Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners – Tuesday, March 22
Mar 22, 2011
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Eric Smith stepping down as Florida education commissioner
Florida’s education commissioner Eric Smith is leaving that post in June, saying he wants to give new Governor Rick Scott a say in a successor who will pursue his goals.
Florida Senate budget leaders designate more money for education than Governor Scott
Public schools next year would receive roughly the same funding as this year under a preliminary proposal floated in the Florida Senate this morning, a sharp departure from Governor Rick Scott’s suggested 10 percent cut and the House’s initial 7.7 percent decrease.
Florida House Unveils First Round of Budget Allocations
Dean Cannon looks to ‘prioritize the delivery of services to people’ instead of ‘things’
House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, released the first round of budget allocations to the various appropriations committees Monday, with education, health care and criminal justice receiving the lion’s share of hand-outs.
A move to give all Florida property owners a deeper property tax cut continued to gather steam in the Florida House Monday as a committee voted to put the measure on the ballot as early as 2012.
Pre-K gets results, despite budget woes
Florida youngsters who took part in the state’s pre-K program were more prepared for kindergarten when school started in August than children who did not, recent state figures show.
Poorest, sickest, oldest poised for brunt of Florida Senate budget cut proposals
A budget hobbled by recession-era red ink began taking shape Monday in the state Senate, including proposed cuts to schools, Medicaid and programs used by some of the poorest and sickest Floridians.
Florida’s budget shortfall forecast grows, making tax cuts look harder
Florida’s budget continues to bleed red ink.
Scuttling SunRail would cost millions
More than $70 million in taxpayer dollars could be squandered if Governor Rick Scott decides to kill the SunRail commuter train through Central Florida.
Florida teacher merit pay bill a lesson in vagueness
A victory for “accountability,” not clarity
Well, that was fast. And sneaky.
- Teacher merit pay: What you should know
- Teachers fear merit pay will discourage college students from joining their ranks
- Principals leery of provisions in teacher bill that would affect them, too
Scott’s pension fund talk changes
After blasting Alex Sink for her oversight of the state pension fund, he is happy with it now.
While Governor Rick Scott is pushing for changes to who pays for Florida’s retirement plan for state workers, he has kept people in charge of the pension fund – and the fund’s investment strategy – unchanged since taking office in January.
Test results will be late again, state tells schools
This time, thousands of students will not know their algebra grades when the school year ends
Scores on statewide tests for thousands of Florida public school students may be late again this year, with the Department of Education unable to provide test results to many districts in time for teachers to figure grades on year-end report cards.
Prepaid tuition plan financially healthy, report shows
Senator who suggested suspending the program ‘doesn’t know what she’s talking about,’ says one of its founders.
State Senator Evelyn Lynn thinks the Legislature should consider suspending the popular prepaid college tuition program that has served hundreds of thousands of Floridians – mostly because, Lynn said, she’s worried taxpayers would be vulnerable if the program ran into financial trouble
Florida ranks at bottom for graduation rate of black men
“Seven of the 10” school districts with the lowest graduation rate for African-American boys are in Florida.
Florida A & M University Loses Eleven Top Administrators
Six of Florida A&M’s top employees either quit to work for other schools, retired or were demoted this semester.
Palm Beach County teacher of the year announced
Kristen Rulison, a third-grade educator in Wellington, wins honor
Kristen Rulison’s passion for teaching was rewarded Tuesday with a new title: Palm Beach County of the Year.
Blog: Miriam Oliphant tops heap of 56 applicants for counselor job
Former Broward Elections Supervisor Miriam Oliphant beat out 55 other applicants to become a guidance counselor at Dave Thomas Education Center earlier this year, according to the Broward School District.
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