H.B. 7069 lawsuit: The Sarasota County School Board votes against joining other districts in a proposed lawsuit against the state over the new education law, H.B. 7069. Board member Bridget Ziegler proposed a motion to “suspend all consideration or further allocation of resources toward the support of any potential litigation challenging House Bill 7069,” which was adopted. She said the vote gave the district an “opportunity to send a message that we are above the political theater” of wasting “time, money, and intellectual capital” on legal fees. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sunshine State News. Duval County School Board chairwoman Paula Wright says a proposed audit is unlikely to explain how the district overspent its budget by $21 million last year, and criticizes state Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, for requesting it. Fischer also condemned the board for considering joining a lawsuit against the new state education law. Wright’s reply: “We are not going to be pushed or bullied … to do things quickly for the benefit of others.” Florida Times-Union. A review of text messages details the last-minute fighting in the Legislature over H.B. 7069. Politico Florida.
Teacher evaluations: Florida school districts haven’t lived up to the “spirit” of the state’s 2011 teacher evaluation law, according to a new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality. In most places, the report says, teachers can still get a larger pay bump for having a master’s degree than for receiving a “highly effective” evaluation. National Council on Teacher Quality.
Charter funding: The Broward County School Board agrees to share some of the property tax money it collects with the five-school charter system owned and operated by the city of Pembroke Pines. The city has been asking for money from the district since 2005. The board said its decision to share applies only to the Pembroke Pines schools and not schools owned and operated by charter companies. A new state law calls for districts to share local property taxes collected with charter schools, but Broward and several other districts say they will be filing a suit challenging the constitutionality of it. Sun Sentinel.
School budgets: The Hillsborough County School Board gives tentative approval to a $2.9 billion budget. Tampa Bay Times. The Bay County School Board tentatively approves a $376 million budget, an increase of $18 million over last year despite a slightly lower proposed millage rate. Panama City News Herald.
Choice program breakdown: Students who use Florida’s tax credit scholarships are disproportionately disadvantaged economically and academically, according to the Department of Education’s latest evaluation. The typical scholarship student maintains his or her position compared with students nationally, with almost 50 percent showing gains in their reading test scores and about 47 percent showing gains in their math test scores. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the tax credit scholarship program. redefinED.
Arts school profile: Miami’s New World School of the Arts has a long list of accomplished alumni, a 100 percent graduation rate and a 96 percent college attendance rate despite yearly struggles for funding. The formula for success is training and talent. “If you are surrounded by people who are excelling and pushing themselves to be great, that is infectious,” said Alex Lacamoire, a 1992 New World graduate and a two-time Grammy and three-time Tony winner. New York Times.
Contract negotiations: St. Lucie County teachers, paraprofessionals and clerical workers agree to a contract with the district that calls for 2 percent raises, plus contributions to employee health savings accounts and insurance premiums. TCPalm. The Manatee County teachers union and school district begin contract negotiations. District officials say they have set aside about $3.7 million for raises. Bradenton Herald.
Stalemate on academy: Marion County School Board members split on revoking the charter of the Francis Marion Military Academy. Two members want to move against the school, which has had academic and financial problems, while two others are inclined to give the academy another year to recover. The board will reconsider when all five members are present at a regular meeting. Ocala Star-Banner.
Evac Movement: The teacher of a leadership program for young men at Lee High School says it is ending, and members of the community are rallying to support both the program and the teacher, Amy Donofrio. School officials deny the program is ending, though they would not say who would lead it. Parent Rebekah Mino says not just any teacher is equipped to lead the program. “Children who have or are experiencing trauma can’t be dealt with in a cookie-cutter fashion,” she said. “Trust and relationship-building are huge challenges in these circumstances.” Florida Times-Union.
Panic app: The Seminole County School District is the first district in the state to use a panic button app, which can send an alert simultaneously to 911 and school employees in an emergency. The app syncs with GPS to allow first responders to pinpoint the location of the emergency. WMFE.
School scorecards: The Pasco County School District will stop issuing school scorecards that showed the public gains or losses in student performance. Twelve schools participated in the pilot project, which was launched two years ago. Superintendent Kurt Browning says the scorecards added paperwork and weren’t widely viewed. Gradebook.
Turnaround school: The Madison County Central School will soon begin the second and final year in its state-mandated turnaround plan. In a letter to school employees, Superintendent Karen Pickles warns that without improvement, “A charter company [would] now run the school. Some employees will no longer have jobs. Of those who remain, most will no longer be members of the Florida Retirement System. The School Board will no longer have a voice or say over the charter school.” Madison County Carrier.
Saving a building: The Martin County School Board is giving the Arts Council of Martin County an opportunity to buy the old school administration building. The new headquarters will open in 2019. The Arts Council wants to use the 94-year-old building as a cultural arts center. TCPalm.
School starts: The Palm Beach County school year starts Aug. 14 this year, a day earlier than in 2016. And it will move up another day in each of the following two years – to Aug. 13, 2018, and Aug. 12, 2019. Palm Beach Post. The Hillsborough County School District is considering starting high schools at 7:15 or 7:45 a.m. in the 2018-2019 school year. WFLA.
Board member resigns: Linda Moultrie, chairwoman of the Escambia County School Board and a member since 2008, is resigning. Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says Moultrie is leaving due to “family issues and other personal concerns.” Gov. Rick Scott will appoint a replacement until the November 2018 election. Pensacola News Journal.
Teacher arrested: An Alachua County teacher is among 25 people arrested and accused of embezzling more than $350,000 over four years from the University of Florida’s Transportation and Parking Services operation. Lashonda Katreece Colson, 44, a 4th-grade teacher, is being placed on administrative leave. Gainesville Sun.
Opinions on schools: The Duval County School Board should stand up to the Legislature’s bullying tactics and join the lawsuit challenging the new education law. Ron Littlepage, Florida Times-Union. Collier County School Board members reached a reasonable compromise in initially adopting a tax rate for next budget year that invests in the future while giving a break to businesses and others who don’t benefit from a homestead exemption. Naples Daily News. There’s a lack of accountability at the Francis Marion Military Academy. Elizabeth Cohen, Ocala Star-Banner.
Student enrichment: Six Palm Beach County middle school students in a summer class at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium launch a balloon with a video camera 22 miles above the Earth and get a spectacular video of the planet’s curvature. Palm Beach Post. There are many options to donate back-to-school supplies to needy south Florida students. Miami Herald. Opa-locka students get certified in computer coding through a summer camp put on by the Opa-locka Community Development Corp. Miami Herald. The Pensacola community raises $50,000 to help the Workman Middle School orchestra replace instruments and equipment that were lost in a fire in May. Pensacola News Journal.
