Florida education news: State funding, school rules, threat monitoring and more

STATE FUNDING: Rather than adding more money into public education, Republican candidate for Florida governor Ron DeSantis suggests the state and districts instead should root out waste and inefficiency in their budgets. Observers say the schools might better spend their money if not hamstrung by state requirements for its uses.

SCHOOL RULES: The Florida Board of Education prepares to designate more high-performing schools to gain flexibility from several state laws, including class size requirements and minimum daily reading rules.

BOYS' CLUB: The Okaloosa County school district's rules on who can become a high school athletic director virtually excludes women, as the first criterion is to become a head football coach, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

ANONYMOUS APP? A Sarasota County parent questions the anonymity of Florida's new  school threat reporting mobile application, after sending in a tip and being contacted in less than an hour by law enforcement, the Herald-Tribune reports.

TAX REVENUE: South Florida school district superintendents consider how the choice of Florida's next governor could change their financial plans, WLRN reports. The districts are seeking voter support for tax increases to bolster revenue.

TOLL ROADS: Broward County school buses rack up close to $10,000 in fines and fees from unpaid tolls, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

CAMPUS SECURITY: The Lake County school district unveils its plan to begin adding security measures to its schools, the Daily Commercial reports. • The Volusia County school district finalizes its state required security and mental health plans, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

JOB OPENINGS: Manatee County schools struggle to fill positions, the Bradenton Herald reports. The district had about five times more vacancies than its neighbors.

AFTER MICHAEL: The Bay County school district seeks donations to help it reopen for classes, the Panama City News Herald reports.

GENDER ISSUES: The Palm Beach County School Board reaffirms its support of LGBTQ students and employees in district policies, the Palm Beach Post reports.

LUNCH LINE: Nearly half of Sarasota County students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, and the ratio is rising, the Herald-Tribune reports.

SOCIAL MEDIA: The Charlotte County School Board considers rewriting policy to stop district employees from communicating with students on social media, the Charlotte Sun reports.

BAD ACTS: A Duval County teacher is arrested on child pornography distribution charges, WJAX reports. • A Broward County teacher is arrested on child pornography possession charges, the Miami Herald reports.