Support for DeVos: Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Jeb Bush lobby for support for Betsy DeVos, whose confirmation hearing to become U.S. education secretary is today. Both call her a champion for school choice and for families. Democrats and teachers unions oppose DeVos, with one union official calling her severely underqualified and the “most anti-public education nominee in the history of the department.” Sunshine State News. Tampa Bay Times. Associated Press.
Union election: A Palm Beach County teacher has been told he cannot run for the union presidency because he let his union membership lapse while taking a semester leave to care for a dying relative. Justin Katz, a 32-year-old social studies teacher at Park Vista High, renewed his membership when he returned to the classroom, but says he was told by the union that the lapse makes him ineligible because the union rules require two consecutive years of membership prior to running.. The union’s outgoing president, Kathi Gundlach, declined to comment. Palm Beach Post.
Teachers honored: Four finalists are named for Miami-Dade County teacher of the year. They are: Nadia German, Ojus Elementary; Rodolfo Diaz, Miami Senior High; Laura Ortiz, Robert Morgan Educational Center & Technical College; and Alfreida Dianne Joseph-Goins, Dorothy M. Wallace C.O.P.E. Center. The winner, and the winner for rookie teacher of the year, will be announced Jan. 26. Miami Herald. Longtime Bay County educator Daurhice Gibson is the winner of the first teacher of a lifetime award from the district. She retired in 2003 after 40 years of teaching. Panama City New Herald.
School boundaries: Despite facing intensive lobbying from parents, Pasco County school officials are not changing the recommendations for the rezoning of two school attendance zones. “While I wish there was a perfect solution, I have not seen one yet,” says school board chairman Allen Altman. The board will hold public hearings on the proposed changes to middle and high schools attendance zones tonight. Tampa Bay Times.
School foundations: Nick Maddox, a second-term Leon County commissioner, is named to run the Foundation for Leon County Schools, a nonprofit that raises money for classroom projects. Tallahassee Democrat. The Educational Foundation of Lake County is ranked eighth in the nation among educational foundations grossing $1 million in annual revenue and 40th overall, according to a study by the Caruthers Institute. Daily Commercial.
Free breakfasts: Crystal River Primary School could lose its free breakfasts for students. The USDA program is available only to schools with 80 percent of their students qualifying for free or reduced- price lunches, and the school’s percentage is now at 77.76. If it’s not over 80 percent by Oct. 31, the school will no longer be eligible for the program. Citrus County Chronicle.
Building repurposing: Plans to redevelop the Escambia County School District’s former headquarters are on hold until it’s determined how to remedy the pollution from a gas station that used to be on the site. Once that’s done, the closing of the $3.4 million sale to a developer can be completed. Pensacola News Journal.
Charter’s threat: A student at a Wellington charter school is threatened with expulsion after his father posts negative comments about the school on his Facebook page. Skylar Goodwin, whose son is in the eighth grade at Eagle Arts Academy, said principal and school founder Gregory James Blount told him he had 24 hours to remove the critical post or his son would be kicked out. Blount confirmed he made the call, but said Goodwin had also threatened his staff. Palm Beach Post.
School construction: Construction is expected to begin soon on a new athletic center for Lakeland Christian School. The 23,000-square-foot center is scheduled for completion in August. Lakeland Ledger.
Championship vacated: The Florida High School Athletic Association rules that Pahokee High School must forfeit the Class 1A state football championship and all 14 of its wins in 2016 for using an ineligible player. Palm Beach Post.
Teacher assaulted: A 43-year-old Crestview woman is arrested and accused of pulling the hair of her daughter’s teacher. The charge is battery on an employee of the community, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Opinions on schools: Choosing a preschool can be hard. Here are some things to consider. Tatiana Hidalgo, Ruby Natale and Jeffrey Brosco, Miami Herald. We need to stop pushing skills on little children to improve test scores. We need to give childhood back to children. Susan Bowles, Gainesville Sun.
Student enrichment: Programs for teaching students about computer hardware, software, research and digital citizenship have been introduced into five Polk County elementary schools. Lakeland Ledger. For the second straight year, Eustis Heights Elementary School is named one of the top three winners in the statewide Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Literacy Service Project contest. The school has collected more than 4,000 books to be delivered throughout the community. Triangle News Leader.
