Tampabay.com
NOVEMBER 03, 2007

Today's news

TEACHERS SEE TRADEOFF: The Pinellas teachers union supports the district's proposed neighborhood schools plan, recommending that the savings in transportation go toward helping students in struggling schools.

KEEPING TRACK OF CASH: Despite news that a few Pasco schools have trouble monitoring their money, that doesn't mean such problems must exist. Principals at two high schools that have received high marks from district auditors share their tips on how to keep things clean.

FIXING A BROKEN SYSTEM: The Boyd Anderson Innovation Zone in Broward County has some big problems, not the least of which are its failing schools. Community leaders are seeking solutions, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

CHARTERS SUE DISTRICT: The City of Pembroke Pines, which runs several charter schools, has sued the Broward school district over the district's refusal to give the charters money for capital improvements, the Miami Herald reports.

UNDERSTANDING CODE RED: When crises occur at schools, parents often rush there even when officials urge them not to. The Palm Beach school district is working on a video to explain to the public how it deals with the worst-case scenarios, the Palm Beach Post reports.

SALES TAX ELECTION: Sarasota voters will decide Tuesday whether to extend a 1-percent sales tax for school construction needs, the Herald-Tribune reports.

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: A Dallas-area school district is considering whether to buy every students' family a subscription to the local weekly newspaper, and in turn the paper would print the information now sent home in district newsletters, the Dallas Morning News reports. Some media experts question the ethics of the idea.

DIVERSITY'S LIMITS: The University of Delaware ends a program on diversity and cultural identity after students complain, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

NO GUARANTEES: A key faculty committee is urging the University of California to cut back the numbers of high school seniors who are guaranteed admission under a 47-year-old policy, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Visit the Gradebook at noon for an interview with U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, who has proposed a bill that would create a national registry of teachers who have had sexual misconduct with students.

Join the discussion: Click to view comments, add yours

About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

Meet the team

Advertisement

THE TEAM

Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

Registration FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions on how to register to comment on the site.