Florida schools roundup: Disparities, capital funding, closings and more

florida-roundup-logoDistrict disparities: An 18-month study by New York University finds many disparities by race and gender in the Palm Beach County School District. The study also concluded that poor record-keeping prevented a more meaningful investigation of racial disparities in school discipline. Among the recommended changes: more early-intervention programs for struggling students, a district-wide approach to hiring and assigning teachers, and programs to attract more minority teachers. Palm Beach Post.

Capital funding: Florida’s superintendents’ association is lobbying the state to restore the property tax cap for capital projects and transportation to $2 per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate used to be $2, but was lowered to $1.50 during the recession. Gradebook.

School closings: Many Florida school districts remain closed and activities are curtailed today due to the tropical system passing through the northern part of the state. Florida Times-Union. WFSUWTLV. WJAXWTXL. WCJB. Bay News 9WFTVWUSFWESH. WFLA. WKMG. News 13. WWSBWTSP. Tampa Bay Times. Orlando SentinelFort Myers News-Press. Gainesville Sun. Ocala Star Banner. Tallahassee Democrat. Port St. Joe Star.

Early PSAT: The Palm Beach County School District will have all 27,000 eighth- and ninth-graders take the PSAT this year. The district hopes the results help identify students who should be taking more college-preparatory classes but aren’t. Palm Beach Post.

i-Ready concerns: Palm Beach School Board members express concerns about the rollout of the $5.3 million i-Ready software for elementary students. The software that’s supposed to help children with reading and math cannot be loaded on tablets or phones, and some parents believe school officials said students would be required to use it at home. District officials say that was a “miscommunication.” Palm Beach Post.

School meals: About two-thirds of the 43,866 students in the Collier County School District receive free or reduced-price meals. More than 29,000 qualify for free lunches, and another 1,900 get reduced-price lunches. Naples Daily News.

Superintendent search: A 15-member advisory committee recommends eight candidates for superintendent to the school board. The board will consider the recommendation Tuesday, though it may also choose from the other 40 candidates when it creates a list of finalists. A final decision is expected by Oct. 20. Superintendent Lori White retires in February. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

School sales tax: Now that voters have approved the half-cent increase in the sales tax for schools, the Highlands County School Board will start discussing how the money might best be used. The district is expecting to receive more than $4 million a year for 20 years. Highlands Today.

Stadium delay: While a new high school in west Orange County is on track to open in August 2017, the off-campus sports stadium that was a crucial part of the agreement among the district, the county and residents of the rural area will be delayed until at least January 2018. Some parents are upset, saying it’s a violation of the agreement. Orlando Sentinel.

Parent arrested: A Vero Beach woman is arrested after biting a clerk at Vero Beach Elementary School and an Indian River County Sheriff’s deputy. Sheila Fontan De Jesus, 40, is charged with misdemeanors for battery and resisting arrest without violence. She was at the school because her daughter became ill. TCPalm.

Incident investigated: Escambia school officials are investigating a complaint that an adult harmed a student at C.A. Weis Elementary Community School. Pensacola News Journal.

Student enrichment: A bullied St. Petersburg high school student turns his life around when he starts busking with his viola. Now Adán Martinez dreams of attending the Juilliard School in New York. Tampa Bay Times. The South Florida Center for Percussive Arts’ new RhythmFUN program opens in West Kendall for students of all ages. Miami Herald. Seven years ago, the Booker High School band was dissolved. Today it puts on creative shows with 65 members. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.


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BY NextSteps staff