Lead: The Polk County School District is testing more than 150 schools countywide for lead contamination in drinking and cooking water, with four of the first five schools checked showing elevated levels for the toxin. Lakeland Ledger.
Teacher negotiations: Volusia County school district and the teachers union have been in bargaining since April. Among the remaining issues are the big-ticket items such as salary, length of elementary school day, and teacher planning time. Both sides feel that the other isn’t giving enough. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Taxes: With the school safety tax officially on the books for 2019, Lake County school district officials are now turning their attention to determining just how to spend the roughly $16 million the tax will bring in annually. Calculations of possible costs began in June. Daily Commercial.
Student struck: A Palm Bay student was injured on Friday after being struck by a car. The 12 year old was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Florida Today.
Teacher tutoring: In response to an increase in failure rates of teachers taking the state certification, a growing number of districts are turning to seminars, workshops, and tutorials to help those struggling as opposed to firing them. Tampa Bay Times.
Duval certification: Duval County Public Schools is offering a program that allows people without teaching certification to potentially become an elementary school teacher. The program which is called “Ready, set, teach!” helps prepare interested candidates for the Florida Teacher Certification Exam.The deadline to sign up is Thursday, Sep 6th. WJAX.
Student tutoring: With large student-to-teacher ratios, teachers often find themselves offering one-size-fits-all lessons and agonizing as they watch lower-performing students fall further and further behind their classmates. That’s why the Lake County School District and community leaders are pumping tutors into area schools in an effort to give more individual instruction to struggling students. Daily Commercial.
Grievance challenges: A former coordinator in the Marion County School District’s human resources department challenged the board to create policies that will protect employees, such as administrators, who are not represented by a union. Ocala Star-Banner.
Quality rating drop: Naples Preschool Academy is losing its Gold Seal quality rating after it delayed reporting a case of suspected child abuse last fall, according to state records. Naples Daily News.
Arrests: An employee at Port St. Lucie High School was arrested Friday on child pornography charges. Alexander Rivera Marcial, 36, a non-instructional school employee, was charged with possession of child pornography and promoting a sexual performance by a child. TCPalm.
School traffic: Some parents are wondering if heightened school security in the wake of the Parkland shooting is contributing to increased and frustrating levels of traffic in the mornings. As the fourth week begins, the Volusia County School District intends to investigate. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Principal reassigned: Former Gilchrist Elementary Principal David Solz was reassigned to a position at the Leon County district’s offices following an investigation into a relationship with a married teacher at the school. Tallahassee Democrat.
Air conditioning: Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Jeff Eakins warned that the district couldn’t afford to fix every AC system. However, he said all 308 schools would have cool air when classes started. But records show that 52 percent of the district’s schools have already reported air conditioning problems. Tampa Bay Times.
Therapy animals: Therapy dogs from all over the country were waiting for Marjory Stoneman Douglas students when they returned to school after the shooting in late February. Many students, parents and teachers said the animals made going back bearable. WLRN
School Board: After a recount, Broward County School Board incumbent Donna Korn defeated Ryan Petty, the father of a Parkland victim. Sun-Sentinel. Did anger over rezoning translate into anti-incumbent votes for Pasco County’s School Board? Tampa Bay Times.
Lockdown: Kinlock Park Elementary School in Miami was put on lockdown on Friday afternoon when a parent reported seeing a rifle being removed from a car near the school. The unidentified man was carrying a paintball gun. Miami Herald.
Opinions: Incoming Speaker of the House Jose Oliva measures freedom in Florida. Tampa Bay Times. Florida is facing a serious teacher shortage, and it’s no surprise. Tampa Bay Times. Recognizing the importance of substitute teachers. Sun-Sentinel. Greed over need as Hillsborough schools go begging. Sunshine State News. More than ever, public education needs the united voice of the FEA. Florida Phoenix. Teachers look to state leaders to boost education. Palm Beach Post. Support children with complex medical needs. Florida Times-Union. Solutions to fixing issues with Lee public schools. Fort Myers News-Press.
