Florida schools roundup: Amendments, H.B. 7069, educator bonuses and more

12 amendments proposed: The Style and Drafting Committee of the Constitution Revision Commission has consolidated 24 proposals into 12 amendments that it is recommending for the November ballot. Three education-related ideas — school board term limits, requiring a civics course for graduation and allowing the state to create a new entity to authorize charter schools — are consolidated into a single amendment. The other education proposal, which would allow high-performing school districts to have the same regulatory flexibility as charter schools, would stand alone. The proposals must be approved by the full CRC by May 10. Proposed amendments must be approved by 60 percent of the voters to be added to the state constitution. Miami Herald. News Service of Florida.

H.B. 7069 lawsuit: Lawyers on both sides of the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Legislature’s 2017 education law present their arguments to a Leon County judge and ask for a summary judgment. Those challenging H.B. 7069 say it strips local school boards of their constitutional authority, creates a separate system for charter schools outside local district control and changes the way local taxes are collected and spent. Lawyers for the state say the plaintiffs say provisions of the law are political decisions outside the court’s jurisdiction, and that the plaintiffs don’t have standing to bring the suit. Judge John Cooper did not rule Gradebook.

No bonuses for you: More than 1,000 Duval County educators have discovered that they won’t be getting their expected bonuses from the state under the Best and Brightest scholarship program. A revision in the law limits the bonuses to current classroom teachers, and excludes such employees as academic coaches, deans of students and school counselors, media specialists, psychologists, social workers, specialists and others. The district says it’s in no financial position to step in with payments for those who are missing out. Florida Times-Union.

Unequal discipline: Black students, boys and students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined in U.S. public schools, according to a report issued Wednesday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The agency analyzed data from the 2013-2014 school year. Among the specific findings: black students got 39 percent of all suspensions, but constitute just 15.5 percent of the school population; boys get two-thirds of disciplinary measures but make up just under 50 percent of the school population; and students with disabilities get more than 25 percent of disciplinary action even though they make up just 12 percent of all students. Politico. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos meets with supporters and opponents of the Obama administration’s guidance that was aimed to lessening racial disparities in disciplinary actions at U.S. schools. Politico. The 74. Education Week.

Superintendent stopped: Brevard County School Superintendent Desmond Blackburn is pulled over by police for failing to stop for a school bus — during the Melbourne Police Department’s bus safety week. Blackburn was given a warning. “I want to thank Melbourne PD for getting out and supporting bus safety week,” Blackburn said, adding that he appreciated the police reminding drivers about the school bus laws and that “I was one of the drivers that received a reminder.” Florida Today.

Staff saves student: Cypress Creek High School staffers are credited with saving the life of a 16-year-old boy who suffered cardiac arrest in gym class. P.E. teacher Wendy Rogers quickly called for help when Samuel Mazzeo collapsed on Feb. 23. Nurse Amy Ponce performed CPR, secretary Hannah Hall used a defibrillator to shock his heart and assistant principal Tim Light continued CPR, keeping Mazzeo alive until paramedics arrived at the Pasco County school. WFTS.

School security: The Palm Beach County School Board decides the district will not participate in the state’s guardian program that would allow teachers and other employees to carry guns in schools. The board will hire a security consultant for $45,000 to assess school security. Sun-Sentinel. The Putnam County School Board approves the addition of sheriff’s substations at Browning-Pearce and Mellon elementary schools. Interlachen High School already had a substation. The schools were chosen to provide geographic coverage of the county. WJXT.

Sales tax initiative: Bay County school officials want to put a half-cent sales tax hike for school construction and renovations on the ballot in August. The tax expires in 2020, but officials want it extended now so there isn’t any lag in funding. The tax has brought in more than $125 million from 2010 through 2017. Panama City News Herald.

Personalized learning: The drive to expand personalized learning in Florida was dealt a setback in the Legislature, leaving its future uncertain. redefinED.

Personnel moves: Brent Gaustad, principal at D.S. Parrott Middle School, is named principal at Moton Elementary School in Hernando County, and Patty D. Martin will be assistant principal. Tampa Bay Times.

False alarm: A 5th-grade teacher at Evans Elementary School in Seminole County accidentally presses the “active shooter” panic button alert on her phone, locking down the school and summoning police. “On a positive note, this demonstrates the system does work and provides for an immediate response,” says Mike Beavers, deputy chief at the Oviedo Police Department. Orlando Sentinel.

Kids Count rankings: Sarasota ranks fourth among Florida counties in the annual 2018 Florida Child Well-Being Index produced by Florida Kids Count at the University of South Florida, and Duval County is 43rd. St. Johns County rated first, Nassau third, Clay fifth, Charlotte 24th, Manatee 28th and DeSoto was last at 67th. Counties are ranked in 16 categories under groupings of education, economics, health and family and community. Within education, the categories are percentage of students not ready for kindergarten, 4th-graders not proficient in language arts, 8th-graders not proficient in math, and high-schoolers not graduating on time. Sarasota Herald-TribuneFlorida Times-Union.

A school’s problems: In a meeting with Wharton High School parents about troubles at the school this year, principal Bradley Woods says the school needs to clean up its act in every way. That means better teaching to motivate students, better supervision of the disruptive students and improving the school’s cosmetics to make students proud of their school. It was the first of five meetings to discuss ways to make Wharton safer and more orderly. Tampa Bay Times.

Budget issues: The Legislature’s budget is creating headaches for the Gulf County School District, but Superintendent Jim Norton says an assessment of the budget is required before the district can consider asking for a tax hike. The district expects a bump in enrollment, and the state funding that goes with it, in 2019 when several residential developments are finished. Port St. Joe Star. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson meets with school officials, teachers and students, who plead for more funding. Florida Politics.

School phone app: Flagler County school officials are considering leasing a new phone system app that would allow teachers to call parents from their cell phone but route it through the district phone system to keep the teachers’ numbers private. The cost would be $378,069. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Ex-teacher enters plea: A former Leon High School teacher pleads no contest on a charge of sexual activity with a 16- or 17-year-old former student. Brad Casalvieri, 31, will serve less than a year in jail, be on probation for five years and must register as a sex offender. Tallahassee Democrat.

Employees suspended: A Seminole County school aide accused of exposing himself to a coworker is suspended without pay. Anthony Bowie, a former NBA player, was hired by the district in 2010, and has helped run physical education classes. He denies the charge and has asked for an administrative hearing. Orlando Sentinel. A Jacksonville middle school school teacher is suspended without pay for failing to properly supervise her students. Duval County school officials say Diane Velez allowed two students to go to the bathroom for more than 20 minutes, and a boy was injured. District policy requires a teacher to notify administrators if students are gone more than 8-10 minutes. WJAX.

No charges for principal: Hillsborough County prosecutors say they will not bring charges against Coleman Middle School principal Michael Hoskinson, who was accused of aggressively grabbing a student. Several adults who saw the incident defended Hoskinson’s actions. Gradebook.

Racist language alleged: Several parents are accusing a teacher at Dinsmore Elementary School in Jacksonville of using the “n” word in class and playing a slave game. Duval County school officials say they are investigating, and have reported the allegations to the district’s Office of Professional Standards and the Department of Children and Families. WJAX.

Student arrested: A 16-year-old student is arrested for bringing a gun to South Fort Myers High School. The gun was found when officers searched his backpack after the boy threatened another student. Fort Myers News-Press.

Opinions on schools: Seminole County Commission members should think twice before scaling back an increase in impact fees intended to help the school district keep up with growth and avoid overcrowded classrooms and campuses. Orlando Sentinel. If Brevard School Superintendent Desmond Blackburn had received a ticket instead of just a warning for passing a school bus, the optics of the incident wouldn’t be so bad. Florida Today. The Florida Education Association’s message to teachers is to seize the day in November. Joe Henderson, Florida Politics. How about if we leave testing to the teachers so that it can actually have a positive purpose as a real instruction tool? Bill Hoatson, Tallahassee Democrat.

Student enrichment: The Marion County School District is sponsoring a literacy festival Saturday at Citizens’ Circle behind Ocala City Hall. Eighteen schools and more than 50 other organizations will staff 71 booths. Ocala Star-Banner. Pensacola High School senior Alexandra Iverson organizes an alternative prom, #PromToo, as a charity ball and a prom safe from sexual assault. Proceeds will benefit two organizations that supports victims of domestic violence. Pensacola News Journal. Child authors read their books to students at Eden Park Elementary School in Immokalee. Naples Daily News.


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BY NextSteps staff