Superintendent investigated: Leon County School Superintendent Jackie Pons is under investigation after "possibly compromising" photos were given anonymously to district officials. The photos apparently show Pons getting into and out of a car with a female district employee in a heavily wooded area. Pons, who lost his bid for re-election and leaves office Tuesday, will be investigated by an outside firm. Tallahassee Democrat. WFSU.
Raise request: Palm Beach County School Superintendent Robert Avossa is asking the school board for a $10,000 a year raise. Avossa, who is the state's highest-paid superintendent at $325,000 a year, was given a highly effective rating by board members earlier this month. Palm Beach Post.
Open enrollment: Pasco County schools that are at 90 percent or higher capacity will be closed to transfers if the school board approves the district's proposed rules. In-county students will get first preference at those schools under 90 percent. The new state law allowing a student to transfer to any school that has an available seat takes effect next fall. Gradebook.
School may close: The only elementary school in Jefferson County could close by Christmas. A state financial oversight board has given the school district until Nov. 30 to submit a school transition plan and budget. New Superintendent Mary Ann Arbulu, who takes office Nov. 22, has asked for more time. If Jefferson Elementary is closed, students will be sent to Jefferson Middle. The district is down to 700 students and has struggled with its finances and poor grades from the state. WFSU. (more…)
High spending at charters: Troubling patterns emerge from a close look at spending at three charters in Pinellas County operated by Newpoint Education Partners. Invoices and other documents indicate the company was buying goods at often inflated prices from companies that were related to Newpoint and its founder, Marcus Nelson May. Records were loosely kept, and the company was taking a monthly fee that ran into five figures. Newpoint was indicted recently by an Escambia County jury on fraudulent billing and money-laundering charges. Tampa Bay Times.
Teachers to sue over pay: Three teachers have notified the Miami-Dade County School District that they intend to file a class action suit over performance pay. The teachers say the district is ignoring the state's performance pay laws and illegally changed the way tenured teachers are paid. Teachers have been shortchanged by $30 million, they allege. Miami Herald.
Retaliation lawsuit: A Palm Beach Lakes High teacher is suing the Palm Beach County School District after he and about 30 other teachers were fired in what he calls a retaliatory measure by Principal Cheryl McKeever. Malik Leigh, a legal studies teacher and also a practicing attorney, says the teachers were targeted because they made complaints about administrators or were thought to be disloyal to McKeever. Palm Beach Post.
Replacing teachers: The Pinellas County School District is moving quickly to replace teachers at five struggling schools in St. Petersburg. More than 80 teachers have been told they can't return to the schools or have asked for a transfer. And four of the five principals have been moved to other schools. The teachers union is calling the process "a hatchet job." Tampa Bay Times.
