/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IEQGR5IBYZDXRIAHQW7XXX77C4.JPG "Madison Middle School is one of Hillsborough County's underutilized campuses. District officials are making plans to balance enrollments across the county.")
The big story: Hillsborough County school district officials long have grappled with a problem that troubles large and growing systems: Growth does not always happen where the schools are located.
The result has been some campuses bursting at the seams, while others sit well below capacity.
Rather than continually building new schools, the district has contemplated how it can shift students to make better use of existing space. It has to find a sweet spot, though, that doesn’t put children on lengthy bus rides so far from their homes that their families balk.
As the district spends money from its local option sales tax for capital projects, and seeks voter approval for a property tax increase to support salaries, it’s speeding up its effort to redraw those attendance boundaries.
“We’re just trying to maximize all our facilities,” said superintendent Addison Davis. Read more here.
Hot topics
Tax referendums: The Hernando County School Board decided to continue its lawsuit against the County Commission over the scheduling of its sales tax referendum, Suncoast News reports. The county had proposed mediation, which could have lasted beyond the deadline to place an item on the November ballot. • The Flagler County Commission did not dispute placing a School Board sales tax referendum on the November ballot, Flagler Live reports.
Minimum wage: The Sarasota County School Board approved paying all employees at least $15 an hour beginning in July, the Herald-Tribune reports.
Pandemic lawsuits: A judge tossed out a proposed class-action lawsuit in which Florida State University students sought tuition refunds for the time when campus closed because of the pandemic, the News Service of Florida reports.
Other school news
The University of Florida has 17 construction projects taking place on campus. They’re making it hard for students to get around, WUFT reports.
Seven Manatee County schools will participate in a brain health study. Researchers will study concepts such as readiness to learn and school engagement, the Bradenton Herald reports.
Bay County charter schools will start getting an annual share of local-option sales tax revenue. In the past they received funds only for specific projects, WMBB reports.
The Gadsden County school district is preparing to build a new $60 million K-8 school. It would replace two elementary and one middle school that have fallen into disrepair, WCTV reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s the link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go ... What?! BTS is on hiatus? Well, at least the K-pop megastar group dropped this song before taking its break. Maybe the best is yet to come.
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Every Thursday, get the latest updates on what’s happening in Tampa Bay area schools from Times education reporter Jeffrey S. Solochek. Click here to sign up.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/d899cc0f-b0d6-4481-ad36-fc951db3f95b.png "Jeffrey S. Solochek - Education Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/HDk8oOVIiZtdIToI_K10LyFulWE=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6FGLGPOR52Z5PP64AFBYDBZPO4.jpg "Florida school board candidates make issue of library books")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NCGNS4VMZJBCNDGO34H6U7JZUA.jpg "Hillsborough school district and its teachers are close to a deal on pay")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/AQSRBJYF2NBYZJ363LRPVEO4CU.jpg "Top officials say Florida has no wait list for school vouchers")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VFVV2DWE5FCTXA6BWBKZG3LBR4.JPG "Florida is funding vouchers as fast as it can, education commissioner says")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7A2TWRS72BBKNAKABZ2BTHAMFM.jpg "To opt in or opt out? The choice changes for parents in Florida schools")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VQHXZZN5WNHYJJ5W5LRYPH4ECY.jpg "In Florida schools, parent permission now a must for many more activities")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GNKIG4HT7IZA6RUSY2QBJ3XWNQ.jpg "Florida struggles with school vouchers as program expands")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JYN2HB5N7FBHBCVT3ZVMDONBZU.JPG "DeSantis’ office pledged to investigate bid-rigging case. It didn’t get far.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WXZYD3LMZRD3PIUOPMF6ZWVK6U.jpg "Florida school voucher money is flowing again, but delays persist")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7G2NEXEDYKWJJ7P33WM7LTVADU.jpg "Judge refuses to block Florida law banning paycheck deductions for union dues")