DOH discourages vaccines for healthy kids: Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo is bucking the Centers for Disease Control, saying the Florida Department of Health will recommend that healthy children not get the COVID-19 vaccine. Ladapo said the DOH’s decision will be the first of its kind in the country. His announcement came Monday during a 90-minute roundtable also attended by Gov. Ron DeSantis and other doctors who have publicly expressed skepticism about the masking requirements, vaccinations and lockdowns that were enacted during the pandemic. “We’re kind of scraping at the bottom of the barrel, particularly with healthy kids, in terms of actually being able to quantify with any accuracy and any confidence the even potential of benefit,” said Ladapo. The announcement was widely criticized by other health officials and doctors. Tallahassee pediatrician Dr. Louis St. Petery called the announcement “totally crazy,” and Dr. Tommy Schechtman, a Palm Beach County physician and ex-president of the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said, “As a pediatrician, as somebody trained in public health, it goes against every tenet of public health policy, practice that we have been practicing for decades when it comes to vaccines.” Politico Florida. Associated Press. Tampa Bay Times. Orlando Sentinel. Sun Sentinel. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida Politics. WPTV. Axios. CNN.
Parental rights bill: A day of protests by students, LGBTQ activists and some Democrats during the four-hour debate on the Senate floor on Monday didn’t dissuade Republicans from moving ahead with the bill that states “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” A vote could come as soon as today. Supporters say the bill’s intent is to strengthen families, while critics say it targets the LGBTQ community. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Orlando Sentinel. Capitol News Service. Politico Florida. Miami Herald. Florida Politics. Florida Phoenix.
Accreditation bill: A bill that would change the accreditation process for colleges and universities was approved Monday by the Florida Senate in a 22-15 vote. Schools would not be permitted to use the same agency for consecutive accrediting cycles, and would have to make public additional information about textbooks and instructional materials at least 45 days before classes start and for five years after. A controversial amendment added to the bill last Friday also remains in the approved legislation. It allows the Florida Board of Governors to create a uniform standard for post-tenure reviews of faculty, with “consequences for underperformance.” Critics worry it would could be used to fire professors who teach a class or write an article disapproved by politicians. News Service of Florida. Florida Politics. Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald. WFSU.
Also in the Legislature: Scheduled adjournment for this session is Friday. Educational issues still unresolved include boosting teacher pay, requiring greater scrutiny of school books and teaching materials, whether districts that defied the state’s ban on face mask mandates will lose $200 million in state funding, and more. Florida Politics. School districts will be allowed to separate teacher evaluations from collective bargaining under a bill approved Monday in the House. Teachers unions opposed the proposal, saying it will worsen the teacher shortage. Florida Politics.
Around the state: Newly named Broward Superintendent Vickie Cartwright is proposing to hire two deputy superintendents who each will earn more than $278,000 a year in total compensation, Broward school board consider a proposal to mandate “respect and civility,” Pasco County’s school district spent more than $11 million in COVID-related claims in 2021 and nearly all of it was on unvaccinated employees, Palm Beach County school officials said they’re seeing signs of students recovering learning lost during the pandemic, Sarasota voters go to the polls today to consider whether to renew the 1-mill property tax for schools, one Bay County school remains closed today because of wildfires, and a new school in Lee County will get a Spanish name that reflects its location. Here are details about those stories and others from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Miami-Dade: A monitor at Horace Mann Middle School in El Portal has been put on leave pending an investigation of his actions during a recorded altercation with a 14-year-old student. The student refused the employee’s request to take off his hoodie, and the monitor responded by pinning the boy on the ground and putting a knee on his shoulder. He then wrapped his fingers around the boy’s neck. “The behavior portrayed in this video is difficult to watch and runs contrary to the comportment that is expected of all Miami-Dade County Public School employees,” a district spokesperson said. WPLG. WSVN.
Broward: Newly named Superintendent Vickie Cartwright is proposing a reorganization that would create two deputy superintendent positions, one for teaching and learning and one for operations. Total compensation for each, including benefits, would be $278,000 a year. Sun Sentinel. At today’s meeting, school board members will consider approving a new “respect and civility” policy that includes students but is directed primarily at unruly behavior by adults attending board meetings and visiting schools. It would prohibit behavior that is “disrespectful or uncivil based on the ‘reasonable person standard’ ” that it defines as “one of normal sensitivity, considering the social context in which the particular behavior occurs, and is experienced by its target.” Abusive and obscene language, conduct that is “demeaning, humiliating or bullying,” criticism delivered with “yelling, screaming, threats, extreme sarcasm or insults,” and spreading spreading misinformation or embarrassing photos would all violate the policy. Penalties for violations could range from a warning to a no-trespass notice. Anna Fusco, president of the teachers union, called it “an effort to censor people. It’s unnecessary.” Sun Sentinel. A 5-year-old student who injured a teacher in an attack last week at Pines Lakes Elementary School won’t be charged, according to Pembroke Pines police officials. The teacher was hospitalized and will need surgery, according to teachers union officials. WTVJ. WPLG.
Hillsborough: A former health-care executive is launching a micro-school in Tampa this fall that focuses on self-directed learning. Beth Ann Valavanis talks Apollo Academy, an affiliate of the Acton Academy founded in Austin, Texas, in 2010, which will emphasize teaching children how to think, harness their curiosity and explore instead of memorizing information or doing homework. reimaginED.
Palm Beach: Diagnostic testing suggests that the district’s students are starting to recover from learning losses incurred during the pandemic, school officials recently told the school board. Improvements are being noticed in reading and math, said deputy superintendent Ed Tierney. The return to classes of many students who were previously not attending school, more tutoring, greater use of assessment software and a decision to push more students into advanced math courses are cited as reasons for the gains. But not everyone is making improvements. Ninth-graders have struggled to adapt to high school and continue to lag in math, reading and biology, Tierney said. “In the best of times, that’s a tough transition,” he said. Palm Beach Post. WPTV.
Duval: A classroom paraprofessional at Westside High School has been arrested and accused of having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student who was described as having the mental capacity of an 11-year-old. Julie Rodeheaver, 42, was removed from the school and reassigned to other duties while the investigation continues. WJAX. WJXT.
Polk: A Bartow Middle School teacher faces two misdemeanor charges for allegedly biting two students on the arm in a dispute over a jar of pickles in the school store. Rhonda Rice told school officials she was just “playing around with students.” She was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. WFLA.
Lee: School board members showed their unanimous support Monday for naming a new school Amanecer Elementary School. The school is being built on Sunrise Boulevard in Lehigh Acres, and Amanecer is the Spanish word for sunrise. Amanecer was favored over using the names of early Lehigh residents Lee Ratner or Gerald Gould. A final, formal decision will be made by the board later this month. Fort Myers News-Press.
Pasco: The school district spent more than $11 million in COVID-related claims in 2021 and nearly all of it was on unvaccinated employees, according to data provides by district plan manager Blue Cross. The disclosure comes as school district officials are considering whether a policy change is needed to right the finances of the self-insured program. Among the possibilities are using federal coronavirus aid or adjusting premiums for plan members. Tampa Bay Times.
Manatee: A Parrish Community High School freshman recently beat out 17,000 other U.S. and international students to win the “Embracing our Differences” art competition. Mia Gonzalez’s piece is named “Cultural Buffet.” WWSB.
Sarasota: Voters go to the polls today to consider whether to renew the 1-mill property tax for schools. The initiative was first approved in 2001, and generates about $71 million a year that’s used to raise teacher salaries, extend the school day by 30 minutes, improve technology and more. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Alachua: Julie Rye, a clerical assistant at Santa Fe High School, has been named the district’s school-related employee of the year. Gainesville Sun. WGFL.
Bay: Waller Elementary School in Youngstown will remain closed today due to smoke in the area from wildfires raging in the county, school officials announced Monday. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work through our current wildfire situation. We continue to work closely with emergency management officials and have made the difficult decision to keep Waller closed for one more day due to that school’s proximity to the smoke,” according to a statement from district officials. Panama City News Herald. WMBB. WJHG.
Flagler: Joe Rizzo, the executive director of the Flagler Education Foundation since 2013, died Monday at the age of 47. No cause of death was given. Flagler Live.
Colleges and universities: A University of West Florida professor has invented a less expensive and invasive method than now used for early detection of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. James Arruda and UWF have signed a contract with BIOPAC Systems Inc. of California to develop a devise based on the research. Pensacola News Journal. A University of South Florida committee is recommending that the school build an on-campus football stadium on 27 acres behind its current practice fields. Trustees will consider the proposal at today’s meeting. Tampa Bay Times. Nearly half of the $39.6 billion in federal emergency relief funds for colleges went to minority-serving institutions, according to the Biden administration. Politico.
Opinions on schools: Policy can change quickly with focused attention. Would that we demonstrate the same urgency in addressing stunning American illiteracy rates that Western Europe is showing regarding Ukraine. Matthew Ladner, reimaginED. The state’s recommendation that children not get vaccinated against COVID-19 is another irresponsible act in Gov. DeSantis’ full-bore campaign to undercut common-sense health measures as invasions of “freedom.” Sun Sentinel.
