Courts continue to play a big role in the operations of Florida’s schools and universities, as judges are called upon to decide heated debates that embroil campuses across the state. Subjects under review include the ongoing dispute over mask mandates, and the recent battle over educators’ academic freedoms. Read on for those stories and more Florida education news.
Three UF professors barred from testifying in a case against the state’s voting rights law sued the university. They allege their First Amendment rights were violated. Their suit came after university president Kent Fuchs reversed the ban, with the plaintiffs noting Fuchs didn’t change the policy, just the action. • Meanwhile, faculty leaders urged donors to withhold contributions to the university until leaders declare independence from politicians. UF long has been a battleground over concerns about state political meddling. • Some Florida State University faculty members said they saw hints of the UF controversy in their recent contract negotiations, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Who makes the rules on whether kids wear masks in schools? A state administrative judge determined that the Department of Health has the authority, the News Service of Florida reports. More from the Gainesville Sun. • The Palm Beach County school district accelerated the end of its strict mask mandate because of the court decision, the Palm Beach Post reports.
Teachers
Three months into the school year, teachers in several districts don’t have updated contracts. Money is one of the hurdles for Tampa Bay area districts.
Some deals are getting made. The Duval County School Board approved an agreement to provide $1,000 bonuses to employees not covered by state-funded awards, the Florida Times-Union reports. • The Citrus County School Board will consider 3 percent raises for teachers when it meets Tuesday, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.
It’s not just Florida. Several states face similar debates over paid leave and other contractual issues, as they deal with teacher shortages and burnout, ABC News reports.
In the classroom
The effort to remove certain books from schools has arrived in Florida. Two Flagler County School Board members have begun making ideological objections to passages in some materials, following a national playbook, Flagler Live reports.
Habla español? The Escambia County school district will begin teaching foreign languages at its elementary schools, with funding from a federal grant, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.
Oviedo High School’s homecoming dance came to an abrupt end this weekend. Police are investigating rumors that someone brought a gun to the event, WKMG reports.
At least five Brevard County schools were disrupted by threats of violence over the past week. None were deemed credible, Florida Today reports.
A new national report outlined positive effects of Florida’s tax credit scholarship program. The researchers found the program benefitted private and public schools, reimaginED reports. Here’s a link to the national report. (reimaginED is operated by Step Up For Students, which runs the state’s largest scholarship funding organization.)
School politics
Two St. Johns County School Board members were invited to speak at a local Trump Club meeting. They were uninvited after it became clear the school district would have to provide public notice of the session because of the board members’ participation, the St. Augustine Record reports.
The politics of COVID rage on. A new survey from heavily Democratic Broward County shows wide support of school mask requirements and low approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ handling the pandemic in schools, Florida Politics reports.
Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins’ lawsuit against state Rep. Randy Fine was delayed. A judge denied her request for a temporary injunction against Fine, who she has accused of cyberstalking, Florida Today reports.
Alachua County superintendent Carlee Simon won’t be having any more private conversations with School Board member Gunnar Paulson. She accused him of making sexist comments during a phone call, as well as violating the Sunshine law and mistreating district staff, WCJB reports. Paulson in response raised concerns about Simon’s leadership.
Other news
An Osceola County teacher accused of forcing students to clean a boys bathroom has resigned. The district investigation into the teacher ended with the decision, WESH reports.
The state ethics commission dismissed a complaint against a Volusia County School Board member. A resident had accused her of abusing her office by making unsupported comments about COVID-19, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
Before you go ... Al Yankovic isn’t just a funny satirist. He can play, too. Here’s his latest, for a new documentary on Sparks. Want to hear the original version? Click here.
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