Around the state: The sole finalist for the University of Florida presidency answered questions on campus Tuesday from students and staff and outlined his leadership style, the governor and House speaker continue to squabble over how to cut state taxes, budget problems are driving the proposed elimination of positions, hours and programs in Alachua and Hendry schools, Duval’s school board approves changes in how employees may interact with students, and a former Brevard teacher is found guilty for her role in a house party attended by more than 100 teens that included alcohol and drugs. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: Officials say the school district is the first in the state to implement digital mapping to help first responders during active-shooter situations and other emergencies. The technology provides instant access to detailed school maps showing where emergencies are happening. WPEC. A school district employee has been arrested and accused of molesting two 6-year-old girls. Norman Riemer, 54, is a secondary education curriculum development and school improvement instruction specialist. Sun Sentinel.
Duval: School board members have adopted several changes to policies governing contact between employees and students, including banning private messages and requiring administrative approval for one-on-one meetings between staff and students. WJAX. Students pressured the school board at Tuesday’s meeting to continue funding for accelerated programs despite proposed cuts in the state budget. WJXT. WTLV.
Polk: A custodian and assistant football coach at Lakeland High School has been arrested and accused of stealing 36 helmets from the team and selling them to sports stores. Deputies said Azadrean Yarde, 23, sold the helmets that are worth more than $13,000 for less than $1,000. WTVT.
Lee: A student-created newsletter that included the phrase “in love, there is no age” has drawn criticism for its alleged glamorization of relationships between adults and minors. Critics say the newsletter contained inappropriate and possibly unlawful content involving students. It was created in the Young Parent Education Program. Fort Myers News-Press. Multiple students were cut and bruised after their school bus collided with a vehicle in Lehigh Acres on Monday. None of the 21 students on board the bus required hospitalization, but a school district spokesman said many parents told him they’d be taking their children to the doctor. One person was taken to a hospital as a trauma patient. Fort Myers News-Press.
Brevard: A former teacher has been found guilty by a jury of disorderly intoxication and resisting a police officer without violence during a Cocoa Beach house party in January that was attended by 100 teens and included alcohol and drug use. Karly Anderson, who taught at Roosevelt Elementary School, was sentenced to probation and community service and ordered to make a $500 donation to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Florida Today. WKMG. WFTV. WESH. WOFL. Protesters rallied again at Tuesday’s school board meeting to support a teacher who was fired for using a student’s preferred name without permission from the student’s parents. Melissa Calhoun is an AP English teacher at Satellite High School whose contract for next year was not renewed. Florida Today. WFTV. WESH.
Volusia: A battle between the school district and the city of DeBary over land the district bought that city officials say is unsuitable as a school site escalated Tuesday. A lawyer for the district accused city officials of breaking the trust of the community by fighting construction of a school. “Your aggressive, dogmatic message is reprehensible. You pretend to be protecting the interests of your constituents,” wrote attorney Ted Doran about a cease-and-desist letter from DeBary city manager Carmen Rosamonda. “Your actions belie the true focus of your self-serving financial greed.” Daytona Beach News-Journal. WKMG.
Escambia, Santa Rosa: Twenty high school graduation ceremonies in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties begin May 17 and continue through May 30. Pensacola News Journal.
Leon: In the six weeks since speed-detection cameras were installed in the Ruediger Elementary and Raa Middle school zones, 3,179 speeding tickets have been issued and $318,000 in fines has been collected. Twenty-three more cameras are scheduled to be installed by the end of the year. Tallahassee Democrat.
Alachua: School board members have approved a plan cutting positions and employee hours as the district faces a $20 million budget deficit. Media aides and some guidance counselor positions have been eliminated, and work days have been trimmed for many employees, including administrators. Assistant principals, for example, will work 11 months instead of year-round at some schools. Union leaders objected, saying these kinds of changes have to be negotiated. WCJB.
Hendry: The Fire Academy at LaBelle High School could be eliminated as part of cost-cutting moves by the district. Students began a petition drive to try to save the program, and school board members have agreed to review the proposal and the funding needed to continue it. WINK.
Monroe: Tuesday’s scheduled school board meeting to select a new superintendent was postponed until May 13, said Patrick Lefere, the district’s executive director of operations and planning. There are four finalists to replace the retiring Theresa Axford. Key West Citizen.
Colleges and universities: The sole finalist for the University of Florida presidency, University of Michigan President Santa Ono, spoke with students and staff Tuesday in meetings on the Gainesville campus, answered questions about state funding and diversity, and outlined his leadership style: “You’re going to see me at football games, at the natural history museum. I want to be a presence on campus,” he said. “I see myself as a servant leader, first listening to everyone before making a decision.” He also said he felt “in alignment” with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ vision for the university. Politico Florida. Tampa Bay Times. Gainesville Sun. WUFT.
Florida’s tax fight: The feud between Gov. DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, played a key role in the stalemate over a state budget that pushed the session past its scheduled end date. DeSantis wants to cut property taxes, and Perez supports lowering the sales tax. Tuesday, the governor criticized Perez for creating a “dog and pony show” by creating a 37-person committee to explore options for cutting property taxes. Perez said DeSantis has yet to detail a plan for eliminating those taxes. USA Today Florida Network. WJHG. Florida Politics. Who were the winners and losers in this year’s legislative session? USA Today Florida Network.
Around the nation: A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against a Trump administration plan to cut off federal pandemic aid to schools. Some states that hadn’t spent all of their pandemic aid by the September 2024 deadline had been granted a reprieve by the Biden administration. Politico. Education Week. Chalkbeat.
Opinions on schools: Balancing the demand and supply side of the choice equation will be vital to developing a truly flourishing education space. Matthew Ladner, NextSteps. It became clear during our process that the most competitive candidates for the University of Florida presidency — including multiple sitting presidents — would not continue if our committee were to name more than one finalist publicly. Confidentiality enabled us to engage that top-tier field. And it brought us Dr. Santa Ono, an accomplished scholar and administrator. Rahul Patel, Tampa Bay Times. Texas wants to ban the use of litter boxes in schools. Can Florida be far behind? Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post.
