Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners–October 24
Oct 24, 2008
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Sink predicts hard times for state
Don’t expect economic hard times to begin turning around in Florida for at least a year, the state’s chief financial officer said yesterday.
Costly ballot measures pose risk to state budgets
Before the financial crisis unfolded, voters and officials in states across the nation placed proposals on their November ballots that would slash taxes and spend millions of dollars on new programs.
Voice of the Voters: The amendments
We need wild spaces, public places
Please support and vote “For” on this 2 year, half cent sales tax. Besides the obvious environmental and social benefits of this tax, there are significant economic benefits as well.
Amendment 1 often misinterpreted, proponents say
A constitutional amendment on Florida’s ballot asks voters to wipe away an obsolete piece of the state’s racist history.
If approved by voters, it will remove an obsolete provision of the Florida Constitution called the ”Alien Land Law” that was never enacted or enforced.
Amendment 2 proponents raise education issue
Leaders of the marriage-amendment campaign warned Wednesday that Florida schools might have to teach that gay weddings are the same as traditional unions if their proposal fails at the polls. But the deputy director of a coalition fighting Amendment 2 called that argument ‘scare tactics.’ Both sides conceded that polls are running close and each predicted victory when votes are counted on Nov. 4.
Amendment bars higher taxes for shutters, alternative energy
Hardening homes with shutters, impact-resistant windows or a new roof can be expensive. Electric roll-up shutters could run about $22,000. Adding impact-resistant glass could cost nearly $15,000 for a 2,250-square-foot home.
Colleges split over benefits of Amendment 8
Community colleges hope to win financial support through Amendment 8 — though the measure is not favored by some smaller communities.
5 failing South Florida schools face closure
Five troubled South Florida schools have been told to turn things around — or they might be closed at the end of the year.
They have new principals, new technology and new game plans.
Struggling Broward schools are losing fewer students
Fewer low-income students are leaving their struggling neighborhood schools to attend other public schools where students scored better on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, according to the Broward School District.
Today in Orlando, 85 Florida teachers will be honored by a Jeb Bush foundation for being the best in their profession.
Gainesville Board approves new charter school
Frustrated School Board members continued to spar with officials from the country’s largest and fastest growing charter school company Tuesday night.
Big problem with smaller classes?
In a classroom at Lincoln Middle School, 20 eighth-grade physical science students watch as teacher Roberta Harbrucker writes an equation on the chalkboard.
This class would be in compliance with the most strict requirement of the state’s class size amendment – measurement on a class-by-class basis. But this group of honor students is still flirting with the 22-student cap for middle school classes.
Teachers in high-poverty schools are absent more, national report shows
Teacher absences are eating up $4-billion a year and contributing to the achievement gap between white and minority students, according to a national report released today.
COLUMN: Larsen’s trial starts next week
The corruption trial of former deputy county property appraiser Lance Larsen starts next week, and prosecutors have tweaked several of the charges against Jim Ford’s erstwhile right-hand man.
Fort Lauderdale defends plan to give raises to highest wage earners
A proposed 5 percent inflationary pay raise for 250 top managers in City Hall is needed so that they can make a lot more than the people they supervise, the city argues.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com