Peterson is a no-show: Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resource officer Scot Peterson, who hid in an outside stairwell instead of confronting the school shooter Feb. 14 as 17 were murdered in the Parkland school, did not honor his subpoena to testify Thursday before the commission investigating the massacre. Peterson’s attorney, Joseph DiRuzzo, did appear to say he had filed a motion to quash the subpoena and that he is suing the commission for exceeding its statutory authority. And Peterson has started a GoFundMe page to try to raise $150,000 for his legal defense. Two other officials who were criticized for their actions did speak. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel defended his agency’s performance and said its policy is that deputies “may” confront a shooter, not that they “shall.” He also said he wants “an effective tactical response, not a suicide response.” Robert Runcie, superintendent of Broward schools, apologized to the families of the victims, and says he may discipline some Stoneman Douglas administrators next week. Sun-Sentinel. Miami Herald. Associated Press. Politico Florida.
Discipline guidelines: Guidelines put in place in 2014 by the Obama administration to address discipline disparities in the nation’s schools will be rescinded when the federal school safety commission issues its report by the end of the year, according to reports. That panel is led by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The Obama policy sought alternative measures to address the wide variation in discipline handed out to white and minority and disabled students. Critics say the guidelines may keep violent students in school. Politico.
Election recounts: The election recounts are in, mostly, and Republican Ron DeSantis’ lead in the governor’s race barely changed while the U.S. Senate and state agriculture commissioner races are headed for a manual recount. Machine recounts from Broward, Palm Beach and Hillsborough counties were not concluded by Thursday’s deadline, so their original vote totals stand. Politico Florida. Associated Press. How might DeSantis govern on education? Florida Phoenix. Recapping how the election results may affect education. Gradebook.
Legislative leadership: State Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, is named president pro tempore of the Senate, and says he will continue to push to improve education. Simmons wants to increase the number of schools receiving extra help through the Schools of Hope program, find money to pay teachers more and improve scrutiny of the state’s scholarship programs. Gradebook. Florida Politics.
Mid-year bonuses: The Orange County School Board approves mid-year bonuses of $750 to all 24,000 district employees. The district had announced in July that it would give all employees a $500 bonus. School officials say the bonuses will cost the district more than $19 million. Orlando Sentinel.
Educators honored: Three finalists are named for the Seminole County School District’s teacher of the year award. They are: Sarah Hall, a kindergarten teacher at Longwood Elementary; Morgan Frank, a math teacher at Markham Woods Middle; and Katherine Jucker, an English teacher at Lake Brantley High. The winner will be announced Feb. 1. Orlando Sentinel. Fifteen teachers are named semifinalists for the Duval County School District’s teacher of the year award. Five finalists will be selected in December, and the winner in February. Florida Times-Union. LaShawn Frost, principal at Sarasota’s Booker High School, is named the Sarasota County School District’s principal of the year, and Riverview High’s Kathy Wilks is named the top assistant principal. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Your Observer.
Volunteers honored: Alexandria Pizzino, a student at Park Vista High School, is named youth volunteer of the year for the Palm Beach County School District. Timothy Arnold is the adult volunteer of the year for his work at Crosspointe Elementary School, and Gerre Wood is chosen the top senior volunteer for her service to Roosevelt Elementary School. Palm Beach County School District.
Schools of excellence: Four Duval County schools were recently designated as Schools of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education. New Berlin Elementary, Seaside Community Charter, Sandalwood High and the Duval Charter School at Flagler Center earned the designation by exceeding 80 percent of the points required and by earning a school letter grade of A for at least two of the past three years. WJCT.
From classroom to the board: Teachers in Marion and Pinellas counties say goodbye to their students as they begin their new jobs as elected members of their school boards. Ocala Star-Banner. Gradebook.
Volusia out of lawsuit: The Volusia County School District has been dropped as a defendant in the lawsuit against the state’s teacher bonuses program, known as the Best and Brightest program. The Florida Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, sued the state and 67 counties last year to stop awarding teacher bonuses under the program. Forty-three counties have since been dropped as defendants. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
New school name: In a 3-2 vote, the Hillsborough County School Board agrees to change the name of Lee Elementary School, which is named for the Confederate general, to Tampa Heights Elementary. Tampa Heights is the neighborhood where the school is located. Two board members voted against the change, saying the community hadn’t been given enough time to properly consider options. Tampa Bay Times. WFLA.
A school day for a trans student: Three years ago, Nate Quinn, a transgender student at the Pine View School in Sarasota County, pushed to have the right to use the boys bathrooms and locker rooms. He was denied. Now, the district has changed its guidelines to allow those rights, and a day in the life of a transgender 4th-grader at Venice Elementary School is a different story. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
School bus safety: Pasco County sheriff’s deputies begin closely watching traffic around stopped school buses on U.S. 19 after hearing about drivers failing to stop as required by law. They ticketed 13 drivers Wednesday, and say they’ll continue to monitor until drivers get the message. Tampa Bay Times.
Religious expression policy: The Flagler County School Board reluctantly adopts the state’s religious freedom in schools policy, word for word. The law, passed by the Legislature in 2017, expands religious expression on school campuses and during school, protects religious dress and wearable symbols and allows students to pray in groups during the day with school staff as long as it’s initiated by the students. Flagler Live.
Student arrested: An 18-year-old student at Seminole High School in Sanford is arrested and accused of forcing a girl under the age of 16 to perform a sex act on him in a school stairwell. Brandon L. Hughes, 18, is charged with lewd or lascivious battery. Orlando Sentinel.
Opinions on schools: School choice, and the teaching of equality. John E. Coons, redefinED. The most disturbing thing about the Newpoint charters schools case is it will not cause even a hiccup in the Legislature’s drive to continue expanding the presence of new charter schools and funding opportunities. St. Augustine Record.
Student enrichment: Thirty-two St. Johns County students are named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. St. Augustine Record. A class at Eustis Middle School raises $500 to buy harnesses and bulletproof vests for dogs in the Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 Road Patrol unit. Daily Commercial.
