Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–November 3

 

 

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Broward schools have too many empty seats

For years, the Broward school district continued building new schools even after student enrollment began to drop, knowing the state would soon put the brakes on the school system’s construction program.

 

Editorial:  For tax fairness

Every day, many of Florida’s homeowners are paying much more in property taxes than their neighbors because of the state’s discriminatory tax policy.

 

Taxes, term limits among choices in elections

Eight referendums Tuesday will decide issues ranging from waiving property taxes for some businesses in Cape Canaveral to increasing term limits for council members in Satellite Beach. Municipalities with referendums on the ballot this year include Melbourne Beach and Indialantic.

 

Without competition, Broward schools insurance rates rise

With the competition removed, Broward school district’s insurance provider is increasing its rates by up to 45 percent.

 

Is Differentiated Accountability driving Fla. teachers nuts?

Florida’s newest school accountability system has an awkward name — let’s be honest, Differentiated Accountability doesn’t roll off anyone’s tongue — and, apparently, an already not-so-hot reputation.

 

Education Week sounds another warning about dreaded “funding cliff”

Orange County’s school board like to sound lots of warnings about the funding cliff — or the budget precipice districts face when the federal stimulus money runs out in two years.

 

Stimulus saved more than 18,000 school jobs in Florida

A report released Monday says federal stimulus money saved 18,042 education jobs in Florida and created 2,934 new ones.

 

Sarasota County rethinks growth

When it came to economic development there was always a certain snobbishness to Sarasota County’s approach, a leftover from the days when officials actively discouraged development.

 

Miami-Dade, Broward in National Top 10 for charter school enrollment

The Miami-Dade school district ranks seventh in the country in charter school enrollment, according to a study released Thursday by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Broward came in 10th.

 

Miami-Dade’s top education leaders join forces

Miami-Dade has a new ”dream team” — one dedicated to rescuing the area’s public educational system.

 

North Dakota lawmakers exploring property tax credits

State lawmakers are exploring whether to give most North Dakota homeowners the benefit of a property tax credit normally reserved for seniors and people with disabilities.

 

National study says states collect too much student data and fail to keep it safe

Fordham University’s Center on Law and Information Policy says that state departments of education collect far too much student information, and fail to keep it safe.

 

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