Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Tuesday, February 15

Feb 15, 2011

 

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Time Magazine:  Rick Scott’s Tea-Friendly Budget Cuts —  Too Deep?

Shortly before Governor Rick Scott was sworn in in January, a report showed that Florida had the U.S.’s leanest state workforce – 117 employees per 10,000 residents, compared with a national average of 215.

 

School leaders fear impact of Scott’s budget proposal

When Governor Rick Scott unveiled his budget plan last week, the sheer size of the proposed revenue reductions knocked the wind out of school officials across the state.

 

South Florida’s school districts brace for funding hit

Between losing federal dollars and a proposed hit to statewide education spending, South Florida school districts will be forced to make tough cuts next year, both superintendents said this week.

It’s the worst possible scenario, say South Florida’s schools officials. At the same time millions in federal stimulus dollars are running out, the governor’s budget calls for the state to slash education spending by 10 percent.

 

Citizens for Strong Schools:   Scott can’t reform schools with an ax

Less than a week before rolling out his proposed state budget, Florida Governor Rick Scott gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal.

 

Column:  School funding 101 —  How we pay for education

Can Governor Rick Scott reduce property taxes that fund public education?

 

Governor Scott’s big tax cuts don’t help everyone

One of the easiest ways to show voters the impact of tax cuts is to break them down in a way people can appreciate.

 

Blog:  Teacher merit pay bill picks up another committee recommendation

The Senate’s version of legislation to change the way Florida school teachers are paid, evaluated, contracted and certified won approval from another committee Tuesday morning.

 

Not everyone’s sold on Michelle Rhee, Governor Scott’s education adviser

Florida’s lawmakers were starstruck.

 

Washington Post:  Obama’s education budget would spare Pell grants, increase spending 11% overall

President Obama wants a significant jump in education funding to pay for Pell grants for needy college students while also financing his reform agenda for elementary and secondary schools.

 

Palm Beach County teachers awarded grants to study Holocaust education

Boca Raton organization sending educators to Washington, D.C.

Spring Break will be a time for intense study in Holocaust and genocide education for 22 Palm Beach County public school educators, thanks to a specially funded project.

 

Blog:  Magnet schools —  Preparation for the real world

As the choices of magnet schools increases, so does the interest.

Angel Parra, 16, carefully navigated his plane to the runway, switched gears and successfully took off – all without leaving his Miramar High School classroom.

 

Column:  Scott can’t reform schools with an ax

Less than a week before rolling out his proposed state budget, Florida Governor Rick Scott gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal.

 

School leaders fear impact of Scott’s budget proposal

When Governor Rick Scott unveiled his budget plan last week, the sheer size of the proposed revenue reductions knocked the wind out of school officials across the state.

 

Governor Rick Scott pitches expansion of public school choice

Governor drops controversial voucher plan, for now

Governor Rick Scott is pushing to expand public school choice by allowing students more ways to transfer to other campuses, enroll in charter schools and take classes online.

 

Governor Scott’s budget leaves library funding untouched

While Governor Rick Scott axed state funding for a host of programs when penning his budget, nearly $22 million set aside for Florida libraries remained untouched.

 

Blog:  Poll says Floridians unhappy, impatient and pessimistic about state’s economy

A majority of Floridians are increasingly pessimistic about the future of the state, agree with Governor Rick Scott that state government is wasteful, disagree with him that tax cuts and immigration reform are the solution, and believe that the state’s business and elected leaders rarely have the state’s best interest at heart, according to a new poll commissioned by Leadership Florida.

 

New civics course to start in middle schools

Florida middle school students will soon have to take a civics course and then pass a standardized test about what they’ve learned before they can go on to high school.

 

Palm Beach County extending more slow-speed zones to high schools

West Boca, Seminole Ridge among first to get reduced speeds

More flashing speed-zone warnings, once reserved for elementary and middle schools, are coming to slow traffic to a crawl on roads beside some Palm Beach County high schools.

 

Palm Beach County set to become medical school hub

Palm Beach County could become a new hub of medical education in the state with three new programs planning to operate there in the next few years.

 

Principals meet before superintendent faces School Board vote

More than 100 school principals met privately on Monday to discuss supporting beleaguered Superintendent Art Johnson, who they think should keep his job

 

Blog:  Decision looms on spending spree to makeover of Fort Lauderdale beach

The city is sitting on $27 million in cash saved from property taxes

Fort Lauderdale officials are headed toward a decision on how to spend $63 million on a makeover of the beach.

 

Wall Street Journal:  Wisconsin Complains Taxes are Too Low

Parents in School District Hit by Cuts Want to Pay More, but State Won’t Allow It

Michelle Trouvé wants to pay more taxes to support her local schools.

 

Wall Street Journal:  Do-It-Yourself Tax in New Jersey

With Cap in Place, New Jersey Town Considers Raising Own Rate

Officials in Lambertville, New Jersey, are considering asking voters to raise their own property taxes to deal with a quintessential municipal issue: trash pickup.

 

New York business groups pushing for property tax cap

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new system for trying to attract jobs upstate and his plan to cap the growth of some of the nation’s highest property taxes face their first challenge Monday by legislators in a budget.

 

Rural schools, communities suffer in the face of Texas’ budget cuts

$10 billion proposed reduction in direct school aid could drive small, rural school districts out of business.

Built in 1904, the opera house along the red-brick main street once showcased “The Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan and the oratory of Mark Twain, if local lore can be trusted.

 

Seattle schools brace for deeper cuts:  ‘No easy choices left’

To see how tight many school budgets have become, consider Beverly Park Elementary in the Highline School District south of Seattle.

 

Teachers, school leaders come together in Denver

A first-of-its-kind summit among teachers and their bosses – school board members and administrators – kicks off Tuesday in what the Obama administration is touting as a watershed moment in collaboration for school improvement.

 

Washington Post:  Obama’s education budget would spare Pell grants, increase spending 11% overall

President Obama wants a significant jump in education funding to pay for Pell grants for needy college students while also financing his reform agenda for elementary and secondary schools.

 

 

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