Around the state: County school boards and charter schools must follow new requirements for notifying parents about bathroom and locker room policies under rules adopted by the state Board of Education, a book giveaway occurred in Escambia, Florida A&M University officials purchased an apartment complex to help student housing woes, school board races moved forward statewide and an analysis of swatting calls at schools. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools and colleges and universities:
Broward: Superintendent Vickie Cartwright has been on the job since February and has already faced evaluation from School Board members. School Board members voted to not support the "process" of the recent evaluation, saying it could be a precursor to the possibility Cartwright could be fired in coming weeks. WPLG. South Florida Sun Sentinel. A student at Cypress Bay High founded a club that has raised enough money to outfit every classroom in her high school with a medical Stop the Bleed kit. The idea was inspired by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in 2018. Miami Herald. The school district here is preparing for a recession. Staff requested for $7.7 million to be "realigned" from the general fund into the unassigned fund. South Florida Sun Sentinel. Parents are getting a say in next year's calendar. They have been emailed a survey link if they have a child enrolled in Broward's K-12 schools. South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Hillsborough: Some teachers move to charter schools — which are publicly funded but independently managed — after facing discipline elsewhere. But it's unclear how extensively charter schools review them. Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, an ongoing bus driver shortage issue is causing some parents frustration regarding when their children arrive late to school. WFLA.
Orange: Four candidates are vying in runoffs in the Orange County School Board election. In District 2, Heather Ashby is running against Maria Salamanca, and in District 3, Michael Daniels is running against Alicia Farrant.
Pinellas: Critics say candidate Dawn Peters, running for an at-large seat on the school board here, has a more extreme set of views than her campaign reveals. They have begun passing around screenshots from her social media accounts. Tampa Bay Times.
Lee: Education advocates have spoken out against a referendum here that would make the school superintendent position an election position. It has been an appointed position in Lee since 1974. WGCU.
Brevard: Two teachers will face off for the final Brevard School Board seat being contested this year. Florida Today.
Pasco: School Board hopeful Al Hernandez has suffered another legal blow in his fight to stay on the Nov. 8 ballot. After being declared ineligible for the general election by circuit court Judge Susan Barthle, Hernandez hired lawyers who wanted Barthle to put a stay on her order while he appealed, but Barthle refused. Tampa Bay Times. Students who attended Mittye P. Locke Elementary School in New Port Richey will attend different schools starting next fall. The school board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to shut down the school at the end of May and change it into a 10-classroom early education center that focuses on Head Start and prekindergarten. Tampa Bay Times.
Sarasota: At its first meeting since Hurricane Ian hit the southwest coast of the state, the School Board here convened to discuss damage from the storm along with other business. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Escambia: Students at Warrington Elementary received a gift Wednesday when "Two Men and a Truck" moving company partnered with "First Book" to give away books to students. WEAR.
Columbia: Two people were arrested after an incident that resulted in the lockdown of a Lake City area elementary school on Wednesday. Tyrese Bradley and Ja'Marion Terry were taken into custody by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office after fleeing on foot. First Coast News.
Rules adopted: The state Board of Education approved a wide array of rule changes on Wednesday that include a measure requiring school districts to inform parents about the presence of student bathrooms not separated by biological sex at birth. The Board also adopted a rule to prohibit lessons on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade, and a rule regarding elementary school libraries. Teachers could lose their licenses for violating the rules. Orlando Sentinel. Tampa Bay Times. News 4 Jax. Florida Politics. Miami Herald. Pensacola News Journal.
Mental health: On the heels of a jury's recommendation last week to spare Nikolas Cruz the death penalty in connection to the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, some wonder if mental health played into the killings. Florida Phoenix.
School refusal: Studies suggest that 1 to 2 percent of all students experience school refusal at some point in their school careers, and students with specific disabilities can be at particular risk in middle and high school. Education Week.
Student harassment: The majority of LBGTQ students who attended school in person during the 2020-21 academic year experienced some form of harassment or assault, according to a study. The 74th.
New preschool: The permitting phase is underway for construction to begin on a new preschool, which is slated to open in late spring 2023 in Ocala. The preschool is part of the new expansion program of the Florida Center for the Blind, and is funded by a $600,000 grant that was approved by the Marion County Commission in March of 2022 to purchase land. WUFT.
Swatting calls: At least 16 emergency calls across Florida on one day recently reported an active shooter at a school. Each call ended up being a hoax. Tampa Bay Times.
University and college news: Florida A&M University bought the 118-bed Light House at Brooklyn Yard apartment complex on Eugenia Street in an effort to assist with higher demand for on-campus housing. Aging residence halls are scheduled for demolition, and the university is planning to add up to 2,000 on-campus beds in the next few years. WFSU. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice announced the appointment of Angela Garcia Falconetti, president of Polk State College, to the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention State Advisory Group. Lakeland Ledger.
Opinions on schools: The state's secretive new university presidential search law is a colossal failure and a greater insult to the public than expected. South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Around the state: Florida State University celebrated the groundbreaking of its new college of business building, a new attendance record was set in Marion, a state program helps bullied students, University of Florida shattered its fundraising goal, names were narrowed down for a new high school in Palm Beach, Hurricane Ian aftermath and more on a controversial law. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: Since taking the reins as schools superintendent in February, Jose Dotres has proposed hiring six administrators — three of whom make six-figure salaries. During a committee meeting last week, when Dotres proposed a new deputy chief of staff role with a six-figure salary, some members questioned the necessity or were concerned with hiring a high-paid executive amid the district asking voters on an upcoming ballot to increase property taxes to boost teacher pay. "I do not fully understand this new position in relation to the chief of staff position," Chairwoman Perla Tabares Hantman said. "I do not have any problem with anyone the superintendent would like to appoint to any position. My problem is the title and the job description." Miami Herald.
Broward: A new audit shows this district's maintenance department continues to suffer from poor internal controls, two years after a district supervisor was convicted of federal bribery charges. The audit, conducted by Miami-based MDO Consultants, determined the district overpaid an asphalt contractor $30,000, bought materials without using required purchase orders and split large purchases to avoid competitive bids. South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Palm Beach: A committee tasked with naming the newest high school in this district decided on three possible names, which will be sent to the school board for a final vote. The date for that vote has not yet been set. The final three possible names: Park Ridge, Western Wave or Dr. Joaquin Garcia high schools. The county's 24th public high school will have space for 2,600 students. Palm Beach Post.
Marion: A new attendance record was set here, topping more than 44,500 students just eight weeks after the school district topped 44,000 for the first time. Enrollment for the week of Oct. 10 was 44,509 — 1,093 more than district officials predicted for the 2022-23 school year. Ocala Star Banner.
Volusia: The school district here signed an agreement with the sheriff's office to run its safety and security department. School officials say they believe the change will lead to faster responses to emergencies and better communication. WFTV.
Lawsuit hearing: A federal judge sparred with attorneys on Thursday regarding a controversial state law restricting the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms. University law professors argued it violates free speech rights. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker's questions came during a hearing that involved two challenges to the law. South Florida Sun Sentinel. WFSU. News Service Florida.
Controversial law update: Education officials are crafting wording that will be crucial when carrying out a controversial law — HB 1557 — that restricts instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools, while a work group looks to get ideas from other states. The law was signed in the spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Orlando Weekly. Meanwhile, teachers who intentionally provide classroom instruction to K-3 students regarding gender identity or sexual orientation will face revocation or suspension of their teaching license under a rule proposed by the state of Florida. WEAR.
Help for bullied students: Since it began four years ago, a state program has given 1,800 bullied students a fresh start in a new school of their choice. The Hope Scholarship program began in an effort to help students who have reported harassment, hazing, bullying, robbery or sexual assault. The program allows bullied students to attend a private school or public school in a different district. WFTV.
Parkland shooter case: Prosecutors called for an investigation Friday after a juror in the Parkland school shooter case said another panelist threatened her during deliberations, which ended with a life sentence for Nikolas Cruz in the killing of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Prosecutor Carolyn McCann said prosecutors are trying not to invalidate Thursday's jury vote. Associated Press.
Hurricane Ian aftermath: Destruction from Hurricane Ian has forced the Sanibel School and Fort Myers Beach Elementary to be rebuilt, meaning students will be relocated for the rest of the school year. Ft. Myers News-Press. Meanwhile in Sarasota County, students wrapped up their first week back after the storm. Two schools originally set to open today with the rest of the still-closed south county schools have been delayed by an extra day. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Financial facts: Student loan borrowers across the country will have until December 2023 to apply for up to $20,000 in forgiveness from the federal government. Chalkbeat. A beta version of the application was rolled out last week. WFTV. CBS News. Meanwhile, a majority of students in the class of 2022 filed for federal and state financial aid by the end of September. More than 2.3 million high school seniors have already completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which gives students access to millions of dollars in federal, state and university support for higher education. Education Week.
Children's book: A book by a retired teacher titled "What Luck" tells the story of a child's ability to try, fail and start over again. Miami Herald.
Watchdog report: A new watchdog report found insight on the effectiveness of federal grant money spent on charter schools. The report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that overall, charter schools that received Charter Schools Program grants to open or expand from 2006-20 were more likely to stay open, compared to similar schools without that funding. WFTV.
University and college news: Monkeypox cases have slowed in the state, but public health experts say the virus remains a concern — including on college campuses. Colleges and universities around Florida are using various methods to prepare for the possibility of an outbreak. Spectrum News. On the heels of a student-led protest that interrupted his first visit to the University of Florida's campus, presidential finalist Ben Sasse faces questions about whether he can lead a large public institution. The Gainesville Sun. In other news, University of Florida has shattered its fundraising goals by more than a billion dollars, marking the fifth largest amount ever recorded by a public higher education institution. The Gainesville Sun. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers ordered a survey of nearly 2 million students, faculty and state at colleges and universities to survey what they worried was anti-conservative sentiment on campuses. So few students filled out the surveys that the answers the state collected from them were deemed statistically insignificant. WUFT. Orlando Sentinel. Pensacola News Journal. Florida State University celebrated the groundbreaking of its new college of business. The new building is a $120 million project in the making and will feature a financial trading room, a 300-seat auditorium, a central atrium and space for future growth. WXTL. WCTV.
Opinions on schools: The pandemic packed a punch unlike any other period in living memory and forced many to take a hard look at the state of the nation's schools. Letrisha Weber, The 74th.
Around the state: A Florida jury has recommended life in prison for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz, former President Mark Rosenberg returns to Florida International University, schools hit by Hurricane Ian are slated to reopen next week and restrictions were lifted on the Bible after a ban in Escambia. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools and colleges and universities:
Parkland school shooting: A Florida jury deliberated for seven hours over the span of two days before deciding on Thursday that Nikolas Cruz should go to prison for the rest of his life in lieu of the death penalty for killing 17 people in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland. Cruz pleaded guilty last year to 17 charges of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. The recommendation by the jury ended a three-month trial but left some victim's families angry. "We are beyond disappointed with the outcome today," said Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter was killed. Tampa Bay Times. NPR. The Miami Herald. Associated Press.
Broward: During a school board meeting on Wednesday, Superintendent Vickie Cartwright said the district had to start from scratch in its search for a chief facilities officer after Cartwright removed a candidate from consideration. The role had been vacant for a few years and includes overseeing the district's SMART program. In August, a grand jury report alleged mismanagement of the program. "I think as Broward County Schools, as an organization, I think we've reached a new low," board member Daniel Foganholi said. "The entire process was messy and it was ugly." WPLG.
Polk: The school district's legislative agenda for the next session in Tallahassee was part wish list but mostly about measures officials need to address educational needs. The district's in-house lobbyist Wendy Dodge presented its preliminary legislation platform to the school board this week at a special work session. Lakeland Ledger.
Escambia: The school district here reversed course on Wednesday and alerted staff to put the Bible back in school libraries after a debate challenging its appropriateness. District officials say the restrictions were lifted without a formal review because the Bible is legally approved as educational material in the state of Florida. The number of challenged books in the district stood at 128 as of Tuesday with the addition of the Bible after a request for reconsideration was filed by Sarah Holland. North Escambia. Pensacola News Journal.
COVID coping: Nationwide, seniors in high school have had every high school year touched by the pandemic, forcing them to adapt, grow and appreciate the moments of relative normalcy. NPR. Meanwhile, more students than usual missed big portions of school during the pandemic, with some districts seeing chronic absenteeism rates double. Chalkbeat.
Critical race theory poll: Nearly half of Americans have never heard of critical race theory or say they don't know anything about it, according to a poll. The 74th.
Hurricane Ian: Counties in southwest Florida that were hard hit by Hurricane Ian are working to get their schools reopened so students can return to classrooms after Hurricane Ian swept through the state. All school districts will be open by Tuesday, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis during a Cape Coral press conference. But that doesn't mean every school will be functioning by that date. Most school districts closed during the last week of September in preparation for Hurricane Ian, but five districts experienced longer shutdowns due to the storm's damage: Hardee, Charlotte, Lee, DeSoto and Sarasota. Lee was given the green light to reopen 13 schools on Monday. Florida Phoenix. Fox 4.Ft. Myers News-Press.
University and college news: Mark Rosenberg abruptly resigned when a woman who worked in his office accused him of misconduct. Now, the former president of Florida International University will return in the spring semester, earning about $377,000 to teach one class per semester. Rosenberg has been on a one-year paid sabbatical since resigning at the end of January. WSVN. The Miami Herald. Attorney and higher education leader David Fugett has been tapped as vice president and general counsel at Florida Polytechnic University. Lakeland Ledger.
Opinions on schools: Some still appear to be interested in "getting and spending" at the expense of education's power to give students hope for the future. Jonathan Butcher, reimaginED. The verdict in Nikolas Cruz's sentencing trial was stunning and a gut punch to some of the families of the victims of the Parkland shooting. Miami Herald editorial board.
Around the state: Enrollment help is being offered to families in the wake of Hurricane Ian, a jury began deliberations in the Nikolas Cruz trial, a FHSAA form sparks controversy and leads to changes, ACT scores hit their lowest point in three decades and community leaders participated in National Walk to School Day events. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools and colleges and universities:
Broward: Jurors will continue deliberations today to decide whether to sentence Nikolas Cruz to life in prison or recommend he be put to death for the Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. Deliberation began on Tuesday, but a decision was not reached. WPLG. WFOR. WFTS. Fox 13. WFLA.
Hillsborough: School officials here are enhancing mental health outreach efforts for students. The district on Wednesday announced two new measures, which include a centralized information source on Clever, a web platform students use for their classes, and brochures on key topics that will be displayed in all middle and high schools. District staff created the materials in consultation with a student advisory committee. Anxiety was an overriding issue, as well as peer and social conflicts, according to surveys and committee members. Tampa Bay Times.
Duval: Plans are underway to renovate Old Stanton High School, which had been closed to students for five decades. The goal is to preserve the past for the first high school built in Florida for African Americans. Action News Jax.
Volusia: This county's schools director of safety and security resigned one week after school started in August. Now, the school district plans to replace Michelle Newman with a captain from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Mike Chitwood visited the school board meeting this week to discuss the contract for his office to provide the district with a school safety specialist, which was approved by the board. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Lee: Help with school enrollment for families displaced by Hurricane Ian is on the way. Temporary satellite enrollment offices will be set up today and Friday that will allow families displaced or relocated due to the hurricane to re-enroll their students into a new school that better meets their current needs. Social workers, bilingual support and Exceptional Student Education will be available at each location. Ft. Myers News-Press. A workshop was held Wednesday where the superintendent and school board discussed reopening classrooms to learning. The preliminary plan is to start reopening schools on Monday, but officials must check for working fire alarms, announcement systems, safe water and air quality. WINK.
Seminole: Voters here will choose two new school board members on Nov. 8 in runoff races peppered by the state's controversial educations issues. Any registered voter can take part in the elections, regardless of where they live, to decide who will represent Districts 2 and 5 on the five-member school board. In both races, incumbents have chosen not to seek another term, and four candidates competed for their seats. No one won the primary outright, so the top two finishers are on the ballot. School board members in Seminole serve four-year terms, set district policy and earn $40,000 per year. Orlando Sentinel.
Leon: Sen. Loranne Ausley released her third radio ad of the week, which is an endorsement from Leon County School Board Chair Darryl Jones. In the 30-second ad, Jones calls Ausley a friend and a champion for children and asks for voter support as she hopes to fend off challenged Corey Simon in Senate District 3. Florida Politics. District officials here will join more than 1,000 other school districts in the fight against one of the most popular e-cigarette makers. The school board this week voted to join a class action lawsuit against Juul, alleging the manufacturer used unfair marketing practices to make youth addicted to vaping products. The school district will be represented by Kirton McConkie PC, a law firm based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Tallahassee Democrat.
FHSAA form: Questions about menstrual history on a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) physical form for student-athletes will be reconsidered after a news story prompted backlash from athletes, parents and doctors. At a special board meeting held on Wednesday, school board members voiced outrage about the five optional questions that included inquiring when athletes last got their periods. "This is information that should be between a doctor and a patient," said board member Alexandria Ayala. Visiting FHSAA board member and former state Rep. Ralph Arza said at the meeting that he will add an agenda item on the Nov. 6 and 7 meeting of the association's board of directors to amend the form. Palm Beach Post. Florida Today.
Lawsuit filed: A wrongful death lawsuit was filed this week against a driver accused of killing two Royal Palm Beach High School students and injuring two others as they waited at a bus stop in March. The lawsuit against Angel Lopez is the first expected to be filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Lopez — who faces charges in connection with the crash that killed Wazir Chand — was charged in the death of 15-year-old Tiana Johnson and for causing serious injury to Khio Phan, 17, and Rondell Lawrence, 16. Palm Beach Post.
ACT score slide: Scores on the ACT college admissions test by this year's high school graduates hit their lowest point in more than 30 years. The class of 2022's average ACT composite score was 19.8 out of 36, the first time since 1991 that the average fell below 20. In addition, an increasing number of high school students failed to meet subject-area benchmarks set by the ACT. NPR. Associated Press. The 74.
National Walk to School Day: In 1997, The Partnership for a Walkable America organized National Walk to School Day. The annual event attempts to build community awareness for walkable and bikeable communities. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor participated for the past three years. "Events like National Walk to School Day showcase the importance of walking to school, while also making drivers aware that they should be alert and slow down while students may be crossing the road," Castor said. Tampa Bay Times. WTSP.
University and college news: Students at Edward Waters University will have a chance to earn nursing degrees from the University of Florida under an agreement between the schools. Finalized on Wednesday, the deal is limited to only five students per year. The agreement "will equally benefit both universities and our community," said A. Zachary Faison Jr., Edward Waters president and CEO. Florida Times-Union. The Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Family Foundation provided $100 million to the University of Florida Scripps biomedical-research program in Palm Beach County in what UF says is the largest gift from an individual donor. In a news release, UF officials said the donation will held continue development of more than 100 acres at the campus. News Service Florida. A program at Florida State University Panama City received a grant worth more than $100,000 from the St. Joe Community Foundation. FSU's Advancing Science and Career Education in New Technologies Program accepted a $135,490 grant saying it will enhance efforts to increase interest in technology, information security and cybersecurity among middle and high school students. Panama City News Herald. The University of Florida's hunt for a new president violates the intent of a new state law that governs the process, according to state Sen. Jeff Brandes, who also co-sponsored the measure in the Legislature this year. The law keeps the early part of a presidential search secret, but also requires universities to lift that confidentiality when a final group of applicants emerges. Instead, UF officials announced one finalist, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, and refused to release the names of a dozen people they interviewed after reaching out to hundreds of candidates. Tampa Bay Times.
