Schools and guns: U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reportedly considering a plan that would allow school districts to use federal funds to buy guns. The proposal would use money from the $1 billion Student Support and Academic Enrichment program, which was set up to help the country’s poorest schools by improving school conditions and technology. If the proposal goes into effect, Education Department officials believe it would be the first time a federal agency has allowed the purchase of weapons without a mandate from Congress. Educators and some politicians react with criticism. New York Times. Politico. Association Press. The 74. Education Week.
School security: Marion County School Board members say the district delayed informing parents about a school threat this week for four hours “under guidance from Ocala Police Department.” They’re urging district officials to meet with the police to reach an agreement that allows the district to notify parents sooner without disclosing details. Board member Kelly King says the district should be permitted to send a message such as: “All students are safe. More details later.” Ocala Star-Banner.
Air conditioning problems: Temperatures are rising in Hillsborough County classrooms as aging air-conditioning systems struggle to keep schools cool. Some classrooms are showing temperatures of 87 or 88 degrees. The district has been working on the longstanding problem, but says it doesn’t have the $340 million needed to fix every malfunctioning unit. Tampa Bay Times.
Mental health services: Fourteen of Sarasota County’s 23 elementary schools will get mental health counselors, paid for with the $1 million the district is getting from the state for expanding mental health services. Ten of those schools have a high number of students in low-income households. “We are placing a contractor therapist in every single school that we select based on referrals and high risk, so they are not going to be changing one employee here and there,” says Sonia Figaredo-Alberts, the district’s head of pupil support services. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Contract negotiations: Several Pasco County School Board members and teachers are dubious about a proposal to raise pay for teachers by $3,300 a year if they agree to working an extra 30 minutes a day. Board vice chairwoman Alison Crumbley says about 60 teachers who volunteer to handle a sixth teaching period a day already get paid an additional $5,000 a year, but the idea is “worth discussing.” Gradebook.
Turnaround plan: Jim McCollum, recently hired as the new principal at the Marion Military Academy charter school, presents a turnaround plan to the Marion County School Board to improve the school’s grade to a C after six years of D’s from the state. McCollum says struggling students will be urged to attend special tutoring sessions on Fridays, and a new literacy plan is initiated that requires students to read 32 novels in their high school years. Ocala Star-Banner.
Education podcast: The lawyer representing the group Citizens for Strong Schools talks about the nine-year-old lawsuit over the state’s education funding. The case is now headed to the Florida Supreme Court. Gradebook.
Another haircut issue: A Christian school in Jacksonville sends a letter home telling a mother her 8-year-old son’s haircut violates school dress code. The boy wears a high top fade. Last week, a 6-year-old boy was turned away from his Christian school in Apopka because he had dreadlocks. WJXT.
Stop the bleed kits: About 3,000 “stop the bleed kits” have been purchased by the Northeast Florida Health Care Coalition and will be distributed to all public schools in 18 Florida counties. The kits include a tourniquet, gauze and bandages, and are meant to stop severe bleeding. WJAX.
New schools: Construction is progressing on a new elementary school in Santa Rosa Beach that will accommodate 1,012 K-5 students when it opens next August. Dune Lakes Elementary is the first elementary school built in south Walton County in more than 20 years. Northwest Florida Daily News. Construction begins on the new Stanley Switlik Elementary School in Marathon. The demolition and construction of the existing will happen while classes are held in a “portable classroom campus.” Key West Citizen.
Career academy cost: Building a vocational technical career academy charter school in Port St. Lucie could cost as much as $50 million and should be the responsibility of the state, according to members of the Port St. Lucie City Council. The council will consider the proposal on Monday. If it approves and everything falls into place, the free vo-tech school for grades 6-12 could open as soon as August 2019. TCPalm.
Personnel moves: Brian McClellan is appointed as principal at Osceola Creek Middle School in Loxahatchee. He had been an assistant principal at Seminole Ridge High School. Town-Crier. Jenny Duesler is the new assistant principal at Wellington Elementary School. Town-Crier.
School board elections: The campaign treasurer for Hernando County School Board chairman Mark Johnson donated over the legal limit to Johnson through his two businesses, The treasurer, Greg Myers, called it an “inadvertent typographical error” and rerouted the donations to comply with the law. Tampa Bay Times. A 19-year-old Broward County School Board candidate has spent thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for Uber rides, restaurants, groceries and a consulting fee to a person with a fictitious name. Elijah Manley says, “I’m not an expert on campaign finance law, so I’m really learning on the job.” Sun-Sentinel. With three seats in play, the Brevard County School Board elections could produce a majority in favor of training district employees to carry guns in schools. Florida Today.
Student found safe: When the parents of a 6-year-old student at Challenger Elementary School in Tamarac arrived to pick her up Thursday, she wasn’t there. She was reported missing, but was found a few hours later in the school’s after-care program. Miami Herald.
Bus driver qualifications: The shortage of school bus drivers in Polk County prompts the school district to consider changing the requirement for applicants to have a high school diploma or GED into a preference. School board members support the move, but some say pay increases are also needed. Lakeland Ledger.
Ex-teacher sentenced: A former Citrus County elementary school teacher is sentenced to three months in jail and three years of probation after being convicted of selling marijuana from her home. Kimberly Hellenberg, 56, was a teacher at Pleasant Grove Elementary School for 29 years. Citrus County Chronicle.
Student arrested: A student at John I. Leonard High School is arrested for bringing an unloaded handgun to the Palm Beach County school in his backpack. Palm Beach Post.
School bus burns: A school bus with 14 students from Charlotte Harbor School catches fire in Port Charlotte, and several bystanders help the driver and students escape before flames erupt from the engine and destroy the bus. Charlotte Sun.
Opinions on schools: The Hillsborough County School District obviously needs more money and faces major challenges, but it needs to get its house in order, create a specific plan and start selling it to voters before scheduling any tax referendum. Tampa Bay Times. The choice of the name North River High School for a new Manatee County school makes sense, was unanimously selected and deserves to stand. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. A common complaint from opponents of government-sponsored programs is that tax dollars shouldn’t go to pay for religious schools. But the reality is that tax money has been going to religious schools for decades – they’re called colleges and universities. Scott Kent, redefinED. Private K-12 schools, religious and otherwise, participating in Florida’s state scholarship program should be subject to an accreditation program, just as public schools are, that requires teachers to have bachelor’s degrees. Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow. A software overhaul has overwhelmed the Manatee County School District, and is a sign the district needs to ask for help. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The car line at schools is a reminder to tell your children, “Do as I say, not as I drive.” Andy Reid, Sun-Sentinel.
Student enrichment: The Bay County School District kicks off an anti-bullying campaign called “It’s Cool to be Kind.” Panama City News Herald.
