Around the state: Some parents are asking for a reconsideration regarding metal detectors being added at schools in central Florida, new school plans in Manatee, addressing heat-related illnesses for high school football players and the announcement of 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Orange: Integrating agriculture into its schools is important in this school district. Every public school located in Orange County offers it, and agriscience is now offered in 17 middle schools. “They learn to cultivate plants and crops, both edible and ornamental,” said Janet Glenn, the program’s teacher. WFTV.
Duval: Find out which are considered the best public high schools in northeast Florida. The Florida Times-Union.
Polk: An alternative path for a sewer project will avoid disrupting traffic near Lakeland Christian School. LKLD Now.
Manatee: The school district here wants to build five schools by 2027 in a plan that Superintendent Jason Wysong called “aggressive and exciting.” District leaders say that by opening several new campuses over the next three years, their goal is to relieve overcrowded schools and keep up with development in the eastern portion of the county. Bradenton Herald.
Nassau: Facing a federal lawsuit over their removal of 36 books from schools, the Nassau County School district reached a settlement agreement to return the books to the shelves of libraries. Forbes. Politico.
Blue Ribbon schools: Several schools in South Florida were recognized this week as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. NBC Miami.
Metal detectors: Officials in Orange County Public Schools tested a walk-through weapons detection system last school year, but decided against installing the devices at all of its high schools because operation costs were too expensive. Recent arrests at three high schools in Central Florida — Boone, Lake Brantley and Ocoee — for bringing guns or parts of guns onto campuses, in addition to the arrest of students in Apopka and Sanford for posting online threats, has some parents pushing for a reconsideration. “We’re talking about people’s lives here. No cost should ever outweigh saving lives, no one should ever have to say this could have been prevented if we had metal detectors,” said Diane Lorber, a parent of Boone alumni and former chair of Boone’s school advisory council, who wants to see the system installed. Orlando Sentinel.
High school football: The start of the high school football season has brought forth the issue of players collapsing or worse at the start of the season. Players are most at risk of suffering heat-related illnesses due to searing temperatures and high humidity. “We know that heat stroke is the most severe version of heat illness, is the only one that is life threatening and also know that it uniquely afflicting football players specifically at high school and collegiate levels,” said Rebecca Stearns, chief operating officer at the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut. WUSF.
Benefits of crowdfunding: Crowdfunding has long helped teachers afford the school supplies they need for their classrooms. But these fundraising efforts have become an even more critical lifeline in the face of budgets and rising prices. According to a survey of more than 3,000 teachers conducted by AdoptAClassroom.org, a nonprofit crowdfunding platform, teachers received a median classroom school supply budget of $200 last school year – an amount that 93% of the respondents said was not enough to cover their in-class needs. While many teachers choose to subsidize the remainder of the costs, it comes at a steep price. The 74th.
Opinions on schools: The massive resistance to school integration resulted in the foundation of Project 2025’s education agenda. Bettina L. Love, Education Week.
