Turnaround plans: The Polk County School District's plan to turn around five struggling middle schools is rejected by the Florida Board of Education. The board criticized the district's plan to retain some of the principals and low-rated teachers. Plans for underachieving schools in Duval and Orange counties were given conditional approvals, though the board said part of the Duval plan broke a state rule about school closures, and plans from Lee and St. Lucie counties were approved. Politico Florida. Florida Times-Union. TCPalm.

Contract negotiations: Marion County school officials are proposing a raise in pay for school employees. The raise is subject to negotiation with the district's unions, but the district's plan is to spend $3.6 million more in salaries than it did last year. The tentative budget submitted by Superintendent George Tomyn would increase 2.5 percent, to $519.3 million. Ocala Star Banner. The Volusia County School District reaches an agreement with bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other support staff. They will receive an average raise of 6.25 percent this year and 2.5 percent next year. Daytona Beach News-Journal.

School safety: U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Tallahassee, introduces a bill in Congress that would place tech-forward alert systems in school classrooms. The The “Securing Our Schools Act” allows the Justice Department to award districts extra dollars for the systems, which would be evaluated for effectiveness after a year. Tallahassee Democrat.

Longer school days: The Palm Beach County School District is considering extending the elementary school day. Superintendent Robert Avossa says the six-hour day might have to be bumped by a half-hour to improve student performance. Palm Beach Post. (more…)