Schools plan to reopen: Schools in the Florida Panhandle are announcing plans to reopen for students. Eight of the nine districts that have been closed since Hurricane Michael landed at Mexico Beach on Oct. 10 now have scheduled return dates. Gulf County employees are back in schools today, with students to follow Tuesday. Holmes and Gadsden students return Monday. Franklin employees are back in schools Monday, and students Tuesday. Teachers are back in Washington County schools Tuesday, and students return Wednesday. Liberty has plans to welcome staff back Wednesday, and students on Monday, Oct. 29. Calhoun sets an Oct. 29 date for staff to return to work, with students coming back Thursday, Nov. 1. Bay County, hit the hardest, is planning to open no later than Nov. 12 by using 200 or more portable classrooms. Only Jackson County has not announced a schedule to resume classes. Panama City News Herald. Florida Department of Education. Associated Press. Bay County School District officials are asking for donations from the public to help rebuild the district. The campaign is asking for school supplies, clothing and jackets for students, and supplies and gift cards for teachers. Panama City News Herald. Private schools in the Panhandle also took a hit from Hurricane Michael. redefinED. Student victims of the storm are looking for structure and routine. Pensacola News Journal.
Tax referendum: Several schools in the Miami-based charter network Academica are posting fliers on social media sites to let parents know that the Miami-Dade County School District’s property referendum will not benefit their schools. The fliers do not directly oppose the tax hike, but do read, “the School Board has not committed to share this money with your child’s school, or any other public charter school, at this time,” as well as pointing out that charter schools are public schools and that 1 in 5 county students attend them. Miami Herald.
Contract negotiations: Pasco County school employees are asking the district for a 4.5 percent pay raise plus a bonus. District officials have said they can offer 1 percent raises, or perhaps slightly more from unused funds and state money collected from higher enrollment. Gradebook. Angered by an impasse in contract negotiations, the Volusia County teachers union is calling on the school board to fire Superintendent Tom Russell or make changes to be more supportive of teachers. “We feel like we’ve been attacked from the inside,” says Andrew Spar, outgoing president of the union. “We are calling for the school board to step up and to bring about a leadership change in Volusia County schools. We can’t wait anymore.” Board chairwoman Linda Cuthbert called the union’s demand “unprofessional.” Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School security: The Sarasota County School District’s police department is holding an active-shooter drill today at Gulf Gate Elementary School. Students are out of school today, and teachers and other staff won’t participate in the training. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Some Duval County students have misgivings about the proposed installation of metal detectors in all high schools. “To put metal detectors in every high school in Duval County elicits a prison mentality,” says one, Raines High School sophomore Winston Seabrooks. WJAX.
Education podcast: Former state legislator John Legg says it’s time to rethink the concept of students’ junior and senior years, and create an early college program to help those students prepare for college. Gradebook.
Survey says: Most Pinellas County School District employees feel valued for their contributions and safe at work, according to a district survey. The nearly 4,000 respondents had less confidence that their schools have clear expectations for student behavior. Gradebook.
School calendar: The Lee County School District is considering scheduling a week off during the Thanksgiving break for the 2019-2020 school year. The recommendation came from the district’s Instructional Calendar Committee, and is for that school year only. Fort Myers News-Press.
School board elections: Candidates for two Volusia County School Board seats answer questions about evaluating Superintendent Tom Russell and how to improve grades for the district’s elementary schools. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Superintendent honored: Pinellas County School Superintendent Michael Grego is named the Florida Music Education Association’s superintendent of the year. Grego also won the award in 2010 as superintendent in Osceola County. Tampa Bay Newspapers.
School choice: Educational choice in Florida takes many forms, including the BBI International “micro-school” in Broward County that blends science, technology, engineering, math, cooking, the arts and foreign languages for its 50 K-5 students. redefinED.
School lunches: While Manatee County schools still offer such lunch options as pancakes on a stick, cheeseburgers, nachos and pizza, district officials say it’s a stark improvement over the options of less than 10 years ago. “It’s about balance and it’s about offerings, and it’s not about good food, bad food,” says Sandra Ford, district chief of operations. “It’s about you can have a food you really like that may not meet other people’s standards of healthy, but still is a great food choice when it’s put into perspective of the balance.” Bradenton Herald.
Safety assistant arrested: A Duval County school safety assistant has been arrested for pawning his service weapon in August and again this month, police say. James Johnson, 40, who is married to John E. Love Elementary School principal Niketah Johnson, told his supervisor he was having financial problems. He has resigned. Florida Times-Union. WPLG.
Students injured by vehicles: A 16-year-old Coconut Creek High School student is hit by a car across the street from the school. She was hospitalized, but her injuries are not considered life-threatening. Sun-Sentinel. Palm Beach County school bus runs over a Lake Worth Middle School student’s foot when he approached the bus before it stopped. The boy was taken to a hospital for treatment. Palm Beach Post.
Opinions on schools: The Citrus County School District’s plan to complement school resource officers with school guardians is being held up by the sheriff’s refusal to provide the training because he disagrees with the decision. The Legislature should loosen the rules so the school district can work with other agencies to get the necessary training. Citrus County Chronicle.
