Charter schools: A report by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that the number of charter schools opening in Florida grew at a rate of 12.7 percent per year from 2010-2014, third fastest among 16 states surveyed. The annual closing rate between 2009-2013 was 3.9 percent, the fourth highest. The report compares Pennsylvania charter schools governance with 15 other states. The Notebook.
School threats: Experts say school threats across the United States are rising rapidly – up 158 percent from Aug. 1-Dec. 31, 2014 over the same period in 2013. About 70 percent were bomb or shooting threats. Florida got 43, fifth most in the country. NBC 6 News. Palm Beach School Superintendent Robert Avossa is unhappy with Park Vista High’s handling of a threat scribbled on a school wall, and has told all principals to alert parents when any threat is discovered, even if the threat isn’t thought to be credible. Palm Beach Post.
Privacy bill: State Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, files a bill that would protect Florida’s K-12 students from websites that mine personal information. Florida Politics.
Every Child Succeeds Act: State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, says he’s still going through the Every Child Succeeds Act, the recently passed successor to the No Child Left Behind Act, but thinks the law’s effects in 2017 will be substantial. WUSF.
New high schools: Lee County commissioners have taken land in a conservation area off the list of potential sites for a new high school in Bonita Springs. Naples Daily News. A survey of Manatee County residents shows they want a new high school, with the preferred location north of the Manatee River. Bradenton Herald.
Superintendent race: With more than 10 months to go before the election for Nassau school superintendent, State Rep. Janet Adkins of Fernandina Beach has raised almost $65,000 compared to just over $34,000 by her opponent, school board member Kathy Knight Burns. Both are Republicans. Florida Politics.
Deal benefits schools: Public schools in the neighborhoods around the Citrus Bowl will receive money from a partnership between Florida Citrus Sports and the College Football Playoff Foundation. Orlando Sentinel.
Student saved: A High Springs Community School student choking on a sandwich is rescued by two teachers and a nurse who performed the Heimlich maneuver and CPR to dislodge the obstruction. Gainesville Sun.
Student incentive ends: Students who perform well academically will no longer go to the front of the line in the Woodrow Wilson Middle School cafeteria. The incentive program drew complaints from some parents, and more than 900 signed an online petition started by Change.org Sunday. Tampa Tribune.
School calendar: Palm Beach County schools will start Aug. 15, 2016, and end June 2, 2017, the school board has voted. The following year will start Aug. 14, 2017, and end May 31, 2018. Sun-Sentinel.
Greater engagement: An annual survey shows employee levels of engagement with the Pasco County School District improving, but there are still areas that need attention. Gradebook.
Criminal justice: A substitute school nurse is found guilty of bringing a handgun to Garden Grove Elementary in Winter Haven last April. Marvin Sizmore, 60, could get up to five years in prison. Lakeland Ledger.
Opinions on schools: Jacksonville’s Northwestern Middle School has many challenges to overcome before it can thrive again as a neighborhood school. Tonyaa Weathersbee, Florida Times-Union. Partnerships between governments and schools are essential for creating responsible citizens. William Molbert, Naples Daily News. The reputation of a school is not as important as the safety of the people who attend events there. Tom Lyons, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Student enrichment: A Glades Central High student will be honored for recognizing a woman was having a stroke and getting her to a hospital quickly for treatment. Palm Beach Post. Lee Middle School students send 1,000 paper cranes as a message of peace to the mayor of San Bernardino, Calif. Bradenton Herald. All students at Lakeland’s McKeel Academy – from kindergartners to seniors – now use an iPad for learning in school. Lakeland Ledger. Some Gulf Coast Academy middle-schoolers are learning photography the old way – with film. Tampa Bay Times. Reading is Fundamental partners with Barnes and Noble to provide 6,000 free books to Escambia County elementary students this school year. Pensacola News Journal. The Mosaic Co. is donating $30,000 to buy uniforms for the Bartow High marching band. Lakeland Ledger. Running clubs help Pasco students learn about positive relationships and self-esteem. Tampa Bay Times. Sixteen students at St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Golden Gate make blankets for nursing home residents. Naples Daily News.
