Around the state: Nassau County agrees to put 36 banned books back on school library shelves as part of a settlement of a lawsuit challenging their removal, records show that former University of Florida president Ben Sasse spent more than $1.3 million catering private parties during his 17-month tenure, at least 10 Florida professors have been fired in the first post-tenure reviews conducted since the state mandated them, Seminole County school officials are investigating an assembly at a high school in which only black and Hispanic students were invited to, and the Heritage Foundation again ranks Florida as the state with the most educational freedom. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade, Broward: A Miami Central High School football player is suing the Miami-Dade and Broward school districts for a compound fracture he suffered during what his attorney is calling an “illegal scrimmage” between his school and Miramar High on July 23. Senior Amari Wallace said his coach told the team “to meet up at the Miramar High School game field for an 11-on-11 scrimmage, and not tell anyone because it was an illegal scrimmage.” Wallace has committed to play football at the University of Miami, and said the injury jeopardizes his freshman season. Sports Illustrated. Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn has ordered an external review into bullying allegations made by a school police detective against a long-time school volunteer. Sun Sentinel. Forty-nine Broward high school seniors have been chosen as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Twenty-two of them are from Cypress Bay High. Broward County School District.
Hillsborough: A substitute teacher has been arrested and is accused of masturbating in front of students in a classroom at Bridgeprep Academy in Riverview during a lunch break May 13. Harvey Cole, 26, was placed on administrative leave after two students reported what they saw. WTVT. WTSP. WFTS. A 15-year-old student at Blake High School in Tampa was arrested Thursday and accused of having two loaded guns on campus. The guns were found during a search of students who were caught vaping in a bathroom. WTVT. WFLA.
Palm Beach: District officials are conducting an audit of teacher certificates after a teacher from Broward County was hired despite having his teaching license revoked by the state for inappropriate conduct. That teacher, Karleef Kebreau, was fired by Palm Beach officials from Howell L. Watkins Middle School after a parent discovered his history through an online search. A school spokesman says the district “takes this matter seriously and is taking steps to further strengthen our HR processes, including providing additional directives on vetting job applicants.” WPBF.
Duval: The latest Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher removed for “inappropriate communications” with students was hired a decade ago despite facing state discipline for being drunk or high on the job at a previous district school, according to school records. Craig Leavitt taught students with varying exceptionalities. Jacksonville Today.
Polk: A Florida Virtual School teacher was stabbed to death last weekend in Auburndale by her 17-year-old son, according to Sheriff Grady Judd. He said the boy called it in as an accident, claiming Catherine Griffith, 39, lunged at him with a knife and was stabbed in the neck. Judd said the scene did not support the boy’s story, and he’s been charged with murder. Less than two years ago, the boy shot his father to death in Oklahoma, but it was ruled self-defense. Lakeland Ledger. WKMG.
Brevard: School board members have voted to give Superintendent Mark Rendell a contract extension to June 30, 2027, a $10,000 bonus and a pay raise after giving him a strong evaluation one year into the job. His current pay of $250,000 a year will increase “by the percentage of salary increase 12-month administrative employees receive,” according to his review. But the district didn’t disclose what that percentage was or what his new salary will be. “Dr. Rendell has changed the culture and atmosphere of the team within Brevard public schools,” board chair Megan Wright wrote on her evaluation form. Florida Today.
Seminole: A “celebration” assembly held Wednesday at Winter Springs High School for black and Hispanic students only is under investigation by the district. The students are in the Advanced Opportunity program, which includes white students, but the assembly was open only to the minority subset. “The assembly should never have included just two subgroups of students as that is not representative of the AO program. This will be reviewed and addressed,” the district said in a statement. WFTV.
Marion: Average daily attendance is up again this year, to 94.33 percent from 90.91 percent last year, according to district officials. Special attention has been paid to cut down the rate of chronic absenteeism, with the district partnering with Attendance Works, a nonprofit that says it uses “a positive, problem-solving approach grounded in an understanding of educational inequities” to address absenteeism. Spectrum News 13.
Escambia: The school district has spent about $107,000 in legal fees defending its decision to remove a book about two male penguins raising a chick in a zoo from school libraries. The authors of And Tango Makes Three sued the district, alleging the removal violates the First Amendment. USA Today Florida Network.
Okaloosa: Fort Walton Beach’s City Council has approved the placement of speed detection cameras in up to 10 city school zones. Drivers going more than 10 mph over the speed limit would be mailed a ticket. No timeline was set for when the cameras will be operational. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Leon: Benny Bolden, the principal who has been credited with turning around Nims Middle School, has been promoted to the position of director of interdivisional support services and secondary schools. He replaces the retiring Scott Hansen, and will be replaced at Nims by Deshone Hedrington. Nims recently celebrated its B grade from the state, the highest it’s ever received. Tallahassee Democrat. A 13-year-old Griffin Middle School student was arrested Thursday and accused of having a loaded handgun and cocaine in his backpack. Tallahassee Democrat. WCTV.
Nassau: District officials have agreed to put 36 banned books back on school library shelves as part of a settlement of a lawsuit challenging the bans that was brought by a group of parents, students and the authors of one of those books. Nassau schools also acknowledge that the book And Tango Makes Three, about two male penguins who raise a chick in a zoo, contains no obscene material and is suitable for children of all ages. “This settlement … significantly restores access to important works that were unlawfully removed from the shelves …” said Lauren Zimmerman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. Politico Florida. News Service of Florida. USA Today Florida Network. Associated Press. A “Banned Wagon” will hand out free books in Gainesville on Oct. 10 as part of a nationwide tour for Banned Books Week. The Banned Wagon is the creation of Penguin Random House to “get more books into the hands of readers of all ages,” according to the publisher’s marketing director Alyssa Taylor. USA Today Florida Network.
Jefferson: District officials have announced a clear bag policy is now in place for all district events such as sports and performing arts. Children through 8th grade also must be accompanied by an adult when attending any school event. The new policy was enacted after an increase in the number of threats against schools. WCTV.
Colleges and universities: Former University of Florida president Ben Sasse spent more than $1.3 million on catering private parties during his 17-month tenure, including $176,816 for a holiday party that averaged $900 per person, according to university records. Sasse spent $906,342 on catering during his first year in office, compared to an annual average of $476,892 by former president Kent Fuchs. Fresh Take Florida. At least 10 Florida professors have been fired in the first post-tenure reviews conducted since the state mandated them, and another 60 or so have been told they didn’t meet expectations and have one year to improve or be fired. Politico Florida. Florida A&M University’s pharmacy dean is stepping down after the program again struggled with low passing rates on the 2023 licensing exam. Johnnie Early II will be replaced on an interim basis by Seth Ablordeppey. Tallahassee Democrat. New Florida Southern College President Jeremy Martin said he hasn’t turned down an invitation to meet with student groups since he started Aug. 1. “It’s everything I hoped it would be,” Martin said of the Lakeland college. Lakeland Ledger. The University of Tampa is changing its nickname from UT to UTampa. President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg said the change was made to distinguish the school from several other schools in the country with UT nicknames. WUSF. WFTS.
Education freedom rankings: For the third consecutive year, Florida has been rated as the top state for “educational freedom” by the conservative Heritage Foundation. By category, the state was chosen No. 1 for transparency, No. 2 in both education choice and teacher freedom, and No. 8 in return on investment. It’s the third year in a row Florida has held the top spot. Heritage Foundation. Florida’s Voice.
More school threats: Florida school districts and law enforcement agencies are continuing to report more threats being made against schools this week since a shooting at a Winder, Ga., high school killed four people Sept. 4. St. Johns. Brevard. Seminole, Broward, Duval, Madison, Leon, Taylor, Levy, Columbia and Sarasota. Indian River. Suwannee.
