School budgeting: The Pasco County School Board tentatively approves a $1.2 billion that's about $30 million less than a year ago. Included in the budget are raises of about 3.5 percent, including benefits. Tampa Bay Times. The Bay County School Board approves a tentative $356 million budget that's an increase of $29 million from last year. About $25 million of that increase will go toward health-care costs. Panama City News Herald. The Monroe County School Board approves a tentative $170 million budget, which is an increase of about $3.7 million from last year. Keynoter.
Personnel shortages: Many school districts in the Tampa Bay area are still looking for teachers. About 1,200 slots need to be filled in the area's seven counties. WFTS. Hundreds of school bus drivers are still needed across the state. WTSP. The Lee County School District needs to fill another 100 or so teaching positions. The district has about 5,600 teachers. District officials are optimistic all classrooms will have teachers when school opens Aug. 10. Fort Myers News-Press. An appeal from parents convinces Polk County School District officials to keep Principal Stacy Gideons at Dundee Ridge Middle Academy instead of transferring her to Shelley S. Boone Middle School, a struggling school that is under a state threat of closure if a turnaround plan isn't approved. Lakeland Ledger. The Bay County School District holds a job fair that it hopes will fill the last 150 open teaching and support jobs. Panama City News Herald.
Initiative dropped: Hillsborough County School Superintendent Jeff Eakins is eliminating a department set up a year ago to help struggling schools. The Elevate schools initiative is being dropped in favor of spreading the responsibility for dealing with struggling students and schools among the eight area superintendents. Tampa Bay Times. WUSF.
Stewart on books: Florida Department of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart says she wants to do away with textbooks, calling them the "bane of our educational system." Citrus County Chronicle. (more…)
