Florida’s transgender student athlete bill faces strong opposition

State officials gave the Hillsborough County school district 20 days to craft a plan to fix its financial crisis, or face a possible takeover of all its budgeting and spending. District officials scrambled to find a solution. • The Florida Legislature’s latest action on transgender student athletes has generated heated opposition — some of it a surprise. Read on for the latest on those stories and other Florida education news.

After poring through records, district financial planners said they discovered new information that might help. They traveled to Tallahassee on Thursday to confer with the state Department of Education about what they uncovered.

Tallahassee action

The Legislature’s bill to ban transgender girls from school sports is getting plenty of pushback. Several groups are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto the measure. Some are focused on the prohibition, which they called discriminatory, WJCT reports. Lawsuits could be in the works, the Orlando Sentinel reports. More from Spectrum 13, WFSU. • Others pointed to different parts of the multi-pronged legislation, including a delay in the compensation of university athletes for the use of their name, image and likeness. More on that aspect from ESPN. • DeSantis said he intended to sign the bill, saying “We’re going to protect our girls,” Florida Politics reports.

A local lawmaker attempted to move the Hernando County school district back toward an elected superintendent. His effort was squashed by a second local lawmaker.

Fired means fired. State lawmakers adopted a bill to create a teacher do-not-hire list for the Department of Education, Florida Politics reports.

The story about a Miami private school saying it would dismiss employees who get the coronavirus vaccine prompted a proposal to ban that practice. The measure fell short in the Senate. The private school continued to defend its stance, NBC Universal reports.

Today in Tallahassee ... It’s the final day of the 2021 legislative session. Both chambers will consider the budget, and finish any bills as available.

Coronavirus concerns

To invite Mom? Or grandma? Manatee County high school seniors will get two more tickets for guest to attend their graduation ceremonies, the Bradenton Herald reports.

The CDC recently said schools could limit social distancing to three feet. Monroe County’s superintendent said it’s not working, noting a rise in quarantines afterward, the Florida Keys Weekly reports.

Let them in. Escambia County schools announced they will allow live student performances with audiences at half capacity, WEAR reports.

School news

Broward County superintendent Robert Runcie has announced his resignation. It doesn’t mean he’ll necessarily be leaving the district right away, as negotiating a settlement hit a snag, the Sun-Sentinel reports. More from the Miami Herald, WLRN.

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About those lists ranking schools ... Palm Beach County’s superintendent contended the latest US News & World Report ratings relied on incomplete information, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Dancing and singing. The Orange County school district launched a campaign encouraging students to participate in the arts, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

An advisory committee is ready to make its final recommendations to improve policing in Osceola County schools. One key highlight is more and better training, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The truth was on the video. A Palm Beach County teacher was let go after throwing a student to the ground and lying about the incident, the Palm Beach Post reports.

From the police blotter ... A south Florida private school teacher was arrested on accusations of inappropriately touching students, WTVJ reports. • A Hendry County principal is under investigation for paddling a student, WINK reports. The district does not allow corporal punishment. • A Broward County school employee was arrested on allegations he made threats of violence against two schools, WPLG reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s the link to yesterday’s roundup.

Before you go ... Does anybody else think OK GO videos are cool?