In the Legislature: Lessons about the emancipation of slaves would be required in high school history classes under a bill making its way through the Legislature. S.B. 1500, sponsored by state Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Ocoee, would establish May 20 as Emancipation Day, marking the day in 1865 when Florida slaves were set free. It also requires that students be taught about Juneteeth, the celebration of the emancipation of Texas slaves on June 19, 1865, which is now a federal holiday. “I think it’s very important that children know their history, especially the history of Emancipation Day in Florida,” said Bracy. He wants to pair the bill with similar legislation to give it a better chance to become law. Florida Politics. WMFE. Florida Phoenix. A bill creating a $4 million “educational recovery” scholarship program for K-12 students was approved Monday by a House subcommittee. Awards of about $1,000 would be given on a first-come, first-served basis for students whose schools are closed for 10 or more consecutive days because of an emergency. Florida Politics. Therapists and psychologists would be among the medical professionals authorized to write notes to excuse student absences under a bill approved Monday by a House subcommittee. News Service of Florida.
Around the state: Victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting were remembered on the fourth anniversary of the tragedy Monday, Hillsborough teachers reach a tentative agreement with the district on a one-year contract, the Monroe County School District names its teacher of the year, Monday was the first day on the job for Miami-Dade’s new school superintendent, Sarasota public school educators are eligible for “rejuvenation” grants, and Florida State University gets a $27 million federal grant to help train K-12 educators to improve learning outcomes for students. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: New Superintendent Jose Dotres, who started work Monday, faces challenges in hiring and retaining teachers and other employees, recovering learning loss during the pandemic, addressing students’ mental health issues, ginning up support for the renewal of a tax referendum for the district, as well as dealing with the distrust from some in the community over the perceived favoritism in the process that led to his hiring. He’s said the first things he’ll do are to take a “temperature check” of the district, touch base with community organizations and have “a very important conversation with school leadership and the regional superintendent to really recalibrate where we are as a district.” Miami Herald.
Broward: Four years after 17 students and school employees were killed and 17 others wounded in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, closure remains elusive for families of the victims, survivors and members of the community. Miami Herald. Sun Sentinel. WTVJ. WLRN. Many south Florida schools took part in a “day of service and love” on Monday to honor the victims. Sun Sentinel. WSVN. WFOR. WPTV. WKMG. Parkland activists rallied in Washington, D.C., on Monday to urge President Biden to take action on gun control. The father of a victim climbed a crane near the White House because he said he couldn’t get a meeting with the president, and former Stoneman Douglas student David Hogg urged Biden to “make good on your promises because kids are dying.” Sun Sentinel. Miami Herald. Associated Press. Are Broward’s schools safer since the tragedy? WPLG.
Hillsborough: Teachers union officials and the school district have reached a tentative one-year contract agreement on pay raises for the current school year. The sides settled on a deal that will give teachers $1,250 bonuses paid with $18 million in federal coronavirus relief funds, and increasing starting teacher pay to $47,500 a year. Union president Rob Kriete said once this deal is approved by teachers and the school board, he wants to immediately begin bargaining for the 2022-2023 school year. “It is absolutely unacceptable that we are back here in February, talking about a contract while our employees are working,” he said. Tampa Bay Times. WFTS. WTVT. About three-dozen students from Gaither High School in Tampa and their supporters gathered on a busy street outside the school Monday to protest bills (S.B. 1834 and H.B. 1557) moving through the Legislature that would restrict discussions about LGBTQ issues in classrooms. “They’re trying to make gay as if it is a bad thing,” said sophomore Aureanna Hadley. “When you tell people not to talk about something, it’s usually because it’s bad.” Tampa Bay Times.
Orange: A public school district in Indiana is looking to a free preschool program in Orlando as a model of how to expand educational opportunities for children 2 to 4 years old. The Tangelo Park Program was set up by hotelier Harris Rosen in 1993 and, according to Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Mark Daniel, delivers “unbelievable results” that Daniel would like to replicate. reimaginED.
Sarasota: As many as 25 county public school educators will be eligible for grants up to $12,000 under the new TIME Fellowship Program launched by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. Teachers, principal and assistant principals with at least three years’ experience in the district are eligible, and can use the money for projects that are “intellectually revitalizing and personally renewing,” according to the foundation. The deadline for applications is March 20. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Marion: The number of coronavirus cases in the school district dropped another 52 percent last week, to 248 from 513 the week before. Since late January, the number of cases has fallen 75.6 percent. Ocala Star-Banner.
Escambia: Students interested in medical careers got a boost recently with the delivery of ambulance simulators at Pensacola and West Florida high schools. Each simulator is a full-sized replica of the rear cabin of an ambulance, giving students a close look at the work of emergency medical technicians in an emergency. Pensacola News Journal. Law enforcement and school officials are investigating an allegation of sexual assault of a 7-year-old Warrenton Elementary School student by a classmate last week. WEAR.
Santa Rosa: An anti-vaping campaign will be launched in March in the district’s middle schools. “I would say within the last year is when it really just (became), ‘Hey, we might need to be putting something out there regarding prevention and awareness,’ ” said district spokeswoman Tonya Leeks-Shepherd. Pensacola News Journal.
Monroe: Zachary Owens, a math teacher at Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, has been chosen as the school district’s teacher of the year. Key West Citizen. Construction has begun on a STEM charter high school on Stock Island. The CFK Academy will be located on the campus of the College of the Florida Keys, the charter sponsor. Construction is expected to be completed by December, and the school will open in the fall of 2023. Florida Keys Weekly.
Colleges and universities: Florida State University’s Center for Reading Research has been awarded a $27 million federal grant to be home to a regional educational laboratory for the southeastern United States. The program, which includes 10 regional labs around the country, helps train K-12 educators to improve learning outcomes for students. WCTV. WTXL.
Opinions on schools: Should America be expanding its efforts to grow its own scientists and engineers? Or should it just stop trying and import the talent it needs? Paul Cottle, Bridge to Tomorrow. A strike by the Chicago teachers union shows why the nation needs school choice. Garion Frankel, reimaginED. Lawmakers continue to abuse the proven concept of home rule. Encroachment only undermines the ability of citizens to govern themselves, a right local communities worked hard to establish and, unfortunately, must continue to fight to keep. Palm Beach Post.
