Florida schools roundup: Bathroom access, LGBT policy, testing and more

florida-roundup-logoBathroom access: The Marion County School Board approves a policy to ban transgender students from using the bathroom based on their gender identity. The measure goes into effect today. Ocala Star Banner. Earlier Tuesday, the ACLU of Florida issued a letter warning the board that the policy would harm students and “violate Title IX sex discrimination requirements, violate the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution and jeopardize federal funding for the school district.” Ocala Star BannerWCJB.

LGBT policy: A divided Brevard County School Board is asking school officials to amend the district’s nondiscrimination and equal employment policies to include protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and staff. The revisions would be discussed at a public meeting before being voted on by the board. Florida Today.

Test scores: U.S. high school seniors’ National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores dropped slightly in math and stayed about the same in reading, according to the 2015 Nation’s Report Card from the National Assessment Governing Board. Florida seniors’ results mirrored the national ones, though Florida scored slightly higher than the national average in both subjects. Sunshine State News.

District overspending: The Broward County School District’s police department has overspent its budget by about $2.5 million, prompting an audit and a request to the school board for more money. The department has just $50,000 left in its budget for this fiscal year, and $3.5 million in expenses that have not been paid. The financial problems were discovered in a review of the way the department handles personnel investigations. Sun-Sentinel.

School choice: Dismantling school choice would harm Florida students, schools and taxpayers, warns John Kirtley, venture capitalist and chairman of Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog. He was speaking to the Economic Club of Florida. The Florida Education Association and other groups have sued the state, challenging the constitutionality of the school choice programs. The case goes to a state appeals court in May. Step Up For Students administers tax-credit scholarships for about 80,000 low-income students, and also the Gardiner Scholarships for students with disabilities. Tampa TribuneMiami Herald. Politico Florida. WFSU.

School funding formula: David Denslow, a professor of economics at the University of Florida who helped legislators create the state’s funding formula for public schools in 2004, says it’s time to take another look at it. Volusia County school officials say the current formula hurts the district more than it does any other district in the state. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Superintendent’s contract: The Polk County School Board approves a $225,000, one-year contract for new Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd. Byrd was named interim superintendent after Kathryn LeRoy resigned in February, and the board decided April 12 to hire her instead of conducting a search for a replacement. Lakeland Ledger.

Tax, impact fee linked: The Manatee County School Board decides to go ahead with its plan to link a sales tax increase with impact fees. If county voters approve an extension of the existing half-cent sales tax, the impact fee collection rate would drop back to 50 percent. The decision has been controversial, with some calling it an unnecessary giveaway to developers. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

School fighting: Fighting at Leesburg High School has escalated in the past month or so, leading to a call for a community meeting Thursday. Orlando Sentinel.

School changes: Principals at three struggling St. Petersburg elementary schools are being transferred, Pinellas County School Superintendent Mike Grego announces. He also hires two assistant directors for the district’s new eight-member transformation team that will lead the reform efforts at seven low-performing schools. Tampa Bay Times. The Manatee County School Board sets May 24 for a public hearing on closing Frances Wakeland Elementary School and sending the students to Louise R. Johnson Middle. It’s part of the plan to rebalance the county’s school enrollment. Bradenton Herald.

Charter school suit: North Bay Haven Middle and High School Principal Michelle Gainer and Assistant Principal Erin Harper are placed on administrative leave and are being sued for breach of a legal agreement. Bay Haven Charter Academy Inc. filed the suit, claiming Garner and Harper violated an agreement that they would drop harassment complaints against former CEO Tim Kitts if Kitts resigned. Panama City News Herald.

Playoff bans: One of the backers of the bill that allows schools to join the Florida High School Athletic Association on a per-sport basis says the organization is violating the law by not allowing schools with a partial membership to participate in playoffs. “There’s not even the slightest hint of a question in my mind about what their intent is,” said Rep. Ross Spano, R-Dover.”From the very beginning, it was clear that their major concern over this bill was the impact it would have on their ability to control and monopolize high school athletes.” Tampa Bay Times.

Public comments: The Orange County School Board approves the continuation of public comments for up to 30 minutes before each board meeting. Orlando Sentinel.

Notable deaths: Myrtle Williams, a longtime math teacher and administrator in Pinellas County schools, has died at the age of 71. Tampa Bay Times.

School bus drivers: Hillsborough County School Board members say school bus driver morale needs to be the focus in proposed reforms of the district’s troubled transportation department. Tampa Tribune.

Teacher suspended: The Bay County School Board suspends Nancy Atchison, a special education teacher at Lucille Moore Elementary School, for allegedly leaving a student unattended in a bathroom for an hour without clothes. The Department of Children and Families is also investigating. Panama City News Herald.

Opinions on schools: It’s time to flush the nonissue of which bathroom transgender people use. Britt Kennerly, Florida Today. For some athletes, changing schools based on athletic opportunity makes sense. This year’s education bill gives those students increased options – and that’s not a bad thing. Steven Ryzewski, West Orange Times & Observer. Meaningful student testing has its place, but it has been allowed to supersede that which it was meant to shadow. Laurie Futterman, Miami Herald.

Student enrichment: The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is planning a teaching facility to offer educational programs for students at all levels. Orlando Sentinel. A Riviera Beach charter school’s rap video on healthy eating is one of three to win a national prize in a national contest. Inlet Grove Community High School wins $8,000 to build a tower garden. Palm Beach Post. Children from the Episcopal Day School learn about gardening and beekeeping while working at the From the Ground Up Community Garden. Pensacola News Journal. Dr. Jill Biden, wife of the vice president, will speak about the National Math and Science Initiative on Friday at Escambia High School. Pensacola News Journal. Brian Medina, a kindergarten student at Rogers Garden Elementary School, is one of six national winners in the Howard B. Wigglebottom art contest. Bradenton Herald. The community has raised about $9,000 of the $12,000 needed to buy 25 steel drums for band students at Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts. Naples Daily News. Lucille Moore Elementary students are developing an app that they hope will stop bullying. Panama City News Herald.


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BY NextSteps staff