Florida education news: Guns at school, hurricane makeup days, charter schools and more

GUNS ON CAMPUS: Five Hernando County high school students face felony charges after one brought a stolen gun to sell on campus, and had it stolen by another student.

TAXES: The Clay County School Board decides to move ahead with a November 2020 sales tax referendum, after the County Commission refuses to conduct a special election on the question, WJXT reports.

CHARTER SCHOOLS: Florida’s new ‘Schools of Hope’ charter school model is poised to expand throughout the state under more permissive rules set by lawmakers, WLRN reports.

SUPERINTENDENTS: A state lawmaker seeks to ask the Legislature to allow Duval County voters to convert the school superintendent’s position to an elected job, the Florida Times-Union reports. • Citrus County superintendent Sam Himmel will seek another term in office, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.

‘WE FEEL IGNORED’: Volusia County teachers say their School Board is not listening to their views in the district’s ongoing superintendent search, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

DUELING INVESTIGATIONS: The Marion County School Board calls for an investigation of superintendent Heidi Maier in relation to a whistleblower complaint against her administration, the Ocala Star-Banner reports. Maier responds with a complaint to the State Attorney’s Office accusing the board of violating the state’s open meetings law.

MAKEUP DAYS: Polk County students will not have to make up time missed because of Hurricane Dorian, the Ledger reports. • Pinellas County students also will not face makeup days because of the storm, Florida Politics reports.

TURNAROUNDS: The Leon County school district seeks $680,000 in grants to help improve three persistently struggling schools, Tallahassee Reports reports. More about Leon’s Oak Ridge Elementary and Pineview Elementary from the Tallahassee Democrat.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Citrus County teachers take advantage of thousands of dollars worth of donated classroom supplies, the Citrus County Chronicle reports. • Lake County teachers find it easier to get less expensive supplies through an online purchasing plan, the Daily Commercial reports.

BUDGETS: The Orange and Seminole county school boards prepare to vote on spending plans they say aren’t funded well enough to provide everything parents expect for their children, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

SETTLEMENT: A demoted Palm Beach County school principal will receive a raise and a three-year ‘principal on assignment’ title to settle her lawsuit against the school district, the Palm Beach Post reports.

HOSPITALIZED: Nine students at a Broward County charter school are hospitalized after eating marijuana-infused candy, the Associated Press reports.

ARRESTED: A Lee County teen is arrested on charges of bringing a loaded gun on a school bus, WINK reports.