Pasco school district to create choice task force

Repeating criticisms of his district's school choice options as lacking, Pasco superintendent Kurt Browning on Tuesday announced he would create a high-level task force to explore adding more education alternatives for students and parents.

The group will look at "magnets, K-8's, 9-14's — different options we need to provide" for families within the school system, Browning said....

Florida education news: Superintendents, budget cuts, teacher pay raises and more

DONE DEAL: The Hernando County School Board approves a contract for its new superintendent, Lori Romano.

MONEY ISSUES: Pasco district leaders reconsider whether to use nonrecurring funds to cover ongoing expenses. • Flagler paraprofessionals defend their positions against proposed budget cuts, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports....

Pasco School Board seeks more cost-cutting ideas

LAND O'LAKES — Pasco school superintendent Kurt Browning has made it clear that he doesn't want to use nonrecurring funds to pay for ongoing expenses.

But on Tuesday, Browning asked the Pasco School Board to consider doing so anyway. Otherwise, he said, eliminating a projected $26.4 million deficit and giving raises to noninstructional staff gets harder to do.

"I need to know what your opinion is on using the $4.3 million of nonrecurring," he told the board. "If we don't do that, I will tell you we are going to have to dig deeper and make further cuts."...

Governor's Office offers guidance on teacher raises in budget

At the same time Gov. Rick Scott prepared to sign Florida's 2014 budget, he delivered to school district superintendents some details on how to implement one of his top priorities in the budget -- raises for teachers.

In a lengthy Q&A document, the governor laid out that the raises are indeed salary increases and not one-time bonuses. The money must be used for raises and not other purposes, according to the guidelines, and the pay hikes "may" be based on performance....

Parents, students petition to keep Spanish classes at Zephyrhills High

Word spread quickly last week that Zephyrhills High School principal Andy Frelick planned to cut Spanish classes and offer French instead. Spanish would be available only as an online course.

People were not happy.

An online petition sprang up, quickly netting more than 250 e-signatures. And superintendent Kurt Browning started getting several emails. They were unanimous in their opposition to the idea....

Florida education news: Prom, vetoes, budget cuts and more

PROM TIME: A River Ridge High School junior's prom experience ends in acrimony and upset, a far cry from the fun time she had hoped for.

IN THE RUNNING: A former Hernando Education Foundation director will seek a seat on the county School Board....

Gov. Scott vetoes $1.5 million STEM project for Pasco schools

Plans to create a STEM magnet program in Pasco schools took a setback Monday when Gov. Rick Scott took his veto pen to the proposed 2014 state budget....

How much testing is too much?

In many schools around the country, once the state testing period ends, teachers and students slow down their pace and relax. The homework often ends, and the curriculum — having already been tested — segues into a combination of review and a look ahead to the next year's expectations.

In some places, though, testing continues. Not to evaluate student abilities or teacher performance, but to fine-tune the questions for future exams. Test experts say it's an important part of the process, to avoid misleading, poorly written or just plain dumb items that shouldn't be on high-stakes tests....

Florida education news: Tuition, school choice, teacher layoffs and more

VETO PEN: Gov. Rick Scott is set to sign the FY 2014 budget, but veto a 3 percent tuition rate increase within it.

FEW OPTIONS: Parents of children with severe disabilities have limited school choices when the centers their children attend are rated F, the Orlando Sentinel reports....

Bullying prevention is a "moral imperative," Pasco superintendent says

Over recent months, the Pasco County school district has seen its share of bullying incidents. One case that's a few years old led the School Board to adopt an agreement with the federal government to dramatically improve its policies on harassment and discrimination....

Florida education news: PTA funds, kindergarten literacy, school closure and more

FOR THE KIDS? The president of the Seven Springs Elementary PTA is arrested on charges she embezzled thousands of dollars from the group.

MAKING PROGRESS: A Hernando K-8 school holds a literacy cafe for parents to see how their kindergartners have improved in writing through the year....

Florida education news: Tuition, graduation, discrimination and more

JUST SAY NO: Gov. Rick Scott asks Florida's university presidents for their support in his opposition to increased tuition rates.

TENACITY: A Dixie Hollins High senior struggles to make it to graduation before cancer claims her....

Parents join forces across school boundaries on Pasco County Council of PTAs

LAND O'LAKES — The Pasco County Council of PTAs is making a comeback after years of inaction.

Dormant for nearly a decade, the organization that aims to coordinate activities, advocacy and training for parents throughout the schools has begun holding regular meetings and creating bonds among the previously disparate PTAs across Pasco.

"We're starting to have a really good growth spurt," said president Denise Nicholas, who led the Seven Oaks Elementary PTA before taking over the countywide organization. "We are all about helping the kids. We are here to advocate for the kids."...

Florida education news: Budget vetoes, teacher layoffs, STEM lessons and more

GOBBLE, GOBBLE: Gov. Rick Scott faces pressure over what to leave in the state budget and what to veto. More from State Impact Florida....