H.B. 7069 lawsuit: The Clay County School Board delays making a decision about joining other districts in suing the state over the new education law, H.B. 7069. Board members cite the expense and possible repercussions. Board member Betsy Condon said she worries about“biting the hand that feeds you,” and thinks there are more collaborative ways to deal with the law than suing. So far, five districts have announced their intent to sue the state. Florida Times-Union.
Extended school days: The Pasco County School District is eliminating extended-day programs for all schools that aren't required by the state to have longer days due to low reading scores. The move will save the district about $600,000 and leave extended days in place for just four elementary schools that are among the 300 state schools with the lowest reading test scores. Gradebook. Eleven Martin County and four St. Lucie County elementary schools will start 10 minutes earlier this year to give the schools enough time to provide 20 minutes of recess daily or extra reading time to fulfill a state mandate. TCPalm.
K-12 school: The Hamilton County School Board is considering merging the county's sole elementary school into Hamilton County High School to create a single K-12 school. Superintendent Rex Mitchell says it's preferable to the options the state has given for the turnaround school by the state - closing the school and having a charter company take over, or sending the students to another school. If the state rejects the merger option, Mitchell says, the district will consider joining the lawsuit against the state over the new education bill, H.B. 7069. Suwannee Democrat.
Project overseer dismissed: The advisory committee chairman of the Miami-Dade School District's $1.2 billion school improvement plan is dismissed a week after publicly questioning the goal of the project. Ronald Frazier questioned the district's oversight in meeting requirements for the hiring of small and minority-owned businesses. He said his dismissal is "suspicious," but district officials say Frazier's contract had expired in March and was just discovered during a review. Miami Herald.
