Statewide races: Republican Ron DeSantis, who strongly backs school choice, wants 80 percent of all education spending directed into the classroom and pledges to expand the state's K-12 scholarship programs and career and technical education opportunities, narrowly wins the governor's race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. In other statewide races, Gov. Rick Scott defeats incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, Republicans win all three Cabinet seats, and 11 of the 12 constitutional amendments are approved with the required 60 percent majority. Associated Press. Politico Florida. Orlando Sentinel. The 74.
Tax initiatives: Voters approve all eight tax increases for education in the state. Sales tax hikes for construction and repairs of schools pass or are renewed in Alachua, Hillsborough, Lee, Martin and Polk counties. In Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Charlotte counties, voters approve higher property taxes to pay for school safety and teacher salaries. Politico Florida. (more…)
After the storm: Fifteen Bay County schools reopened Monday, more than three weeks after Hurricane Michael devastated the county and surrounding areas. A school district spokeswoman said about 90 percent of the teachers reported for work, but the district won't have a good count of students until later in the week. Students face a lack of supplies, no Internet service, damaged gymnasiums and split schedules. But the operative phrase of the day, according to Moseley High School principal Brian Bullock, was "we'll figure it out." Other Bay schools are scheduled to open later this week or next week. Panama City News Herald. Associated Press. WJHG.
Election day: More than 5.1 million Floridians voted before today, election day, according to state officials. That's 38.7 percent of the state's 13.27 million registered voters. On the ballot are the governor's race, a U.S. Senate race, 12 constitutional amendments, local ballot initiatives and school board elections. Polls are open until 7 p.m. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Hillsborough County is asking voters to approve an extra half-cent on the sales tax to raise money to pay for replacing and repairing faulty air-conditioners, make capital improvements and build schools, and harden schools for security. The tax would raise about $138 million a year and be collected for 10 years. Gradebook. State law bars school districts from spending money on political advertisements. But it doesn't stop school districts from using existing resources to communicate factual information about issues, such as a tax referendum. And so it is that every public school in Miami-Dade County has rotating messages on their school marquees drawing attention to the tax measure on today's ballot, #362, which would raise money for teacher pay and school security. Miami Herald. Previewing the races for district 1, 2 and 5 seats on the Brevard County School Board. Florida Today. (more…)
School choice survey: A recent survey concludes that the state's K-12 tax credit scholarship program has greatly expanded educational opportunities for low-income families, and that those families are overwhelmingly satisfied with the program. More than 14,700 parents responded to the survey by the advocacy and research group EdChoice, with 92 percent reporting they are happy with the program and 89 percent saying they were satisfied with the private schools they chose for their children. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship serves more than 100,000 students from families with an average income of $25,740 a year. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the scholarship. Gradebook. redefinED.
Contract negotiations: The Volusia County School Districts and its teachers union reach agreement on a three-year contract that gives teachers a 3 percent raise this year and 7.5 percent over the contract in return for a 30-minute longer elementary school day. Daytona Beach News-Journal. St. Johns County School District bus drivers will receive a pay hike of 50 cents an hour, to $13.57 as a starting wage, under an agreement between the union and district. St. Augustine Record. The Brevard County School District has cut $9 million from next year's budget. But school officials say nearly all of it is committed to mandatory spending on security and mental health services, charter school growth, money for the Florida Retirement System, costs to reopen South Lake Elementary School and resuming busing for choice schools, leaving little for teacher raises. The district has offered less than 2 percent, or about $575 a year for teachers rated highly effective. The union is demanding nearly six times that. Florida Today. The Pasco County School District is offering its teachers a 1.5 percent pay increase. The teachers want 3.75 percent, leaving the sides about $5 million apart. But both sides are optimistic that a deal can be reached soon. Negotiations resume in a week. Gradebook. (more…)
