Around the state: A sports betting proposal has been pitched in an effort to fund education, schools in Manatee will see upgrades, a building was renamed after a late school board member, more vaccination sites are opening in Duval, and student art exhibitions are on display. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: Administrators in Palm Beach County are moving to enhance the role of “social and emotional learning,” but are facing pushback from teachers worried about the introduction of sensitive and complex topics in the classroom, and what they call a distraction from academics. The issue is playing out this year at Olympic Heights High, where administrators have redrawn class schedules to build in 15 minutes a day for “Pride Time.” Palm Beach Post.
Hillsborough: An exhibition of student art called “A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay: Conservation Inspiration through Art” is on display at The Florida Aquarium. The exhibition includes 24 pieces of student art from 14 Tampa Bay schools created from marine debris and plastic pollution collected offshore along Anna Maria Island. St. Pete Catalyst.
Orange: Hundreds of students and their families came to Jones High School this weekend for a free physical and an electrocardiogram test. An organization called Be A Player planned the free event, run by volunteers and designed for student-athletes in Orange County. WKMG.
Duval: Over the next few weeks, five new vaccination sites will open at Duval County schools. Clinics are open to anyone aged 12 and older. News 4 Jax. After her uncle’s death, Gianna Capri launched fundraisers in his memory for a planned therapeutic sensory room at the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine’s Morning Star School in Jacksonville. The school serves children in kindergarten through 12th grade who have learning disabilities and mild intellectual disabilities. The Florida Times-Union.
Lee: Superintendent Greg Adkins reflected on his time leading Lee County Schools, and what’s next. Fort Myers News-Press.
Brevard: Florida Rep. Randy Fine and conservative parent’s group Moms for Liberty on Friday accused Brevard Public Schools of teaching staff critical race theory and seeking to make it part of school curriculum. Florida Today.
Volusia: The school board approved a new three-year contract for longtime board attorney Ted Doran a week before his current contract was set to expire. The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Manatee: Construction projects at high schools in Manatee are adding capacity to Lakewood Ranch High, fixing flooding issues at Palmetto High and securing every public school with new fences. The school district is both on schedule and within budget for the projects, which also include the renovation and expansion of Braden River Middle and Witt Elementary schools, and the replacement of Sugg Middle. Bradenton Herald. Walter Miller’s legacy will continue on, as the late school board member and assistant superintendent, who died in 2019, now has a building named after him. A grassroots movement by friends who wished to honor Miller led to the School Board voting to rename the district’s main administration building in Bradenton as the Walter E. Miller School Support Center. Bradenton Herald.
Citrus: A senior at Crystal River High has her painting on display in the U.S. Capitol. Stacia Bowers was awarded first place at the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for Florida’s District 11. Citrus County Chronicle.
Sports betting: A political action committee backed by DraftKings and FanDuel have filed a proposed constitutional amendment with the state Division of Elections that would legalize sports betting and direct the state’s proceeds toward education. The amendment, sponsored by a political action committee known as Florida Education Champions, would allow sports betting at professional sports venues, pari-mutuel facilities, and statewide, via online platforms. Then, if betting revenues are taxed, the money would go into what is known as the state Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. Fox 13. Florida Politics. News 4 Jax.
Intellectual diversity: A bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis calling for “intellectual diversity” on college campuses drew a mix of criticism and support nationwide. The bill goes into effect on July 1. Tampa Bay Times.
Critical race theory: The state’s ban on teaching critical race theory in schools won’t affect teaching Black history in Florida schools. Lakeland Ledger.
Reading scores drop: School districts in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties saw a decrease in third-grade reading proficiency this year. Pensacola News Journal. Meanwhile, St. Johns County third-grade reading scores are steady at No. 1. St. Augustine Record.
Missing students: During the 2020-2021 school year, 1.3 million students disappeared from public school rolls, according to a new report from Education Week of available state-collected data. 74 Million.
Virtual learning: As he continues to push to reopen schools, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he is worried about students who will choose to learn virtually next year, and about schools using that option for students who would benefit from hands-on learning. Chalkbeat.
University news: University of South Florida Athletic Director Michael Kelly asked for more fan, alumni and community support after a successful spring during a news conference last week. Tampa Bay Times. Former Florida A&M University president Frederick S. Humphries died. Humphries, who was 85, oversaw the revival of FAMU’s law school and doubled university enrollment through scholarship programs that drew highly talented students to FAMU. The Associated Press. Orlando Sentinel. Florida State University students are using drones to map Panama City Beach. WJHG. Crowley Maritime donated $2.5 million to University of North Florida for transportation and logistics education. The Florida Times-Union.
Opinions on schools: Florida seeks not to further intellectual diversity, but to prevent it. Leonard Pitts, Tampa Bay Times. The Hillsborough County School Board rejected a series of charter schools last week, but it appears that in several cases, the School Board was acting in its own interests, and not those of students and parents. Editorial Board, Tampa Bay Times. States and parents hold a certain range of authority, since the state decides what qualifies as a school, and the parent decides which one, whether it’s public, private, religious, or a home school. John E. Coons, redefinED. New legislation provides for a survey of public university professors and students to determine whether adequate “intellectual diversity” exists. Under the First Amendment, faculty members and students can’t be compelled by the government to respond to the survey, and professors will ignore it as an assault on academic freedom. Ken Paulson, Naples Daily News. Students are aware that adults are afraid to talk about critical race theory. Instead of banning it in schools, we should be honest about its political orientation, and how this contrasts with modern liberalism, classical liberalism and populism. Dave Dubay, Orlando Sentinel. With a challenging year of school behind us, the summer months are filled with activities that support continuous learning. Susie Bowie, Bradenton Herald. Second generation college students also need support. Donald M. Ruff Jr., Chalkbeat.
