Around the state: A federal judge has ruled that Escambia school board members and the superintendent should not be shielded from testifying in a lawsuit over a book removal from a school library, Miami-Dade school board members will consider a proposal to install metal detectors in some schools, Clay schools impose a new cell phone policy, a state review of audits and reports of Florida charter schools discloses 61 significant financial issues, and a Democratic U.S. House representative withdraws his endorsement of a Republican Broward school board candidate after it draws criticism. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: School board members will consider a proposal to buy metal detectors in some schools. The cost is about $16,000 per detector, and District 7 board member Mary Blanco said the board will discuss at a workshop meeting later this month whether the proposal is affordable. WPLG.
Broward, south Florida: A Democratic U.S. House representative has withdrawn his re-election endorsement of a Republican school board member after an outcry from local Democrats. Rep. Jared Moscowitz, who represents the 23rd District that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, had endorsed school board member Torey Alston, whom he had worked with when both were on the county commission. Alston had been appointed to that job, and later to the school board seat, by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Moscowitz’s change came after complaints about an advertised appearance by Alston at a campaign event sponsored by the conservative Moms for Liberty group. Alston blamed the reversal on the “intimidation tactics” of hyperpartisan activists. Sun Sentinel. Florida Politics. Some parents in Broward and south Florida are using education savings accounts from the state to piece together education programs for their children from a variety of providers. The 74.
Orange: A student at College Park Middle School in Orlando who died shortly after getting on a school bus in April died of natural causes, according to the Orange County medical examiner. Jasiel Sanders, 15, died from bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism due to deep vein thromboses with a contributory factor of obesity that resulted in blood clots affecting his lungs, according to the examiner’s report. WKMG. WOFL. District officials have designated 10 days that could be used to make up classroom time lost to severe weather in the next academic year. They are Oct. 25, Nov. 25-27, Feb. 17 and March 17-21. WFTV.
Palm Beach: High school seniors are serving as summer school interns helping 3rd-graders at Liberty Park Elementary School in Greenacres improve their reading skills. “We’re seeing huge results with them working with our students one-on-one,” said Jessica Roman, a reading administrator at the school. “And the kids absolutely love them.” WPBF. District students will continue to be served free meals at school this fall under the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Programs. WPEC.
Polk: A month before schools reopen, the school district still needs 314 teachers and 150 non-instructional employees. At this time last year, the district was still looking for 453 teachers. “Keep in mind, our vacancy count is typically higher during the summer as we’re making allocations and staff changes for the coming year,” said district spokesman Kyle Kennedy. “During ‘normal’ times of the year, we usually have about 200 instructional vacancies at any time, out of a workforce of approximately 7,000 teachers.” Lakeland Now.
Collier: District students exceeded the state average scores in 20 of 21 areas assessed in this spring’s standardized tests, Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli said this week. In reading, 60 percent of Collier’s 3rd-graders scored at grade level or above compared to the state average of 55 percent. Among 7th-graders, it was 53 percent compared to the state average of 50 percent, and among 10th-graders it was 58 percent, 5 percentage points higher than the state average. In math, 66 percent of 3rd-graders bested the state average of 60 percent, and 72 percent of 7th-graders topped the 47 percent state average. In math, grade 3-8 Collier students rank sixth statewide. Naples Daily News.
Sarasota: The high school football coach and athletic director at Booker High School in Sarasota has been suspended for six games and fined $5,000 for violating the Florida High School Athletic Association’s improper contact and impermissible benefits policy. Scottie Littles was accused of contacting a Sarasota Riverview High player and his mother. He’s appealing the decision. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. WWSB.
Escambia: A federal judge has rejected arguments that school board members and the superintendent should be shielded from testifying in a lawsuit over a book that was removed from a school library. Attorneys for the school board had argued that the school officials were shielded by legislative privilege, and questioned whether testimony would be relevant in the case about the removal of the book, And Tango Makes Three, which tells the story of two adult penguins raising a chick in a zoo. News Service of Florida.
Clay: Elementary and middle school students will not be permitted to use cell phones while high-schoolers can only use phones during lunch, according to a new district policy that begins when schools resume next month. Exceptions will be made only if teachers approve phone use for instructional purposes. WJXT. When schools reopen Aug. 13, sheriff’s deputies will be guarding students instead of the district’s own police force. School board members voted to make the switch just four years after creating a district police force. “The benefits are continuity of training, continuity of supervision, continuity of communications,” said Sheriff Michelle Cook. Thirty-three of the officers from the district’s resource officer force have been hired by the sheriff. Jacksonville Today.
Leon: Prices for school meals are going up this fall. School board members have approved raising elementary school breakfast prices from $1 to $1.75 and lunch costs from $2 to $2.75. Middle and high school breakfast costs are increasing from $1 to $2, and lunch prices have been raised from $2.25 to $3. The costs of reduced-price meals are not changing. A small number of schools and students are affected since 36 schools qualified for a federal program that provides free meals to all students. WCTV. WTXL.
Santa Rosa: A former bookkeeper for Gulf Breeze Middle School has pleaded no contest to charges of organized fraud and uttering a forged instrument, and will be sentenced to 10 years of probation. Summer Bourland was arrested in 2023 and accused of grand theft for stealing $10,000 and $20,000 from the school. That charge was dropped in return for Bourland’s no contest plea, which also requires her to repay the school district $16,281.15. Pensacola News Journal.
Bay: Superintendent Mark McQueen is asking the school board to approve an Office of School Safety and staff it with an office director and an office coordinator. The office would work with the sheriff’s department and the district police chief on all safety initiatives. A board vote on the request is scheduled next month. If it’s approved, the district anticipates hiring the two employees by October. WJHG.
Citrus: Students showed improvement in results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking progress monitoring tests, district officials have announced. In grades 3-10, 51 percent of students scored at grade level or higher in reading, up from 47 percent in 2023, and 49 percent were at grade level or higher in math, up 3 percentage points from last year. Both scores were under the state averages of 53 percent at grade level or above in reading and 55 percent in math. Citrus County Chronicle. School board members have approved the district’s mental health plan and its $1,039,229 pricetag. Nearly $950,000 will pay the salaries of nine counselors, two psychologists and a mental health support employee, with the rest going to the LifeStream Counseling Services company. Citrus County Chronicle.
Flagler: The school district is considering leasing the old courthouse in Bunnell to create space for special programs and free up 10 classrooms in other schools. The district’s cost is projected to be $632,000 for renovations and $202,000 a year for rent and utilities. Board members have directed Superintendent LaShakia Moore to begin negotiations with the county, which owns the building, and the Flagler County Historical Society for its possible inclusion in the deal. Flagler Live.
Colleges and universities: Enrollment is expected to rise this fall at Bethune-Cookman University on Daytona Beach, officials at the school said this week. The school, which had 2,300 students last year, has approved the applications of 9,000 applicants, and 1,200 have placed deposits. “We were about 7 percent over the past couple months and that continues to increase,” said Camille Shepard, executive director of strategic initiatives. WKMG.
Charter school audits: A Florida Auditor General’s review of 713 charter school reports and financial records revealed 61 issues in 39 of the reports that are considered significant. They concern budget administration, deficit fund balances, improper maintenance of accounting records, and financial control deficiencies. Many of the issues were repeat findings from previous years. The Center Square.
Around the nation: The official 2024 Republican platform for K-12 education calls for universal school choice, expanded parental rights, an end to teacher tenure, and a ban on transgender girls playing girls sports in schools, among other things. Education Week.