Education budget: The Florida Board of Education is requesting that the state increase per-pupil spending from $7,183 this year to $7,359 next year, with the overall budget increasing about 3.4 percent to $20.9 billion. The proposal would kill the current teachers bonuses program and create a new $43 million plan, and boost funding for Bright Futures scholarships by $29 million. If approved at today’s meeting, the request goes to Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature. News Service of Florida.
Teachers needed: More than a month after school has started, several central Florida school districts are still trying to fill almost 100 open teaching positions. Orange County has 62 openings, Lake 22 and Seminole 11. Orlando Sentinel.
Cash gift for teachers: The mayor of Parkland wants to give $25,000 of the city’s money to give to teachers as a gift. With matching grants, the gift money could grow to $45,000. Sun-Sentinel.
School grades: Some Florida schools improve their grades from the state after appealing the grades they were originally given. Gradebook. Virtual schools in Florida are among those to receive final letter grades from the state. redefinED.
Academic goals: Advocates for learning-disabled students urge the Florida Board of Education to keep its different academic targets for various subgroups of students. “We need specific goals by group, because each group has unique needs,” says Learning Disabilities Association of Florida co-president Mark Halpert. Gradebook.
Payment to be returned: The director of a Palm Beach County charter school says he will repay about $46,000 to the school after it paid his company for costs of putting together an application for the school. Gregory James Blount, who founded the Eagle Arts Academy and is its executive director, says the costs were legitimate. But he’s giving the money back after the district called the payment a violation and threatened to terminate his charter. Palm Beach Post.
Immigrant decision: The Florida Supreme Court rejects an appeal by an 18-year-old Lake Worth boy to stay in the United States, and he’ll likely be deported to Guatemala. He had sought to become a ward of the state so he could remain in the country, but the court decided he wasn’t eligible because he turned 18 after the case was filed. Immigration advocates say the decision hurts thousands of children. Palm Beach Post.
Contract ratified: Lake County teachers approve a contract that gives them raises of $1,500 to $2,025 a year and bumps the beginning salary to $40,000. Daily Commercial.
Speaking crunch: People who want to speak at today’s Duval County School Board meeting are advised to arrive early to get a spot. This meeting has drawn extra attention because board chairwoman Ashley Smith Juarez has asked for the resignation of Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. Florida Times-Union.
School survey: Orange County School Board members discuss the specifics of a community survey to gauge interest in later starting times for high schools. Orlando Sentinel.
Overcrowded school: Palm Beach County school officials are working on a plan to relieve the overcrowding at Calusa Elementary. The school has almost 1,200 students, 357 over capacity. The district wants to fast-track a plan to redirect the extra students to other schools. Palm Beach Post.
Charter schools: Kendall residents question the viability of a proposed aviation-oriented charter school. Many say adding a school to their neighborhood also will make a “horrendous” traffic situation worse. Miami Herald. The Manatee County School Board will consider a charter school application for “experiential” learning. School district staff is recommending the Parrish Charter Academy application be denied. Bradenton Herald.
Runcie appointed: Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie is appointed to the Chiefs for Change board. The group, which consists of 24 board of education commissioners and school superintendents from around the United States, was founded by Jeb Bush to promote school choice, charter schools and standardized testing. Chiefs for Change.
Bus driver honored: A Palm Beach County school bus driver is honored for helping a confused 9-year-old boy who missed his stop. The driver, Renaud Antoine, noticed the boy was upset. When the boy tried to get off at the wrong stop, he kept him in the bus and called his mother to clarify where he was supposed to be. Palm Beach Post.
Ineligible players: Eleven boys from Puerto Rico should not have been allowed to play for the Lake Worth High School baseball team last spring, the Florida High School Athletics Association has ruled. They had enrolled through a guardian. The FHSAA says participation in sports requires approval from a parent or a court-approved guardian. Palm Beach Post.
School threats: Police arrest a 12-year-old girl who threatened several students at the Lincoln Park Academy charter school in Fort Pierce. TCPalm. Palm Beach Post. The Miami-Dade County School District is investigating a “less than credible” bomb threat made against schools here and around the United States. Miami Herald.
Ex-teacher convicted: A former Lake Minneola High School teacher is found guilty of coercion or enticement of a minor, solicitation to commit a violent crime and threatening to kidnap. Dane Gillis, 58, tried to solicit sex from an 11-year-old over the Internet. He was sentenced to 30 years and 5 months in prison. Orlando Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: Until the Pinellas School District can eliminate suspensions, replacing them with approaches that support students rather than banishing them only makes sense. Tampa Bay Times. The Volusia County School District should dig into teacher absenteeism to give perspective and context to social media postings. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Student enrichment: Sixteen west Florida high school students are named National Merit Scholar semifinalists, including 12 from Pensacola High School. Pensacola News Journal. Florida State University is loaning $40,000 worth of physics lab equipment to the Bay County School District. Florida State University. Lakeview Elementary School explore scientific methodology with the help of New College students in a Science Fair Sidekicks event. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
