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Florida education news: Funding concerns, student walkouts, school choice and more

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

FUNDING: Florida's school superintendents call on Gov. Rick Scott to schedule a special session focused on the K-12 education budget. Why? The Legislature's focus on funding school safety left the added money for rising operational expenses too low, they say. The likelihood is not high, though. "The Governor has been clear – the number one priority right now is making our schools safer, and he's glad that the Legislature provided funding for that specific reason," a spokesman said. Several Tampa-area superintendents plan a news conference today to further explain their position. • Some district leaders say they're happy with the budget, though, as lawmakers provided higher funding to smaller counties, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

WALKOUTS: Thousands of students around Florida and the nation hold 17-minute walkouts in memory of the 17 people slain in a Broward County school shooting a month ago. "Stand up for yourself and what you believe in," one Pasco County eighth grader told her schoolmates during their memorial. More TB Times coverage here. • No Citrus County students participated after their superintendent said walkouts are not permitted, the Citrus County Chronicle reports. • A Polk County charter school prevents a walkout by holding a fire drill at the same time, the Ledger reports. • Many Lee County students hold early morning events rather than walking out of class for fear of discipline, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. • Four Pensacola High students walk out despite being warned not to, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. • More on walkouts from TC Palm, Gainesville Sun, Panama City News Herald, Ledger, Florida Times-Union, Florida Today, Daily Commercial, Herald-TribuneSun-Sentinel

SCHOOL CHOICE: Pasco County's superintendent says students attending schools using open enrollment will have to reapply if their schools are rezoned, changing his original plan.

SCHOOL SAFETY: The Indian River County school district adds resource officers to the schools that did not have one, TC Palm reports. • Brevard County School Board members say they remain open to the idea of having armed employees in schools, Florida Today reports. • Florida lawmakers have made it easier to prosecute people who threaten school violence on social media, the Herald-Tribune reports.

SHAKE IT UP: Palm Beach County's new superintendent announces an administrative reorganization on his first day, the Palm Beach Post reports. More from WLRN.

OPEN MEETINGS: A state prosecutor is investigating whether the Lake County School Board violated Sunshine Law by holding private meetings with district administrators, the Daily Commercial reports.

BAD ACTS: A Bradford County teacher is suspended while being investigated on accusations of physically abusing a student, WUFT reports.