Around the state: Members of the Alachua County Education Association are expressing concerns as they struggle to meet a membership threshold, pandemic funding is running out nationwide, Florida tops the nation in teacher vacancies and Florida A&M is receiving a federal grant. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state’s districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Brevard: Both Melbourne High and Viera High were placed on lockdown earlier this week as local law enforcement responded to what they suspect to be "swatting," a viral trend of making hoax calls of threats or scenarios that draw a large presence of emergency services or authorities. “We’re not sure where the calls came from,” said Sgt. Ben Slover, spokesperson for the Melbourne Police Department. Florida Today.
Pasco: A Beacon Christian Academy teacher was arrested this week after deputies say he used artificial intelligence to generate child pornography on yearbook photos of students at the school. Steven Houser of New Port Richey is a third grade science teacher at the school, authorities say. Tampa Bay Times.
Volusia: School officials here answered questions about an alternative school's transfer to Osceola. The Volusia County School Board made a decision in late February to relocate the Riverview Learning Center's alternative education program to the Osceola Elementary campus at the start of the 2024-25 school year. The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Alachua: Members of the Alachua County Education Association are expressing their concern as they struggle to meet a membership threshold. Members of the ACEA teachers union talked about changes they want in their contract during the school board meeting and mentioned the union is in danger of being abolished. WCJB.
New report: Community college enrollment rates have dipped 25% nationwide since 2011, according to a new report released by the Florida College Access Network. That has led FCAN to make a case to expand dual enrollment classes to all eligible middle and high schools statewide, allowing students to take college-level courses while still in middle or high school. “Dual enrollment provides a pathway to success for some of those underrepresented groups that might not otherwise start a pathway towards an associate's or, ultimately, a bachelor's degree,” said Dave Bush, the network’s director of research and policy. WUSF. WUWF.
Adults arrested: Two adults were arrested Tuesday after being accused of fighting a child at a school in South Florida. Germikia Denise Freeman, 32, and Charles Nathaniel Webb Jr., 37, were charged with child abuse with no great bodily harm, trespassing on school grounds after being given a warning and education institution interference. WSVN. KRDO.
Pandemic funding: The $190 billion in emergency funds given to schools during the pandemic is ending. NPR.
Teacher vacancies: Florida tops the nation in teacher vacancies. Florida has the highest demand for teachers, while Utah has the lowest. USA Today.
Principal news: The turnaround principal of Jefferson County K-12 school and a former longtime superintendent of Leon County Schools says he is keeping his options open amid community chatter that he plans to run for superintendent in Leon or Jefferson. Under Jackie Pons, the school earned a "C" grade from the state education department in 2023 after decades of lower grades. Tallahassee Democrat.
Colleges and universities: Allyson Watson, Florida A&M's vice president for academic affairs, announced this week that the university will be receiving $9 million to build community schools for young kids in the Big Bend. The award is part of a statewide partnership called Unlimited Potential Initiative that is shared between several colleges across the state, including the University of Central Florida and Florida International University. It’s meant to offer kids from low-income areas an opportunity to attend university-affiliated schools with the hopes of getting them more interested in going to college. WFSU. The Florida Institute of Technology soon will offer a degree in artificial intelligence. WFTV.
Opinions on schools: The year 2024 will be monumental for Florida International University. In addition to continuing to top the state's performance-based funding metrics, the university is anticipated to be named a preeminent state university by the Florida Board of Governors at its June meeting. Kenneth Jessell and Brian Lamb, Miami Herald. Florida is ranked the No. 1 state in education, according to U.S. News and World Report. Florida is also ranked tops in education freedom and parent empowerment, according to separate reports, and we have undertaken the largest expansion of school choice in the nation’s history while breaking our own teacher pay records year after year. Manny Diaz, The 74th. Florida’s online schools have grappled for years with a logistical challenge: Getting their students to the campuses of brick-and-mortar schools, operated by school districts, to take their standardized tests. Travis Pillow, NextSteps.
Around the state: U.S. President Joe Biden announced the formal launch of the federal application for student loan forgiveness, Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded $200 million in School Recognition Awards to public schools, districts rolled out their reopening plans in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, safety issues in Sarasota, and a new president was chosen at Florida International University by the Board of Trustees. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools, and colleges and universities:
Palm Beach: Four candidates for the Palm Beach County School Board raised more than $325,000 hoping to win two seats when voters hit the polls on Nov. 8. That's more than double the amount raised by all the candidates who ran in three school board races in 2020. The Palm Beach Post.
Lee: Nine additional schools were cleared over the weekend to be re-opened Wednesday, school officials announced. That brings the total to 70 schools and eight special centers that will re-open this week. Superintendent Christopher Bernier said the biggest obstacle to reopening schools has been air quality tests. Meanwhile, parents in Lee are ready to see their kids getting on the bus and heading back to school, and many need their kids back in classrooms so that they can return to work. WINK News. Ft. Myers News-Press. Associated Press.
Polk: Superintendent Frederick Heid gave the school board here an update on the district's Hurricane Ian shelters, which opened one day before the storm ravaged the area. The district ran 17 shelters countywide with a capacity of about 30,000 residents sheltered at the schools. Lakeland Ledger. The Polk Symposium on Special Education will be held at Auburndale High on Oct. 29. The event is free and designed for families with children who participate in the Exceptional Student Education programs. Families of students who have disabilities can find out more about resources, ask questions and attend sessions on ESE topics. Lakeland Ledger.
Pasco: The race for school board district 1 is unsettled after Judge Susan Barthle essentially handed the election to one candidate based on eligibility issues, leading two other candidates to make plans to appeal the ruling. Tampa Bay Times.
Collier: The education foundation in Collier, Champions for Learning, surprised teachers with funds. Champions for Learning awarded 280 grant checks that totaled $166,288 to 55 schools in Collier County. Funds will help implement creative and innovative learning experiences for students. Naples Daily News.
Leon: Seventh grader Landon Huber built the forge for a science fair project after watching his favorite TV show, "Forged in Fire." Now, Huber and his project are headed to Washington, D.C. for the 2022 Broadcom MASTERS, a STEM competition for middle school students. Tallahassee Democrat.
Charlotte: Port Charlotte Middle School won't open for at least several months. A set of portable buildings are being bused to the campus, and each student will get a new iPad with internet connectivity built in. The portable buildings will be set up and ready for in-person instruction on Nov. 1. The Daily Sun. Fox 4.
DeSoto: Many schools in this county are slated to reopen three weeks after Hurricane Ian slapped into southwest Florida. Officials are taking a phased approach. Fox 13.
Schools rewarded: Gov. Ron DeSantis is awarding $200 million in School Recognition Awards to 1,400 public schools for their performance during the 2021-22 school year. Eligible schools received a school grade of "A" or improved one letter grade from the previous year. Schools can use the money for nonrecurring faculty and staff bonuses, nonrecurring expenditures on educational equipment or temporary personnel to help maintain or improve the performance of students. DeSantis presented the awards at Toledo Blade Elementary School in North Port less than three weeks after Hurricane Ian struck southwest Florida. "We trust the schools will make the good decisions, but it's really important that when you have success that that is recognized, and that's what these awards are doing," DeSantis said. Florida Politics. WTSP.
School zone bike accidents: Some worry that Sarasota county lags when it comes to prioritizing safety initiatives near public schools. They point toward a lack of traffic calming initiatives that include three-way stops and crossing guards, and are asking for more to be done. Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Slow internet speeds: A list was compiled that included Florida school districts with the slowest internet speeds. Fifty-two have slow internet, with the 10 slowest being located in various counties across the state. Islander News.
Absenteeism issue: Pre-pandemic chronic absenteeism will likely continue, according to data released by the U.S Department of Education. The 74th.
Gubernatorial race: Education issues that include parental rights, teachers unions and school boards have become key in the race between Gov. Ron DeSantis and challenger Charlie Crist. Tampa Bay Times.
University and college news: President Joe Biden on Monday announced the formal launch of the federal application for Americans who seek student loan forgiveness. CNN. The Washington Post. ABC Action News. Gov. Ron DeSantis and conservative lawmakers have been critical of Florida's higher education system, saying universities are offering degrees in "zombie studies" and labeling campuses as "socialism factories." Various efforts have been made to reshape the state's 40 colleges and universities. Politico. Florida International University Board of Trustees selected Kenneth Jessell, interim president, as the university's next president. Jessell was chosen unanimously by the Board of Trustees to serve as FIU's sixth president. Now, the Florida Board of Governors must confirm the appointment, which may occur during an upcoming meeting in at University of South Florida. "I'm very emotional," said Jessell after he was chosen. "It's a little bittersweet because I lost my mother on Friday." Miami Herald. News Service of Florida. Tampa Bay Times.
Opinions on schools: Two things are coming soon: State-level NAEP results and Halloween. Matthew Ladner, reimaginED. A surge in the number of microschools has spread across the country. These co-learning communities with hired educators gained popularity before 2020, but disruption from the pandemic thrust them into the mainstream. Some wonder if these microschools will last or if interest will fade. Kerry McDonald, reimaginED. One item on the November ballot that benefits the future of Flagler County and its students is the half cent sales surtax. Cathy Mittelstadt, The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Around the state: A Florida jury has recommended life in prison for Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz, former President Mark Rosenberg returns to Florida International University, schools hit by Hurricane Ian are slated to reopen next week and restrictions were lifted on the Bible after a ban in Escambia. Here are details about those stories and other developments from the state's districts, private schools and colleges and universities:
Parkland school shooting: A Florida jury deliberated for seven hours over the span of two days before deciding on Thursday that Nikolas Cruz should go to prison for the rest of his life in lieu of the death penalty for killing 17 people in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland. Cruz pleaded guilty last year to 17 charges of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. The recommendation by the jury ended a three-month trial but left some victim's families angry. "We are beyond disappointed with the outcome today," said Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter was killed. Tampa Bay Times. NPR. The Miami Herald. Associated Press.
Broward: During a school board meeting on Wednesday, Superintendent Vickie Cartwright said the district had to start from scratch in its search for a chief facilities officer after Cartwright removed a candidate from consideration. The role had been vacant for a few years and includes overseeing the district's SMART program. In August, a grand jury report alleged mismanagement of the program. "I think as Broward County Schools, as an organization, I think we've reached a new low," board member Daniel Foganholi said. "The entire process was messy and it was ugly." WPLG.
Polk: The school district's legislative agenda for the next session in Tallahassee was part wish list but mostly about measures officials need to address educational needs. The district's in-house lobbyist Wendy Dodge presented its preliminary legislation platform to the school board this week at a special work session. Lakeland Ledger.
Escambia: The school district here reversed course on Wednesday and alerted staff to put the Bible back in school libraries after a debate challenging its appropriateness. District officials say the restrictions were lifted without a formal review because the Bible is legally approved as educational material in the state of Florida. The number of challenged books in the district stood at 128 as of Tuesday with the addition of the Bible after a request for reconsideration was filed by Sarah Holland. North Escambia. Pensacola News Journal.
COVID coping: Nationwide, seniors in high school have had every high school year touched by the pandemic, forcing them to adapt, grow and appreciate the moments of relative normalcy. NPR. Meanwhile, more students than usual missed big portions of school during the pandemic, with some districts seeing chronic absenteeism rates double. Chalkbeat.
Critical race theory poll: Nearly half of Americans have never heard of critical race theory or say they don't know anything about it, according to a poll. The 74th.
Hurricane Ian: Counties in southwest Florida that were hard hit by Hurricane Ian are working to get their schools reopened so students can return to classrooms after Hurricane Ian swept through the state. All school districts will be open by Tuesday, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis during a Cape Coral press conference. But that doesn't mean every school will be functioning by that date. Most school districts closed during the last week of September in preparation for Hurricane Ian, but five districts experienced longer shutdowns due to the storm's damage: Hardee, Charlotte, Lee, DeSoto and Sarasota. Lee was given the green light to reopen 13 schools on Monday. Florida Phoenix. Fox 4.Ft. Myers News-Press.
University and college news: Mark Rosenberg abruptly resigned when a woman who worked in his office accused him of misconduct. Now, the former president of Florida International University will return in the spring semester, earning about $377,000 to teach one class per semester. Rosenberg has been on a one-year paid sabbatical since resigning at the end of January. WSVN. The Miami Herald. Attorney and higher education leader David Fugett has been tapped as vice president and general counsel at Florida Polytechnic University. Lakeland Ledger.
Opinions on schools: Some still appear to be interested in "getting and spending" at the expense of education's power to give students hope for the future. Jonathan Butcher, reimaginED. The verdict in Nikolas Cruz's sentencing trial was stunning and a gut punch to some of the families of the victims of the Parkland shooting. Miami Herald editorial board.
