Around the state: Legislators were told by Senate and House leaders not to return to Tallahassee until after Memorial Day due to the ongoing budget stalemate, reactions are mixed to Florida A&M University trustees choosing a Gov. Ron DeSantis ally as the school’s next president, educators from Citrus and Flagler counties complete the field of five finalists for the state’s teacher of the year award, Martin County’s school district will pay an additional 36% to have deputies as school resource officers, and high school graduation ceremonies filled the weekend in many state school districts. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: An audit will be conducted on the district’s school bus camera program, school board members decided last week. A recent investigation found many drivers were wrongly receiving tickets, and Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz suspended the office’s participation in the program. Miami Herald. WLRN. Underused school sites could be turned into early-education centers under a proposal being considered by the school board. WLRN. WTVJ. Parents of children at the Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center are sounding off about the persistent air-conditioning problems at the school, which they say have been going on for years. WSVN.
Hillsborough: School board members expressed skepticism last week about district officials’ claims that enrollment is growing. There is growth in some areas, such as preschool, career programs and virtual learning, board members agree, but traditional school enrollment is declining in every board district except District 2, which includes rapidly growing south county communities. That decline means lower teacher allotments in many schools, and continuing upheaval. Tampa Bay Times. A 27-year-old Riverview High School teacher has been arrested and accused of having sex with a student. Deputies said the relationship between Brooke Anderson and the student began last fall with sexually explicit text messages and escalated into unlawful sexual activity. WTVT. WFLA. WTSP.
Palm Beach: Graduation ceremonies were held last week for Boynton Beach, Glades Central, Olympic Heights, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Central, Boca Raton, Atlantic, Royal Palm Beach and Dr. Joaquin Garcia community high schools. Palm Beach Post. Records indicate that the district bypassed the standard process when it hired science teacher Norman Riemer in 1999. Routine screening twice flagged Riemer for rejection, but a principal requested a waiver. Riemer, 54, was arrested last month and accused of child molestation. Palm Beach Post. A loaded handgun was found last week in the backpack of a student at Panther Run Elementary School in Wellington. Palm Beach Post. Sun Sentinel. WPTV.
Polk: Seniors at Frostproof Middle-Senior and Auburndale high schools received their diplomas at graduations last week. Lakeland Ledger. Edwin Vetter, a longtime district teacher and principal who started the county’s first International Baccalaureate school at Bartow High, died last week at the age of 79. Lakeland Ledger.
Lee: Even after slashing the number of teacher vacancies from 211 to 31, district officials are struggling with teacher retention. “We are losing teachers faster than we can hire them,” said district human resources executive director Shanna Johnston. Teachers say low pay and poor working conditions are causing the shortages. Fort Myers News-Press. Graduation ceremonies were held last week for students from Dunbar, North Fort Myers, Cypress Lake, Bishop Verot, Ida S. Baker, Gateway, Riverdale, Mariner, South Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and Island Coast high schools. Fort Myers News-Press.
Brevard: Seniors at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne were handed diplomas during their graduation ceremony Saturday. Florida Today.
Seminole: One 8th-grader was hospitalized and several others were treated after becoming ill at a dance Friday at Teague Middle School in Altamonte Springs. One parent said it appeared the fruit punch had been spiked, and doctors who treated the students theorized it was done with a synthetic substance. WFTV.
Manatee: Parrish Community High and Palmetto High school seniors received their diplomas at graduation proceedings last week. Sarasota Herald Tribune.
St. Lucie: Students at John Carroll Catholic High School were presented diplomas at a graduation ceremony last week. TCPalm.
Escambia: A proposal to raise Superintendent Keith Leonard’s pay by 19%, to at least $205,000 a year, will be considered by the school board. Pensacola News Journal. District officials say they will not honor a request to use a transgender student’s preferred name during commencement ceremonies at the Escambia Virtual Academy on May 27. Leonard said the district’s policy is to use students’ given names. Pensacola News Journal. Diplomas were handed out to Pensacola Catholic High School students at a ceremony Saturday. Pensacola News Journal.
Santa Rosa: A school district teacher was arrested last week and accused of possession of child pornography. Milton police said they found child pornography on an electronic device in the home of Johnathan Burchett, 55. District officials said the charges are not related to his job, and that he has resigned. Pensacola News Journal. WEAR.
Sarasota: Graduating seniors from Suncoast Polytechnical High and Pine View schools were awarded diplomas during commencement ceremonies last week. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Bay: Rosenwald High School seniors received their diplomas during a graduation ceremony last week. Panama City News Herald.
Martin: District officials have reached an agreement with the sheriff’s department to keep deputies as school resource officers. Sheriff John Budensiek was asking for $5.4 million from the district for the service, up from $3.3 million. School officials objected, leading to a settlement under which they’ll pay $4.5 million, an increase of 36%. The sheriff’s share of the cost will be $3.5 million. TCPalm. WPTV. WPEC. Clark Advanced Learning Center’s graduation ceremony was Saturday. TCPalm.
Indian River: Sebastian River, Vero Beach and Indian River Charter high school students received their diplomas in graduation ceremonies last week. TCPalm.
Charlotte: Seniors at Port Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda and Charlotte High in Port Charlotte were presented with diplomas at ceremonies last week. Charlotte Sun.
Citrus: Autumn Crabtree, a culinary arts teacher at Crystal River High School, has been named one of the five finalists for the state’s 2026 teacher of the year award. The winner will be announced in July. Citrus County Chronicle. Florida Department of Education.
Flagler: Brandy Nicole Anderson, a 7th-grade civics teacher at Indian Trails Middle School in Palm Coast, also was named one of the finalists for the state’s teacher of the year award. The winner will be announced in July. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Florida Department of Education.
Gulf: A paraprofessional and track coach at Port St. Joe Jr./Sr. High School was arrested last week and accused of battery on several middle school students. Deputies said there is video evidence against Eric McNair, 46. He’s been fired, according to school officials. WJHG. WMBB.
Colleges and universities: Marva Johnson, a lobbyist for a telecom company and a former member of the state Board of Education, was chosen Friday as the new president of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. Her candidacy was opposed by many of the school’s alumni, students and faculty because of her close ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, and overall reaction to her selection was mixed. Politico Florida. Tallahassee Democrat. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Miami Herald. Florida Phoenix. Some of the best and brightest Florida high school students have gotten rejection letters from the University of Florida and Florida State University. Factors include the rising admission standards and a sharp increase in the number of out-of-state and international students. Flamingo magazine.
In the Legislature: Leaders of the Senate and House have told legislators not to return to Tallahassee until after Memorial Day because of the continuing budget stalemate over how to cut taxes. “We plan to announce further scheduling updates midweek, before the holiday weekend, to provide as much advanced notice as possible,” said Senate President Ben Albritton. News Service of Florida. Florida Politics. The 2026 session of the Florida Legislature will begin Jan. 13 and end March 13, according to a schedule posted on the Senate website. This year’s session was scheduled to end May 2, but has been extended over the budget dispute. News Service of Florida. About 60 bills have been sent to Gov. DeSantis, including one that repeals a requirement that middle and high schools start later in the day. News Service of Florida. Florida Politics.
Opinions on schools: Floridians need state leaders to put them first as they hammer out a spending plan that is set to take effect July 1. Instead, they’re watching House Speaker Daniel Perez and Gov. DeSantis engaging in a slap fight over whose tax cuts are sexier. Orlando Sentinel.
