Makeup days: Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says school districts that lost classroom time to Hurricane Irma won’t have to make up two of those days. Many districts were closed for five or more days. Especially hard-hit districts may apply for an exception by Oct. 16 to have more makeup days waived. Associated Press. Orlando Sentinel. Gradebook. Education Week. Fort Myers News-Press. WBBH. Pensacola News Journal. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Gainesville Sun. WESH.
Storm aftermath: Monroe County schools will start opening next week on a staggered schedule as the county tries to recover from being hit by Hurricane Irma. Six Upper Keys schools will reopen Monday. Marathon and Key West schools will resume classes Sept. 27, and two Lower Keys schools will reopen Oct. 2. Keynoter. WPLG. Miami Herald. Power continues to be a problem at some schools. Fort Myers News-Press. Palm Beach Post. Florida Today. The Florida High School Athletic Association is launching a website to allow people to help school sports programs that were affected by the storm. Fort Myers News-Press.
H.B. 7069 lawsuit: The Pinellas County School Board votes unanimously to join other districts in suing the state over the new education law, H.B. 7069. Board members say the law erodes their authority over charter school applications, but they say they will withdraw from the suit if the Legislature amends the law to their liking. Pinellas is the 12th district to join the lawsuit, which has not yet been filed. The others are Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Palm Beach, Orange, Polk, Volusia, Lee, Bay, Hamilton and St. Lucie. Tampa Bay Times.
Charter appeals upheld: The Florida Supreme Court chooses not to take up a case challenging the state’s ability to overturn local school boards’ denials of charter school applications. That leaves intact an appeals court decision that the state Board of Education did have the authority to overrule the Palm Beach County School Board after the local board denied an application for a charter school on the grounds that it wasn’t innovative enough. Palm Beach Post. Sun-Sentinel. News Service of Florida. redefinED. Gradebook. Politico Florida.
District budgets: The Hillsborough County School Board approves a $2.83 billion budget that will further draw down on the district’s reserve fund. Tampa Bay Times. The Sarasota County School Board approves an $850 million budget, and may consider moving an election to extend a tax for schools from a special March vote to a general election date. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Tax hike on ballot: The Manatee County School Board approves a special election in March for a 1 mill increase on property taxes for schools. If the measure is approved, it will provide an extra $30 million a year for the school district. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Local control: The St. Johns County School District’s legislative goals for the 2018 session center around regaining local control over the way tax dollars are spent on education. Officials want to be able to increase millage for construction and eliminate penalties for exceeding construction costs caps set by the state. St. Augustine Record.
Superintendent honored: Hillsborough County School Superintendent Jeff Eakins is named national administrator of the year by the American Heart Association. Eakins was chosen because the district includes student health in its strategic plan and requires hands-only CPR training as a graduation requirement. Gradebook.
Ex-candidate dies: John Michael Kim, a candidate in a 2016 race for an Indian River County School Board seat, is found dead in a lake in St. Lucie County. Police are investigating and an autopsy is scheduled. TPCPalm.
Most of case dismissed: A judge dismisses seven of eight counts in a lawsuit against the Manatee County School Board and two administrators. Former Manatee High School athletic director and football coach Joe Kinnan alleged that the board targeted him after a scandal involving the school baseball team. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Student in critical condition: A Fleming Island High School sophomore athlete is in critical condition after passing out in the school’s weight room. WJAX. WTLV.
Student stabbed: A student is stabbed during a fight at Lake Shore Middle School in Jacksonville. Police say the victim is in a hospital, and another student is in custody. Florida Times-Union. WJAX.
Opinions on schools: After being twice rammed through the Legislature, Florida’s failed “Best and Brightest” teacher bonuses program faces legal challenges. Little wonder. Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Student enrichment: Students at Gulf Breeze High School in Santa Rosa County are dissecting 200 lionfish to learn about the invasive predators’ eating patterns. Pensacola News Journal.
