DeSantis issues education vetoes before signing Florida budget

The big story: Florida has a budget for the fiscal year that begins today.

Before signing the $115 billion spending plan into law on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed millions of dollars of projects, with several hits to education projects.

One of the more notable cuts was $5.7 million to public radio and television stations, which are primarily run by schools and universities. The stations’ news outlets have become punching bags for conservative Republicans, who have pushed for a national defunding of the system. DeSantis did not touch The Florida Channel, though, Florida Politics reports.

DeSantis also axed $356,046 for a study of cellphone use in high schools, which lawmakers said they want to review before considering a full ban. A ban on student phone use in elementary and middle schools becomes law today, WJAX reports.

Several items directed at school districts and universities also took hits. Among them were $609,500 toward expansion of Saint Leo University’s nursing program, $2.5 million for a workforce center at Hillsborough College’s Plant City campus, $1 million for a resilience initiative for Hillsborough and Pasco county educators, and $1 million toward an ARK Innovation Center at Pinellas County schools.

Pinellas superintendent Kevin Hendrick focused on appropriations the district will receive, such as $500,000 to support a teacher apprenticeship program and a separate $1 million allocation for the ARK project.

“The $1 million veto would have meant $2 million for the center, but in this fiscal climate, the district is grateful for the $1,5 million in appropriations,” Hendrick said. Read more about the budget here.

Hot topics

University presidents: Trustees at the University of South Florida have decided to drop the search firm that brought Santa Ono and Ben Sasse to the University of Florida.

Staff sharing: The Madison County school board rescinded its agreement to share administrative staff with the Jefferson County school district, raising concerns about last-minute changes to the job descriptions, WTXL reports.

School vouchers: Charter Schools USA will accept vouchers for students to take individual classes at 62 of its campuses, Next Steps reports.

New schools: The Duval County school district is planning to open new schools even as it shutters others, the Florida Times-Union reports.

Employee housing: The Orange County school district is helping employees find affordable housing, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

College costs: The threat of shrinking Pell grants has Florida college students worried they might not afford finishing their degrees, WFTS reports.

Charter schools: A former superintendent of Alachua County schools was named principal of Santa Fe College’s charter school, MainStreet Daily News reports.

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