Around the state: Schools could be consolidated in Broward, Osceola commissioners unanimously voted to approve funding to continue a free college tuition program for high school graduates, the Escambia school board is asking the county commissioners to put the renewal of the half-cent sales tax on the ballot and the University of South Florida announced plans to launch the first college of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in the state. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: An annual safety assembly was held in remembrance of a teen who was killed 30 years ago. The event was held at Southwest Senior High School in honor of Shannon Melendi. Miami Herald.
Broward: The school system here is preparing to close some schools after data shows that about 28% of public schools in the district have an enrollment that is under 70%. Superintendent Peter Licata said the trend is statewide and attributed it to a combination of factors, including the growing number of charter schools and parents’ use of vouchers. Licata said he plans to bring forward ideas at an April 16 workshop proposals that could include specific schools that could be combined, merged or dramatically changed. South Florida Sun Sentinel. WPLG. Meanwhile, a plan to install walk-through metal detectors at some Broward public schools was approved by school board members at a meeting earlier this week. Board members formally approved the plan, which calls for installing the metal detectors at a total of 10 high schools and other school centers. Flanagan High and Taravella High will receive the detectors for summer sessions, and eight more will receive them before school starts in August. WPTV. NBC Miami. The school district here "knowingly and willfully" refused to comply with the Florida law related to sharing 2018 referendum dollars with charter schools, and must pay millions by Dec. 31 or face sanctions according to a memo issued by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz. The district should document how it plans to comply prior to an April 17 meeting of the state Board of Education, Diaz wrote. He plans to make the formal recommendation to the state board on March 27. South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Palm Beach: Five Palm Beach Central High educators who were arrested in July but cleared of all charges regarding their failure to report a sexual assault of a student are not going to return to campus according to the school district. The district is continuing to investigate former Palm Beach Central Principal Darren Edgecomb, then-Assistant Principals Dan Snider and Nereyda Cayado de Garcia, former chorus teacher Scott Houchins and former guidance counselor Priscilla Carter. All five employees were re-assigned to positions without contact with students following their arrests. Palm Beach Post.
Pasco: Voters in this county will choose their first new school superintendent in more than a decade. Kurt Browning is not seeking reelection after 12 years at the helm. Three candidates so far have announced campaigns to succeed him. Tampa Bay Times.
Osceola: Osceola commissioners unanimously voted to approve funding to continue the Osceola Prosper Program, which is a free college tuition initiative for high school graduates here. Approval from the commissioners allows the chair and vice chair of Osceola’s County Board of Commission to sign the Prosper III program, which would provide $8.3 million in funding for all 2024 graduates of Osceola County high schools so that they can enroll at Valencia College or Osceola Technical College. Recipients would have up to five years to complete their desired studies. Spectrum News.
Escambia: The school board here is asking the county commissioners to put the renewal of the half-cent sales tax on the November ballot. The half-cent sales tax, levied by the school board, generates about $40 million a year and funds construction and improvement of schools, including technology infrastructure. Pensacola News Journal.
Alachua: School Board Chair Diyonne McGraw spent time during a regular meeting this week rebutting a recent news report that Superintendent Shane Andrew asked the state to approve a new school. Main Street Daily News.
Supreme Court: A recent ruling could give school board members more freedom to block critics on social media. Chartbeat.
School resource officers: When the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Safety Act required armed officers or guardians in every school in the state starting in 2018, that created an opportunity for the Clermont Police Department to add officers to all elementary schools since the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was already in middle and high schools. The police department now has six SROs located at four elementary and K-8 schools, protecting 4,300 children. WKMG.
Lottery news: The Florida Lottery champions itself as a win for students in the state due to its donations toward public education. The lottery's contribution to the state's education system has exceeded $46 billion since its inception. An annual report breaks down how that money is split. WTSP.
Colleges and universities: Research funding awarded to the University of South Florida reached an all-time high of $692 million in the fiscal year of 2023. “The University of South Florida's record-breaking success in research funding is a reflection of our commitment to advancing new knowledge, fostering innovation and making a positive impact on society," USF President Rhea Law said. "The dedicated work of our world-class faculty, talented research staff and collaborative partners continues to lift USF’s research enterprise to new heights." Yahoo News. In other USF news, the university announced plans on Thursday to launch the first college of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in the state. The college, which is still subject to approval by the USF board of trustees, would offer undergraduate and graduate programs in addition to certifications and continuing education choices. It would also bring together current faculty who research AI, cybersecurity and computing. Tampa Bay Times. Jacksonville is the frontrunner to become the future home of the University of Florida's Florida Semiconductor Institute that Gov. Ron DeSantis calls the next step in building the state's growing semiconductor industry. UF has not yet made a site selection. Florida Times-Union. The chancellor of Vanderbilt University has scheduled meetings in April with Palm Beach County commissioners to talk about bringing a university satellite campus to downtown West Palm Beach. The campus would be built on seven of the 12 acres offered in the aborted 2021 effort to woo a University of Florida graduate campus. Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier will be accompanied by lawyer and lobbyist Harvey Oyer in private meetings with commissioners. WLRN.
Around the state: An old mascot was retired and a new one was chosen at a Hillsborough high school, schools in Lee are reopening after Hurricane Ian, school board races heat up statewide, and school threats occurred in various districts. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: Years after a scandal involving grade changing at Palm Beach Central High School, the principal and his former assistant principal agreed to probation with the state education department. An investigation by the school district's inspector general found that Principal Darren Edgecomb and then-Assistant Principal Laurence Greenberg raised the grades of at least 11 students — without the knowledge of their teachers.
Hillsborough: The Hillsborough School Board voted on Tuesday to retire the Chiefs mascot at Chamberlain High in a 5-1 vote after students earlier this month chose the "Storm" to replace it, ending a public debate over racial stereotypes and community traditions. Fox 13. ABC Action News. Tampa Bay Times. If you're researching charter schools, information that includes test scores, discipline, complaints and other factors has been included in an interactive table. Hillsborough has a larger percentage of charter schools than the average Florida school system. Tampa Bay Times. Over the past five years in the county, enrollment in charters rose by more than 15,000 students while district-run schools lost more than 7,500. Hillsborough is seeing the result of a shift that began more than two decades ago in Florida. Tampa Bay Times.
Orange: The new superintendent for the public schools here, Dr. Maria Vazquez, held a town hall meeting on Monday to hear from parents in the district. Teachers and staff were also able to attend a meeting prior to the meeting with parents. "Sometimes, it's not about getting the information, but it's truly engaging with them and having a true conversation," Vazquez said. WKMG.
Duval: The school board here reviewed refurbished sex education curriculum after pulling materials midyear. The original curriculum that Duval County Public Schools planned to use was rescinded because of concerns they may not meet the requirements of a new state law. Board members discussed the new curriculum on Tuesday and will take a vote on whether to approve the plan during a board meeting in the future. News 4 Jax.
Lee: All 80 PreK-12 schools in this school district will be open in one form or another by Friday, three weeks after Hurricane Ian. The final seven schools were either cleared to open or created an alternative plan to resume classes. Ft. Myers News-Press.
Brevard: Rep. Randy Fine wants to debate Brevard school officials on the need for an increase in property taxes. Fine challenged Superintendent Mark Mullins to a debate as voters in Brevard consider an increase in the local property tax supporting the school district. If the tax is approved on Nov. 8, the revenue would help fund salary increases in the district. Florida Politics.
Volusia: School veterans Jamie Haynes and Al Bouie vie for a District 1 seat, which includes DeLand, DeBary and the southwest portion of the county. The election takes place on Nov. 8. The race is a re-run of the 2018 election where Haynes narrowly beat Bouie to win the seat. The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Manatee: The Palmetto Police Department responded to a rumored threat at Manatee School for the Arts on Tuesday. A text message spread misinformation about a potential threat to the school, and eventually reached some parents, police said. The rumored threat follows a plethora of swatting calls across high schools nationwide. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Escambia: The school board hosted a string of workshops in preparation for its monthly meeting. In the midst of ongoing controversy about where to draw the line on book restrictions, one school board member suggested giving the superintendent authority to veto book bans. Pensacola News Journal.
Clay: An individual was arrested on Tuesday after a possible threat against Clay High School was posted on social media. After an investigation, the person was arrested for "disrupting a school function and threats against the school." News4Jax.
Charlotte: While schools reopen in southwest Florida, others continue to clean up Hurricane Ian's damage. Peace River Elementary is opening its doors early to help out parents, with donations coming in from all over the country. WINK.
Nassau: Four candidates are competing for two seats in the Nassau County School Board runoffs. Candidates Jamie Deonas, Shannon Hogue, Curtis Gaus and Albert Wagner are putting thousands toward signage to win their spots. Florida Politics.
Rumored threat: A brief lockdown at Manatee School for the Arts occurred after a rumored threat arose that prompted worry among parents on Tuesday at the charter school. The parent of a sixth grader reported the social media threat, police said. The student responsible may face school discipline but it is unknown whether they will face criminal charges. The Bradenton Herald.
Teacher arrested: A first grade teacher was charged with lewd and lascivious conduct with a student on the heels of a similar investigation. Damian Francis was arrested Monday. The Miami Herald.
Parents and midterms: A majority of parents are more likely to vote in the upcoming midterm elections than they were four years ago, according to a new poll. The 74th.
University and college news: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez teamed up with the Miami Foundation and local universities and technology leaders to fund scholarships for Miami students accepted into a STEM program at one of several south Florida universities. The scholarships are only open to recipients receiving Pell grants, the federal program that provides need-based grants to low income graduates. "If we are to have a technological boom in Miami, everyone has to benefit," said Fishman Lipsy, who began her career as a public school teacher in Harlem. The Miami Herald. An anonymous tipster who is a Palm Beach State College student filed a tip that led to the arrest of Saul Allain Jean, a fellow student accused of making online posts that threatened to carry out a mass shooting. In a notice to students, college leaders applauded the tipster for helping stop a possible tragedy. Palm Beach Post.
Opinions on schools: Expanding electric vehicle transportation solutions is a good economic and environmental solution for Florida, and voters agree. School buses, which use diesel, would help scale the cost savings and pollution reduction benefits for Floridians. Ali DySard, Tallahassee Democrat.
