Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–Aug. 21

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Crist may bet state budget on gambling

A deal with the Seminole Tribe could offer relief, he says.

TALLAHASSEE – As the political odds increasingly favor Las Vegas-style gambling on Florida tribal lands, the Seminole Tribe sees big dollar signs, and so does Gov. Charlie Crist.

 

Fewer students could cost Broward school district

Almost 234,000 students started school in Broward — a decline of more than 5,000 kids from the first day in 2006.

 

Closure of some Dade schools may be coming

The Miami-Dade school district opened nine new schools and added enough space to accommodate 20,000 more students in high-growth areas Monday, but declining enrollment overall and shrinking budgets may mean that school closures are on the horizon.

 

Stop Bullying School System Over Need For Off-Site Fixes

Like a schoolyard bully prowling for lunch money, Hillsborough County government is trying to muscle the school board into funding infrastructure improvements in communities where it plans new schools. Fortunately, the board is fighting back.

 

Possible School Closings Worry Parents

ST. PETERSBURG – An otherwise typical opening day for the Pinellas County school system was overshadowed Tuesday by some parents’ concern that their children’s schools might not be around next year.

 

Bus-riding throngs dwindle

Gas prices don’t seem to be deterring parents from driving their children to and from school.

 

Don’t fix what works

If the guiding principle of Pinellas County’s new student assignment plan is to provide great schools close to home, magnet and fundamental programs should be attractive alternatives for families who want broader choices.

 

Brevard schools open today; teachers high on new concept

Eleven-year-old Noah Davis and the rest of his sixth-grade classmates get to be campus hotshots this year.

 

Educators wary of bonus plan

You’d think bonus money for “special” teachers would be, well, special.  Not quite.

 

Property values, tax bills decline

Palm Beach County’s property appraiser mailed more than 620,000 property tax notices on Tuesday, and the preliminary bills show two things homeowners haven’t seen in years: falling values and falling tax bills.

      
 
Still no deal on Seminole gaming

The federal deadline for Florida to reach a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe will come and go today without a deal.

 

Tampa To Consider Raising Fee To Spare Preschool Program

TAMPA – Will parents of children in a popular preschool program be willing to pay more than double the price to keep it running?

 

Budget Cut Dilemma: How Deep?

PORT RICHEY – One hundred and sixty-six pages of revenue and spending estimates.  That’s what city council members had for reading material over the weekend – ahead of Monday evening’s special budget workshop, when they again huddled to discuss how much to cut from the proposed $10.3 million budget for fiscal year 2007-08.

 

Flagler rejects at-risk student funding

BUNNELL — Flagler County Commissioners on Monday night turned down a request to help fund an agency that works with at-risk students statewide and recently relocated to Palm Coast.

 

Nova Southeastern University, county bicker over funding of library

Although services are being cut at most public libraries to help pay for state-mandated property tax relief, that won’t be the case at the one Broward County shares with Nova Southeastern University.

 

Two who wanted Newell’s post seek replacement’s school seat

Outgoing Palm Beach County School Board member Bob Kanjian beat out more than 25 other contenders to replace Warren Newell in the Palm Beach County Commission.

 

Room spins for teacher-astronaut, readapting to gravity  
 
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Adapting to weightlessness was hard. Readapting to gravity was even tougher for teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan.