Around the state: A reading app used by some school districts is being targeted by the state's education commissioner because he says it subverts parental rights and ignores Florida policy, Leon County's superintendent is asking the school board to approve metal detectors in high schools, further public school enrollment declines are being reported by several large school districts, and Indian River State College wants to create the country's first medical school on a community college campus. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: Superintendent Jose Dotres vowed Wednesday that no teachers will lose their jobs despite a 4% decline in enrollment this year. He attributed the dip to 2,000 fewer kindergartners because of declining birth rates, the high cost of living and a "significant decrease" in newcomers. "These are not students that are leaving us," he said. "These are students that are not coming to us." WPLG. WSVN. Miami Herald. WFOR. WTVJ.
Broward: Enrollment is down by 11,370 so far this school year, according to district officials. While both traditional public schools and charter schools have counted fewer students, more than 90% of the decline has come from the traditional district schools. Continuing enrollment losses have led to discussions about closing and consolidating underenrolled schools. WPLG.
Hillsborough: At least 15 colorful school crosswalks will be removed or covered under the state's new prohibition against street art and murals. Groups behind the murals were not "doing anything wrong, per se," said Gov. Ron DeSantis, but the trend got out of control and is now a safety issue. Tampa Bay Times.
Orange: School enrollment is down by nearly 7,000 students from May, according to district officials. A loss of 3,100 was projected, but that's less than half of the decline in early head counts. Fewer students means $25 million less in funding from the state, and could lead to budget cuts and layoffs. Orlando Sentinel. Sidewalk designs that won two Laureate Park Elementary School students an award from the Florida Department of Transportation in May are being painted over as part of a push to remove pavement art and markings that state officials now consider unsafe. "Anything that was previously permitted, installed or awarded — anything you can bring up from the past is essentially irrelevant now, because we have a new law, and we have a new standard," said DOT Secretary Jared Perdue. Orlando Sentinel.
Palm Beach: A teacher at Kennedy Middle School in West Palm Beach has been arrested and accused of fatally shooting her father outside his home Tuesday. Police said Leah Scott, 43, shot Leroy Scott, 75, in the back and then three more times as he lay on the ground. Palm Beach Post. WPTV. WPEC.
Polk: District officials said Wednesday that, three weeks into the school year, 300 teachers and 490 long-term substitutes are still needed. That's a comparable number of vacancies at the same time the past two years. "The number fluctuates by the day," said district spokesman Kyle Kennedy. "We are sorting some of the data to try and get more accurate counts." Lakeland Now.
Pinellas: District officials have been working for a decade to narrow the achievement gap between black and non-black students, with mixed success. Now, they're worried that the federal government's antipathy toward school policies that try to address historical inequities between demographic groups could erase what progress the district has made. Tampa Bay Times.
Pasco: While many school districts have ignored their challenged book review process in the face of threats from parents and the state, Pasco schools are continuing to have committees review books flagged by the public even if they don't receive a formal complaint. District spokesperson Toni Zetzsche said both state laws and district policies will be followed in determining if books are removed. Tampa Bay Times.
Brevard: A new electricity program has been started at Heritage High School in Palm Bay. The career and technical education initiative includes instruction in residential and commercial wiring, circuit design and the use of meters and test equipment, and advanced instruction will include motors and motor controls, renewable energy concepts and troubleshooting. Space Coast Daily.
Volusia: School board member Donna Brosemer is objecting to non-disclosure agreements the district had about 100 administrative staff members sign. They forbid those employees from sharing information about school business, but Brosemer contends they violate Florida's open records laws and should be rescinded. Superintendent Carmen Balgobin says the agreements are necessary to protect the district, but the board decided to discuss them at a future meeting. Daytona Beach News-Journal. A former teacher at the Riverbend Academy in Ormond Beach is under investigation for allegedly groping and kissing three students 20 years ago. Heyward Evans, 48, who was also a leader at the Riverbend Church. Evans was fired after the church learned of the sexual abuse allegations this month. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Clay: A behavioral assistant at W.E. Cherry Elementary School in Orange Park was arrested this week and accused of abusing a special education student. Police said Pearl Gyamera, 47, was charged with child abuse without great harm for kicking the student three times. She's been placed on administrative leave. Clay Today. WJAX. WJXT. WTLV.
Leon: Superintendent Rocky Hanna is asking the school board to consider installing metal detectors at high school entrances. After several weapons arrests already this school year, Hanna declared he's "had enough." Board members will consider the request at the Sept. 9 meeting. Tallahassee Democrat. The district is proposing to trade 9 acres in Ft. Braden Community Park to the county for a renewed 40-year lease on Gene Cox Stadium. Hanna was asked to bring further details to a future school board meeting. Tallahassee Democrat. Leon High School's track will reopen for public use. It was closed two years ago for use after school hours and on weekends because of vandalism and liability concerns. WCTV.
Citrus: District officials have shut down a reading app that Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas says "provides access to material that is not age or developmentally appropriate for students." Kamoutsas accused Beanstack of undermining state policy and parental rights, saying "Beanstack’s attempt to push an ideology, subvert parental rights and ignore Florida policy is divisive and problematic." Citrus County Chronicle.
Colleges and universities: Indian River State College has announced plans to create the country's first medical school on a community college campus. IRSC would partner with the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, which has four other schools in other states, and predicts completion of the campus could happen within two years after starting construction. IRSC also intends to open a charter school to become a pipeline to the medical school. TCPalm. The University of Florida has withdrawn a request to have the Florida Supreme Court revisit a decision allowing a class-action suit to continue against the school for collecting student fees for services not provided during the pandemic. News Service of Florida.
Around the nation: Two students at a Catholic school in Minneapolis were shot to death through the windows as they were attending Mass in the church sanctuary on Wednesday morning. Seventeen others were wounded, two critically, at Annunciation Catholic School. The gunman then took his own life. Associated Press. NPR. Education Week.
Opinions on schools: Public education markets are interdependent ecosystems and must be managed as such. When states align supply and demand, reduce friction, expand transparency and manage risk wisely, they create conditions where every family can access instruction tailored to their child’s needs. Doug Tuthill, NextSteps.
