Around the state: Title IX rules for K-12 schools and colleges are reverting to what they were during the first Trump administration, Duval parents criticize a proposal to end transportation for magnet programs as a way to trim a $100 million budget deficit, Duval’s school district is asking parents to consider a 10:30 a.m. start time for high school students, what schools can and can’t do when immigration officials show up at their doors, and the Marion, Escambia and Monroe school districts name their teachers of the year. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: A woman has been arrested and accused of stealing more than $700,000 from the school district in the past year. Police say Magdalena Estole, 69, of Cutler Bay, sent e-mails requesting the district to reroute payments for work performed by an HVAC vendor to her personal bank account. WTVJ.
Hillsborough: A 14-year-old student at Sumner High School in Riverview was arrested last week and accused of having a weapon at school. School resource officers received a tip and said they found the student in possession of a handgun. WTVT. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Duval: Options for later school start times to comply with a state law taking effect in 2026 are spelled out in a survey the district is asking parents to complete. Two of the four proposals call for high schools to start at 10:30 a.m. and finish at 5:15 p.m. The survey is available on the district website until Feb. 14. WJXT. One of the proposals to trim the school district’s $100 million budget is to eliminate transportation for students attending magnet schools. That’s galvanized opposition from parents who say transportation was part of the deal when they signed their children up to attend those schools. About 7% of the district’s students attend magnet schools. WJAX.
Polk: A proposal to begin negotiations with a company for the design and construction of a high school in the Poinciana area was approved last week by the school board. If an agreement can bed reached, Fortress Secured LLC will build the school with an projected 2028 opening. Superintendent Frederick Heid said the school is needed to relieve overcrowding in the northeast part of the county. Lakeland Ledger.
Lee: Plans in place to renovate and rebuild parts of Bonita Springs Elementary School are drawing criticism from preservationists. Two of the school’s old buildings would be torn down under the plan with new buildings taking their place, an outcome protested by those who want to preserve them because of their historical value. School board members are expected to consider the proposal this month. If the plan is approved, construction would begin this summer with a projected completion date of August 2027. Fort Myers News-Press.
Marion: Sarah Jacobs, 10th-grade English instructor at West Port High School in Ocala, has been chosen as the school district’s teacher of the year. Also honored was school-related employee of the year Franchesca Jiminez, a discipline clerk at Liberty Middle. WCJB. Public Education Foundation of Marion County.
Escambia: Kelly Reed, a kindergarten teacher at Global Learning Academy in Pensacola, has been named the school district’s teacher of the year. NorthEscambia.com. WEAR.
Flagler: A 13-year-old student at Buddy Taylor Middle School in Palm Coast has been arrested and accused of having a weapon on school property. The boy said he brought a pellet gun to school for protection because he was being bullied. Flagler Live.
Monroe: Katharine Yarbrough, a music teacher from the Plantation Key School, has been chosen as the school district’s teacher of the year. Key West Citizen.
Colleges and universities: Former Broward County School Board member Torey Alston has been named president of Broward College. Alston was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the school board in 2022, but was defeated in 2024 when he ran for a full term. He replaces Gregory Haile, who resigned in September 2023. Sun Sentinel. Florida Politics.
Title IX rules changed: Title IX rules changes made by the Biden administration last year are being scrapped by the Trump administration. Friday, the U.S. Department of Education issued a memo that reinstates rules from 2020 about how complaints of sexual misconduct by students are investigated and settled. Those rules require live hearings when misconduct allegations are made and offer greater protections for accused students. Associated Press. K-12 Dive. Chalkbeat. Education Week. New York Times.
ICE compliance: School districts around the state are rushing to issue guidelines for administrators to follow in dealing with anticipated visits from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Here are things they can and can’t do. Axios.
Opinions on schools: District leaders across the state are exploring a new frontier of educational options: They are looking for ways to offer individual courses and services to students using K-12 education choice scholarships. In a future where every Florida student has access to abundant education opportunities, districts will play an essential role. Travis Pillow, NextSteps. Education policy is shaped as much by perception as by law. When education leaders champion school choice, they help normalize these policies and build public confidence in their effectiveness. James V. Shuls, RealClear Education. The demise of FSU-Teach and the rise of FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics illustrates the sad fact that Florida’s public K-12 schools are, at the direction of the state’s leaders, becoming more focused on ideological issues and less focused on giving students opportunities to access challenging STEM careers that require high levels of skill in math and science. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow. A moment of silence is what students do at the beginning of their school day. If it’s good enough for them, isn’t it good enough for the school board meetings? Keith Becher, Florida Today.