Tampabay.com
NOVEMBER 04, 2008

Today's news

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STRAWBERRY SOMETHING: The strawberry industry pushes to have its product in the name of Hillsborough's new east county high school. No jokes about the possible team mascot, okay? (Times photo, Skip O'Rourke)

WORKING ON IT: The Pasco School Board keeps a close eye on the Athenian Academy of Pasco as the charter school tries to work through a series of problems toward a longer contract.

THE NAME REMAINS THE SAME: Duval decides not to rename a high school that carries the moniker of a KKK leader, the AP reports.

CUTS COMING: Broward superintendent Jim Notter warns of layoffs and program cuts to come as the economy worsens, the Miami Herald reports.

FOR THE BIRDS: While their parents vote for president, Florida students today can help choose a new state bird, the Naples Daily News reports. More from Florida Today.

FEELING THE CRUNCH: Florida's colleges and universities see their endowments shrink as the stock market struggles, the Florida Times-Union reports.

STILL, BE CAREFUL: Some Marion schools receive letter filled with a white powder that turns out to be flour, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.

GOING GREEN: Manatee joins the latest trend of building new schools that are environmentally friendly, the Herald-Tribune reports.

JUST 20 DAYS? The lead of this Daytona Beach News-Journal story says it all: "A [Volusia] school bus driver who threatened her young charges that she would leave them on the railroad tracks - even if a train was heading their way - was suspended for 20 days without pay, an investigative summary released Monday shows."

Don't forget, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. We'll bring you school-related results as we have them.

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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

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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.

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