Around the state: Florida's education commissioner is recommending a Clay County teacher lose her teaching certificate for remarks made after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, Orange school officials are considering closing or merging some elementary schools because of declining enrollment, teacher contract agreements are reached in Lee and Monroe counties, nearly 90% of the state's preschools met or exceeded expectations in the 2024-2025 school year according to the new ratings system, and legislators begin talking about changes in property taxes. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: Southside Preparatory Academy in Brickell, which includes 10 units of affordable housing for school employees, opened Monday. It is thought to be the first such project in the country. "Our starting teachers especially have a great opportunity to live where they work and play also afterwards," said the district's facilities director, Raul Perez. WSVN. WPLG.
Orange: More than 90% of the district's elementary schools have reported declines in enrollment this year, prompting the district to consider closing some schools and merging others. Student population is down about 7,000 since May, cutting state funding to the district by $50 million and causing about 100 teachers to be transferred. Chief facilities officer Rory Salimbene said the discussions are "very preliminary." Orlando Sentinel.
Polk: A Lake Gibson High School employee was arrested Monday and accused of stealing a student's medication. Deputies said Theresa Salerno, 67, took nine of the 30 pills in the bottle after the child's mother dropped it off at school last week. WTVT. WFTS.
Lee: A tentative deal on a contract has been reached between the school district and the teachers union. It includes starting teacher pay at $54,500, provides 30-minute lunches and adds nine minutes to each day for planning. It now goes to the union membership for ratification, and then to the school board for approval in November. Paychecks will go up by Christmas, and will include the raises retroactive to July 1. WINK. A former assistant principal at North Nicholas High School in Cape Coral was arrested Friday and accused of sexual misconduct with a child. Jason Punyahorta, 44, was put on leave last spring when the accusation was made, and subsequently fired. WBBH.
Brevard: A Satellite High School teacher whose contract wasn't renewed after she used a student's preferred pronouns without parental approval has been barred from volunteering at the school. Melissa Calhoun wanted to help students with their college essays, but was turned away. "I wasn't really given much of a reason as to why," she said. The district would not comment on who made the decision or the reasoning behind it. Florida Today.
Clay: State Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas recommended Monday that a Clay elementary school teacher lose her teaching license for social media comments she made after the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kamoutsas said he found probable cause for dismissing Kelly Brock Sanchez for "gross immorality; failure to protect the health, safety and welfare of students; reduced effectiveness as an educator; and failing to distinguish her personal views from that of a public educational institution." She can surrender her certificate or fight the sanctions. It was also announced that the state would launch a statewide portal where people can report "threats of violent extremism." Politico Florida. USA Today Florida Network. Florida Phoenix. WJXT. WTLV. WKMG. WJAX. WOFL. WESH. Florida's Voice.
Nassau: A school safety officer has been arrested and accused of assaulting two men during a traffic dispute. Deputies said Nancy Tollinchi used her school police car to block two truck drivers, then verbally confronted and attacked the men. She was named employee of the year at Bryceville Elementary School last year, according to a Facebook post by the school. WJAX.
Monroe: The school district and the teachers union have reached a tentative agreement on a contract that will pay new teachers $62,700 a year, the most of any state district. The deal will have to be ratified by union members, and then the school board on a vote scheduled Oct. 7. WLRN. Monroe County School District.
Colleges and universities: The University of Central Florida is now one of the state's "pre-eminent" schools, President Alexander Cartwright announced Monday. The University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida and Florida International University also have been awarded that status, which makes them eligible for extra state funding if they reach certain goals. Orlando Sentinel. Politico Florida. The University of Florida is rated seventh among public U.S. colleges in the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report and is 30th overall. Florida State is 21st among public schools and 51st overall. Tampa Bay Times. Gainesville Sun. Tallahassee Democrat.
Talking taxes: A review of the state's property taxes began with a House panel meeting Monday discussing how the taxes could be reduced or eliminated. The first step is gathering information about the impact of any change to property taxes, and possible ways schools and cities could manage with cutbacks in tax revenue. Another meeting is set today, as lawmakers try to craft a bill for the Legislature to consider when it begins its 60-day session Jan. 13. Any changes would have to eventually be approved by voters as a constitutional amendment. News Service of Florida. USA Today Florida Network. Politico Florida. Gray Florida Capital Bureau. Florida Politics.
State's pre-K ratings: Almost 90% of the state's pre-K providers met or exceeded expectations in the 2024-2025 school year, according to the first report of Florida's new ratings system. It measures students’ early literacy and math skills at the beginning, middle and end of their pre-K school year. A report on kindergarten readiness will be issued later this year. Orlando Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: AI-driven schools may very well be the wave of the future. But we should be careful not to turn our schools into career boot camps. Otherwise, we’ll end up mass-producing soulless, self-centered, robotic youths. Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald. The same leaders who are implementing the surcharge on the H-1B visa program or cheering it on have an obligation to lead a revolution in STEM education that will raise the games of the nation’s young people and enable them to pursue opportunities in STEM careers in the place of those who would otherwise have come to the country under the H-1B program. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
