Guns and schools: The number of Florida children killed by guns is up 20 percent since 2010, and injuries are up 36 percent. Some legislators think more guns is the solution to the problem, and are proposing that gun-free zones – including at K-12 schools – be eliminated. State Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, says people are less safe in gun-free zones because they can’t protect themselves. “There’s not a school resource officer in every one of our elementary schools,” Steube said. “If a terrorist wants to come in and start shooting our kids, there’s nothing to stop them.” Tampa Bay Times.
Charters vs. districts: The debate about state funding maintenance and construction for charter schools and public schools will intensify when the Legislature begins its session March 7. Both the Senate and House want to increase state funding for charter schools, but have different ideas about how to make it happen. Miami Herald. redefinED.
Whistleblower bills: Two bills are filed that would protect school employees from retaliation for revealing fraud or violations of laws or rules at the state’s schools. The “whistleblower” bills, H.B. 1035 and S.B. 1236, were filed by Rep. Kim Daniels, D-Jacksonville, and Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, respectively. Gradebook.
Teacher’s fall from grace: Samantha Major was a natural for the mentoring program at Boca Raton High School. Her bosses said the young teacher was empathetic and had a rapport with students. But within months of trying to help a troubled 15-year-old girl, Major was the subject of a school investigation alleging she mishandled the situation, and the Palm Beach County School Board will consider firing her this week. How did it come to this? Palm Beach Post.
WLRN future: Miami-Dade School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho appoints a committee of professional journalists and government officials to advise the district on ways to ensure that WLRN retains its independent journalism. Last week, the district drew up an operating agreement that would have made the station’s journalists employees of the school district. The announcement was widely criticized, leading the district to say it did not intend to interfere in editorial decisions, but simply wanted to have greater oversight of the station’s fund-raising group. Miami Herald.
Teachers honored: Latrece Brown, a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Andrew Robinson Elementary School in Jacksonville, is named Duval County’s teacher of the year. Florida Times-Union. The city of Gainesville opens the A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, honoring the legendary educator who led the former all-black Lincoln High School in 1926 to become the second fully accredited black high school in the state. Gainesville Sun.
Educators murdered: A sixth-grade math teacher and an assistant principal at Lake Gibson Middle School in Lakeland are murdered in their Brandon home as they prepared for school Friday. Deputies say the teacher, Lisa Fuillerat, 51, and assistant principal Samara Routenberg, 39, were shot by Fuillerat’s estranged husband Vincente Fuillerat, 53, who then killed himself. Lakeland Ledger. Tampa Bay Times.
Charter school growth: A report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools suggests that charter school growth may be leveling off, even as the number of students in charter schools has grown to more than 3 million nationally. redefinED.
Alternative success: A new behavior program cuts referrals at the Sumter County Alternative School in Bushnell and draws the attention of educators from around the country. The school emphasizes positive reinforcement, and allows no bullying, disrespect and F grades. Daily Commercial.
Struggling schools: This week the Polk County School Board will hear updates on five struggling middle schools that are in state-mandated turnaround plans. If the schools don’t get a grade of C this year, they face further operational requirements by the state Board of Education. Lakeland Ledger.
Bathroom access: The Leon County School District joins other state districts in announcing it will continue the protections for LGBT students in using school bathrooms. Tallahassee Democrat.
Online graduation: Nineteen people make up the first grading class of the state-funded Career Online High School at the Orlando Public Library. The program, which allows people to complete their high school requirements online for free at libraries, is offered in 25 counties around the state. Orlando Sentinel.
AP tests: While Florida was fourth in the nation for the percentage of students who passed at least one advanced placement exam, the College Board reported last week, it was 41st was in the percentage of passing scores by its 2016 graduates. Orlando Sentinel.
Sales tax complaints: Members of the Panama City Beach City Council complain to Bay County School Board member Steve Moss that the city’s schools aren’t getting their fair share of the money generated by the half-cent school sales tax. Panama City News Herald.
School repairs: Fort Walton Beach High School receives a $22,000 grant to fix some structural issues at the schools’ theater. It was one of just two Florida schools to receive money from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Classroom Resource Grants. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Student arrests decline: Arrests are down in schools in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. WPEC.
Ex-principal sues district: Former Port St. Joe High School principal Jeremy Knapp is suing the Gulf County School District, saying he was fired because he needed several back surgeries. Panama City News Herald.
Porn on school laptop: A parent complains to Bay County school officials that her daughter was able to access pornographic websites on her laptop issued by Surfside Middle School. School officials say the school’s firewall missed the websites because they didn’t use keywords that would trigger the filters. Panama City News Herald.
Teacher arrested: A fifth-grade teacher at Samuel Gaines Academy in Fort Pierce is arrested and accused of child abuse. Leah Merrique Germain allegedly shoved one student, then grabbed another student who was filming the incident and shoved him into a railing. She has been reassigned to a job outside the classroom while the investigation continues. Palm Beach Post. TCPalm.
Opinions on schools: The president last week ended federal protection for transgender students that required schools to allow them to use bathrooms matching their gender identities. The administration called it a “states rights” issue, using that as the excuse to discriminate. Please. Gary Stein, Sun-Sentinel. The stress on teachers and students over test preparation and exam days diminishes the enthusiasm that an education should bring. We hope Manatee County School Board member Charlie Kennedy can convince a majority on the board that his proposal for cutbacks warrants approval, at the least as an experiment. Bradenton Herald. The Legislature wants to make school district share their tax dollars with schools that compete against them, while also restricting their ability to raise taxes for our crumbling, crowded public schools. We find little sense or comfort in the Legislature’s lack of trust in our local cities, counties and school districts to govern, nor in the Legislature’s belief that it can do better. Daily Commercial. The continued independence of WLRN must be non-negotiable. Miami Herald. Public radio stations like WLRN and many other news organizations believe in the mission of journalism to serve the people by reporting the truth as closely as that can be known and to do it in a way that is impartial, fair and accurate. In order to carry out this mission, newsrooms must be independent from the interests of the organizations they must cover. Rick Johnson, Sun-Sentinel. The biggest, most dangerous gun-free zone of them all — schools. Thankfully, some are pushing for teachers and administrators to be able to carry guns. Come on, people, why stop there? Let the kids carry guns, too. Ron Littlepage, Florida Times-Union. Florida students are not being well-served by “alternative” schools. Florence Snyder, Tallahassee Democrat. If Collier County School Board members want to find a top-notch school system to emulate, they don’t have far to look. They can look to Collier County. Naples Daily News. There are five critical elements to a successful charter school. Pat Drago, Daytona Beach News-Journal. It’s instructive to compare K-12 education in Missouri, whose governor acknowledges the state’s problems, and Florida, whose governor insists the state’s schools are a model for the country. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow.
Student enrichment: Twelve students at Pensacola High School are named National Merit Scholarship finalists. The school’s previous best was eight in a year. Pensacola News Journal. A record number of Florida students are taking up international-style target archery. Winter Haven News Chief. Three teams of students each win $10,000 grants from United Way for social change projects. Florida Times-Union. About 150 Bay County students participate in the annual MathCounts competition. Panama City News Herald. Third-graders at Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary School get to play with puppies and learn about animal advocacy. Bradenton Herald.
