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Florida education news: Teacher pay, birthday treats, water supply and more

A roundup of stories from around the state.
 
Published Aug. 15, 2018

TEACHER PAY: Pasco County School Board members said they want to look for money in the district budget to give employees raises. So far, they've asked questions but come up with no solid answers.

TRANSPARENCY: Hillsborough County school district officials say they'll begin providing more public information about results of testing for lead in schools' water supply.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY? Pasco County students no longer will be able to bring in store-bought sweets as classroom treats, as the district fully implements federal "smart snack" standards.

LOGROLLING: Former Florida chief justice Harry Lee Anstead challenges six proposed state constitution amendments, including a three-pronged education initiative, as unconstitutionally bundled.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Florida civil rights groups continue to press U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to reject Florida's Every Student Succeeds Act plan until it meets all the federal guidelines, Education Week reports.

STILL DISPLACED: Florida schools will receive federal funds to help cover the costs of students who arrived after fleeing hurricanes a year ago, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

SUPERINTENDENTS: Several south Florida leaders back Broward County superintendent Robert Runcie as he comes under fire in the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, WPLG reports. • The leaders of Manatee and Sarasota schools discuss budgets, safety and other issues with aspiring teachers at the USF Sarasota-Manatee, the Herald-Tribune reports.

DRESS CODE: An Orange County first grader withdraws from his private school after officials say he needed to cut off his dreadlocks to attend, the Miami Herald reports.

IN COURT: A federal appeals court rejects the claim by two Miami-Dade County educators that their First Amendment rights were violated when they were disciplined for working to convert their school into charter status, the News Service of Florida reports.

SECURITY: Its resource officer contract settled, the Citrus County School Board raises concerns about the costs of after-school program security and transportation of cash, the Citrus County Chronicle reports. • Broward County schools had no armed security for several of its summer programs despite heightened concerns, the Miami Herald reports. • Duval County falls short of its needs in hiring school security guards, the Florida Times-Union reports. • Escambia and Santa Rosa county schools take several steps to enhance student safety, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. • A safety consultant warns the Broward County School Board against metal detectors, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

ACHIEVEMENT GAP: Alachua County school district officials discuss a new equity plan to ensure minority students receive a high quality education, the Gainesville Sun reports.

STUDENT INFORMATION: The Brevard County school district will phase out and replace its disliked student information website, Florida Today reports.

MOVING ON: Florida Virtual School's longtime lawyer Frank Kruppenbacher resigns his post, Florida Politics reports.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: A candidate for Lake County School Board is removed from the ballot for failing to meet the state's resign to run requirements, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

TODAY: Florida Board of Education, 8 a.m., Orlando

ICYMI: Yesterday's Florida education news roundup