School security: Hillsborough County school officials may consider using the district’s own security staffers, who are not sworn law enforcement officers, to comply with the new state law requiring an armed officer in every school. They and Sheriff Chad Chronister had rejected considering the guardian program in the new state law, but a $16 million shortfall in security funding is forcing the cash-strapped district to look at all options. “We’re having those conversations and reviewing every aspect of this law to know how we implement it, ensure safety at every one of our campuses and come as close to in-budget as possible,” says Superintendent Jeff Eakins. Tampa Bay Times. Treasure Island, a small coastal town in Pinellas County, has 450 school-age children but no schools. Still, its police department is working with the district to lend a few officers to help meet the requirements of the new state law. Gradebook. More school officers and security measures are on the way to Wellington schools but the process will take time, residents are told by school and law enforcement officials at a town meeting. Palm Beach Post. The Parkland school shooting has prompted other states to re-evaluate their school security. Gradebook.
District hiring freeze: The Pasco County School District implements a freeze on all hiring and new purchases. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis, says Superintendent Kurt Browning. District officials are trying to conserve money to help pay for unanticipated expenses, such as placing a resource officer in every school. Gradebook.
Charter school ties: The wives of two of the Legislature’s strongest supporters of charter schools and choice are on charter school boards that hope to open schools in 2019 in Leon and Martin counties. Anne Corcoran, wife of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, who founded a charter school, is helping with a proposed school in Tallahassee. Erika Donalds, wife of Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, is helping a group trying to open a school in Martin County. Neither is being paid, and both say they see no conflict of interest. Committees in the two counties have recommended their school districts approve the schools’ applications. Gradebook.
School shooting developments: Zachary Cruz, brother of admitted school shooter Nikolas Cruz, reaches a plea deal on a charge of trespassing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and is released from jail. He’ll be on probation for six months, and his conditions include no drugs, alcohol or firearms and staying at least a mile away from the school. Sun-Sentinel. Miami Herald. Some parents of south Florida students who have disabilities are being taunted at school or being asked if they’re the next school shooter. Nikolas Cruz reportedly has autism. Sun-Sentinel. Some black students at Stoneman Douglas say they are being overlooked in the debate about school safety, and that the conversation doesn’t acknowledge how gun violence affects them. Vox. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department has a new app, called StudentProtect, that students, parents or staff can use to anonymously report school threats or suspicious activity. Palm Beach Post.
Cybersecurity concerns: After a data breach at the Florida Virtual School, which left the personal information of about 50,000 Leon County teachers and students vulnerable, the school district is re-evaluating its own cybersecurity protocols. WFSU.
Superintendent’s apology: Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna issues an apology over language he used while speaking at the local March For Our Lives rally last Saturday. On the old Capitol steps, and referring to the Legislature’s actions, Hanna said: “I want to know what idiot in this building thought that was a good idea. After the atrocities at Parkland, the best they can do — raise the (gun possession) age, ban bump stocks? I call BS.” Tallahassee Democrat.
Contract agreement: The Martin County School District and its teachers union reach an agreement on a contract that provides raises of $300 to instructional employees and also boosts the starting teacher salary by $300, to $38,300. Teachers rated highly effective will now get $1,800, and effective teachers will get $1,200. The deal, which the school board approved earlier this week, will cost the district $2.1 million. TCPalm.
Excused absences: Most school districts in the Tampa Bay area are out of class today, Good Friday. Pasco County is not, but students who wish to take the day off to observe the holiday will be given excused absences. Gradebook.
Board member’s address: Lee County School Board member Steven Teuber’s driver’s license and voter registration give a Manatee County address. Teuber says his address may be out of county, but he resides in Lee County and has done nothing wrong. He also says the controversy over his residency may prompt him to reconsider his decision to give up his seat when his current term expires. Fort Myers News-Press.
K-8 risks, rewards: The Hillsborough County School District is betting that converting several elementary schools into K-8 schools will slow down the number of students leaving the district’s public schools for charter schools. About 300 students already have applied for seats in Lutz, Maniscalco and Pizzo elementary schools, which are being converted to K-8 for the next school year. Tampa Bay Times.
Spelling bee may die: Lack of a sponsor could mean no Lee County spelling bee this year, and no path for school champions to qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Fort Myers News-Press.
Changing sports rules: A Fort Myers mother whose son collapsed and died at a high school football practice in 2017 has been lobbying the Florida High School Athletic Association for changes in the regulations for outdoor practices, and the FHSAA meets next month to consider them. Laurie Giordano wants wet-bulb globe thermometers at each practice and cold water immersion tubs near the fields. She’s also pushing to require coaches to be trained on identifying symptoms of heat illness. WFTX.
Stadium completed: Bay County school officials unveil the new Tommy Oliver Stadium in Panama City. More than $12 million was spent for upgrades, including a new track and scoreboard. The first events will be high school graduations, and next fall the stadium will be home to events for Mosley, Bay, Rutherford and North Bay Haven high school teams. Panama City News Herald.
Teacher’s drug charges dropped: Drug possession charges against a 5th-grade teacher at Osceola Elementary School in Collier County are dropped for a lack of evidence, according to court records. Jason Siciliano, 42, has resumed teaching at the school. Naples Daily News.
Threats at schools: A 15-year-old 7th-grader at River Springs Middle School in Orange City is arrested after making a threat to “shoot up the school.” It’s the 19th arrest of a Volusia County student for making threats against schools since the shootings at a Parkland school Feb. 14. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Two Jacksonville schools are locked down when a man was seen carrying a gun on campus. Deputies arrested a 17-year-old near Kirby Smith Middle and Andrew Robinson Elementary schools, and charged him with carrying a firearm on school property. WJAX.
Sexual assaults in schools: Sexual assaults and offenses jumped 55 percent in Duval County schools last year, according to a Florida Department of Education report. Nine were reported at Mandarin High School, the most in the county for the second straight year. WJAX.
Opinions on schools: Fact-checking statements made by Florida legislators who attended a town meeting about school security in Brevard County. Florida Today.
Student enrichment: Two members of the Gulf Breeze High School mock trial team win first-place medals in the state finals of the mock trial competition. Jack Hitchcock was named outstanding witness and Blake Barclay was chosen outstanding attorney. Gulf Breeze News. Hernando County students are taste-testing food to provide feedback on dishes that are being considered for school lunches next school year. Tampa Bay Times. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office uses beeping eggs in an Easter egg hunt for visually impaired students. TCPalm.
