Bills signed: Seven education bills are among the 29 that Gov. Rick Scott signs into law. They are: H.B. 3A, which boosts per-pupil spending in K-12 schools by $100 a year; H.B. 15, which expands Gardiner scholarship eligibility and funding for students with special needs; H.B. 989, which allows any resident to challenge textbooks and materials used in school; H.B. 1109, which allows private school students to participate in some public school extracurricular activities; H.B. 1239, which hikes the penalties for injury-accidents resulting from a school bus passing violation; H.B. 899, which relates to transitional educational programs; and H.B. 781, which revises rules on school grades for feeder schools. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Gradebook. WCTV. Politico Florida. Last week Scott signed H.B. 749, which allows charter school and Florida Virtual School employees to be eligible for state employee adoption benefits. Palm Beach Post.
Educational politics: How much of a factor will the recently enacted education bill, H.B. 7069, be in next year’s elections? The architect of the bill, House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, thinks the answer is a lot. Corcoran, who is widely thought to be a candidate for governor, recently tweeted: “The bill is virtually 100% public school funding. It will be an issue in 2018. A referendum on who cares more about low income education!” And U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat who is expecting a challenge from Republican Gov. Rick Scott, bashed Scott’s signing of the bill in a recent letter asking for support. Gradebook.
Hiring freeze lifted: The less-than-1-month-old Hillsborough County School District hiring freeze has been lifted for teachers. It remains in effect for all non-classroom personnel except school bus drivers. Gradebook.
Changing statues: Florida legislators will try again in the next session to replace the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith at the U.S. Capitol. Each state gets two statues in the National Statuary Hall. Smith and John Gorrie, widely considered the father of air conditioning, represent Florida. The Senate passed a bill that would have replaced Smith with educator Mary McLeod Bethune, but the House had no companion bill. News Service of Florida.
Early-release days: The Brevard County School District is likely to abandon the idea of moving early-release days from Wednesdays to Fridays for the 2017-2018 school year, but will pursue it again for the 2018-2019 school year. District officials say moving early-release to Fridays will help students dual-enrolled at Eastern Florida State College, because the college is closed Fridays. Florida Today.
Lobbying for trainers: Parents and members of the Pasco County community are lobbying the school district to continue having certified athletic trainers available at sporting events. Florida Hospital, which subsidized trainers, told the district in May that it would no longer do so, and the district said there was no money available to keep the program going without the subsidy. Gradebook.
Lawsuit twist: The judge scheduled to hear a lawsuit against the Manatee County School Board by a former Manatee High School football coach disqualifies himself. Twelfth Circuit Court judge Lon Arend didn’t give a reason. Joe Kinnan, the former coach, is suing the board and several others, alleging defamation, breach of contract, negligence, invasion of privacy and abuse of process. Bradenton Herald.
Resurfacing tracks: The Alachua County School Board will reconsider a decision to re-asphalt tracks at Gainesville and Santa Fe high schools after hearing from track coaches about the damage asphalt tracks do to runners. The cost difference between reapplying asphalt and covering the tracks with recycled rubber is about $100,000. Gainesville Sun.
Political ambition: The athletic director for the Manatee County School District is running for the Florida House District 40 seat. Jason Montgomery, 43, a Democrat, says he is frustrated by education policies being approved in Tallahassee. Bradenton Herald.
Assistant principal arrested: Mary Jean Taylor, an assistant principal at Dixie Hollins High School, is arrested in St. Petersburg on suspicion of driving under the influence. WTSP.
Opinions on schools: Broward County has expanded its definition of redevelopment to include early childhood education. It is hard to overstate the impact that high quality early childhood education can have on a child or a community. Beam Furr, Sun Sentinel. The governor has taken advantage of a great opportunity in H.B. 7069 by expanding educational opportunities for students, rewarding hardworking teachers and ensuring parents have the tools they need to help their children succeed. Collier County School Board member Erika Donalds, Naples Daily News. Lawmakers need to eliminate the uncertainty surrounding Bright Futures beyond 2018. Next year, they should revive the effort to make this year’s expanded scholarship permanent, preferably as its own standalone bill so it won’t attract another veto for unrelated reasons. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Strengthening fiscal accountability for charter schools should be a legislative priority, and can be accomplished without sacrificing school choice. Panama City News Herald.
