AP exams report: Orange County leads Florida in the number of students who took and passed Advanced Placement exams last year, and was the eighth-ranked district in the nation, according to College Board officials. More than 20,000 Orange students took at least one AP class, an increase of almost 16 percent. The number of AP tests passed was up 11 percent, to 15,407. Among states, Florida ranked third with almost 31 percent of its high school graduates taking and passing at least one AP course in 2015. Orlando Sentinel.
Expulsions up: Expulsion are up in the Hillsborough County School District after six years of decline, according to a district report. Last year, 508 students were expelled, compared to 458 the previous year. Black students, who represent 21 percent of the population in the schools, made up 55 percent of all middle and high school expulsions. Tampa Bay Times.
Prayer fight: As Tampa Cambridge Christian School fights the Florida High School Athletic Association in court over the constitutionality of a pregame prayer in last year’s state championship football game, its team is again in the playoffs. The FHSAA did not allow the team to broadcast a prayer over the public address system last year, leading the school to file a federal lawsuit. And if the team makes it to the title game this year, it will again ask to use the public address system for a pregame prayer. WUSF.
Contract negotiations: Members of the union representing Manatee County School District bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodial staff and other support employees ratify a contract with the district. The contract calls for a 2.5 percent pay hike, but also increases what workers pay for health insurance. The teachers union, faced with a similar choice, declared an impasse in negotiations. Bradenton Herald.
Personnel changes: The Pinellas County School District hires its first minority achievement officer. Lewis Brinson, 64, who was the chief diversity officer for the Hillsborough County School District, is in charge of improving educational outcomes for black and Hispanic students in all county schools. He starts Dec. 1. Tampa Bay Times.
Magnet program: The Pasco County School District is considering starting a performing and fine arts magnet at River Ridge High, according to school board member Alison Crumbley. Gradebook.
New school board: The Volusia County School Board swears in two newly elected members and picks the board’s chair and vice-chair at today’s meeting. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
School improvement: Polk County school officials meet with members of the community to discuss their plans to turn around Lakeland Kathleen Middle School. Teacher improvement, students who are willing to learn and parental and community involvement are needed, they say. Lakeland Ledger. Bay Haven Charter Academy Inc. CEO Larry Bolinger outlines his plan to improve North Bay Haven elementary and middle schools from B grades they got from the state last year to A’s. Panama City News Herald.
T-shirt trouble: On World Diabetes Day, Plant High School junior Emily Conrad wore a T-shirt she designed to school to spread awareness about the disease and how it affects victims who have to prick their fingers multiple times every day for testing. But she was sent home because officials decided the shirt’s message – “Sick of the pricks” – was offensive to some people. WTSP.
Confederate flag flap: Three seniors at Coral Reef Senior High School are punished after bringing a Confederate flag to school the day after the presidential election. School officials say the students disrupted the “educational process.” Miami Herald.
Settlement considered: The Palm Beach County School Board will consider paying $100,000 to settle a lawsuit over injuries a student suffered during a pickup tackle football game four years ago at Okeeheelee Middle School. Palm Beach Post.
Employee arrested: A Highland Elementary School cafeteria worker is arrested after deputies find a gun in her car in the school parking lot. Felicity Lasonia Roberson, 44, is charged with possession of a firearm on school property. Palm Beach Post.
Opinions on schools: Spending money wisely is the challenge the Broward County School District is facing as it oversees the historic opportunity of investing the voter-approved general obligation bond money to make sure Broward’s students have the best opportunity to learn and succeed. Robert Weissert, Sun-Sentinel. Cheers to the St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Duval County Public Schools for teaming up to provide a cultural and learning experience for low-income pupils. Florida Times-Union.
Student enrichment: Mitchell High School sophomore Levi Fallavollita, a 16-year-old who has written two books about bullying, shares his experiences with students at Seven Springs Elementary School. Tampa Bay Times. Oakcrest Elementary School is trying to turn around its academic struggles by emphasizing relationships with parents, the community and businesses. Pensacola News Journal. Fifth-graders at Rawlings Elementary School are singing at Disney World over the holidays as part of the Disney Youth Performing Arts program. Gainesville Sun. Thirty-three senior football players at William T. Dwyer High School receive suits as a reward for graduating from an eight-week class in financial literacy. Palm Beach Post. Students at the Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication welcome back teacher Jill Bass with a rendition of Fight Song. Bass, 35, returned to her third-grade classroom Monday after surgery for breast cancer. Bradenton Herald. Hutchison Beach Elementary School wins a countywide competition by signing up the most new library card owners. Panama City News Herald. The Citrus County Education Foundation begins its annual First Library reading program. It puts volunteers readers into pre-K through kindergarten classes, then sends the books they read home with the children. Citrus County Chronicle.
