Around the state: An immigration bill barring in-state tuition for undocumented students is approved and signed, public schools would be required to have disability awareness instruction under a bill filed for the legislative session, another district turns away from block class scheduling, Brevard proposes to change its policy on public comments at school board meetings, an idea to eliminate property taxes gets support from Gov. Ron DeSantis, and a book is removed in Brevard and another is challenged in Duval. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: A chemistry teacher at Miami Senior High School is one of 10 finalists for a global teaching prize that awards the winner $1 million. Erick Hueck is the only U.S. finalist for the GEMS Educational Global Teacher Prize. Florida Today.
Tampa Bay area: A school district plan to end block scheduling at four Pinellas County high schools is being protested by some students and their parents. The model, which has been in place for 15 years, has four 86-minute courses a day on an alternating A/B calendar that allows students to earn 8 credits a year, instead of the 7 students at other high schools can earn. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said the block schedule is more expensive. Tampa Bay Times. A 16-year-old Clearwater High School student riding his bike to school Friday died when he was hit by a car. Police said the boy went through an intersection against a red light. WTVT. WFTS. WTSP. Spelling bee season has begun, and Tampa Bay area students are going for a third straight U.S. championship. The 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee is May 27-29 in the Washington, D.C., area. Tampa Bay Times. A 16-year-old Leto High School student was arrested Monday and accused of having a loaded handgun at school. WFLA. WTSP.
Orange: A district decision to hold Jones High School’s graduation at the University of Central Florida instead of the nearby Kia Center is being criticized by some parents and alumni. The Kia Center is in the neighborhood where many Jones students live, while the Addition Financial Arena at UCF is about a 30-minute drive away. Jones’ graduation was moved so bigger schools could hold ceremonies at the Kia Center, according to district officials. Orlando Sentinel. Geraldine Thompson, a former teacher and administrator at Valencia College in Orlando who later was elected as a state representative and then a senator, died last week after complications from knee replacement surgery. She was 76. Orlando Sentinel. WFSU. WKMG.
Duval: A book review committee is now in place to evaluate the suitability of the novel Identical by Ellen Hopkins, which was challenged in November 2023 for its sexual content. The committee’s recommendation will be considered by the school board at a meeting in March. WJAX. Jane Condon, a former principal at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and the founding principal of the LaVilla School of the Arts, both in Jacksonville, has died at the age of 86. Florida Times-Union. News Service of Florida.
Brevard: Public comments at school board meetings would be split into agenda and non-agenda sections under a proposed policy change being considered by school board members, with no live-streaming during comments on non-agenda items due to worries that speakers would use profanity or make accusations. The previous policy had been challenged in court and was declared unconstitutional because of restrictions that were judged to limit speakers’ freedom of speech. Florida Today.
Seminole: A federal investigation has been launched into the school district’s treatment of a student with disabilities. Cindy Bockleslaugh contends the district did not support her 20-year-old son’s use of a device that helps him communicate and have access to instruction. Central Florida Public Media. Students and parents at Lake Mary and Lyman high schools are critical of the schools’ decisions to hold their proms April 12, the first night of the Jewish holiday Passover. District spokeswoman Katherine Crnkovich said “it is not always possible to avoid an event falling on” religious days. WESH. Spectrum News 13.
Volusia: School officials have removed the book The Kite Runner from school libraries after a complaint from Jenifer Kelly, a parent and local Moms for Liberty official. It had been available to Advanced Placement students with parental consent, but was pulled under the provisions of a state law that requires books to be removed if someone reading excerpts from it during the public comment portion of a school board meeting is told to stop by any board member. WOFL.
Collier: The private Village School of Naples has hired a K-9 unit to help with student security. Colby has been trained to detect explosives, guns and ammunition. WFTX.
Marion: A teacher at Ocala Forest High School has been arrested and accused of having a romantic relationship with a student. Detective said Lindsey Rickman, 35, was grooming the 17-year-old boy. She’s been placed on administrative leave. WCJB.
Escambia: If Warrington Prep Academy does not boost its state school grade to a C by the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, the charter school will close and its students will be dispersed to other county schools, district officials have announced. If it does break the string of D grades from the state its operator, Charter Schools USA, will get a 15-year contract renewal. Pensacola News Journal.
Okaloosa: Two district students pursuing a career in education will be awarded Florida Prepaid two-year scholarships, Superintendent Marcus Chambers announced last week. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Leon: Tallahassee city officials are threatening to revoke the school district’s $300,000-a-year discount on its utilities bill over its decision several years ago to stop paying the city’s fire service fee. Outside counsel advised the district that it didn’t have to pay, and Superintendent Rocky Hanna suspended the payments that the city says now total $3 million. Tallahassee Democrat.
Bay: New classroom buildings opened last week at Tommy Smith Elementary and Merritt Brown Middle schools in Panama City. “Being in an actual building with an actual bathroom, that could probably help a lot,” said Merritt Brown student Reagan Jones. “Before, we didn’t have much air-conditioning. It wasn’t really the best area for learning.” Funding for additions came from the district’s half-cent sales tax. WJHG.
Charlotte: An 18-year-old Port Charlotte High School student was arrested last week after deputies found a pellet gun in his backpack. The student said he found the gun recently and forgot it was in his bag. WWSB. WINK. WBBH.
Citrus: The number of school bus routes without a driver has dropped from 14 this time last year to three this year, and district officials are crediting a $3-an-hour pay raise, the initiation of an in-house training program and a crackdown on disciplinary issues for the improvement. Citrus County Chronicle.
Colleges and universities: University of South Florida President Rhea Law said Monday that she will retire once a national search finds her replacement. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Politics.
Immigration bill now a law: In-state college tuition waivers for undocumented students were eliminated starting next year as part of the sweeping immigration bill passed during the Legislature’s special session and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. The regular 60-day legislative session begins March 4. Politico Florida. Associated Press. News Service of Florida. Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel. DeSantis said Friday that universities should not admit undocumented students, and also was critical of a 40-year-old U.S. Supreme Court decision guaranteeing kids’ access to public schools regardless of their immigration status. Florida Phoenix.
Also in the Legislature: Public schools would be required to teach K-12 students about disability history and awareness under a bill filed for the legislative session. Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, is the sponsor. Florida Politics. Personal information about elected officials and their families would be exempt from public records laws under a proposal filed by state Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens. News Service of Florida.
DeSantis on property tax: Gov. DeSantis has thrown his support behind the abolition of property taxes, calling them a “more oppressive and ineffective form of taxation.” About half of Florida’s public education funding comes from property taxes, and it would require a constitutional amendment to eliminate them. WKMG. WFLA. WFTS. Fox News.
Around the nation: Florida is one of 10 states leading in artificial intelligence innovation, according to a report by Chadix, an AI content provider platform that rates states on AI education, tech hubs, tech jobs, businesses using AI and AI investment. California topped the list, with Florida second because of its “strategic investments and a growing tech presence.” Forbes.
Opinions on schools: Pasco County school officials are reversing a policy that excludes homework from counting toward course grades, and its students will benefit. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow. Florida’s public-school voucher program was created to give low-income students in failing schools an on-ramp to a better future. But it’s morphing into a slope of privilege for the wealthy, unscalable for the students who need this help the most. Orlando Sentinel.
