Around the state: Florida is moving forward with a technology tool for materials review, students in Hillsborough will receive holiday gifts from officers in the coming week, the teachers union in St. Johns is asking for raises and childcare issues abound across the state. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: A project to expand a charter school in Hialeah, which could allow it to take over two multi-purpose playing fields on public park land, remains alive after the City Council chose to postpone a vote Tuesday instead of denying it. Miami Herald.
Broward: Robert Parks, a former Broward County school board member, has passed away. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Hillsborough: Starting on Wednesday, security officers with Hillsborough County Public Schools are making sure the students they keep safe have presents for Christmas. This has become an annual tradition for officers. This year, 15 schools are participating. Toys will be delivered before winter break begins on Dec. 20. “We want them to know its coming from us,” said Chief of Security John Newman. BayNews9.
Duval: After a former Douglas Anderson student accused their teacher of sexual battery, the state of Florida closed its investigation without speaking to the accuser. In an interview with an investigator from Duval Schools last year, the former student, who is now an adult, made the accusations against former film department head Corey Thayer. But the accuser’s lawyer denies the state’s claim that the accuser refused to meet. JAX Today.
St. Johns: The St. Johns Education Association, which is the teachers union in St. Johns County, is asking the school district for higher salaries by the start of the next school year. St. Johns County voters passed property tax increases as part of a two-vote ballot amendment during the November election. The school district says it predicts it will get $60 million in all from the tax increases. About $51 million will go toward pay raises for staff and teachers. Action News Jax.
Legislative session: As he heads into his third House term, Hialeah Rep. Alex Rizo, a former teacher and public schools administrator turned education consultant has a few bills planned for the 2025 Legislative session. The bills are focused on instructor recruitment, training and student funding. Rizo is drawing up measures to expand optometrist services and provide foster children more autonomy once they become adults and re-running a claims bill that would make a former Broward County Sheriff’s deputy whole financially. Florida Politics. Meanwhile, a bill would require active shooter training for future Florida teachers. The proposal, filed this week, would make that training a requirement to get a teaching certificate. “It is the unfortunate reality of where we are today,” Rep. Dan Daley said. “I think we need to do a better job of training our teachers.” The proposal expands a program Indian River State College has in place as part of classroom management courses. WCTV.
Review technology: Florida has agreed to spend millions of dollars on a service it says is a tool for transparency. But advocates of free expression warn it could be a vehicle for censorship. In a contract signed in September, the Florida Department of Education agreed to pay up to $15.6 million over four years to Maryland-based education technology company Trinity Education Group. The company has been asked to develop a “statewide, centralized, easily accessible” system for people to review and even object to instructional materials and library books in Florida school districts. Tallahassee Democrat.
Childcare woes: Florida’s childcare system is plagued with issues that include parents struggling to pay for it. Miami Herald.
