Around the state: A new state Department of Juvenile Justice education program for students in detention is projected to cost about 30 percent more than expected, a state judge has declined to block a provision of a new state law that requires certain public unions to have 60 percent of their membership paying dues in order to remain certified, speed detection cameras are being placed in Hendry County school zones, Duval County will also consider speed detection cameras after a study shows 10,000 drivers speeding through 11 school zones over a recent three-day period, and finalists are named for the Charlotte County teacher and employee of the year awards. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: A debate teacher at Western High School in Davie has resigned after he was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a student and forcing students to pay to attend his class. Dario Camara, 42, was arrested in February by Davie police on fraud charges for allegedly failing to pay $16,000 in catering expenses. That launched a school district inquiry, and Camara resigned shortly after a student came forward with a text exchange he had with Camara that included references to sex and drug use. Sun Sentinel. The county’s medical examiner has confirmed that a McArthur High School student’s death Sept. 18 was caused by a lightning strike. Cameron Day, 16, was riding his bike home from band practice. He was found lying on the ground after a flash of lightning, and had burns on his chest and legs. Sun Sentinel.
Duval: Almost 10,000 speeding violations were detected at 11 public schools over a three-day period, according to a study by a company that Verra Mobility, a company that specializes in technology to improve traffic safety. At one school, Ford Elementary, 3,000 drivers were detected going 11 miles per hour or more over the speed limit, and 80 were going at least 30 mph over the limit. District officials authorized the study to collect data that can help them decide whether to install speed detection cameras. Florida Daily. The accrediting agency Cognia has given the school district a score of 385 out of a possible 400 points during a recent review to earn re-accreditation, and named Duval a “system of distinction.” Jacksonville Today.
Manatee: The mother of two elementary school students who were allegedly molested by a teacher’s aide in 2023 is suing the school board, alleging that the principal of Florine J. Abel Elementary School ignored a parent’s concern about the aide’s “history of sexual harassment.” Angel Rodriguez Mercado, 68, worked with students who were learning English. He was arrested in November 2023 and charged with lewd and lascivious molestation. Bradenton Herald.
Collier: Autistic students will have another schooling option next fall when the Autism Collier Charter School opens in Naples. Almost 220 families have inquired about having their children attend the school, and 76 teachers are interested in working there, says board chair Jen Mitchell. Coastal Breeze News.
Bay: A school district paraprofessional and a school bus driver have been arrested in connection with the abuse of a student. Panama City police said Sylinda Goodman is charged with child abuse, child neglect and simple assault, and bus driver Althea Russell is charged with child neglect for failing to report the alleged abuse. “Both employees have been placed on leave pending hearings with the superintendent when schools reopen,” said a district spokesperson. Panama City News Herald. WJHG. WMBB.
Charlotte: Five finalists have been named for the school district’s teacher of the year award. They are Jennifer Smith of Charlotte High School, Addison Montgomery of Deep Creek Elementary, Katie Cooke of Lemon Bay High, Teresa Johnson of Punta Gorda Middle, and Amber Perrett of Port Charlotte High. Finalists for the support employee of the year award are Cathy Ward of Charlotte Harbor Center, Bill Tingle of L.A. Ainger Middle School, Stella Rodriguez of Lemon Bay High, Amanda Clyatt of Sallie Jones Elementary, and Lynda Faieta of the transportation department. Winners will be announced Jan. 11. Charlotte Sun.
Hendry: Speed detection cameras are being placed in county school zones. the sheriff’s office has announced. Cameras go active Jan. 1, and warnings will be mailed to drivers who exceed the posted speed limits by 10 mph or more until Feb. 1. After that, offenders will receive $100 tickets. WINK.
Colleges and universities: A state judge has declined to block a provision in a new state law that requires certain public unions to have 60 percent of their membership paying dues in order to remain certified. Florida A&M University’s faculty union requested a temporary injunction, calling the requirement unconstitutional. Tallahassee Democrat. Florida State University trustees have approved President Richard McCullough’s goals for the school, including improving six-year graduation rates and fund-raising. Tallahassee Democrat. New College of Florida trustee Christopher Rufo’s vision for higher education has taken root in Florida, and could be adopted nationally by the incoming Trump administration. Tampa Bay Times.
DJJ education troubles: A new Department of Juvenile Justice education program for students in detention is projected to cost about 30 percent more than expected because officials underestimated how many of those students require special education accommodations. Florida Virtual School has a three-year, $56 million contract to provide classes online and in-person for about 1,900 students. Florida Phoenix.
Legislative bills filed: The 2025 Florida legislative session doesn’t begin for three months, but bills are already being filed for consideration during the 60-day meeting. Among them are SB 52, which would require stop signs on all public, private and charter school buses and vehicles; and SB 46, which would establish a list of programs and degrees a nonpublic, religious postsecondary educational institution may offer to be exempt from state licensure. In the 2024 session, 1,902 bills were filed, with 299 eventually being signed into law. News Service of Florida. WSVN.
New laws beginning Jan. 1: Nine new state laws take effect Jan. 1. Among them is HB 3, which prohibits students under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, although 14- and 15-year-olds may with the consent of a parent. WKMG.
Around the nation: President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to deport millions of immigrants who are not in the country legally has schools bracing for turmoil. Even if Trump doesn’t follow through, educators and legal observers say, children of immigrants will be affected. “(If) you constantly threaten people with the possibility of mass deportation, it really inhibits peoples’ ability to function in society and for their kids to get an education,” said Hiroshi Motomura, a professor at UCLA School of Law. Associated Press.
Opinions on schools: Our commitment to free speech depends on the recognition that some of that speech is going to be offensive, but except in rare situations despicable speech is not, on its own, a justification for punishment. William F. Felice, Tampa Bay Times. Public education is the way to fight against the hate directed at those people in our society who are different. Robert Kesten, Miami Herald. Florida’s position that it has the right to remove reading material from schools because the removal of the books is a form of “government speech” protected by the First Amendment is crazy talk. The First Amendment was enacted to protect citizens from government censorship, not to empower the government to gag its citizens to promote viewpoint discrimination and amplify the government’s “message.” Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post.
