Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–July 16
Jul 16, 2009
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Boundary change opens doors for development
‘Golden Triangle’ handoff to shift line between Broward, Palm Beach counties
The “Leaving Palm Beach County” sign on Lox Road will soon be more prophetic than ever.
Broward budget calls for 250 layoffs, 5-day furloughs
Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry has proposed laying off 250 workers and is trying to find money to prevent Sheriff Al Lamberti from closing a jail.
Stimulus dollars paying off for Florida, state agencies say
Florida’s approximately $15 billion, three-year take of federal stimulus spending is starting to pay off, Education Commissioner Eric Smith and other agency heads told Gov. Charlie Crist Wednesday.
Report: Florida ‘a state in trouble’
On Monday, we learned that the number of millionaires in Florida had fallen dramatically. Now, a report finds that the economic future of the Sunshine State’s residents is not very bright.
Moody’s pulls state from watch list, reaffirms bond rating
Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday removed Florida from its watch list possibly for downgrade and reaffirmed a Aa1 rating on the state.
Editorial: Florida’s public schools are at risk
Crist, Legislature abdicate duty to public schools, colleges
Gov. Charlie Crist keeps hailing the federal stimulus package as a magic job-saver — on Wednesday he pointed to $2 billion of the money helping 26,000 teachers stay employed in Florida.
An external auditor will review the expenses charged by school board members, the superintendent and his top district administrators for last school year in response to concerns over misuse of school and district funds.
- Palm Beach County school district administrator: Black, Hispanic and poor students being left behind
Miami-Dade Mayor proposes sweeping pay cuts
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez announced sweeping cuts Wednesday, from across-the-board pay cuts to the elimination of jobs to fewer potholes being filled, to cover a $427 million shortfall for next year’s $7.83 billion proposed budget.
Rolled-back rate still too high, some say
Homeowners and businesses in Daytona Beach have their first indication of what they might be paying in city property taxes in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
Town hall to Jacksonville City Hall: Tighten belts
Don’t raise taxes and don’t cut essential services, city officials are told
Though the people attending Wednesday night’s town hall meeting on Jacksonville’s budget crisis fell into two distinct camps, together their message was clear: Balance the city budget without cutting necessary government services and without raising taxes.
New Port Richey’s property tax promises refuted
The very idea of a 23 percent tax increase would send most politicians running. But not the New Port Richey City Council.
Volusia schools get grant for training
The Volusia County school district has been awarded a $907,686 federal grant for teacher training and mentoring to improve students’ understanding of American history.
Orange County school district sues engineers for approving school site on former bombing range
Suit alleges that firms knew or should have known that the Odyssey Middle School site had potential hazards
The Orange County school district is suing two engineering companies that gave the green light to build a middle school on part of a former World War II-era bombing range.
State sets timetable for Jefferson County Schools
A strict recovery plan for Jefferson County Schools will require the district to implement major changes in order to climb out of its financial emergency and rebound from starting the 2009-2010 school year with a $893,350 deficit.
Broward School Board chair Maureen Dinnen won’t run for state house
Broward School Board Chair Maureen Dinnen said Wednesday she won’t run for the District 91 house seat in 2010 although she wouldn’t rule out a future bid.
FHSAA cancels plans to cut prep contests, still faces federal lawsuit
Under pressure from an impending lawsuit, the Florida High School Athletic Association voted unanimously on Wednesday to rescind its April decision to cut games from high school varsity and subvarsity schedules.
Our Silent Education Emergency
It’s the silent education crisis, the one we don’t talk about much because its existence undermines the story we like to tell about our country.
Banking rules, poor schools blamed for deterring offshore investment
Florida’s access to Latin markets and a multilingual workforce help it draw international investors, but local business leaders said regulation hurts the state’s prospects.
Florida’s economy needs less onerous regulation of international banking and more investment in education, local business leaders told the state economic development agency Tuesday.
Recession wallops after-school budgets as enrollments rise
When Ben Hans asks his son Ethan about his day, he doesn’t hear about school. Instead, Ethan, 10, talks about his afternoon spent playing and learning at LA’s Best, an after-school program in Los Angeles he attended until recently.
Great Florida Teach-In goes virtual
Florida’s annual teacher job fair is now online, and educators can apply for positions and interview from home.
The McGraw-Hill Companies today announced that McGraw-Hill Education, the premier education partner for schools nationwide, has created a comprehensive, achievement-focused PreK-12 organization uniquely positioned to improve student success and develop the 21(st) Century skills students need to excel in postsecondary education and the workplace.
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