New College of Florida to pick next president

The big story: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ transformation of New College of Florida takes its next big step today, when trustees are scheduled to select the school’s permanent president. Three candidates are vying to replace Patricia Okker, who was removed by a conservative majority installed by DeSantis earlier this year.

The leading candidate is former education commissioner and House speaker Richard Corcoran, whom trustees installed as interim leader with a salary of $700,000. He has proved a lightning rod for criticism in the role, with many students and faculty abandoning the school as it has dropped diversity programs, refused professors tenure and accused past leadership of driving the campus to failure.

This week, the school got news that it has been accepted to the NAIA Sun Conference for its new athletics program, the Herald-Tribune reports. It also heard from an outside analyst that its business plan is not financially viable, News Service of Florida reports.

Meanwhile, the school’s vice president for communications warned against sticking with the school’s current leadership, after being fired after two months on the job, WFTS reports.

Want to watch the debate over who becomes the next president? It will be livestreamed on the college’s YouTube channel starting at 2 p.m.

Hot topics

Name, image and likeness: The FHSAA is drafting a proposal that would allow high school athletes to be paid for the use of their name, image and likeness, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Public meetings: The Flagler County School Board has asked to have regular closed meetings to talk about legal issues, Flagler Live reports. Experts say such a move would likely be illegal. The board plans to hold one such meeting today to discuss three pending lawsuits, Flagler Live reports.

Rezoning: Alachua County parents continue to question school boundary changes proposed to rebalance school enrollments, WCJB reports.

School reuse: The City of New Port Richey is trying to figure out what to do with the former Gulf High School site it bought in September from the Pasco County school district, Suncoast News reports.

Teacher pay: Lee County teacher and district representatives reached a tentative contract deal with raises ranging from 3.65% to 11.5%, WFTX reports.

Vouchers: Palm Beach County schools have seen enrollment increase despite early concerns that vouchers would decrease the numbers, WPTV reports.

From the police blotter ... A Hillsborough County teen was arrested on accusations of bringing a stolen loaded weapon to Freedom High School, WTSP reports.

From the court docket ... Lawyers for Florida A&M University students are using a letter from the Biden Administration to bolster claims that their school has been discriminated against in state funding, News Service of Florida reports.

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