Around the state: University of South Florida will continue its mission to be a diverse institution despite a new state law, the hunt continues for a superintendent in Duval, cheerleaders were honored in Polk and the Florida Lottery reached a milestone in its support of education in Florida. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Hillsborough: A Tampa family is seeking answers and justice after a devastating school bus crash because Florida lawmakers didn't pass a bill that would have required a payout. "I just want to work so that I’m not in the house all day,” says Marcus Button, who was 16 in 2006 when a Pasco County school bus crashed into the car he was riding in. WTSP.
Broward: After much research and a trio of community meetings, the Broward School District hopes to release a plan today that is aimed at redefining schools. Faced with 50,000 fewer students, the school district has to decide what to do with under-enrolled schools while having enough money to operate the rest of the schools. That means combining, selling, leasing or repurposing some of the land that certain schools occupy. CBS Miami.
Duval: School officials here have officially started re-advertising for a new superintendent. The search was suspended in 2023 after the first attempt to find a replacement for Diana Greene did not succeed in providing enough candidates deemed qualified. The application process ends April 15. The district hopes to interview finalists for the position in mid-May, with a decision made during a special board meeting May 23. JaxToday.
Polk: Cheerleaders at Lakeland High were honored by the city commission for winning state and national championship titles recently. Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Madden read the proclamation, declaring Monday to be “Lakeland Senior High School Varsity Cheerleader State Champion Day” in the city of Lakeland. LkldNow.
Parental Rights in Education Act: LGBTQ+ advocates are "thrilled" with the settlement reached in a lawsuit over the Parental Rights in Education Act. The law restricts how gender identity and sexual orientation are taught in Florida schools. But some say the law was written so vaguely that it was difficult to make sense of what it actually said. WUSF. WLRN.
Lottery milestone: The Florida Lottery is celebrating a milestone in its support for Florida education. Lottery officials recently announced funding for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund has exceeded more than $46 billion since inception in 1988. “This remarkable achievement reflects our steadfast dedication to education, and we are proud of the vital role we play in enhancing educational experiences for students throughout the Sunshine State,” said John F. Davis, Secretary of the Florida Lottery. WFTV.
Colleges and universities: Santa Fe College will host its annual Open House on Saturday at its Northwest Campus, featuring informational sessions on paying for college, career connections, degree options and student life. The Gainesville Sun. Top leaders at the University of South Florida say the school will continue to be a diverse institution despite a new state law that prohibits public colleges and universities from spending on diversity programs. “We have our north star,” USF president Rhea Law told the university’s board of trustees at their meeting on Monday. “We have our mission and we have our values, and we have not changed those. We do not now have an Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. But we are absolutely supportive of access and opportunity for everyone, and we will continue to do that.” The issue resurfaced after a faculty trustee raised concerns about the impact of the new law on USF's reputation in the wake of national organizations expressing concerns about the law. Tampa Bay Times.
Around the state: The Florida Board of Education is expected to meet on new rules, leadership changes are afoot in Hillsborough, teacher recruitment is facing hurdles statewide and the sales tax holiday is around the corner. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools and colleges and universities:
Broward: A discussion on whether to significantly increase pay for Broward county teachers and principals has been postponed for another week due to concerns the proposal feels rushed. School Board member Allen Zeman unveiled the proposal at a Tuesday meeting to raise average total compensation for teachers to $100,000 by 2025, up from an average of $78,000 today. That amount includes base salary, retirement benefits and health care. Total compensation for principals and assistant principals would increase to an average of $150,000, up from about $137,000, according to Zeman. “We need to make sure that we compensate our most valuable resource in a way that is a reflection of the respect that they're held in Broward County,” Zeman said. WLRN.
Hillsborough: Superintendent Van Ayres announced a round of district leadership changes this week that will affect everything from personnel to family engagement as the new school year approaches. Ayres replaced Addison Davis this month. Davis took a job at a consulting firm. “As we prepare for our students to return, now is the time to come together, refocus on our collective goals, and implement strategies to move forward purposefully,” Ayres wrote in an email to staff. Tampa Bay Times.
Pinellas: One career path that has become less popular over the past few decades as college freshmen prepare to start school this fall semester and decide on a major to pursue: education. The fact isn't surprising to some. "We have the fourth largest economy in America. We're 48th in teacher pay," said Lee Bryant, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association. Between new legislation and low wages statewide, some say it will be tougher for the state to recruit new teachers. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that while enrollment in college has gone up over several decades, choosing to graduate with a degree in education has dropped. WTSP.
Bay: A church held its back-to-school block party at Daffin Park in Panama City. About 250 students of all ages lined up choosing backpack-filled supplies to get ready for the first day of classes. “I can’t really describe it but it’s just and amazing feeling to know that we’re able to help and give back to the community because we need this with and I know a lot of students with prices going up parents need the help too,” Event Organizer Charita Collier said. WJHG.
Sales tax holiday: Florida's annual Back-to-School "sales tax holiday" is set to provide an extended period of tax-free shopping this year. The sales tax holiday runs from July 24 until Aug. 6 to provide a chance for families to prepare for the upcoming school year and save money on essential purchases. During the tax holiday, Florida will waive the 7.02% sales tax as well as any local option taxes on various back to school items that include everything from footwear to personal computers. WSVN.
Board of Education meeting: New rules regarding gender identity and internet use in schools are expected to be approved by state officials meeting in Orlando on Wednesday. The Florida Board of Education will implement several laws approved by state legislators this year. WESH.
University and college news: The school board of Alachua county will proceed with a slightly reduced payment to Santa Fe College in the agreement that allows Alachua students to take Santa Fe classes through dual enrollment. Board members expressed concern about overpaying Santa Fe, but prioritized the resources that students receive. The board's chosen reduction only chops the school district's current payment to Santa Fe by 10%, retaining most services already included in the agreement and saving the district about $150,000. Main Street Daily News.
Opinions on schools: The Ron DeSantis administration is obsessed with targeting the LBGTQ community in Florida dishonestly, irrationally and repetitively across multiple venues. The latest salvos will be fired when the state Board of Education takes up a group of proposals that would drag Florida educators down the path of persecution. Orlando Sentinel, editorial board. Without affordable child care, graduating from college can be nearly impossible. Nicole Lynn Lewis, the 74th.
Miami-Dade: Students in this district wrapped classes on Wednesday. While summer vacation is here, the district grappled with challenges during the school year that included a teachers union protest and figuring out compliance with new laws. “Connect and inspire, and to me, that’s what this school year was all about,” said Superintendent Dr. Jose Dotres at a news conference. WTVJ. Meanwhile, the state's book rules are posing challenges for parents and educators. Miami Herald.
Palm Beach: The school board here meets about eight times per year to approve recommendations to expel students. At a meeting on Wednesday, nine students were expelled for a year. Seven of them brought weapons to campus. This school year, Palm Beach County Schools voted to expel 42 students for weapons violations. That is double any other year in the past five school years. WPTV.
Pinellas: Officials in Pinellas school district have selected a developer to build teacher and staff housing in St. Pete. Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Seminole: The debate surrounding the Lyman High School yearbook seemed settled. But on Tuesday, about 100 people signed up to speak on the issue. Fox 35.
Manatee: The new schools superintendent here, Dr. Jason Wysong, officially signed his contract last week. He will begin the job July 1. The retiring superintendent is Cynthia Saunders. WWSB.
Collier: The hearing for Naples grocer Alfie Oakes' lawsuit against the school board here was scheduled for Thursday. The suit claims the board and its search firm violated the Sunshine Law in the superintendent search. In the suit, filed May 17 with the Collier County Circuit Court, Oakes claims the school board allowed search firm Hazard Young Atea & Associates to select 10 candidates out of 45 privately, without public notice, comment or minutes. Fort Myers News-Press.
Alachua: Santa Fe College will start its own charter high school this August. The first cohort of 75 students has already been selected, coming from schools across Alachua County. The Academy of Science and Technology will serve high schoolers who want to pursue Career and Technical Education, or CTE, specifically in health sciences and information technology. Students will have the chance to graduate with their high school diploma, an associate of science degree and at least two industry certifications, all without debt. Main Street Daily News.
School safety: As politicians and activists push for limits on discussions of race, gender and sexuality, some students say the measures targeting aspects of their identity have made them feel less welcome in American schools. WUSF.
Hillsborough: Bhavya Bansal is celebrating both her Sweet 16 and being valedictorian this year, with a record-breaking 11.3 GPA. Her GPA is the highest in the 90-year history of Middleton High. She was also the first female to join the wrestling team. “That’s actually incredible; I’m so humbled and honored to be able to have that privilege to break that record,” said Bansal, whose academic ambition allowed her to skip ahead two years. Bhavya plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in the fall, and wants to be a surgeon. ABC Action News. WPLG.
Federal coordinator: President Joe Biden's administration announced on Thursday several new protections for LBGTQ+ youth and families, including the position of a federal coordinator to counter book bans nationwide. The coordinator will train school districts and advise them that “book bans that target a specific community and create a hostile school environment may violate federal civil rights laws.” Florida Phoenix. NPR.
Textbook study: A study found that most textbooks don't include key events in U.S. history that involve Latinos. NPR.
School year roundup: Educators shared the highlights from this school year, ranging from weird to inspirational. Education Week.
Mental health: Across the nation, about 2,600 health centers operated out of schools in 2017, which is more than twice the number that existed two decades earlier. Some 6.3 million students in more than 10,000 schools had access to the centers, according to the School-Based Health Alliance. School-based health centers offer free services, from flu shots and physicals to contraceptive care and talk therapy, that students can access without insurance or a doctor's office trip. Many offer behavioral health care, which is increasingly in demand as the mental health challenges mount for students. Chalkbeat.
Career advice: The education job market is headed for a dramatic U-turn, with the hiring sprees of recent years headed to a screeching halt. In some areas, the reversal has already started, and districts are pulling down their "help wanted" signs. The 74th.
University and college news: State Rep. Fred Hawkins was selected Wednesday by South Florida State College trustees to succeed retiring school President Thomas Leitzel. Hawkins has served in the House since 2020, and was the lone finalist for the position. Details of his proposed contract won't be available until a June 21 meeting of the trustees, officials said. Leitzel is set to retire at the end of June, and Hawkins is expected to take on the presidency on July 3, pending contract approval. Tampa Bay Times. Miami Herald. Orlando Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: If our true goal was to kindle fires in the minds of young people, how would we design learning environments? A few suggestions stem from the idea of agency, the inner will that separates humans from computers and other animal species. If students make a decision to learn, there's nothing that can get in their way. And if they make a decision not to learn, there is very little that we can accomplish using carrots and sticks. Kelly Smith, reimaginED.
