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Florida education news: Student activists, budget cuts, parent voices and more

A roundup of stories from around the state.
 
Published April 19, 2018

STUDENT ACTIVISTS: After the Parkland school shooting, high school students across the Tampa Bay area and Florida rose up to say 'never again.' Articulate and poised, the students galvanized the nation on the key issues of school safety and gun control. But they're also busy with other things, and wondering who will keep the effort going.

BUDGET CUTS: The Hillsborough County school district eliminates about 160 bilingual aide positions for the coming year.

TURNAROUND: All teachers are released from Hernando County's struggling Moton Elementary School, even though all had evaluation ratings of "effective" or higher.

PARENT VOICES: A group of Pasco County parents whose neighborhood is targeted for school rezoning fights an uphill battle to get the School Board to reconsider its plan.

AFTER THE FIRE: The Hillsborough County school district seeks bids to rebuild historic Lee Elementary, which burned shortly after Hurricane Irma.

DOGS IN TRAINING: A Pasco County teacher asks the School Board to revise its policies so she can bring a service dog in training into her classroom.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: A new charter school backed by Collier County School Board member Erika Donalds is approved for Martin County, the Naples Daily News reports. More from TC Palm. • The Leon County School Board prepares to consider the applications of two new charter schools that superintendent Rocky Hanna has opposed, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

SECURITY: Many Broward County parents vent frustrations about what they see as ineffective school security measures during a public forum, the Sun-Sentinel reports. • The Sarasota County school district takes steps toward creating its own police force, the Herald-Tribune reports. • The Brevard County School Board commits to arming some employees despite strong opposition, Florida Today reports. • The Flagler County school district hires a firm to monitor social media for school violence threats, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

TAXES: The Martin County School Board will ask voters to approve two new tax increases, one for construction and another for teacher pay and security enhancements, TC Palm reports. • An Okaloosa County School Board member asks to reconsider placing a half-cent sales tax referendum before voters, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

ELECTED VS. APPOINTED: Escambia County voters will decide whether their school superintendent should continue to be elected, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.