Naming rights: The Lee County School District is starting to see revenue from its decision to selling naming rights to schools’ facilities such as athletic fields, performance halls and libraries, and to sell advertising on the main website. Fort Myers News-Press.
District problems: The Florida Board of Education is still looking for a long-term solution to the financial and academic problems in the Jefferson County School District. The district has yet to adopt a budget, and some board members are pushing for a state takeover or a constitutional amendment to change the rules governing school districts. WFSU.
Rezoning plan approved: A committee of parents and school officials narrowly approves a rezoning plan to ease overcrowding at middle and high schools in southwest Pasco County. The first public hearing on the new map is Dec. 20, and the school board is scheduled to vote on the proposal Jan. 17. Gradebook.
Drivers file suit: Bus drivers file a federal lawsuit against the Sarasota County School District, alleging they are not being paid for any work they do beyond the time the district estimates it takes to complete a route. The group of current and former drivers is calling the district’s actions “wage theft.” Saintpetersblog.
Contract negotiations: Lessons from last year’s contract negotiations impasse between the St. Johns County School District and the teachers union led to a willingness to compromise this year, say officials on both sides. St. Augustine Record.
Teacher pay: Collier County teachers are paid more than the average teacher in the state, according to the Florida Department of Education. They make an average of $54,878, well above the state average of $48,179 and fourth-highest in Florida. Naples Herald.
School board election: Hillsborough election officials say the recount of the District 7 school board race won’t be finished before today at the earliest. Lynn Gray received 1,233 more votes than Cathy James out of 474,051 cast. Tampa Bay Times.
Educators honored: Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg, principal at Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School, wins the Council for Educational Change’s annual Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award. It’s the first time the award has been given to a principal of a charter school. Miami Herald. Ten Pinellas County teachers are chosen as finalists for the teacher of the year award. The winner will be announced Jan. 31. Gradebook.
Enrollment boost: Francis Marion Military Academy has doubled its enrollment in the past year, and now school officials have to come up with a plan to improve student performance. The charter school has received three consecutive D grades from the state, and a plan for improvement must be ready for implementation by next fall. Ocala Star Banner.
Principal shuffling: A K-8 charter school in Wellington has gone through three principals already this school year. All have been fired or resigned since August from Eagle Arts Academy. In September, the school was ordered to repay the Palm Beach County School District money it paid to the school’s founder and current executive director, Gregory James Blount. Palm Beach Post.
Official in custody: A Flagler County School District administrator is taken into custody after he was found running naked along State Road 100 in Bunnell. Deputies say Shawn Schmidli, 35, director of growth and management, also was speaking incoherently. Schmidli is in custody under the state’s Baker Act. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Grade-changing alleged: A teacher at an Orlando virtual school is accused of changing grades for five students who did not meet the threshhold for passing a math course. Russell Fox was fired from the Florida Virtual School and his teaching certificate was suspended for a year. WFTV.
Teacher investigated: A Montessori teacher at a Venice charter school is placed on leave after police launch a criminal investigation into his activities. Mathew J. Minton, 24, is a social studies teacher at the Island Village Montessori School. Neither police officials nor the school would comment on the investigation. An attorney for an alleged victim says the investigation centers around sexual activity. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. WTSP.
Librarian sues school: A former librarian at Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary is suing the Pinellas County School District over injuries incurred in 2012 when a toilet at the school exploded and shards of porcelain cut her leg. Tampa Bay Times. WFLA.
Opinions on schools: Honest students who care give community leaders a valuable lesson. Ernest Hooper, Tampa Bay Times. John Padget’s departure from the Florida Board of Education means there will be one less strong voice insisting that Florida’s educational reach should exceed its grasp. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
Student enrichment: Manatee County students get hands-on time with farm animals during AgVenture, an annual event sponsored by the Manatee County 4-H Club. Bradenton Herald. The Jupiter High School marching band wins the Class 4A state championship for a third straight time. Palm Beach Post. Students at Rymfire Elementary School in Palm Coast create a Native American Mall of America to present their research findings on the land’s original inhabitants. Daytona Beach News-Journal. About a half-dozen students lead classes at Rosenwald High School as part of American Education Week. Panama City News Herald.
