Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 28

May 28, 2009

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Special budget session possible, Senate President says

Gov. Charlie Crist signed the 2009-2010 $66.5 billion state budget today but lawmakers could be forced to come back to cut it as they did earlier this year.

 

Crist signs state budget after many urge vetoes

Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed a recession-racked $66.5 billion state budget that required a legislative overtime to draft, raises $2 billion in taxes and fees and trims the ranks of state employees.

 

Editorial: Legislature shrewdly puts funding ball in local school boards’ court

It’s difficult to find the good guys when it comes to funding K-12 education in Florida.

 

New law eases property tax challenges

If it’s signed by the governor – and Charlie Crist plans to – HB 521 could fundamentally change the way owners challenge the appraiser’s assessment of their property value.

 

Broward’s property tax base falls 10.7 percent

In a confirmation of last year’s bleak real estate picture, property values throughout most of Broward County fell for the second year in a row, according to preliminary figures released Thursday by the Broward property appraiser’s office.

 

Palm Beach County schools could get more than $200 million from federal stimulus bill

The $800 billion federal stimulus bill could pump more than $200 million into Palm Beach County public schools over the next two years, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, and school district officials said Tuesday.

 

Editorial: Saving our schools

Long-term solutions to pay for education, smart spending should follow tax hike

It took courage. But the Brevard County School Board did the right thing Tuesday night, unanimously approving a property tax increase that will bring $8.4 million in revenue for schools next year.

 

Broward schools show ‘a little progress’ in combating racial gaps

A new report says the Broward school district is faring a little better in closing racial disparity gaps in schools.

Broward schools have made modest progress to meet the goals set nine years ago by a historic racial equity lawsuit — though students at some older, predominantly black schools still don’t have the same resources as newer schools with more white students, according to a report presented to the School Board Tuesday.

 

State auditor general auditing Martin County School District

As a follow-up to a Martin County School District investigation, the Florida Auditor General’s Office is conducting an audit of the school district’s operations, according to a Martin County School District news release.

 

No Orange schools will close this year

School Board scraps controversial plans — for now. Will continue studying the issue

It’s over – for now. Orange County’s School Board, taking cues from Superintendent Ronald Blocker, halted a controversial plan Tuesday night that would have closed down six elementary schools and moved thousands of students into new campuses.

 

Crist makes zero-tolerance policies at schools more tolerant

Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a bill that will make the zero-tolerance policies adopted by many Florida schools more tolerant.

 

Report: Homeschooling more widespread

Parents who homeschool their children are increasingly white, wealthy and well-educated and their numbers have nearly doubled in less than a decade, according to findings out today from the federal government.

 

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