The big story: The news about Ben Sasse’s expensive time as University of Florida president isn’t abating, as more and more records come into public view.
First came the details about the millions of dollars Sasse spent hiring his political allies without requiring them to work anywhere near Gainesville. Now emerge the charges those employees — many of whom have been relieved of duty by the school’s interim (and former) leader — racked up while on UF’s dime.
More than half of the $211,824 in itemized expenses listed by six senior hires who worked remotely went toward travel and hotels, with many specifics lacking. Read more from Fresh Take Florida.
K-12 hot topics
Pay raises: Pasco County school district support employees concluded contract talks that include 5.4% average raises.
Immunizations: Florida leads the southeastern United States in students using vaccine exemptions, Axios Tampa Bay reports.
High school sports: The Flagler County school board will discuss the possibility of requiring students to have an echocardiogram in order to participate in school sports, WKMG reports.
Budgets: The cost of Florida’s school voucher program and other programs is prompting state budget forecasters to project a state deficit in two years, Politico Florida reports.
Board politics: A frequent Broward County school board critic is accused of defamation and recommended for removal from district committees, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Air conditioning woes: Some Hernando County parents say their children’s schools do not have working air conditioning, Suncoast News reports.
From the police blotter … A Volusia County juvenile was arrested on accusations of bringing a gun to a high school football game, WKMG reports. • A Leon County teen was arrested on accusations of having a steak knife in her backpack at school, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
From the court docket … The self-insured Broward County school district is prepared to file suit against insulin makers over what it contends are inflated costs, WLRN reports.
More in higher ed
Union representation: Florida’s requirement that labor unions have 60% participation of eligible workers has led to the decertification of 54 collective bargaining units, with higher education among the most affected sectors, WUSF reports. • Educators and other Florida public sector workers have filed suit challenging the law, News Service of Florida reports.
Music lessons: The University of Florida is offering a course on the lyrics and themes of Jimmy Buffett, Florida Politics reports. It’s an honors course.
Lake-Sumter State College: Trustees named senior vice president Laura Byrd to serve as the school’s interim president, the Daily Commercial reports.
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College of the Florida Keys: The school received a $2 million gift toward developing student housing on its Key West campus, Keys Weekly reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to Friday’s roundup.
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