Around the state: Poor test results prompted Pasco school officials to declare a science "emergency" for the district's 5th-graders and change the curriculum, Duval's school board unanimously rejects the sale of the district's headquarters for $20 million and the $13 million purchase of a new HQ, the state's education commissioner was critical of Alachua school board members at their meeting Tuesday, and a bill is filed for the legislative session that would require state universities and college to name campus roads after murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk or lose some state funding. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: A 15-year-old Miami Northwestern High School student was arrested Monday and accused of beating a 17-year-old classmate with a trumpet and a water bottle, sending her to the hospital for treatment. Miami Herald. WPLG. WSVN. WTVJ.
Broward: School board members said at a meeting Tuesday that they sympathize with parents who pleaded to keep their schools open, but a majority say they support closing six of the seven schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn recommended to be shuttered for the 2026-2027 school year. They also said they would consider selling or leasing the district headquarters and moving into a closed or underenrolled school. Sun Sentinel. WSVN. WLRN. WPLG. The Center Square.
Hillsborough: Investigations into posts by 17 district teachers about murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk have been closed with no one being fired. One teacher received a verbal reprimand, a few received letters of direction and the rest were simply cautioned, said school spokeswoman Tanya Arja. Tampa Bay Times.
Palm Beach: The latest head count of district students could mean the loss of as much as $25 million in state funding. About 6,000 fewer students are enrolled in schools so far this year, a drop from 191,062 last year to 184,976 this year, and the district has already reassigned 120 teachers. The decline in attendance is being attributed to "wider demographic shifts in our region, the expansion of the Family Empowerment Scholarships, and the rising cost of living in Palm Beach County," said district director of communications Sean Cooley. Palm Beach Post.
Duval: School board members voted Tuesday to unanimously reject Superintendent Christopher Bernier's recommendation to sell the district's riverfront headquarters and buy another building 10 miles away. Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville Today. WJXT. District officials have received a $3 million federal grant to equip teachers with a deeper knowledge of civics and history to benefit their students. WTLV. WJXT. District officials are creating "traffic gardens" at several schools to teach students how to safely deal with traffic at and around their schools. WJXT.
Polk: Polk's school district has been added to the list of state systems ordered to stop offering classes that help Latino students graduate because they "may be discriminating based on race." Five high schools offered the Latinos in Action program. Lakeland Ledger.
Lee: The mother of a Cape Coral High School football player is alleging that she had sex with coach and gym teacher Tyler Murphy on school grounds. Murphy resigned a week ago, and a district spokesman confirmed that Murphy was told he could resign or be fired after an investigation confirmed the woman's story. WINK. WBBH.
Pasco: District officials have declared a science "emergency" for 5th-graders after early testing results showed a sharp decline since last year. Only 35% of 5th-graders were considered proficient, compared to 45% a year ago. "We’re basically going to rewrite the curriculum that is there, make sure it is better for teachers," deputy superintendent Monica Ilse said Tuesday after reviewing achievement data with the school board. "We do need to address these concerns." Tampa Bay Times.
Brevard: School board members voted Tuesday to approve the payment of almost $568,000 as part of a settlement to a lawsuit alleging the board violated the free speech rights of public speakers at meetings. The suit was brought by the Moms for Liberty Brevard chapter. Almost $542,000 of the settlement will go to the Institute for Free Speech, with the rest paying legal fees. The board also approved a $10,000 bonus for Superintendent Mark Rendell and extended his contract through June 30, 2028. Florida Today.
Manatee: School board member Richard Tatem says the costs of new schools are too expensive, and he's lobbying legislators to consider making changes in the construction codes to bring costs down. Tatem wants traditional public schools to be permitted to use the same building and fire codes that govern charter schools. Spectrum News 9. Two former teacher's aides who were charged with restraining a 7-year-old autistic student at G.D. Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary School last year were sentenced to probation and community labor. Bradenton Herald.
St. Johns: A school bus driver was arrested Tuesday and accused of trying to solicit a romantic relationship with a student. Deputies said Edward Betancur-Zabala, 36, texted the student repeatedly with sexually suggestive messages. WJXT. WTLV.
Leon: School days for high school students will be lengthened by 10 minutes starting Tuesday and continue for the rest of the academic year, Superintendent Rocky Hanna announced this week in a letter to parents. "This adjustment ensures that our seniors meet the state requirement of 900 instructional hours while also giving us flexibility for any unplanned weather events that may occur later this year," he wrote. High school days will end at 1:55 p.m. Tallahassee Democrat. WCTV.
Santa Rosa: The district's director of school safety was arrested Tuesday after being accused of battery against a co-worker. Police say Daniel Hahn, 59, massaged a co-worker's shoulders against her will Sept. 30 at Gulf Breeze High School. Hahn has been placed on administrative leave. WEAR.
Alachua: School board members were harshly criticized by Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas at a board meeting Tuesday for their "failure of leadership." Board vice chair Tina Certain was singled out for making critical comments after the death of Charlie Kirk. Kamoutsas said she will face "very difficult questions" from the state Board of Education at its November meeting and and will have to explain why she is still "fit" to serve. "You have repeatedly brought negative attention to this school district because of your selfish acts," he said. Certain said she was speaking for herself on a personal social media account. Politico Florida. WCJB.
Martin: School board members approved a contract agreement between the district and its teachers that boosts starting pay to $51,300 and increases to $58,811 after 28 years of experience. The deal must still be ratified by union members. WPTV. TCPalm. The board also voted to continue the unpaid suspension of Spectrum Academy teacher and union president Matt Theobald, who has been off the payroll since Sept. 26 after remarks he made about Charlie Kirk. TCPalm.
In the Legislature: A bill filed Tuesday for the legislative session would require state university and college trustees to name campus roads, or portions of them, after murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk or have some state funding withheld. The 60-day session begins Jan. 13. USA Today Florida Network. Tampa Bay Times. James Madison Institute, a think tank based in Tallahassee, announced this week that its legislative priorities are reducing local governments' reliance on property taxes and further expanding school choice. USA Today Florida Network. The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee will hold a panel discussion Oct. 15 about artificial intelligence in kindergarten through 12th grade with representatives from the University of Florida College of Education and the Hillsborough, Pinellas and Miami-Dade school districts. News Service of Florida.
Opinions on schools: Florida deserves credit for making college more affordable. But low tuition alone doesn’t make the university system the best in the nation. A true No. 1 system would protect the freedom to learn, instead of limiting what can be taught. Viviana Thumm, The Oracle.
