Around the state: Broward schools will proceed with a plan to spend $115 million on new student laptops despite an ongoing investigation of the process, no Orange County teachers will lose their jobs despite an almost-7,000 student decline in enrollment, more school boards approve district budgets, an Escambia charter school wins an appeal to the state to change its grade from a D to a C, and Florida's Board of Governors will vote today on the appointment of an interim president at the University of Florida. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: School board attorneys are preparing a lawsuit against the public radio and television stations that use the broadcasting license the board holds. The board alleges the company that manages WLRN violated its contract when it bought a West Palm Beach radio station it intends to convert into a public station, and has harmed the school district by doing so. Miami Herald.
Broward: The school board tentatively decided this week to spend $115 million to buy thousands of laptops for students even as the county's inspector general investigates whether the process was fair to all potential vendors. Superintendent Howard Hepburn had twice canceled the bidding process after vendors raised questions. If the investigation finds problems, Hepburn says, the district can cancel the contract and discipline anyone judged to have acted improperly. Sept. 16 has been scheduled for the final school board vote. Sun Sentinel. School officials held the first of eight scheduled town hall meetings to get feedback on proposals to close or repurpose some schools because of declining enrollment. WSVN.
Orange: A nearly 7,000-student drop in enrollment will not mean the loss of any teaching jobs, Superintendent Maria Vazquez said this week. But it does mean that 116 teachers who aren't needed at their current schools will be transferred to other schools to fill vacant jobs. A hiring freeze is also in place, she said. Orlando Sentinel.
Pinellas, Pasco: Both districts' school boards approved 2026 budgets at meetings this week. Pinellas will spend about $1.79 billion, which is about the same as it spent last year, while Pasco's budget of $2.33 billion is 2.3% higher than last year's. Both districts say their spending will have to be flexible to account for declining enrollments and cutbacks in federal and state funding. Tampa Bay Times.
Brevard: Former school board member Jennifer Jenkins has announced she is running next year for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Ashley Moody, the former Florida attorney general who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after Marco Rubio was chosen as U.S. secretary of state. Jenkins, a Democrat, defeated Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich for the board seat in 2020 but stepped down after one term. Florida Today. Politico Florida.
Volusia: School board members have agreed to sell two surplus properties for $11 million to a company that describes itself as "one of the largest residential merchant land developers in Central Florida." Trinity Land Co. is paying $6.95 million for 158 acres in Deltona and $4.17 million for 29 acres in south Daytona. The $11 million will be added to the district's capital fund. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Manatee: New Superintendent Laurie Breslin signed a three-year contract this week that will pay her $245,000 a year. Breslin was named to the position Aug. 26, replacing Jason Wysong, who was fired in May. She also will receive 25 vacation days a year, $650 a month for a car allowance, $400 a month for expenses and performance bonuses that hinge on the district's academic performance. WWSB.
Escambia: An appeal paid off for the Warrington Preparatory Academy charter school this week when the state changed this year's D school grade to a C. Florida's Department of Education made the change after it realized that 48 students zoned for Warrington were placed in alternative programs and their test scores were mistakenly counted against Warrington, and another student's civics exam results were uncounted. It was the first time in 14 years that the school received a C. WEAR.
Leon: A mother is suing the school district after her child broke a leg at Bond Elementary School in 2023. She says school employees told her the child had been "kicked by another child," but the doctor who treated the student said the injuries were "not consistent with being kicked." WCTV.
Santa Rosa: An elementary school assistant principal who was placed on leave in August will not be returning to the school. Kim McChesney was removed after her son was allowed to participate in the Senior Walk at Gulf Breeze Elementary two weeks after he confessed to possessing child pornography. He was arrested several weeks after the Senior Walk. Bobbi Lewter, who has been the interim assistant principal, was appointed to the job on a permanent basis. The investigation into Kim McChesney's action continues. Pensacola News Journal.
Alachua: School board members approved a $604 million budget at a meeting this week, which is more than $8 million less than last year's spending. The decline is attributed to the end of federal pandemic spending and a drop in enrollment. Mainstreet Daily News. Newberry Community School Board held its first meeting this week, and agreed to enter into negotiations with the Newberry City Council to provide human resources support to the board when the elementary school transitions into a charter school next fall. Board members also approved an eight-step process for hiring the school's principal. Florida's Board of Education meets Sept. 24 to vote on the recommendation by the Charter School Appeal Commission to approve the application for the conversion of Newberry Elementary into NCS. Mainstreet Daily News.
Martin: A budget of almost $589 million was approved this week by the school board. About $120 million of that is targeted for capital improvements. WPEC.
Charlotte: A $567.5 million budget got the approval of school board members this week. That's an increase of about $15 million, or 2.7%, over last year's spending. Charlotte Sun.
Bradford: A 13-year-old home-schooled student was arrested Tuesday and accused of having a pellet handgun at a Bradford Middle School football game. WCJB. WTLV. WJXT.
Colleges and universities: Florida's Board of Governors is scheduled to vote today on the nomination of Donald Landry to be the interim president of the University of Florida for at least a year. WUFT.
School immunizations: Immunization requirements and forms for school admission and opt-out provisions are being updated, the Florida Department of Health announced Wednesday. No draft language was released. Florida Phoenix.
Around the nation: About $350 million in federal grants approved for colleges are being held back by the Trump administration, which says they are unconstitutional because they are tied to racial quotas. Associated Press. The two largest U.S. teacher unions are joining a lawsuit filed against the Trump administration that contends its immigration crackdown is leading to enrollment declines by terrorizing children and their teachers. Associated Press.
Opinions on schools: American students reached their peak achievement in 2013. Since then, they’ve been sliding backward. The pandemic accelerated that decline, but it was far from the whole story. Erik A. Hanushek, The 74. Many states have a disconnect between the policies they’re pursuing to improve reading outcomes and the tests they’re relying on to tell them if those policies are working. Chad Aldeman, The 74. Converting chronically empty school campuses across the state into affordable housing for teachers could address our housing crisis, teacher shortage and glut of unused classroom space. John Hill, Tampa Bay Times. Smart decisions about education policy or practice require wrestling with the particulars of specific policies, not just reacting to — or reciting — slogans. Rick Hess, Education Week.
