Around the state: A former Sumter County schools superintendent is under fire after allegations from the state, the 2025 State of the Schools address was held in Orange and the Leon County School Board is being sued by two parents of former students. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: One of the first schools for Black children in south Florida, George Washington Carver Elementary, recently celebrated a milestone. “And to think that that little school has been here for 125 years,” civil rights pioneer Thelma Gibson said, “it makes all the difference in the world. That’s where it all started.” Miami Times.
Palm Beach: Two handgun incidents in the past eight months have not prompted Palm Beach County School Board members to move quickly to have metal detectors installed at district middle and elementary schools. School board member Edwin Ferguson raised the topic for discussion during a June 4 meeting, held three weeks after a student at Panther Run Elementary School in Wellington reported finding a loaded gun in their backpack. In September, an unloaded gun was found in a student’s backpack at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Riviera Beach. The district completed the installation of metal detectors in its high schools last year. Palm Beach Post.
Orange: The 2025 State of the Schools address was held in this district on Monday at Innovation High, with leaders highlighting the importance of protecting public education. Officials say the district is expecting 3,000 fewer students in the fall and $28 million less from the state. Leaders are calling on parents and the community to defend public education in the face of declining enrollment and funding cuts. “Speak up for fully funding public education, and push back on policies that weaken it,” OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez said during Monday’s State of the Schools address. WESH. Click Orlando.
Lee: The school district here is continuing its attempts to engage students’ parents in their children’s education. Cape Coral Breeze.
Pasco: Jacob Little is one of the first two students to attend Pasco eSchool from first through 12th grades and graduate. The ceremony will be held at River Ridge High’s performing arts center today, the last of Pasco County’s 17 commencements for the class of 2025. Tampa Bay Times.
Leon: The Leon County School Board is being sued by two parents of former Griffin Middle School students over one of its teachers, who was charged in 2023 with allegedly sanctioning fights between students in her classroom. The parents are looking for damages from the school board for failing to protect their children from the teacher it approved for hire, and have requested a jury trial. Tallahassee Democrat.
Sumter: A state investigation found that the school district in this county falsified student data to boost some schools’ scores. According to the state, this occurred while former Superintendent Richard Shirley was leading the district. The inquiry began in late 2023, when an anonymous complaint was forwarded to the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, which stated that the district, under Shirley, created “shell schools” to remove low-performing students from school grades, thereby increasing state funding. In a statement posted on the district’s social media, current Superintendent Logan Brown called the previous leadership’s alleged actions “a deliberate and unethical attempt to manipulate school performance metrics at the expense of our students.” WFTV. WKMG.
Colleges and universities: The Florida A&M University Board of Trustees approved a $650,000 salary for president-elect Marva Johnson, the largest presidential compensation package in the university’s history. The decision passed in an 8-3 vote, despite sharp criticism from students, alumni and trustees who questioned the university’s financial priorities. WFSU. Florida Phoenix.
Opinions on schools: Every child in our state deserves access to a world class, free public education. As educators, it’s our job to provide this education while inspiring our students to learn, supporting their growth and ensuring they receive the very best of us. Anthony Colucci, Florida Today.
