Around the state: Florida students’ SAT scores declined in 2024 for the third straight year, school tax requests avoided the partisanship that was apparent in most of the elections last Tuesday, a Lee County school remains closed from hurricane damage after air quality tests don’t meet standards, Sarasota’s school board approves a contract agreement between teachers and the district, teachers of the year are chosen in the Polk, Martin and Highlands school districts, the University of Florida men’s basketball coach has been accused of sexual harassment and stalking, and more than 40 percent of the state’s school districts are open today, when the Veterans Day federal holiday is celebrated. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: On Nov. 19, for the first time in more than two years, the school board will not have a member who had been appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In the August primary, Maura Bulman defeated DeSantis appointee Daniel Foganholi for the District 1 seat, and Rebecca Thompson knocked off DeSantis appointee Torey Alston in District 2. The new members said they hope the change signals a return to the board focusing on education instead of political and culture war issues. Sun Sentinel.
Hillsborough: A technical school now under construction in Plant City is on track to open in 2025, district officials said last week. The as-yet unnamed vocational school will offer workforce training in welding, industrial electricity, HVAC systems, forklift certification and more. It’s expected to attract 900 students in its first year. WUSF. A month after Hurricane Milton swept through the area, the Hillel Academy Middle School in Tampa remains closed. The storm caused $500,000 in damage. “Catastrophic is the word I would use,” said head of school Amy Basham. “Part of the roof had come off, and as a result, extensive damage in the middle school building, flooding, anything like instructional materials, books, papers, technology, everything was impacted.” WFTS.
Palm Beach: School board members voted last week to renew their membership with the Florida School Board Association three years after leaving as a protest against statements made by its then-president. Lee County School Board member Chris Patricca said in 2021 that principals have challenges working with immigrant students “because they’ve never seen running water before,” but is no longer involved with the FSBA. Palm Beach Post. Superintendent Michael Burke has rejected a special magistrate’s recommendation that school police officers receive a 7.5 percent pay raise. District negotiators had offered a 5 percent raise and a 3 percent bonus, which the police union calls “unacceptable.” WPEC.
Polk: Cynara Appling, a science teacher at Spook Hill Elementary in Lake Wales, has been chosen as the school district’s teacher of the year, officials announced Friday. Also honored was Ervie Louis, a paraeducator at Jewett School of the Arts in Winter Haven, as the school-related employee of the year. Both are now eligible for the statewide awards. Polk County School District.
Lee: Air quality tests at the Sanibel School did not meet the standards required for safe occupancy, and the school remains closed until further notice. Remediation will continue this week, and school officials have set Nov. 18 as a tentative date for reopening. Until then, Sanibel students will continue to attend Heights Elementary. WINK. WFTX. Cape Coral Breeze.
Lake: An East Ridge High School coach has been removed after an adult he was training outside of school collapsed last month. The unnamed coach apparently gave the man a creatine supplement, and he was hospitalized the following day after fainting. School district officials are investigating whether the coach provided supplements to East Ridge High players. WFTV.
Sarasota: School board members unanimously approved a district contract with teachers that raises starting pay to $57,500 this year and to $60,000 next year. Veteran teachers also will receive 5 percent raises in each of the next two years, and bonuses. Superintendent Terry Connor credited the district’s ability to give the raises to a tax hike voters approved Tuesday that brings in an estimated $114 million a year. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Leon: A new early-learning center has opened in south Tallahassee. The South City Early Learning Center has 36 spots open to children from 6 weeks to 3 years old. WTXL.
Martin: Vanessa Molina-Council, a 4th-grade teacher at Citrus Grove Elementary School in Palm City, was named Friday as the school district’s teacher of the year as well as the top elementary teacher. She is now eligible for the statewide honor. Middle school teacher of the year is Alicia Carter, who teaches creative writing, digital media and physical education at Hidden Oaks Middle in Palm City, and the high school teacher of the year is Samantha Pankhurst, social studies teacher at Jensen Beach High. WPTV. Martin County School District.
Flagler: A paraprofessional at Indian Trails Middle School in Palm Coast has been arrested and accused of striking a special needs student in September. Deputies said surveillance footage showed Cheryl Andrews, 69, hitting a student, shoving him and then putting her hand around his face. She’s been charged with child abuse. Flagler Live. WESH. Daytona Beach News-Journal. WFTV.
Highlands: The school district’s teacher of the year award was presented last week to Dara Judah, a math and science instructor at Woodlawn Elementary School in Sebring. Carrie Smalls, a paraprofessional who works with special-needs students at Lake Placid High, was honored as the school-related employee of the year. Both winners are now eligible for the statewide awards. Highlands News-Sun.
Colleges and universities: Allegations of sexual harassment and stalking have been made by several women, including students, in a Title IX complaint against University of Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden. The complaint says Golden, 39, sent photos of his genitalia to the women, made unwanted sexual advances on social media, and followed woman or showed up in places he knew they would be. Golden said he’s retained an attorney to advise him on the possibility of filing defamation claims while the university investigates, and will coach the team’s game tonight. Independent Florida Alligator. Gainesville Sun. Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press. WCJB. A University of Central Florida computer science professor has been fired after being investigated for having an inappropriate relationship with a teaching assistant. Travis Meade had worked at the school 16 years. Florida Politics.
Partisanship and the vote: The partisanship that marked the general election results was missing from votes on tax measures benefiting public education. All but one of the 20-plus issues raising money for schools passed easily. “Public education is a nonpartisan issue,” said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association teachers union. “When people started looking at what they really want from their public schools, they elected people and voted for referendums to make that happen.” Voters also declined to approved a constitutional amendment that would have required partisan school board elections. It received just under 55 percent of the vote, but needed 60 percent, though some education observers expect the issue to get another look in a future election. Tampa Bay Times. Spectrum News 9. Axios.
SAT scores down: Florida students’ average SAT score dropped 18 points in 2024, to 948 out of a possible 1,600, according to the College Board. The state’s 2024 graduates scored an average of 493 on the reading section, down 10 points from last year, and the average math score was 455, down 8 points. It was the third straight year scores have declined, a decline the College Board attributes to the pandemic. Orlando Sentinel.
Veterans Day and schools: Veterans Day is being observed today and while it is a national holiday, more than 40 percent of the state’s 67 school districts are open and holding classes. Open are the Calhoun, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Union and Washington school districts. USA Today Florida Network.
Music educators up for award: Six Florida music educators are among 25 semifinalists for the 2025 music educator award given annually by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum. They are: Michael Antmann of Freedom High School in Orange County, Cindy Ellis of the Miami Arts Studio 6-12 at Zelda Glazier in Miami-Dade, Bernie Hendricks Jr. of Ocoee High in Orange County, Jennifer Jiminez of South Miami Senior High School in Miami-Dade, Stefanie Sagaro of the Academy for Innovation Education Charter School in Miami-Dade, and Shannon Stem of the University Academy in Bay. Ten finalists will be chosen in December, and the winner will be announced in February. Grammy Awards. WKMG.
Opinions on schools: There’s a shared responsibility among parents, schools and communities to prepare kids for an artificial intelligence-driven world, and conversations need to evolve as technology advances. AI and technology aren’t going anywhere, so it’s essential we teach our kids about the risks and benefits of AI and how to navigate its influence. Marlee Strawn, Orlando Sentinel.
