lawsuit filed by a transgender male student who was not permitted by the St. Johns County School Board to use boys bathrooms at Nease High School. Attorneys for the board said the restrictions against Drew Adams were necessary to preserve the privacy and safety concerns of other students. Adams’ attorneys argued that the restrictions are a violation of his equal-protection rights and Title IX, a federal law that bars sex-based discrimination. News Service of Florida. Fresh Take Florida.
Bay: School Superintendent Bill Husfelt has been chosen as the Florida Alliance for Arts Education 2021 superintendent of the year. The award recognizes the impact a superintendent can have in developing and maintaining strong arts education programs within their school district. WJHG. WMBB.
Citrus: School officials have proposed to raise substitute teacher pay as a way to increase the number of people interested. People with a high school diploma or associate’s degree would be paid $95 a day, those with bachelor’s degrees would get $100 and Florida Department of Education certified teachers would be paid $105 a day. Before the pandemic, said director of human resources Suzanne Swain, the district was able to find subs to cover 90 percent of teacher absences. Now that rate is 60 percent. Citrus County Chronicle. Linda Powers, the District 5 school board member, has filed to run for a fourth term. Citrus County Chronicle.
Flagler: The school board recently endorsed a scaled-back school impact fee after pushback from county commissioners. Tuesday, commissioners again balked, this time deciding to remove consideration of the fee from their agenda to continue working on the agreement between the commission and the board. Commissioners are now expected to vote on the fee at their March 21 meeting. Flagler Live.
Around the nation: An increasing number of students affected by mental health issues and a shortage of workers in schools to help them has led to a youth mental health crisis, health experts say. Tampa Bay Times.
Opinions on schools: The growing popularity of school choice is creating a new political movement. John J. Miller, National Review. Mob rule is undermining public education in Florida. Randy Schultz, Sun Sentinel.
