Around the state: Scholarship funds are available for minority students in Volusia, a new library book circulation policy rolls out in Flagler, teachers in Santa Rosa are recruiting teachers and an elementary school music program has been extended in some Florida classrooms. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: Aspiring cooks at Lake Worth Community High School’s Culinary Academy got a visit from Food Network star Guy Fieri. Another bonus: Fieri donated $20,000 from his Guy Fieri Foundation to the school’s culinary program. Palm Beach Post.
Hillsborough: DeAndrea Daughtry’s goal of being her high school’s valedictorian was confirmed by Riverview High School officials. According to the Hillsborough County Public School District, Daughtry is also the school’s second Black valedictorian in 22 years. ABC Action News. Detectives arrested a teacher at Livingstone Academy after investigating allegations that he showed pornographic images and touched a student inappropriately. The academy, which has four campuses, is described as a school for children with disabilities, where Matthew Hike works as a teacher. He is also an assistant football coach at Bloomingdale High. Fox 13. ABC Action News.
Pinellas: The Pinellas County School Board decided this week to tighten its rules that relate to public input during board meetings. But some community activists have been critical of board decisions on issues, including masking since the pandemic began. Tampa Bay Times.
Volusia: The Harold V. Lucas Foundation is awarding $1,000 in scholarships to six minority seniors at Volusia County High School who excel in academics, athletics or citizenship. Application materials must be submitted by April 20. Scholarship recipients will be notified by May 4. Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Polk: After eight years, Lynn Wilson is stepping down from his post as a school board member. Lakeland Ledger.
Brevard: A middle school teacher here was arrested on charges of sending harmful material to a child. Detectives at the sheriff’s office say Joseph Komjathy, 40, who is a teacher at Stone Middle School in Melbourne, was arrested on charges of distribution of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. WKMG.
Alachua: All 50 of Alachua County traditional and charter schools have enacted an action-based safety and security program as of the 2021-22 school year. Action-based response protocols provide a clear, step-by-step instruction checklist instead of the binder of hypothetical scenarios that existed before. WUFT.
Santa Rosa: The school district here is looking to get a jump on recruiting teachers for next year, and is set to host a teacher job fair this weekend to get prospective educators face-to-face with officials from the district. Those who already have or are willing to obtain teacher certification are welcome, including those interested in positions in information technology, food services, transportation and custodial work. Pensacola News Journal.
Flagler: School board members here used the closing comments part of a recent meeting to discuss their feelings about the March 3 walkout protesting HB 1557. Daytona Beach News-Journal. Meanwhile, the school district here is rolling out a new library book circulation policy that balances freedom of access, browsing and borrowing privileges for students and parents, with restrictive measures that apply only to students and parents who choose that route. There would be no blanket bans, but parents would have the right to ban books for their own children. The policy has drawn attention from the state Legislature, governor’s office and other school districts. Flagler Live.
Music program: An elementary school music program has been extended in some Florida classrooms. The program launched in 2017, and was set to expire in June 2020. The pilot program will receive another extension and continue next year. In the program, kindergarteners through second graders in 10 participating schools in Alachua, Marion and Miami-Dade counties receive music instruction for at least 30 consecutive minutes twice a week. WUFT.
University and college news: Trauma survivors are now able to confront the memories that haunt them in a virtual reality world that’s so sophisticated that it can recreate the smell of an experience, thanks to a groundbreaking PTSD clinic at the University of Central Florida. Researchers hope the system, which was developed in part through a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, could improve a patient’s ability to work through triggers. Orlando Sentinel. Florida State University’s Graduate Assistants United (GAU) members rallied for better pay and workplace safety this week to demand compensation for financial setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tallahassee Democrat. USF on Thursday launched the Bellini Talent Development Center just a few days after choosing a new university president. The goal is to close the gap between academia and what employers want by providing training led by industry professionals, and to assist with internship placement. The 9,000 square foot building on the Tampa campus was made possible by a $10.6 million donation from USF alumni Arnie and Lauren Bellini. Tampa Bay Times.
