The big story: After all the lobbying and politicking, the 17-member Florida Board of Governors is set to decide today whether to accept University of Florida trustees’ unanimous pick to lead the school — or reject the choice in a first-ever denial of a university’s leadership selection.
The outcome is not a foregone conclusion.
The fate of Santa Ono, who would come to UF from the University of Michigan, in many ways boils down to whether he is sufficiently committed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ mantra that Florida is “where woke goes to die.” While others have opined vociferously, DeSantis has not put his thumb on the scale, telling BOG members to vote their conscience.
The board will get its say starting at 1 p.m. Read more here and from the Miami Herald.
In other university president news, Florida A&M Foundation leaders put off a discussion on amending their budget to meet the salary demands of president-select Marva Johnson, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. The school has proposed paying Johnson $100,000 less than she asked for, but $150,000 more than her predecessor, WFSU reports. • Florida International trustees unanimously approved Jeanette Nuñez as the school’s next president, with a $925,000 base salary, News Service of Florida reports. • State Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Escambia County, said her support of Manny Diaz Jr. to lead the University of West Florida does not conflict with her effort to make the state’s university presidential searches more transparent, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.
Hot topics
Book removals: Hillsborough County school board members blasted superintendent Van Ayres over his decision to remove hundreds of titles from school libraries after being threatened by state officials.
Commissioner of education: Who’s that DeSantis aide that’s being talked up as Florida’s next education commissioner?
School leadership: Flagler County’s principal of the year is leaving her post, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
Speed zones: Osceola County officials say speeding outside schools has been reduced since the installation of cameras and implementation of fines, WKMG reports.
Tenure: A new study indicates that Florida’s post-tenure review policy led to an increase in the departure rate of tenured professors, Inside Higher Ed reports.
Volunteers: The Broward County school district removed a longtime volunteer from three committees over accusations that she bullied a district police officer, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
From the police blotter … A Bay County school bus driver was arrested on allegations of hitting a student, WMBB reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go … Possum? Or opossum? What’s the difference?