Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–April 24
Apr 24, 2009
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Property-tax plans seem to stall
As Florida lawmakers headed into their spring session, Gov. Charlie Crist targeted additional changes to the state’s property-tax system as a top priority.
Education funds at center of secret talks
Education money takes center stage in Tallahassee as the budget process continues to stall.
Tuition increase, property insurance top Florida Legislature agenda
With budget negotiations still stalled, lawmakers in the House and Senate Friday will busy themselves with final votes on some major legislation, including bills to raise state university tuition and to remedy Florida’s property insurance crisis.
Florida House clears a passel of education bills
From raising high school graduation standards to expanding a school voucher program, the Florida House on Thursday passed more than a dozen bills to change education policy in the state.
State budget indecision stymies school planning
Talk of furloughs for Hillsborough County School District employees remains on hold as administrators and union leaders wait for news from the state Legislature.
Budget standoff could be costly to taxpayers
The fallout from a budget standoff between the House and Senate could hit taxpayers even harder this year as lawmakers braced Tuesday for overtime at $40,000 a day.
State to take over Jefferson County Schools
The state will take control of the Jefferson County School District’s finances, which are expected to show a deficit of $360,000 to $400,000 next month.
Lawmakers hot on tax swap to support fire departments
The Florida Legislature is moving forward with a tax-swap plan authorizing a penny sales tax to pay for local firefighter operations, with the revenue used to lower property-tax bills.
Federal education money waiting on Florida
Florida has not filed a waiver to receive federal stimulus dollars for education.
Florida lawmakers are relying on $2 billion in federal stimulus money to shore up their education budgets, but the state has not even sent in its application.
Raised high-school standards pass in Florida House, await Senate vote
Changes in education policy heading through the Florida House included a new requirement for a civics class for middle school students — but only if the Senate agrees.
From raising high-school graduation standards to expanding a school-voucher program, the Florida House on Thursday passed more than a dozen bills to change education policy in the state.
Lawmakers reject Crist’s Seminole gambling plan
Legislators in both houses continue negotiations; Senate offers new proposal
A day after Gov. Charlie Crist pitched a $1.1 billion loan from the Seminole tribe to get Florida through rocky financial times, leading lawmakers in both houses of the Legislature shunned that idea and moved ahead with their own late-hour gambling talks.
Will Florida legislative session end on schedule? So far, it looks doubtful
With nine days left in the 2009 legislative session, the House and Senate remain far apart on how to resolve their differences over taxing and spending.
Census: More move out of Florida
For the first time since the 1940s, more people moved out of Florida last year than new residents moved in from other states as the economic slump has halted years of explosive population growth in the Sunshine State.
House votes to strengthen Fla. voucher program
A school voucher program financed through corporate tax credits would be strengthened under a bill that’s cleared the House.
Florida class-size measure moves closer to ballot
The Florida House approved a measure to send a class-size amendment to voters in a push to loosen requirements to keep classes small.
A Republican-led push to loosen the state’s class-size mandate moved closer to a 2010 ballot measure with House approval Friday.
Fate unclear for bill allowing a delay of child vaccines
Lawmakers are adjusting a bill that would give parents more authority to delay the pace at which their children are vaccinated.
Gary Kompothecras, parent to two autistic children, believes early childhood vaccines containing ethyl mercury are to blame for their condition. Other parents of autistic children share his belief.
Miami-Dade School Board, county OK school facility plan
The Miami-Dade School Board on Wednesday finalized an agreement with the County Commission that will make sure school facilities keep up with development.
Broward School Board acts to remove FCAT promotion rule
The Broward School Board gave preliminary approval Tuesday to lifting the requirement that middle schoolers pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in order to move on to high school.
Seminole schools may have to cut, then rehire 154 teachers
Superintendent Bill Vogel said Tuesday that with a May 1 deadline approaching for notifying Seminole County teachers whether they’ll be rehired for next school year, he may have no choice but to let 154 of them go because of budget uncertainty.
Lee schools budget director plans on significant revenue cuts
The budget took center stage again at today’s Lee County Public Schools board briefing meeting, but there were two parts to the review.
U.S. Education Chief Duncan: School Reform Means Doing What’s Best for Kids
Let’s have an honest assessment of charter schools.
As states and school districts across America begin drawing down the first $44 billion in education funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, they should bear in mind the core levers of change under the law.
Large Urban-Suburban Gap Seen in Graduation Rates
It is no surprise that more students drop out of high school in big cities than elsewhere; now, however, a nationwide study shows the magnitude of the gap: the average high school graduation rate in the nation’s 50 largest cities was 53 percent, compared with 71 percent in the suburbs.
Palm Beach County School Board wants ‘ultimate control’ but no operations cost in WXEL acquisition
The Palm Beach County School Board wants to ‘maintain ultimate control’ over every aspect of the WXEL radio and television stations it’s negotiating to acquire, from veto power over the programs on air to a blanket rule that no current employees be fired.
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