No end to board pay: The Constitution Revision Commission rejects a proposal to end pay for members of local school boards. A majority of the members expressed concerns that ending pay would limit the diversity of candidates, especially in poor and rural counties. "If you cannot work for free, you cannot be a school board member with this proposal," St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson argued. Eight other proposed amendments will be discussed and voted on at a future meeting. Gradebook. Politico Florida.
Charter school authorizers: A proposed amendment to create charter school authorizers other than local school boards is changed to allow outside entities to also start public schools. By state law, that authority to start free public schools largely rests with local school boards. Commission member Erika Donalds, who introduced the original proposal, backs the amendment, which was brought by Patricia Levesque. redefinED.
Blaine Amendment: Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero urges the Constitution Revision Commission to support a proposal that would end the prohibition against state money going to religious institutions, including schools. Citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Cantero says the Blaine Amendment is likely to be declared unconstitutional. redefinED. News Service of Florida.
Flu concerns: The flu virus is sweeping the state with 107 outbreaks already reported. Ninety-four percent of those reports are from schools and health-care facilities. Baker, Bradford and Holmes counties have had elevated activity, according to the Florida Department of Health, and 46 of the state's 67 counties are reporting increasing flu activity. Only Jackson County has reported no cases. Several school districts have sent warnings home to parents. Tampa Bay Times. WOKV. Keynoter. Gainesville Sun.
Suit dismissal denied: A Leon County circuit judge denies the state's request to dismiss a Palm Beach County School Board lawsuit against a portion of the education law, H.B. 7069. The district says the law is unconstitutional because it infringes on the rights of local school boards by requiring them to share local property tax money with charter schools. The state says the Palm Beach board's “claims are based on erroneous interpretations of the Florida Constitution” and contends the state has the authority to supervise the public school system. News Service of Florida. Meanwhile, the Florida Supreme Court is transferring another case, this one brought by nine school districts alleging that H.B. 7069 violates the constitutional single-subject rule for laws. The case will now be heard in a Leon County circuit court. The education bill began as a six-page proposal but expanded to 274 pages and dozens of subjects in the final days of the 2017 legislative session. Gradebook. Florida Politics. redefinED. Politico Florida.
Pay raises coming: The Broward County School Board approves a pay raise proposal for teachers. Most teachers will get a raise of at least 2.5 percent, while ones rated as "highly effective" will get up to 3.6 percent. The raises are retroactive to July, and will appear in teachers' paychecks in January. The deal, which was approved by 91 percent of the teachers who voted, will cost the district $24.3 million. Sun-Sentinel.
Teachers honored: Chasey Niebrugge, an exceptional student education teacher at River Hall Elementary in Alva, is chosen as the Lee County School District's teacher of the year. WBBH. Fort Myers News-Press. Four finalists are chosen for the St. Johns County School District's teacher of the year award. They are: Amy Grimm, 1st grade, Julington Creek Elementary; Kathleen Hunting, 2nd grade, Osceola Elementary; Chassity Johnson, 8th grade math, Sebastian Middle; and Jonathan Higgins, psychology, Pedro Menendez High. The winner will be announced Jan. 24. St. Augustine Record. Joseph Underwood, who teaches television production at Miami Senior High School, is one of 50 teachers in the world chosen as finalists for the 2018 Global Teacher Prize awarded by the Varkey Foundation. The winner receives $100,000 a year for 10 years. Patch.com.
Textbook challenges: A bill is filed that would expand the law allowing anyone to challenge materials used in public school classrooms. H.B. 827, filed by state Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, would give challengers the right to challenge books and also suggest replacements to both local school boards and the State Board of Education. Those boards would then be required to ask publishers of the suggested alternatives if they wanted to make a pitch for public school business. Right now, nearly every state school district buys textbooks for core courses from a state-approved list that is reviewed by teachers and experts hired by the Florida Department of Education. Orlando Sentinel.
School tax hike: The Palm Beach County School District is considering asking voters to raise their property taxes so the district can boost teacher salaries. School officials say the only way experienced teachers can expect significant raises is if voters agree to boost the current $25 tax per $100,000 of assessed property value to $45. That tax was approved in 2010 to provide money to hire teachers for arts, music, physical education and specialized choice programs, and generated about $43 million last year. The tax is up for renewal next November. Palm Beach Post.
Schools of Hope: House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, says charter schools opening under the state's "Schools of Hope" legislation must be innovative and go to the areas with the greatest needs. “For our movement, we need to be careful and continue to go out there and innovate and have the success … rather than go out there and there is money to be made opening up in this nice neighborhood,” Corcoran said at the Foundation for Excellence in Education’s national meeting in Nashville last week. redefinED.
Blue Ribbon schools: Four Florida schools are selected as 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. Those chosen are Northside Christian Elementary School, St. Petersburg; State College of Florida Collegiate School, Bradenton; Somerset Arts Conservatory School, Pembroke Pines; and the Design and Architecture Senior High School, Miami. They are among 329 U.S. schools honored. redefinED. Patch.
Bilingual preschools: More than 200 preschool students at nine Orange County elementary schools are being taught in both English and Spanish, thanks to a $1.6 million grant from the Helios Education Foundation. The district is getting an assist from the Orlando Repertory Theatre, which is helping teachers learn techniques for teaching a second language. Orlando Sentinel.
Retention reconsidered: The Hernando County School District, one of six named along with the state in a suit over the state's retention policy for third-graders, is reconsidering its hard-line position on students who opt out of taking the state's standardized tests. School officials say they might use a computer testing program called i-Ready to determine if third-graders are ready for promotion, or permit students who opt out to present a portfolio of their work throughout the school year. Tampa Bay Times. (more…)
Back to school: It's back to school day for students in 38 of Florida's 67 counties. Dixie and Washington counties also were supposed to start, but heavy rains have canceled the first day of classes. TCPalm. Florida Today. Fort Myers News-Press. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Gainesville Sun. Ocala Star Banner. Northwest Florida Daily News. St. Augustine Record. Citrus County Chronicle. Highlands Today. WFLA. WFTV. WTVY.
Mid-year promotions: State education officials are reminding school districts that third-grade students held back by low Florida Standards Assessments scores are eligible for early promotion if they show they can read at or above the level expected at the end of third grade. Gradebook.
Prayer in schools: The Hillsborough County School District warns a principal to stop leading prayers among employees in the school. District Chief of Staff Alberto Vazquez reminded Anthony Montoto, principal at Frost Elementary School, that "the principal of a public school should never lead or direct an activity that advocates for a particular doctrine of faith/non faith while performing his/her official duties." Tampa Bay Times.
Teachers union pay: Forty-three of the 113 people employed by the Florida Education Association are paid more than $100,000 a year, according to records filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. The FEA is the largest labor union in the state, with more than 128,000 members. Florida Watchdog.org. (more…)
