Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Friday, January 14
Jan 14, 2011
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Palm Beach County school leaders push deadline to reduce class size, reduce $16 million fine
The Palm Beach County school board will receive a class-size reduction plan at the Feb. 9 board meeting, six days before the district must submit a compliance plan to avoid paying a $16 million penalty.
Hiring more than 200 teachers: Collier unveils plan to meet class-size rules
Hiring more than 200 teachers. New bus routes. Portable classrooms set up on school campuses. Closing classes to students.
Florida still not reimbursed for cost of educating Haitian students
When more than 3,800 Haitian children entered Florida schools in the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake, state education officials estimated the cost of educating them would exceed $23 million.
Cities Give Florida Governor Scott Wish List
Florida League of Cities officials had a brief huddle Thursday with Governor Rick Scott – handing the new chief executive a legislative wish list pivoting around a “leave us alone,” theme.
Florida teachers launch battle against pension changes
Florida’s governor and lawmakers have made it clear: Teachers and other state employees are most likely about to begin paying into their pension plans.
Florida Governor Scott pushes teacher testing, international trade in Miami speech
Governor Rick Scott today jumped on good news that Florida’s public school system ranks 5th in the country to call for more testing of teachers and ending their tenure.
Confrontation can be necessary. When Dr. Rhee took over as chancellor of Washington, D.C.’s, notoriously awful public school system, she needed to confront the teachers union, complacent administrators and uninvolved parents. But Florida’s schools aren’t like those Dr. Rhee took over in 2007.
Late, over budget and under investigation
When school opens Monday, the children who are supposed to attend a new school in Hollywood won’t be able to because the building is still unfinished. It’s the latest in a series of problems plaguing the project.
Delray Beach could cancel election to save money
A single ballot question to residents about whether to change term limits could cost the city $40,000.
House finance and tax committee gets marching orders
Property tax breaks, unemployment compensation, corporate incentives and a revenue cap proposal favored by the Senate president will be among a handful of high priority items to be addressed by the House Finance and Taxation Committee this session, its chairman said Thursday.
Schools look to businesses to help education
Good schools come down to a matter of community commitment and strong funding.
The University of Florida suffered a major legal loss in its effort to keep secret Student Government records requested in 2009 by then student Frank Bracco under Florida’s Public Record Law.
Most Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test testing done later this year
At this time of year, school administrators and teachers typically are counting down the weeks to the annual Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Broward School Board appoints interim counsel, considers ethics reform
For its first meeting of the new year, the Broward School Board took small steps toward a fresh start, considering a package of ethics reforms and appointing an interim general counsel to replace 41-year veteran Ed Marko.
Palm Beach County School Board on the fence about joining corruption watchdog
Members cite unclear costs, preference for district audits
The Palm Beach County School Board on Wednesday wavered over voluntarily joining the county’s anti-corruption reforms, citing uncertainty about the expense and a stronger desire to expand the school district’s audit department.
The Miami-Dade School Board will consider broadcasting student athletic events.
Schools to consider Varsity TV
The Miami-Dade School Board is considering putting some student sporting events on local television and the Web.
More than a dozen people face federal charges in an alleged scheme that includes money-laundering, bribery and identity theft.
A Broward Schools assistant principal, a former sheriff’s investigative aide and seven Broward and Palm Beach County bankers have been ensnared in a sweeping undercover FBI investigation into alleged widespread bank fraud.
Principal at Coral Park Elementary arrested on drug charges
The principal of Coral Park Elementary School in Coral Springs has been arrested on drug charges, police said Friday.
11th-grader accused of bringing gun to South Plantation High
An 11th-grader at South Plantation High was taken into custody Friday after allegedly bringing a gun to campus that led to a school lockdown, a school district spokeswoman said.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to bellis@cftlaw.com.