Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–April 1

 

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Broward schools face biggest cuts in state from legislators

South Florida this year may be forced to absorb more than half of the public school spending cuts being proposed by the state House in part because the region is losing students faster than other part of the state.

Budget-balancing legislators to raid Palm Beach County schools for funds

South Florida this year may be forced to absorb more than half of the public school spending cuts being proposed by the state House — in part because the region is losing students faster than other part of the state.

House plans to tap into reserves

House leaders Monday dropped their opposition to tapping long-term reserves to help cope with the state’s budget crisis but said they would use that option only for an emergency.

State House sees no end to budget cuts

Despite a 10 percent cut to their state spending plan for next year, House lawmakers said Monday that a historic run of budget shortfalls might not be over.

No raises in $65.1 billion Florida House budget

House leaders rolled out a $65.1 billion budget with no pay raises for state employees Monday, along with a stop-gap plan to let Gov. Charlie Crist use reserves and trust funds if Florida’s tax collections continue to fall short.

Ballot issue has schools worried about future funding

If Florida voters decide in November to do away with most of the local property taxes used to fund public schools, most South Florida educators simply don’t believe legislators will make up for the lost revenue.

Insurance proposal: Dade teachers pay their share

A special magistrate has proposed a Solomonic solution to the impasse between the Miami-Dade School District and its teachers: share the increased cost of health insurance.

EDITORIAL: Pinellas voters giveth, House taketh away

Before lawmakers pat themselves on the back for minimizing school budget cuts next year, they should first have to answer to the people in Gov. Charlie Crist’s home county.

EDITORIAL: Education is key, so add more funding

Florida’s government operates without competition, so it often takes a budget shortfall like the current one for it to seriously look at ways to operate more efficiently.

EDITORIAL: Our position: Local governments are insulting taxpayers with their fees

It sure didn’t take local governments long to figure out ways around the property tax cuts demanded by lawmakers and voters.

EDITORIAL: School vouchers shouldn’t be part of Florida’s needed tax and budget reform

ISSUE: Since when do school vouchers qualify as a tax and budget reform?

Floridians are closer than they think to a vote on whether to spend tax dollars on religious institutions, including private schools.

Change spares school district from having to cut $9 million

The Florida Legislature’s decision to allow school districts to pay for property insurance out of their capital budgets will help the Palm Beach County School District avoid significant budget cuts this year.

School rewards, teacher bonuses targets

Rewards for A-rated schools, teachers’ classroom supply funds and bonuses for teachers mentoring other teachers will be partially or fully wiped out in a Senate budget proposal that cuts $115.91 per student next school year.

EDITORIAL: State employees underpaid

ISSUE: Florida state employees are the lowest paid nationwide.

With all the talk about cutting the fat out of the state budget, it would be easy to forget the tasks government employees do for us every day.

Senate passes plan to de-emphasize FCAT

Florida’s controversial school grading system — a remnant of the Jeb Bush era — may be headed for its first major revamp, one requiring that high schools be rated on much more than how their students perform on a statewide assessment test.

Relieved schools close book on this year’s FCAT

As truck number 729 pulled away from Emerald Cove Middle School in Wellington, Principal Nancy Lucas summarized her feelings with one word: “relief.”

EDITORIAL: An elected state education commissioner could unravel reforms

It’s up to the Florida House of Representatives now to protect the state’s schools from the bad idea to elect a commissioner of education.

Failing schools restructure for success

Despite his school being one of six schools with a restructuring plan, Lakewood Park Elementary School Principal Scott Neil said his staff is optimistic they won’t need the plan.

U.S. to Require States to Use a Single School Dropout Formula

Moving to sweep away the tangle of inaccurate state data that has obscured the severity of the nations high school dropout crisis, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings will require all states to use one federal formula to calculate graduation and dropout rates, Bush administration officials said on Monday.

EDITORIAL: Graduation rates don’t add up; time to fix problem

Disagreement over rates erodes credibility and loses track of students; now there’s a lawsuit

You’ve heard of grade inflation. Now we have graduation inflation.

District leader proposes meeting to avert Lauderdale Lakes school lawsuit

The Broward Schools superintendent wants to sit down with Lauderdale Lakes officials to discuss ways to improve the city’s only public high school instead of spending thousands of dollars fighting the city in court.

Budget ax hangs over jobs at schools

Orange, Seminole and Volusia schools are making plans to eliminate hundreds of teaching positions and other jobs in the wake of a proposed House budget released Monday that calls for sharp cuts in education spending next school year.

Leon County Schools takes deeper look at possible cuts for next year

A list of nearly 40 positions and programs has many teachers nervous.

It contains what jobs the Leon County School District may cut next year, including: reading coaches, instructional aides, assistant principals and deans, and art, music and physical education teachers in elementary schools.

Budget crisis prompts Volusia board’s OK to close 7 elementary schools

The Volusia County School Board will close seven schools in three years in an attempt to avert a budget crisis.