Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–December 29
Dec 29, 2009
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Florida high court approves mediation models
The Florida Supreme Court is ordering local judges to adopt a uniform mediation program to help pare down nearly 300,000 foreclosure cases clogging the state’s courtrooms.
State advises Volusia to kill massive growth plan
State officials scooted under a legal deadline on Christmas Eve, delivering a bah humbug message to a request from Volusia County and the Miami Corp, the county’s largest private landowner.
Lee County appraiser pushes property tax fraud law
Would require report of all rented condos
Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Wilkinson is pushing a homestead fraud prevention law requiring condo associations to disclose all rented units to his office each year.
States race to finish federal grant applications for billions in school money
The January 19 deadline for states to apply for the federal Race to the Top grant is drawing near.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: New mortgage rules kick in Jan. 1
Starting Friday, companies that provide loan modification services must be licensed or face a fine under a law that kicks in to further protect consumers from fraud when they refinance or renegotiate a loan.
Letter: Florida schools up to feds’ challenge
Historically, our state’s education system has been consistently cited for low student achievement.
Florida Board of Education member: Florida must win education competition
OK, Florida, it’s time to decide if we want to be a winner or a loser in the education competition of a lifetime.
Collier School Rezoning Maps released
Maps showing the proposed areas needing to be rezoned because of the Class Size Reduction Amendment are now posted on the school district Web site (www.collierschools.com).
Collier School District rezoning: New maps could renew old battles
Parents curious to know if their child could be going to a new school next year now have their answer.
Class size caps may hurt Lee County
Schools concerned strict rule will cost millions
Florida voters wanted it, and next year, they’ll pay for it.
Marion County group aims to obtain, hold onto funding for teachers
A new local organization was born out of frustration over a statewide funding crisis that threatened to gut educational programs and undermine the state’s future.
New South Florida water rules dodge appeals, but face test in Tallahassee
Opponents of South Florida’s new year-round watering rules are taking their fight to the Legislature, opting for legislative muscle over courtroom battles.
Lee district leaders look at creating their own virtual school
Superintendent James Browder smiles while being interviewed by media representatives in his office in early 2008.
Debate continues in Jacksonville over appointed School Board
Opponents of recent efforts to allow Jacksonville’s mayor to appoint School Board members say the Florida Constitution doesn’t allow such a change in the first place.
Clinics Planned To Serve Only Polk County School Board Employees
The Polk County School Board expects to vote in January for a company to manage at least two health clinics for the 20,000 people on its health plan.
State work-force report is a fascinating read
About this time every year, the Department of Management Services puts out a neat little report containing everything you could possibly want to know about state employment, plus a lot of stuff that probably never occurred to you.
Editorial: State pension funds needs reform, not petty political bickering
With more than $100 billion in investments, Florida has the nation’s fourth-largest pension fund.
Just weeks after President Barack Obama visited Florida to commission Florida Power & Light Co.’s DeSoto Next Generation Energy Center — the largest photovoltaic solar plant in the nation — FPL and officials with Charlotte County Public Schools unveiled similar technology at L.A. Ainger Middle School in Rotonda West.
USAToday Blog: Our view on student athletes–College teams exploit new rule for ‘learning disabled’
NCAA exemption opens door for abuse by schools as well as jocks.
It won’t surprise anyone who follows college football that at times, some college athletes get extra help with that pesky “college” aspect of their careers. Nor is it news that administrators have sometimes overstepped in their efforts to get athletes passing grades.
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