Around the state: The Florida Department of Education is preparing for a review of history standards, bus drivers are being sought in Orange, some gyms in Alachua lack air conditioning, voucher funds are trickling in and school board races are heating up statewide. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: School board races are heating up statewide, with the qualifying deadline still eight months away for 2024 races. Issues such as content in school library books have come up as recurrent themes among a new crop of candidates. In Hillsborough, there are 10 challengers for four seats, which incumbents are planning to defend. Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, Hillel Academy of Tampa will open a school for the 2024-25 school year that will serve students in grades 9-12. “This marks a significant milestone in the institution’s commitment to excellence in education and holistic student development,” said Head of School Allison Oakes. Jewish Press Pinellas.
Orange: The school district here will offer bus drivers and mechanics a special sign-on bonus to attract new candidates for the jobs. Currently, there is a need for 100 new bus drivers in the district. A nationwide bus shortage has been worsened by early retirement, low driver pay and other factors that include health concerns over rising COVID-19 figures. WMFE.
Escambia: Facing book ban pressure, Michelle White, former coordinator of library services, resigned after 12 years serving the district. Pensacola News-Journal.
Leon: In an effort to improve development of young children before they start school, the Leon County School District is introducing the “Littles to Leaders” program in partnership with Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. The initiative will support families with resources and education on the development of children from birth to 5 years old to get them prepared for school. “We are committed to doing everything we can to prepare this diverse population of young people to enter school ready to succeed, because if we can have an impact before they start school, we can spend the time (they) are in our classrooms building upon that foundation and not playing catch-up,” LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna said in a statement. Tallahassee Democrat.
Alachua: At least four Alachua County public schools have no air conditioning units in their gyms at a time when local temperatures are rising. Instead of air conditioning, gyms at Howard Bishop Middle, Westwood Middle, Mebane Middle and High Springs Community have fans, according to Jackie Johnson, schools spokesperson. Alachua County’s “Half-Cent for Schools” sales tax initiative, passed by local voters in 2018, was intended to help repair older schools, including broken-down air conditioners. But despite the massive repair work that’s followed at schools such as Howard Bishop, the added cost of installing a completely new A/C system in gyms proved prohibitive, according to Johnson. “It’s very hot. Too hot,” said Layla Robinson, a seventh grader at High Springs Community School and No. 3 on the Hawks’ varsity volleyball team. WUFT. Meanwhile, the Newberry City Commission is looking for ways to help families get students to school after the Alachua school district announced plans to cancel courtesy bus routes starting in January. Main Street Daily News.
Collier: GLSEN is a national nonprofit that provides teachers resources for LGBT-friendly classrooms. GLSEN Collier Co-Chair Chris Schmeckpeper-Kobzina said educators and students can get resources online or attend meetings in-person or virtually. “We’re not going to stop coexisting with others teachers and making sure that everybody has the information that they need,” Schmeckpeper-Kobzina said. Naples Daily News.
Indian River: Community members, parents and advocates brought their concerns about new African-American history standards to the school district of Indian county this week. WPTV.
Voucher money returns: School voucher funds in Florida began trickling into parent and private school accounts over the weekend after complaints surfaced that delayed payments were threatening to derail education for children. More than six weeks have passed since the fall semester began, and the delays have forced some school officials to use their own funds to keep operating. Tampa Bay Times.
History standards review: The Florida Department of Education is gearing up for a comprehensive review of academic standards that pertain to Asian-American and Pacific Islander history in accordance with recent legislative approvals. The state’s education department has set the stage for a series of meetings to be held in October that constitute a “civics workgroup.” The assembly’s task involves reviewing and potentially crafting new standards in alignment with House Bill 1537. Yahoo News. CBS 47.
Opinions on schools: Florida school districts have added a number of students more than three times the size of the K-12 enrollment of Wyoming between 2003-21, despite the growth of choice options. Moreover, Florida’s spending per pupil increased faster than inflation during this period, so more students and a higher real spending per pupil is a very odd way to “destroy” school districts. Matthew Ladner, reimaginED. Tracking is one pernicious practice that sends damaging messages to students. Katey Arrington, The 74th.
