The big story: Florida lawmakers decided to let school districts put cameras on buses as a way to catch drivers who illegally pass the buses as they’re stopped to let children on and off.
So far, the cameras haven’t proven much of a deterrent.
Hillsborough County officials recently said they caught more than 2,300 vehicles zooming past buses with their stop arms flashing in the first four days of classes.
Miami-Dade County leaders said they issued more than 11,500 citations in the first two weeks of school, the Miami Herald reports. Violations come with a $225 fine.
Donny Wolfe, vice president of the company that runs the cameras in Miami-Dade, called the number stunning. But he said in other places where cameras have been used, violations tend to drop as people become more aware.
“I hope this continues to curb reckless driver behavior,” he said.
In related school transportation news … The Polk County school district is revisiting its contract for school bus cameras amid questions of whether the agreement violates state law, the Ledger reports. • The Lee County school district has denied some parents’ requests to restore bus rides to their children who live within 2 miles of school, WFTX reports. • Some Hernando County students left their school bus through the emergency exit after getting frustrated with the length of the ride, WFLA reports.
K-12 hot topics
Pay raises: Pasco County teacher and school district representatives reached a tentative contract agreement that includes a raise package just over 5%. • Leon County school support employees will receive a $1 per hour pay raise, WTXL reports.
Local-option taxes: St. Johns County voters will decide in November whether to approve one new local-option school tax and extend another, the St. Augustine Record reports.
Employee discipline: Another teacher at a Duval County arts magnet school has been reassigned amid investigation of “inappropriate communication” with a student, Florida Times-Union reports. At least five other teachers have been removed from the school in the past two years.
DeSantis agenda: Gov. Ron DeSantis’s recent setbacks in school board elections and state parks policy offer a sign that Florida is getting more comfortable pushing back against his power.
Classroom technology: Alachua County schools are getting closer to providing laptops or other devices for every student, MainStreet Daily News reports.
Cellphone service: The Citrus County school district is working to repurpose old telecommunication towers, once used to support its computer system, as a way to improve cellphone service in the county, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.
Book bans: The Brevard County School Board narrowly agreed to remove three books from school libraries, WESH reports.
From the police blotter … A Seminole County daycare school bus driver was arrested on allegations of child abuse for leaving a 6-year-old asleep inside a hot bus after saying the bus was all clear, WFTV reports. • An Alachua County school bus driver was arrested on accusations of sexually grooming a teenager, WCJB reports.
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Catch up on top stories before rush hour
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From the court docket … An appeals court will hear the state’s arguments seeking reversal of the dismissal of perjury charges against former Broward County superintendent Robert Runcie, News Service of Florida reports.
In higher ed
USF: Tampa General Hospital announced it will invest $162 million in the USF health system next year, WUSF reports. • UPDATE: President Rhea Law is in line for a $282,000 raise, not a larger amount initially reported.
FSU: Some Florida State University students are upset with the school’s new $300 fee for overnight parking in certain lots, WCTV reports.
FAU: The Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees dropped 22 courses, mostly in the humanities, from the school’s offerings in an effort to comply with state law limiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, WPBF reports.
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Before you go … For today’s look inside world culture, Tinikling, the national folk dance of the Philippines.