Principal sends students positive message to counter ‘turmoil and negativity’

In today’s test score driven accountability school model, a high school principal often knows a handful of students on campus, while tending to the operations of what can be a small city. One Volusia County campus leader decided to go beyond that for his graduating class. Read on for that story and more Florida education news.

The principal of Matanzas High spent hours researching each of his 459 graduating seniors leading up to commencement. He then left each one a handwritten personalized note on their seat at the ceremony, the Daytona Beach News Journal reports.

Hot topics

Parent ‘bill of rights’: Conservative Florida lawmakers have pushed for several years to establish such a law. The measure is on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature, Florida Politics reports.

Race lessons: Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott introduced a resolution in Congress condemning “critical race theory” in schools. Scott distorted several facts, PolitiFact reports.

Coronavirus concerns

What practices will Florida schools keep from their pandemic responses? South Florida education reporters discuss the lessons learned with WLRN.

At-home learning highlighted the need to expand internet access into under-served areas. A coalition of Palm Beach County organizations joined forces to make it happen in one community, the Herald-Tribune reports.

Parents can request retention for their elementary-aged children. Experts said in some instances that’s not the best choice, WPTV reports.

School news

Wanted: One turnaround principal. The Escambia County school district has launched a national search for a principal to push Warrington Middle School out of its perennially low state grades. the Pensacola News Journal reports.

Rezoning and renovations can go only so far to ease crowding. The Palm Beach County school district will build its first new elementary school in the Boca Raton region since 2001, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Welcome back. Volusia County schools superintendent Scott Fritz reflected on his time dealing with the pandemic, his own cancer battle and more, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

Let the search begin. Having selected an interim superintendent, the Lee County School Board will kick off its hunt for a permanent leader today, WINK reports.

Before you go ... It’s been a long school year. And some school sayings have become, shall we say, a little worn. Does this video capture your views at all?