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Florida education news: Elections, extortion, funding and more

A roundup of stories from around the state.
 
Published Jan. 4, 2018

ELECTIONS: Four of seven Pinellas County School Board seats come up for election in 2018. So far, just one of the incumbents — Rene Flowers — has filed papers to seek another term.

EXTORTION: Universities and colleges across Florida receive threats of violence if they do not pay off the sender. Law enforcement is investigating, but so far the messages appear to be a hoax.

FUNDING: Florida lawmakers return to Tallahassee next week, with one key education funding issue yet unresolved — whether to let school board keep their local property tax rates steady.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Marion County students return to classes Thursday despite the cold, the Ocala Star-Banner reports. Collier County schools plan to keep their classrooms and buses warm, WBBH reports.

TESTING: Some Lake County elementary school students head straight into assessments as they come back from winter break, the Daily Commercial reports.

TRAFFIC SNARL: A successful and growing Broward County charter school offers incentives to get more students on buses as its daily drop-off and pick-up times grow more chaotic, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

Education promises to be a critical issue in the 2018 Florida legislative session, which begins next week. Hear Rep. Shevrin Jones, ranking Democrat on the House Education Committee, talk about his views on what's to come on today's Gradebook podcast at 9:30 a.m.