Around the state: Relief efforts continue after Hurricane Helene, Duval approves a five-year plan that suggests closing schools and building new ones, a bus driver was fired in Palm Beach and Hillsborough officials are still dealing with issues related to a new software system. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: Following a disastrous rollout of a new software system, which caused headaches for teachers and other staff handling some of the district’s most important student records, the system is currently here to stay. As the school district tries to make Synergy work, it will also look for other options. Tampa Bay Times.
Palm Beach: School leaders voted to fire a bus driver who left a 15-year-old Suncoast High School student alone at a park 4 miles from the student’s home after he missed his stop. The March incident was infuriating and concerning to the parents of the student, who was forced to exit the bus in an area he didn’t know. Palm Beach Post.
Duval: The school board here approved a five-year plan on Tuesday that suggests closing schools and building new ones in that time period. The vote was 6-1. Tuesday’s vote triggered a review process that includes a public hearing on Oct. 29, followed by a final vote on Nov. 4. The board will continue to revisit the Capital Plan each year, according to Superintendent Chris Bernier. Jax Today. WJXT.
Manatee: The school district here has unveiled opening plans for a K-8 school. The school will be the first K-8 school the district will construct from the ground up. “We know there’s a lot of interest and excitement for this project,” said Jason Wysong, the superintendent of the school district. Your Observer.
Leon: Student government leaders at Lincoln High told Superintendent Rocky Hanna that they felt safe, for now, regarding the district’s safety measures. Tallahassee Democrat.
Alachua: Newberry High is collecting non-perishable items for students at Cedar Key School who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Headed by the Student Government Association, Newberry has made Cedar Key School part of its community support efforts and will collect the supplies. The school asks for basic toiletries and hygiene supplies, socks, ready-to-eat food and cleaning supplies. Main Street Daily News.
Martin: Officials here are looking into naming rights as a new revenue stream. Tebo Partnerships, which works with school districts across the state, has pitched the idea of selling naming rights to Martin County school facilities. It’s a concept school districts have used since the company began in 2014, said managing partner Brian Siatkowski. TC Palm.
Citrus: After Hurricane Helene’s wrath last week, a sense of normalcy returned to students and staff in this district on Tuesday. Lecanto Primary and Crystal River High opened their doors to their neighboring schools and made Crystal River Primary School and Crystal River Middle School students and staff feel at home. Crystal River middle and high schools sustained damage during Hurricane Helene. The primary school had significant water damage and remains unable to house its Pre-K through fifth grade students. The middle school campus was deemed not safe due to damage. To help with the recovery efforts, the Citrus County Education Foundation has also established a Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Fund. BayNews 9.
School emergencies: A trio of lawmakers in South Florida are collaborating to set new federal standards for notifying parents and guardians about school emergencies, ranging from shootings to natural disasters. The bipartisan School Safety Notification System Act — introduced by U.S. Reps. Jared Moskowitz, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Mario Díaz-Balart of Florida, along with Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — is meant to streamline school emergency alert procedures. It would require districts to develop processes to provide “timely notification of covered threats and emergencies” that happen on school grounds, during school transportation or school-sponsored activities. Florida Politics.
Colleges and universities: A lecture today at Florida Southern College in Lakeland will cover a book on Spanish influence on Florida’s formation. The lecture is free and open to the public. Lakeland Ledger. Florida Atlantic University’s interim president will get a $100,000 bonus and contract extension. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: As technology plays an increasingly important role in Americans’ daily lives, STEM is a fundamental driver of economic success. Beyond that, learning about STEM topics prepares students to thrive in any career. It helps them see the world differently and become highly adept at solving problems and thinking critically. For these reasons and many more, it’s essential that all students — and especially those of color — receive a high-quality STEM education and learn about career options in these critical fields. Carlos Romero, The 74th.
