School recess: The advocacy group Recess for all Florida Children has been successful in some Florida school districts. Now the group will again take its initiative to the state Legislature to try to get a statewide law passed requiring 20 minutes of recess a day for students in kindergarten through fifth grades. Last year’s bill passed the House but died in the Senate. Orlando Sentinel.
Performance variance: Florida schools are highly rated, but its students are average when it comes to test scores. The answer to that seeming paradox can be found in the state’s demographics. National Review.
School spending: The Pinellas County School Board is expected to approve a $1.5 billion budget that includes a slightly lower tax rate. Higher property values will offset that drop for most homeowners. Tampa Bay Times. The Lake County School Board approves a $567 million budget. Daily Commercial.
School grades: Gotha Middle School abandons the 4-point grading scale after parents complain that it penalizes high achievers. The system, which just began this fall, awards students up to 4 points on each test and for behavior. The traditional 100-point scale resumes today. Orlando Sentinel.
School uniforms: Volusia County school officials report 99 percent compliance with the district’s new school uniforms policy. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Superintendent evaluation: Some Duval County School Board members had harsher assessments of Superintendent Nikolai Vitti in their notes than they said in a face-to-face evaluation last week. Florida Times-Union.
Gifted plan approved: The Duval County School Board votes to expand the district’s gifted program and services for students with disabilities. Florida Times-Union.
Behavior programs: The Pasco County School District launches a program for elementary students with emotional and behavior disorders, and also takes over a similar program for middle- and high-school students. Gradebook.
School choice: It was an eventful summer for school choice. Here’s a roundup of what’s happened around the United States. Education Week.
Sales tax spending: The Palm Beach County School District is holding another community forum tonight to answer questions about how it plans to spend an estimated $1.3 billion it will collect if voters approve an additional penny to the sales tax. The district also has posted a searchable database of the proposed projects. Palm Beach Post.
Success story: Miami’s Shadowlawn Elementary School went from an F grade from the state to a B grade in a single year. School officials analyzed each student’s math and reading weaknesses, and attacked each with extra lessons after school and even on Saturdays. WTVJ.
School property use: Flagler County school officials are revisiting the district’s policies on the use of school property after a car and boat sale was held at Flagler Palm Coast High School as a fundraiser. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School personnel: The Pasco County School District gets its third employee relations director in two months. Kathy Scalise will oversee contract negotiations, which resume soon. Gradebook. The chairwoman at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton resigns. MaryJo Finocchiaro was criticized for pushing for an investigation into a teacher’s misconduct with students that the school failed to report. Palm Beach Post. Two principals and a nutrition director are appointed in the Polk County School District. Lakeland Ledger. The Okaloosa County School Board approves the transfer of Edwins Elementary Principal Marline Van Dyke to a job applying for grants. Van Dyke lost to Mary Beth Jackson two weeks ago in the school superintendent election. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Dixon reassigned: Anthony Dixon, a suspended paraprofessional and former football coach at South Fort Myers High School, will be reassigned to another school. He was disciplined after several players were involved in an after-school sex incident with a 15-year-old girl. Fort Myers News-Press.
Teacher suspended: Angel Villanueva, a JROTC instructor at East Lee County High School, is suspended and could be fired for talking about his religious beliefs on gender identity during class May 13. He talked about “the sexual preference of individuals and professed that those who do not agree with him are wrong and would regret their lifestyle and suffer consequences later on in life,” according to school documents. Fort Myers News-Press.
Opinions on schools: Mock elections stoke interest and help prepare students to vote. Highlands Today. The director of game-day operations for Citrus High School shows his character with a $2,000 donation to the boys basketball team. Citrus County Chronicle.
Student enrichment: More than 400 books worth $4,000 are donated to the Manatee County School District elementary and middle school libraries during a drive by Books-A-Million. Bradenton Herald. Fifty Immokalee middle school and high school students are accepted into the SSTRIDE program, which guides students into careers in science and medicine. Naples Daily News. Two Sebring High School teachers will soon use the “case method” learning strategy in class, in which students will assume roles of decision-makers in history. Highlands Today.
