BOE and Corcoran: Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis reportedly wants to appoint former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as education commissioner to succeed Pam Stewart. But state law places the responsibility for selecting the commissioner in the hands of the Florida Board of Education. Will its members go along with DeSantis or, as they have in the past, conduct a national search for Stewart’s replacement? Gradebook. WFSU.
Teachers back choice: More than half of America’s public school teachers support school vouchers and charter schools, according to the annual survey by EdChoice, which describes itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit collector of information about school choice policies in the United States. Fifty-four percent of teachers support vouchers, the survey found, and 57 percent approve of charter schools. The survey also found that 86 percent of parents were very or somewhat satisfied with their home-schooling experience, compared with 79 percent for private schools, 78 percent for charter schools and 66 percent for public district schools. redefinED.
Victims fund sought: Families of the victims of the Parkland school shooting are asking the Broward legislative delegation to create a special fund to compensate them. State law limits the total liability of school boards to $300,000 per incident, which would have to be shared by all 17 families of those shot to death Feb. 14 and the 17 who had a family member wounded. Sun-Sentinel.
School shooting fallout: The chairman of the state commission looking into the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School says more educators and law enforcement officers could face disciplinary action. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says he’s sent evidence about the actions of individuals before and during the shootings to the Broward sheriff and school superintendent for their review. The panel’s report and recommendations is expected to be delivered to the governor and Legislature Jan. 1. WLRN.
After the storm: Two months after Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, the Gulf County School District says enrollment is at 93 percent of state projections before the storm. “They are not all the same kids we had before,” says assistant superintendent Martha Weimorts. “Some have come from Bay County and we lost some students who were displaced.” The next head count will be done in February. Port St. Joe Star.
Tax hike vote analysis: Support for the Palm Beach County School District’s property tax hike was widespread across race, age and party lines, according to an analysis of the results. Only six of the 643 precincts with more than 100 votes voted against it. Palm Beach Post.
School corridor plan: The Pasco County School District wants to restructure the dozen schools along the U.S. 19 corridor in an initiative called Project RISE. The plan calls for closing two schools, adding advanced academics such as International Baccalaureate in schools, and creating partnerships to provide other services for students. Tampa Bay Times.
District station’s future: A panel of Miami-Dade school leaders and business officials meeting to discuss the future of district-owned public radio and TV station WLRN talk more about the station’s coverage and diversity than its future. The panel will decide sometime next year whether to recommend the school board sell the station, have a third party run it or revamp the community advisory board to introduce greater diversity. Miami Herald. WLRN.
Legislative wish list: Charlotte County School Board members meet with their legislative delegation today and say they will ask for more money for school security, flexibility to rehire retired employees a month after they leave instead of waiting a year, and restoring funding for career education to 2007 levels. Charlotte Sun.
Mental services forum: How the Brevard County School District is providing mental health services to students is the topic of a community forum in Viera. Also discussed is how schools are training students for careers in vocational fields. Florida Today.
New school name: The school advisory council at Mayport Middle School in Duval County wants to change the name of the school to Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School to reflect that it’s been a coastal sciences magnet school since 2011. Superintendent Diana Greene will now get community input and make a recommendation to the school board. WJXT.
Sports fields saved: The Palm Beach County School District won’t be using the sports fields at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School as a location for a school of portables for students of two elementary schools that are being demolished and rebuilt. The school board approved a proposal to put the portables at Countess de Hoernle Park in Boca Raton, adjacent to Estridge. The temporary schools will be needed until August 2021. Sun-Sentinel.
Board told to rehire worker: An administrative law judge orders the Okaloosa County School Board to rehire a custodian who had been fired. The judge says the district didn’t have just cause to fire Stephen Hall, a Choctawhatchee High School custodian, last December for gross insubordination, misconduct and harassment. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Sexual abuse detailed: A federal prosecutor says Kyle Ritsema, a former assistant principal at Cypress Creek Middle/High School in Wesley Chapel, and William Napolitano, a former Pasco County School District transportation manager, sexually abused children and possessed child pornography. Napolitano, who will be sentenced today, was arrested in October 2017. Ritsema was arrested in February. Tampa Bay Times.
School staff threatened: The parent of a student at Jerry Thomas Elementary School in Jupiter is arrested and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest after allegedly threatening school employees. Palm Beach Post.
Teacher arrested: Dyrren Barber, 29, a gifted teacher at Bartow Middle School in Polk County, is arrested and accused of driving under the influence after he hit another car, a telephone pole and drove through a fence. Lakeland Ledger. Orlando Sentinel.
Student arrested: A 17-year-old student at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland is arrested and accused of having a loaded handgun in his backpack. He’s charged with possession of a firearm on a school campus, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, possession of a firearm by a juvenile and disruption of a school function. Lakeland Ledger. Orlando Sentinel.
Student’s plea deal: As part of a plea bargain, a 19-year-old Northview High School student is ordered to write a 250-word apology to the school for threatening to blow it up. Pensacola News Journal.
Opinions on schools: Even in polarizing times, surely we can agree that supporting a marginalized population of teens in schools – transgender kids – is a good idea. But in Pasco County, conservative groups say no. Sue Carlton, Tampa Bay Times.
Student enrichment: Students at Gulf Elementary School in Cape Coral have choices when it comes to seating in classrooms. Fort Myers News-Press. Holocaust survivors tell their stories to Broward high school students during the annual student awareness days sponsored by the Holocaust Documentation & Education Center. WLRN. A Palatka man hands out dollar bills to Putnam County students at bus stops. WJAX.
