Teacher bonuses suit: A legal challenge to the state’s teacher bonuses program will be allowed to proceed, a federal judge has ruled. The Florida Department of Education had asked the judge to dismiss a suit, filed by the Florida Education Association, which alleges the state discriminates against older teachers and minorities because it uses teacher scores on ACT and SAT college-entrance exams to help determine eligibility for the bonuses. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle wrote, “These allegations may or may not be true, but they are not implausible, and the truth of the allegations cannot properly be resolved on a motion to dismiss.” News Service of Florida.
Constitutional amendments: The education committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission approves two of three proposals, and postponed consideration of a third. The committee approved proposals to impose term limits on school board members and end the elections of school superintendents. They advance to the commission’s local government committee. Tabled was a proposal to end salaries for school board members. Commission member Erika Donalds, who proposed all three measures, says she’s not sure if she’ll revise the tabled measure. News Service of Florida. Gradebook. WJXT. WFSU. Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas says a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow schools to comply with class-size limits based on average numbers of students wouldn’t help his district or any others that already allow school choice. WUWF.
District’s suspensions: The number of suspensions in Duval County schools is down for the seventh straight year, but the number of students who got at least one out-of-school suspension rose 7 percent. And the heaviest punishments fell predominantly on black students. Jacksonville’s NAACP wants the district to make cultural sensitivity training mandatory for teachers and school staff. Florida Times-Union.
Education budget: Gov. Rick Scott visits Tampa’s Mitchell Elementary School to lobby for his budget plan to boost spending for education by allowing districts to collect more money from property taxes that are increasing because of higher values. The House rejected that argument last year, requiring districts to roll back their property tax rates. “We have the money in the budget,” Scott said. “I’m just going to fight hard to get it. We have a $3 billion surplus in this budget.” Scott proposes to spend about $12 billion of his $87.4 billion budget on schools. Tampa Bay Times. Sunshine State News. WUSF.
DeVos’ visit: U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos visits three levels of schools in southwest Florida to promote career training and technical education, school choice and parental involvement. She also says her department is reconsidering guidance given by the Obama administration on disproportionate suspension and expulsion of minorities and students with disabilities. Cape Coral Daily Breeze. Naples Daily News. WINK. Politico Florida. Fort Myers News-Press. The 74.
Working the contract: Hillsborough County teachers are working only as much as their contract calls for this week, in a protest against the denial of promised pay raises by the school district. That means no after-school activities, no grading papers at home, no coming in early to tutor. “Our action is to call attention to the need for our district to reexamine its priorities and actually put students and educators first,” the teachers union declared on its Facebook page. WTSP. Tampa Bay Times. WFLA.
Health data collected: The Florida Department of Health will begin to collect health information from former students and employees at Manatee County’s Bayshore High School. A group of former students contends that contamination at the school has killed almost 100 Bayshore alumni over the years. WFTS. Bradenton Herald. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. WFLA.
Property competition: Stuart city commissioners say they want further discussion with Martin County school officials about a city property the district would like to be given for an administration center. The city also has an offer from a developer who wants to build 120 homes on the property. The school district will rework its proposal and meet with city commissioners again in January. TCPalm.
Board reorganization: The Manatee County School Board elects new officers today, and the decision could have an impact on the campaign to raise taxes to provide more money for the district and its teachers. Vice chairman Joe Colon says he won’t be running for the chairman’s job due to a work conflict. Bradenton Herald.
Employees honored: Five finalists are named for the Pinellas County School District’s support employee of the year. The winner will be announced Jan. 12. Gradebook.
Students arrested: Two DeLand Middle School students are arrested and accused of making false threats against other students at the school. The two said they were going to shoot up the school and set off a bomb. WKMG. Orlando Sentinel. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Coach, student missing: A 17-year-old Columbia County girl is missing, and authorities believe she ran away with her soccer coach, 27-year-old Rian Rodriguez. School officials say Rodriguez has been suspended as coach at Fort White High School. WJAX.
Bus driver shortage: The Nassau County School District is short nine bus drivers, which means that district now has one driver for every 84 students. The shortage is forcing the district to cancel field trips and sporting events. WJAX.
Opinions on schools: Hillsborough County’s teachers are underpaid, and it’s wrong not to give them the raises they were promised, but they’re making a mistake with their “teach to the contract” protest this week. Chris Barrett, Tampa Bay Times. The 15 school districts suing the state over the new education law would do better by using our precious tax dollars improving the failing schools under their control, rather than defending their failures. Darryl Reaves, Orlando Sentinel. Bridget Ziegler should be elected to take her turn as chairwoman of the Sarasota County School Board to demonstrate her commitment to the explanation of the value, and eventual passage of a special school tax. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Student enrichment: Two Jupiter Community High School students use an $8,500 grant from the Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank to install free sunscreen dispensers at 10 Palm Beach County locations. Palm Beach Post. A team of four Countryside High School students win a Congressional App Challenge in the 12th congressional district. Their app, Procrastin8, is Android-based and reminds students to study during designated study times. Gradebook. The Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School West Campus robotics team wins the Second Annual Junior Orange Bowl Vex IQ Tournament in Miami Springs. Sun-Sentinel. Lakeland Kathleen Middle School students place wreaths on the graves of 52 veterans. Lakeland Ledger. Officials from Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry give students at Combee Academy of Design & Engineering in Lakeland a course in programming robots. Lakeland Ledger.
