Florida schools roundup: District emergency, court hearing, Zika and more

florida-roundup-logoFinancial emergency: The Jefferson County School District is in a financial emergency, the Florida Department of Education declares. The state requires districts to have a 3 percent reserve fund, and the district’s is now under 2 percent. The state has asked for and received two financial improvement plans, but Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says neither is adequate. Tallahassee DemocratGradebook.

Lawsuit hearing: A Leon County judge schedules a hearing today to consider a request for an injunction against the state’s retention policy for third-graders. A group of 14 parents is suing the state and several school districts over the policy, which calls for retention of third-graders who do poorly on the Florida Standards Assessments reading test or opt out of it. Gradebook. The Sarasota County School District relents and promotes one of the 14 students whose parents are suing the state. The 9-year-old boy had opted out of the FSAT and declined to take any approved alternative tests, and was detained. After the announcement, the Sarasota district was dropped from the suit. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Zika and schools: Gov. Rick Scott is launching a statewide Zika awareness campaign for schools and students. He told the 67 district superintendents that the state will produce posters and other educational materials for school display and to be sent to parents. The state also is producing classroom materials that can be worked into science courses. Tampa Bay Times. Palm Beach Post. Miami Herald. Highlands Today.

Top high schools: A Florida high school, Stanton College Preparatory School of Jacksonville, is ranked the sixth-best in the United States, and it and nine other state schools are listed among the top 500 in the country in a magazine’s annual ratings. Last year, 23 Florida schools made the top 500. The ratings are compiled from graduation rates, college enrollment, standardized test scores and other factors. Newsweek.

Computer study: Even as computers and other technology have become common in the classroom, there’s little indication that they’re used by students to improve classroom learning, according to a national study. AdvanceED, a nonprofit research and accrediting organization, says this is largely because teachers are not well-trained on “how to effectively integrate technology into lessons.” Orlando Sentinel.

Reading ability: Florida State University researchers say the quality of a school can outweigh genetics in determining a child’s reading ability. Florida State News.

Pedestrian deaths: Florida ranks second in the nation for the number of child pedestrians killed, and Miami-Dade County has the most in the state. Thirty-four children were killed in 2014, and six of them were in Miami-Dade. Experts caution students to use crosswalks, to not text or call and walk at the same time and to not wear headphones. Drivers are asked to be especially careful for young pedestrians. Miami Herald.

School transfers: Polk County schools are back in session Monday, and officials are asking parents for patience as the district tries to transfer hundreds of students under the Opportunity Scholarship, which allows students to transfer from underperforming schools. More than 550 have already applied. The district also has to fill 151 open teaching positions. Lakeland Ledger.

High school battle: The Florida Department of Education is again refusing to support the Leon County School District’s plan to build a new high school. The state says the district’s projected enrollment doesn’t support a new high school, and that most schools are not at capacity now. District officials disagree and say they will move forward with the plan. Tallahassee Democrat.

Water problems: Students at two Dunnellon schools will be given bottled water on Monday and perhaps beyond as workers repair a water well pump this weekend. Ocala Star Banner.

Scholarship growth: The number of Escambia County students on scholarship to private schools is up 25 percent this year, to 1,500. In Florida, that number is expected to rise 15 percent, from 78,000 to 90,000. The scholarships are the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program for low-income families and the Gardiner Scholarship for students with special needs. Both are administered by Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog. Pensacola News Journal.

Civic center plan: Marion County School Board Chairman Bobby James is proposing a civic center be built on the site of Vanguard High School’s Booster Stadium. James doesn’t think the current location for high school graduations, the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, is adequate. A new stadium for Vanguard would also have to be built. Several board members are skeptical. Ocala Star Banner.

Concussion lawsuit: A man says a school dean pushed his son into a wall on April 22 and caused a concussion, and he’s threatening to sue the Orange County School District. Harvey Johnston, then the dean at Oak Ridge High School, denies the accusation, saying the 16-year-old boy ran into the wall trying to get away from him. Johnston was not reappointed. Orlando Sentinel.

Coach arrested: Fritz Jacques, who works in the Exceptional Student Education department and coaches boys basketball at Lely High School, is arrested and accused of domestic violence. He has been removed from the classroom and cannot have contact with the basketball team while the investigation is ongoing. Naples Daily News.

Student enrichment: Breakthrough Miami, part of a national program that has high school seniors and college students teaching 5th- through 12th-graders through the summer, has been a benefit to both students and instructors. Miami Herald. A Kindergarten Readiness Camp at Calusa Elementary School in Pasco County gives 5-year-olds a head-start on what to expect when school begins. Tampa Bay Times. Spruce Creek High School graduate Dalton Price, 18, raises money to buy 100 polo T-shirts and 43 pants/shorts/skirts for needy students at Edith I. Starke Elementary School in DeLand. Daytona Beach News-Journal.


Avatar photo

BY NextSteps staff