The big story: School boards across Florida kicked their budget preparations into high gear now that they’ve received a spending plan from the state.
With salaries and benefits comprising about 80% of their operational costs, board discussions have focused intently on personnel. Officials are looking for ways to keep employees even as they streamline positions and find other ways to cut expenses.
Pay raises are questionable.
In Marion County, the board voted to increase class sizes rather than implement layoffs as it confronts a $64 million shortfall, WCJB reports.
St. Johns County teacher union leaders called on their district to establish a new mentoring program to help retain teachers, suggesting such a move would save money used on training new hires, WTLV reports.
Pinellas County officials praised voters for the November approval of a property tax referendum, saying without the revenue the district would be facing pay cuts in a bleak budget year. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told his board that the district currently had only 20 advertised teacher vacancies, most of them for specialty areas at Pinellas Technical College, compared to when the district had seven times as many openings at this time of year.
The Bay County district is finding success in filling its classrooms, too. After a recent job fair, it had 24 remaining teacher positions, WJHG reports.
Hot topics
School leaders: The Pasco and Pinellas school districts made what’s expected to be their final round of principal appointments for the fall.
Hurricane plans: Charlotte County reached an agreement to use two more schools as hurricane shelters, WINK reports.
FAMU finances: The State University System Board of Governors is raising questions about Florida A&M University’s financial picture after a poor state audit, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Many of the problems identified were first flagged a decade ago.
Drivers education: Santa Rosa County schools are considering whether to expand driver education courses to help students meet new state requirements for a learner’s permit, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.
Contract talks: Custodians and landscapers at Nova Southeastern University are demanding protections from their jobs being replaced by robots, WLRN reports.
College costs: A Miami philanthropist has withdrawn his $1 million donation to Florida International University to protest Florida’s decision removing in-state tuition benefits from undocumented students, the Miami Herald reports.
Cellphones: The Brevard County school board is planning to bar all student cellphone use during class hours, including in high schools, Florida Today reports.
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Book removals: Some Orange County parents are opposing their school district’s decision to remove several library books deemed pornographic by State Board of Education members, Central Florida Public Media reports.
From the police blotter … An Orange County middle school teacher was arrested on allegations of having sex with a student in a classroom, WESH reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go … Any Jack White fans out there? Plus, who can resist another day of John C. Reilly?