Around the state: The last of the state’s public school districts closed by Hurricane Milton last week reopens today, more districts announce how or if they’ll make up instruction time lost when schools were closed by the storm, Orange County’s school board breaks a contract impasse between teachers and the district by voting for the more modest proposal, Santa Rosa school officials and the state are investigating alleged “financial improprieties” in the district, selection of a company to handle the search for a new Florida A&M University president was delayed when more than half the school’s trustees fail to attend a virtual meeting, and an audit found issues in about half the state’s school districts during the fiscal 2023 year. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: At least 15 district teachers say they have received campaign flyers to their work e-mails from District 7 school board member Mary Blanco, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and is running to retain the seat. District policy forbids use of the district’s e-mail system for political activities, even if flyers are sent from an external account. Miami Herald. WTVJ. A 75-year-old Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at South Miami Senior High School has been arrested and accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student last summer. Retired U.S. Army Col. Eliezer Santana, who has worked at the school since 2006, was fired, according to a district statement. WSVN.
Broward: The Archdiocese of Miami is investigating the discovery of three bullets near the auditorium at St. Jerome Catholic School in Fort Lauderdale last week. In an e-mail sent to parents, school officials asked them to inspect all firearms in their homes to see if any .223-caliber bullets are missing, and report to the school or Fort Lauderdale police if there are. WSVN.
Hillsborough: Schools reopen today for the first time in nearly two weeks. The approach of Hurricane Milton shuttered schools Oct. 6, and damage, flooding and power outages since the storm hit Oct. 9 kept them closed through Wednesday. Hillsborough becomes the final K-12 district in the state to reopen. District officials now must decide how to make up the 11 days of classroom time lost to hurricanes Helene and Milton, though they have announced that they will not cut short the Thanksgiving week holiday. Tampa Bay Times. Spectrum News 9.
Orange: School board members settled a contract impasse between the school district and its teachers by choosing the superintendent’s more modest proposal. Union officers wanted a 1 percent raise for teachers, plus a 4 percent hike for those rated highly effective and 3 percent for those judged to be effective, a proposal that would have cost $46 million. Instead, board members approved a plan for a 2.25 percent for highly effective teachers and 1.7 percent for effective ones, with a cost of living adjustment, and said no to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. It will cost the district $21 million. Orlando Sentinel.
Sarasota: A proposed agreement between the district and Liberty University, a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Va., drew some concern at this week’s school board meeting. The partnership proposal would allow students to have classroom observations, field experiences and final clinical teaching internships. Superintendent Terry Connor said, “There is no religious component here that is going to be infused into the instruction. We are facing that teacher shortage, and we’re always trying to tackle and have strategies to mitigate our vacancies. So that’s what this is.” Charlotte Sun. Signals in 10 school zones that were damaged during Hurricane Milton remained out of order Wednesday. WWSB. Charlotte Sun.
Santa Rosa: District officials and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are investigating allegations of “potential financial improprieties involving an employee or employees of the district.” No other details were announced. WEAR. A new homecoming queen was crowned at Pace High School after there was a “discrepancy in the voting process for homecoming court,” according to a district spokesperson. No details about the discrepancy were released. WKRG.
Martin: Four days of school missed during hurricanes Helene and Milton will not have to be made up, district officials said Wednesday. “The district’s instructional calendar is structured in a way that positions students to complete the academic year and meet state requirements without the need to add makeup days for time lost during the closures,” said district spokesman Derek Lowe. TCPalm. WPTV.
Charlotte: District students will make up three of the seven days they missed when schools were closed by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Makeup days are scheduled during Thanksgiving week: Monday, Nov. 25; Tuesday, Nov. 26; and Wednesday, Nov. 27. “While we understand that these days may impact family plans, we believe it’s essential to prioritize student learning after missing seven instructional days. We’ve carefully considered this decision and have chosen to waive the additional four makeup days,” the school district said in a statement. Charlotte Sun. WBBH.
Citrus: The district’s Marine Science Station was significantly damaged during last week’s storm, school board member Doug Dodd said at this week’s board meeting. He said the board will have to “make some hard decisions with how we rebuild or renovate.” A discussion about what to do with the structures at the station will begin after claims for the damage are settled. Citrus County Chronicle.
Okeechobee: District students will not have to make up time lost to the hurricanes of the past three weeks, says Superintendent Dylan Tedders. “As of today, we will not need to make up any days for seat time and credit requirements,” he said. “Any additional days out and we would need to look at early release days before the end of the first semester to get the time in.” WPTV.
Colleges and universities: Selection of a firm to search for a new president of Florida A&M University was delayed Wednesday when fewer than half of the university trustees attended a virtual meeting. The next scheduled meeting is Dec. 5. President Larry Robinson stepped down this summer after heralding a $237 million donation that was later discredited. Timothy Beard was hired in August as interim president. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU. Most classes at FAMU are virtual today while the school investigates the cause of a three-hour campus-wide power outage Wednesday night. Tallahassee Democrat. WTXL. WCTV.
Around the nation: Tens of thousands of students in the southeast United States are still out of school more than two weeks after Hurricane Helene damaged campuses, homes, power and water systems, and some school districts can’t say when they’ll be able to reopen. The extended layoff has educators worried about how students will be able to catch up. Associated Press. More than 25 percent of U.S. charter schools close within five years of opening, and the percentage increases to 55 percent in 20 years, according to a new study by the National Center for Charter School Accountability and Network for Public Education. K-12 Dive.
State district audit issues: About half the school districts in Florida have problems with internal controls, noncompliance with state law, rules or regulations or other issues, according to a recent report by the Florida Auditor General’s Office. The audits were for the 2023 fiscal year. Most of the problems related to noncompliance with school safety rules and financial reporting issues. The Center Square.
