Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — March 25
Mar 25, 2011
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Rick Scott signs teacher merit pay bill; critic calls it ‘wrecking ball’
Governor Rick Scott says the teacher merit pay bill he signed into law in Jacksonville on Thursday is a step toward bringing jobs to Florida, but opponents say he took “a wrecking ball” to public education.
Editorial: Hasty reform of education needs fixes
Governor Rick Scott on Thursday signed into law sweeping changes in how public school teachers are evaluated and paid, declaring the changes “will give Florida the best educated work force to compete in the 21st century economy.”
School cuts raise doubts among some GOP voters
Barb Feest wishes she could take back her vote for Wisconsin governor.
House committee wants Florida voters to determine property tax cuts
A move to give all Florida property owners a deeper property tax cut continued to gather steam in the Florida House on Monday as a committee voted to put the measure on the ballot as early as 2012.
Editorial: Timing is wrong for property tax amendment
Was anyone in the Florida House paying attention last week when the state’s chief economist said the state revenue deficit for FY 2012 was now forecast at $3.75 billion, up from $3.6 billion?
Hospital taxing districts come under fire
Bob Jackson is sick of hospital taxes.
Senate proposal would require legislative approval of water management district budgets
The Legislature would approve the budgets of the state’s five water management districts under a draft proposal being considered in the Senate.
Blog: State Board of Education chairman quits over Scott’s handling of commissioner’s resignation
T. Willard Fair, chairman of the state Board of Education, has resigned over Governor Rick Scott’s handling of the resignation of education commissioner Eric Smith, who announced he was stepping down on Monday.
- Column: By pushing education chief out, Scott sets Florida up to fail
- Blog: State board member wants to move quickly to start search for new commissioner
- Jeb Bush: Education chief Eric Smith a champion of reform
Lawmakers factoring pension changes into education cuts
State legislators in both the House and Senate appear to be close to agreeing on proposed budgets that would cut education spending by more than 6 percent.
Opinion: Timing is wrong for property tax amendment
Was anyone in the Florida House paying attention last week when the state’s chief economist said the state revenue deficit for Fiscal Year 2012 was now forecast at $3.75 billion, up from $3.6 billion?
Smart cap would not need voters’ approval of new taxes
Florida’s fiscally conservative Senate wants to leave its mark in the Constitution by more tightly capping the amount of taxes the state could collect in any given year.
Senate Finance Chief J.D. Alexander: Florida Budget Guru
Some 13 years ago, a reticent, almost shy J.D. Alexander appeared before The Ledger’s editorial board when he was running for the Florida House.
Florida bill would expand school vouchers program
A school vouchers program created by former Governor Jeb Bush is set to grow under a bill making its way through the state Legislature.
Bill would allow advertising on school buses
This school bus is brought to you by … Coca-Cola?
Bright Futures among top targets in Florida budget proposals
Students will pay more for tuition and receive less financial aid under early drafts of higher education budget proposals emerging in the Legislature.
Palm Beach County School Board settles lawsuit for $490,000
Board also seeks contract extension for acting Superintendent Malone
Facing a potentially costly trial in a few days, the Palm Beach County School Board had a choice Wednesday: Settle an eight-year-old lawsuit from a former employee for $490,000, or try to prevail in court.
Palm Beach County teacher contract negotiations stalled, could be combined into two-year effort
With a little more than three months left in the Palm Beach County School District’s budget year, the district and the Classroom Teacher’s Association union have not sat down for contract negotiations on the current budget year in more than a month and do not have any dates set to negotiate anytime soon.
Another high-ranking Palm Beach County school official preparing to leave
Chief Operating Officer Joe Moore plans to step down effective June 3
There will be more turnover at the top of the Palm Beach County School District this summer.
University of Miami biotech center and controversy taking shape in Overtown
The University of Miami, in a quest to become a biotech force to be reckoned with, is only months away from completing the initial $105 million phase of its ambitious biotech center – the UM “Life Science & Technology Park,” located on the edge of Miami’s Overtown neighborhood.
Miami Dade College offers free school for high-achievers
All Miami-Dade public and private school students who graduate with a B average will be able to attend Miami Dade College for free starting in the fall.
At Miami Dade College, where roughly two-thirds of the student body are low-income, college leaders on Wednesday unveiled a unique scholarship program designed to let more Miami-Dade students focus on their academic ambitions than worry about paying their bills.
States Pass Budget Pain to Cities
The state budget squeeze is fast becoming a city budget squeeze, as struggling states around the nation plan deep cuts in aid to cities and local governments that will almost certainly result in more service cuts, layoffs and local tax increases.
Ohio schools get the bad news on the state budget
More than 590 of Ohio’s 612 school districts will see cuts in basic operational funding next year under Governor John Kasich’s proposed two-year budget – and that does not include $730 million that districts stand to lose from cuts in tax revenue.
U.S. education secretary calls for overhaul of No Child Left Behind
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Tuesday for an overhaul of the federal No Child Left Behind law and urged Los Angeles school management and teachers union leaders to negotiate a new contract that strengthens teacher evaluations.
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