Around the state: Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed two bills confirming the state’s recognition of the name change of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, school districts are preparing for a tight budget year despite increased K-12 spending proposed in both the Senate and House budgets, a Senate committee is considering a revised tax-cut package, several education-related bills are stalled in the Legislature, and Alachua teachers and the school district reach a tentative contract agreement that calls for 1.3% raises. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Broward: Plans to “right-size” the school district are being developed by Superintendent Howard Hepburn and school board member Allen Zeman. In the past 10 years, student enrollment has declined by 30,000, and that’s expected to grow by another 8,800 during the next school year. If the district had downsized at the same rate as enrollment, it would have about 4,500 fewer employees. “One of the things that you look at when you have a dramatic decline in enrollment is did we also take the same reduction in overhead?” said Zeman. “And what you see in the budget is we have not. We still have five layers of management between the school board and the principals of schools, so that’s at least one too many.” Sun Sentinel. Miami Herald.
Duval: The school district is celebrating becoming the first in the state to be approved for the Blue Zones initiative. The project designates areas in the poorest zip codes for projects to increase life expectancies by emphasizing healthy lifestyle choices to children. WJXT.
Brevard: A Roosevelt Elementary School teacher, arrested three months ago for her role in a party at the principal’s house that included alcohol and about 100 students, has been reinstated into the classroom. Karly Anderson is now at Saturn Elementary in Cocoa after a felony charge of suspicion of child neglect was dropped. The principal, Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, remains on unpaid leave. Florida Today. WOFL.
St. Johns: The school board’s search for a new superintendent is down to 10 semifinalists. Three currently work in the district: deputy superintendent Brennan Asplen, regional superintendent for secondary and alternative schools Kyle Dresback, and Jessica Richardson, senior director for exceptional student education. Finalists will be chosen April 25 and will be interviewed in May. The person chosen is expected to start work July 1, replacing the retiring Tim Forson. Jacksonville Today. WJXT.
Marion: Seven candidates to become the school district’s interim superintendent will be interviewed by the school board this week. Among the candidates are area superintendent Melissa Kinard; Danielle Brewer, the district’s senior executive director of high schools and secondary curriculum; and Tim Smith, former superintendent of the Escambia schools and now director of labor relations in the Orange County School District. Superintendent Diane Gullett’s last day is July 11. Ocala Star-Banner.
Escambia: Warrington Preparatory Academy’s plans to add a 9th grade have been postponed a year, until the fall of 2026. “We are excited to bring a 9th-grade option to Warrington Prep, but after much consideration decided to move that opening to 2026-2027 school year after we’ve had a chance to properly market it to the entire community,” said Eddie Ruiz, state superintendent for Charter Schools USA. Pensacola News Journal.
Alachua: District officials and the union representing teachers have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. Teachers will receive raises averaging 1.3%, which was the district’s “final” offer. The deal must be approved by union members and the school board. WCJB.
Hernando: A new cafeteria, driveway system and bus dropoff are part of a $26.8 million upgrade approved by the school board for Eastside Elementary School in Brooksville. The school opened 50 years ago and is also overcrowded. Suncoast News.
Baker: A Westside Elementary School physical education teacher was arrested last week and accused of taping a student to a chair during gym period. Deputies said Kristopher Waite, 50, is charged with cruelty toward a child, and abuse to a child without great bodily harm. WJXT.
Dixie: John Duane Driggers Jr., a procurement forester, has been appointed by Gov. DeSantis to the vacant District 3 seat of the school board. WCJB.
Monroe: Eleven semifinalists have been named for the school superintendent’s job replacing Theresa Axford, who retires July 31. Four currently work in the school district. Three to five finalists will be chosen April 21. Interviews will be the week of April 28, public interviews are May 1, and the school board is scheduled to make its selection May 6. Florida Keys Weekly. Key West Citizen.
Colleges and universities: Visas have been canceled by the Trump administration for at least 29 international students attending Florida universities, including 18 at Florida International University and 8 at the University of Florida. Miami Herald.
Gulf of America: Gov. DeSantis has signed two bills that support President Trump’s directive to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. One requires schools to buy only materials that acknowledge the new name, and the other changes existing laws to reflect the name change. News Service of Florida. Florida Politics. USA Today Florida Network.
K-12 education budgets: Both the Senate and House K-12 education budgets promise record spending for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, but $800 million of the additional money is headed to the state’s rapidly expanding universal school choice programs. School districts are preparing for an austere year with declining enrollments and deep cuts in some funding, such as paying districts for students doing well in advanced and career high school courses. “It’s going to be a lean budget year,” Pasco County Superintendent John Legg said. “There will be significant adjustments.” Hillsborough school board member Nadia Combs added, “We’re going to have to keep tightening our belts and watching every penny.” Politico Florida. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Times-Union. Axios.
Education bills stalled: With just one-third of the legislative session remaining, several education bills appear stalled in either the Senate or House. Proposals to cut regulations at public schools, allow cameras in special education classrooms and require more instruction on cursive writing are in limbo as lawmakers turn their attention to reconciling a state budget by April 29 so they can adjourn as scheduled May 2. Tampa Bay Times. Florida Phoenix.
Senate tax bill teed up: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee is considering a bill today that would eliminate sales tax exemptions on most clothing and shoes, pause registration fees charged on all motor vehicle tags for one year, keep a tax holiday on school supplies in August, and call for a study on how to eliminate property taxes. Politico Florida. WKMG. Florida Politics.
Also in the Legislature: A House subcommittee approved a proposal that would change to state’s school grading system to align with the system used for students. Florida Politics. A bill that would require every school to have an automated external defibrillator passed its final House subcommittee and is now ready for a vote in that chamber. Florida Politics. Also ready for a House vote is a measure that would require public school workers to be trained to spots the signs of human trafficking. Florida Politics.
Opinions on schools: Guardrails on ESA programs should favor a light touch by authorities, one that recognizes diversity in preferences and with the wisdom to recognize that we do not know the optimal way to educate every child. If we are curious about this latter question, we should let people figure it out for themselves. We just might learn things. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps. Legislative appropriators are reducing the value placed on opportunities for Florida’s most highly motivated high school students. It’s as simple as that. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow. Taking college courses through dual enrollment has been the most rewarding part of my high school experience so far. But the dual-enrollment program could be even better if high schools and colleges worked together to provide what students say we need most. Teairra-Marie Gomez, The Hechinger Report.
