Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–May 6
May 6, 2008
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Lawmakers end session with deep cuts in final budget
On the last day of a legislative session dogged by economic troubles, Florida lawmakers Friday finalized a $66.2 billion budget that will chop hundreds of millions of dollars from schools and health programs.
The biggest impact from the session just ended, undoubtedly, will come from nearly $7 billion in budget cutting.
Key issues of the 2008 legislative session
Florida lawmakers Friday ended a 60-day legislative session that was dominated by budget problems.
Voters To Have Final Say On Adding Penny To State Sales Tax
Florida voters will decide this fall whether to tack another penny onto the state sales tax and whether to resurrect one of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s pet education projects. They will also weigh in on various tax breaks.
SENATOR DON GAETZ: Major Education Reforms Approved by Legislature
Bills raise ethical standards for teachers, academic standards for students and grading standards for high schools
On Friday at 6:00 p.m. the Florida Legislature ended its 2008 regular session. This is the first of several reports I’ll be sharing with you to discuss in some detail the issues I faced and the positions I took as your senator.
Late hour educational compromises and historic cutbacks
In a last-minute series of compromises between warring House and Senate education leaders, the state Legislature on Friday adopted a zero-tolerance policy against abusive teachers, long-awaited changes to the high school grading system, and higher curriculum standards.
OPINION: Florida Forsakes Schools in Budget
As this school year winds down, Polk County teachers and everyone else who work in our public schools should be looking forward to the summer change of pace. Instead, we’re all worried sick.
Florida legislative session not kind to state workers
Most workers won’t see raises, one-time bonuses
What kind of legislative session have state employees had?
EDITORIAL: Florida Back To The Future: Build Prisons, Cut Schools
The Miami Herald’s analysis probably said it best: The big winners in the new state budget are prison builders; the big losers are public schools.
JEB BUSH: Vouchers boost achievement
Unfortunately, in a recent editorial regarding the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, the St. Petersburg Times employs worn-out diversionary tactics to obfuscate the issues and conceal its true position — the paper’s editorial board despises the concept of providing school choice options to low-income students.
Broward to cut $100 million: parks, libraries, police on list
Protecting coral reefs and baby sea turtles could be turned over to volunteers because of $100 million in spending cuts Broward County officials must make to give voters the property tax relief they granted themselves this year.
Broward County: Board approves start, release times for district schools
The Broward County School Board recently approved new start and release times for several of its schools, including the county’s newest high school.
If it’s Friday in Pasco County, it must be mini carrot day in the school cafeterias.
Cutbacks could close city’s charter schools
Pembroke Pines’ seven charter schools could face severe budget cuts, and one commissioner said it could lead to the closure of the schools by 2011.
EDITORIAL: School cuts: from bad to worse
Three months after Pinellas voters approved higher property taxes so teachers could get better pay, the school system is now actually considering a 2 percent pay cut.
Savings plan still may cost students
Later start times affect high schoolers’ after-class activities
High school seniors in Santa Rosa County will get to sleep a little more come Aug. 18.
Florida wants to join No Child Left Behind experiment
Florida is applying to join an experimental program that could resolve some sharp differences between state and federal school assessment results.
$6B spent, but reading isn’t better
The $6-billion reading program at the heart of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind education law has failed to make a difference in how well children understand what they read, according to a study by the program’s own champion, the U.S. Department of Education.
School districts hope web will help with agonizing wait for FCAT
Palm Beach and Broward County high school freshmen and sophomores finished the reading FCAT by mid-March.
Big changes are coming to the way Florida grades its high schools.
UF to Cut Staff, Enrollment, 6 Percent of Budget
The University of Florida is laying off 20 faculty members and 118 staff members, leaving 290 empty positions unfilled, reducing research, eliminating degrees and cutting student enrollment as it deals with a $47 million budget cut.
Budget cuts force BCC to trim 21 positions
School to use money to hire more professors, aid specialists, guards
Brevard Community College eliminated 21 administrative positions — including two vice presidents, the director of public safety and the dean of financial aid — and plans to use the majority of the money saved to hire more professors, school officials said Monday.
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