Palm Beach: The future of a West Palm Beach private school for students with special needs is uncertain after school officials say they have not received their allotted funding from the state for scholarship students. Mountaineer’s School of Autism has been a cornerstone of the special needs community for years, but the owner says she can only operate for about two more weeks unless she receives money owed from the state’s scholarship program. WPTV.
Hillsborough: Plant High school voted to keep a graphic novel in its library in response to the district’s first book challenge of the school year. A Plant High parent brought up the objection against “Blankets” by author Craig Thompson. The seven-member review board, comprised of school staff and parents, unanimously voted to keep the book in the school’s library collection. WUSF.
Pinellas: The school district in Pinellas has pulled five books from its shelves amid concerns that their content is inappropriate for minors. Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, support staff in Pinellas have asked the school district for better pay and living conditions during a recent bargaining session. Nelly Henjes, president of the Pinellas Educational Support Professional Association, said the union is asking the district to pay employees at least $18 per hour or to give them a 7.3% pay increase, depending on which is greater. The union is also asking for child care before and after school, and no increase in health insurance premiums. The two parties did not reach an agreement but plan to meet again on Sept. 28. WFTS.
Volusia: Some local school districts are looking for ways to stand out as they compete for teachers during a shortage and in the face of a population boom in the state. Forough Hosseini, founder of Homes Bring Hope, which is a non-profit that works to help make home ownership more affordable, made a pitch to school board members in Volusia during a recent workshop to turn vacant land into affordable housing for district staff. “As our community grows, the need for teachers and the need for school staff certainly grows,” Volusia County’s Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rachel Hazel said. “This is just one more incentive to come to Volusia County and work for our school system.” WKMG.
Alachua: Shane Andrew, superintendent of Alachua County Public Schools, is aiming to be impactful during the upcoming school year. “I don’t know that I necessarily set out that this was my journey and my destiny,” Andrew said in an interview. “But definitely, when called to serve in our school district, I’m going to do whatever I can wherever I can.” Main Street Daily News.
More on book bans: State education officials released a list of books removed from public school libraries last year, and it turns out that South Florida is among the areas with the fewest book removals. A state law enacted last year allows parents or residents of the Florida counties to submit challenges to school books. WLRN.
Teacher pay: A lawmaker wants to raise teacher pay to a minimum salary of $65,000. Rep. Tae Edmonds of West Palm Beach is proposing the “Save Our Teachers Act” to bolster pay for the state’s teachers closer to the national average. “This is just a minor step in the right direction to help our teachers,” Edmonds said. Florida currently ranks 48th in the nation when it comes to average teacher pay, with the average teacher making about $51,000 per year, according to a report from the National Education Association. A previous education funding boost in 2022 increased base pay for teachers to a minimum of $47,500, but Edmonds think it isn’t enough. If the bill is approved by legislators, it would go into effect in July. News 4 Jax.
Opinions on schools: To find out how students are doing in the aftermath of COVID-19, YouthTruth, a nonprofit that elevates voices to help schools improve, set out to answer that question by consulting the experts: students themselves. Jen Vorse Wilka, The 74th.
