School suspensions: Before this past school year started, Miami-Dade County School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced that the district would eliminate out-of-school suspensions. It hasn’t yet, but it has made significant headway, cutting those suspensions by 80 percent with a plan that includes in-class interventions focusing on at-risk students, changing the penalties for some infractions and training principals to change their approach to discipline. Miami Herald.
Charter schools: Parents of two charter schools facing termination reach out to Pinellas County School Superintendent Mike Grego with a proposal that Grego calls “reasonable.” The deal would turn Windsor Preparatory Academy and East Windsor Middle Academy into magnet schools run by the district. The schools’ board suggests staying in the current building, giving existing students a spot in the reconfigured schools, giving teachers first preference to be hired and keeping the board as advisers. The schools, which were run by the troubled Newpoint Education Partners, were given a notice of termination effective June 30. Gradebook.
Teacher bonuses: An administrative law judge rules that a Sarasota County school speech pathologist is eligible for the state’s Best and Brightest teacher bonuses program. J. Bruce Culpepper says Cordelia Brown is an instructor at Brentwood Elementary School, and he interprets the state law to mean that all teachers are eligible. The district did not consider Brown to be a teacher. The recommendation now goes back to the Sarasota County School Board for a final decision. News Service of Florida.
Harassment claims: The Duval County School District will investigate claims by a transgender student that he was mistreated by some teachers and students. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says the district will also increase training for the staff to better recognize discrimination. At Monday night’s school board meeting, dozens of students, parents and community members spoke in favor and against the district’s eight-year-old policy of protecting transgender students’ rights, including access to bathrooms of their gender identity. Florida Times-Union.
Evaluations shared: A Pasco County principal sending an email to all teachers included a spreadsheet that contained evaluation ratings. The teachers union is unhappy, saying the ratings are confidential. Ric Mellin, principal of Land O’Lakes High School since 2009, says the inclusion of the ratings was an accident, and has apologized. Gradebook.
Health clinics: The Brevard County School Board votes tonight on a proposal to create three health clinics for the district’s fulltime employees and their family members. The clinics would offer walk-in services and generic prescriptions. Florida Today.
Sales tax hike: The Manatee County School Board votes tonight on whether to ask voters to extend the half-cent sales tax. The tax is expected to bring in more than $30 million a year for the district. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Algebra 1 decline: Fewer Florida middle school students are taking Algebra 1 classes, according to the Florida Department of Education. Bridge to Tomorrow.
Credit rating: Financial agencies warn the Hillsborough County School District that further downgrades of its credit rating are possible if plans to trim spending are not carried out. The district is rated AA, which is below the desired AAA. Tampa Bay Times.
Superintendent’s review: Volusia County School Superintendent Tom Russell is rated “outstanding” by the school board in its first review of his performance. Russell just completed his first year in the job. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Resume padding: The Pittsburgh School Board is launching an independent inquiry into newly hired Superintendent Anthony Hamlet’s resume. Reports of plagiarism and inaccurate claims on the resume prompt the move. Hamlet is a former administrator in the Palm Beach County School District. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Stadium demolition: Demolition of the Tommy Oliver Stadium at Bay High School begins this week. The 60-year-old stadium will be torn down and rebuilt on the same site. The project is expected to cost $6.6 million and be at least partially completed in time for Bay High School’s 2017 graduation ceremony on May 26. Panama City News Herald.
Diversion program for accused: The only student charged in the sex incident at South Fort Myers High School is entering a diversion program. The 16-year-old had been charged with charged with cruelty to a child and possession of obscene material. He was one of several students who reportedly had sex with a 15-year-old girl in a school bathroom in May. Fort Myers News-Press.
School vandalism: Lee County sheriff’s deputies are looking for several people who painted vulgar graffiti on Estero High School earlier this month. Fort Myers News-Press.
Opinions on schools: We have long advocated giving school districts significant discretion, but it seems to us that the state laws and rules on the state’s standardized testing — and the documents that seek to offer guidance for implementing them — need clarification and revision. Ocala Star Banner.
Student enrichment: Marian Evette Williams passes out candy and hugs to children in her St. Petersburg neighborhood if they do well on their report cards. Tampa Bay Times. The Manatee County School District’s summer feeding program will serve its millionth meal sometime in July. The program is in its ninth year. Bradenton Herald.
