The big story: Florida lawmakers closed in on a K-12 education spending plan, agreeing on a bottom line of $29.5 billion, about 3% more than the current year.
To get there, leaders limited increases in areas they’ve touted before, such as teacher pay raises and mental health services. They also relied heavily on property taxes to supply the bulk of the additional revenue, even while Gov. Ron DeSantis talks about the unfairness of property taxes, Politico Florida reports.
Local taxes would be responsible for generating about 70% of the new funding.
Negotiators also revived proposals to expand the funding and scope of the Schools of Hope charter school program, intended to provide options to families in communities with persistently struggling public schools, Florida Politics reports. The concept died during the regular portion of session, but the House brought it back in budget proviso language, showing again how no ideas are completely buried until lawmakers go home, Florida Phoenix reports..
Local school district officials continue to watch and wait as their budget planning ensues. Pinellas County superintendent Kevin Hendrick was less than enthusiastic.
Hendrick noted that the base student allocation increase in the state proposal is less than 1%, and doesn’t cover inflationary costs. At the same time, the district, like many others, is projected to lose students, which will decrease funding.
Beyond that, Pinellas unexpectedly had to spend more than $50 million this school year because of hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the Legislature did not provide relief, placing extra financial pressure on the district.
“If it wasn’t for the referendum, it would be a really difficult year,” Hendrick said, referring to the district’s voter-approved property tax increase in support of added teacher pay and arts initiatives.
The Pinellas County school board is scheduled to unveil its preliminary budget at a June 24 workshop, with public hearings set for July 29 and Sept. 9.
Marion County school district leaders have already begun talking about millions of dollars in spending cuts, WCJB reports.
Hot topics
Advanced classes: Students at an Orange County high school urged the school board to protect their International Baccalaureate program, which is facing reductions amid decreasing interest, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Affordable housing: The Orange County school district is looking to expand its access to affordable housing for employees, Spectrum 13 reports.
Auditor issues: The Broward County school district’s internal auditor offered to take a deal to leave his post amid ongoing criticism from board members, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Charter schools: City of Newberry and Alachua County school district officials continue to spar over the conversion of Newberry Elementary to a charter school, the Gainesville Sun reports.
Contract talks: The Lee County school board approved an incentive plan of bonuses up to $9,000, to attract and retain teachers, the Naples Daily News reports. Teacher union leaders criticized the move, saying it was done without negotiations.
Florida A&M administration: The university’s recently appointed athletic director has been placed on administrative leave after her arrest on fraud charges related to her previous job, WFSU reports. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
Graduation day: A Hillsborough County high school graduate walked the stage carrying the posthumous diploma of his brother, who died in 2020 of a fentanyl overdose. Read about why that happened.
School leaders: Pinellas County schools continued to shift principals for the coming academic year.
Superintendent searches: The Manatee County school board laid the groundwork to find a new superintendent after pushing out the recent one, Bay News 9 reports.
Teacher unions: The Orange County Classroom Teachers Association became the 100th local union to recertify under new stricter state laws, the West Orange Times reports.
Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.
Before you go … Is anyone else excited about a new season of Phineas and Ferb? Where is Perry, anyway?