Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners — Wednesday, January 12
Jan 12, 2011
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Florida Climbs to No. 5 on U.S. School Report Card
The “Quality Counts” survey, released Tuesday, ranked Florida No. 5 in the nation on a variety of indicators, ranging from student achievement to teacher professionalism to school finance.
Senator Mike Fasano has filed legislation that will help protect homeowners who experience tax increases even though the values of their home drop.
Florida Senate committee approves growth law fix
A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a fix for a 2009 law loosening state planning requirements and controls on urban sprawl that a judge has ruled unconstitutional.
Bush brand of school reform catching on across nation
Conservatives nationally seek to emulate Florida initiatives
In 2007, Jeb Bush left the Florida governor’s office with a legacy of having brought sweeping changes to his state’s education system, through hard-edged policies that gave parents and students more choices and demanded more of schools.
Report says Brevard County Schools Shortchanged
With Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County has thousands of people working for the federal government and on federal land — a condition that costs local schools millions a year in property tax revenue.
Florida plans to use its Race to the Top money to pay outsiders for education improvements
A chunk of Florida’s $700 million Race to the Top grant for public education reform is slated to go to private firms that might compete with the public system.
State may impose $43 million in class-size fines
Florida education officials have proposed reducing state funding to school districts and laboratory and charter schools by about $43 million as penalties for violating class size limits.
Polk Charter School Group Wants State to Step in
Association says Polk district officials ignoring request to lay out service costs.
The Polk Charter School Association’s request to get an accounting on administrative services has gone unanswered and now the group has filed a petition with the state Department of Education requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Reserves help Lee County schools avoid cuts
District budget allows for shortfall of $15 million
With Florida facing declining property tax revenues, the Lee County School District is anticipating a $15 million budget shortfall for the 2012 fiscal year and plans to dip into reserves to plug the holes, budget director Ami Desamours said at Tuesday’s board meeting.
Casinos urge lawmakers to allow them to locate in Florida
Eager to bring large gambling resorts to Florida, casino operators pledged Tuesday to create “potentially tens of thousands of jobs” if lawmakers will sweep away the legal hurdles keeping them out.
State official: Taxpayers won’t be on hook for high-speed rail
A top state official gave the strongest assurances to date that Florida taxpayers would not be responsible for any high-speed rail cost overruns or revenue shortfalls.
Hundreds of state rules, contracts caught in freeze
Four weeks ago, Governor-elect Rick Scott’s transition office reached out to the top lawyers in state agencies across Florida government to pick their brains about what would happen if the new governor froze contracts and new rules when he took office.
Florida pensions debate goes on
Florida Republican Leaders said chopping into the State’s pension reform would reduce the $3 billion budget hole.
Security tightens at Broward School Board
The last time the Broward School Board met, members discussed the best way to enforce zero tolerance weapons policies without throwing kids out of school for bringing obvious toys to campus. At that very time, a gunman was interrupting a school board meeting in Panama City, ranting about his fired wife and firing several shots before taking his own life.
- 13 suspended after stabbing of Coconut Creek High School student
- Students evacuated in Miramar after grenade report
- Student arrested, allegedly brought gun to Western Pines Middle School
Preschoolers welcome on Broward, Palm Beach high school campuses
Teaching career academies feature preschools in Palm Beach, Broward
The marquee reads Santaluces High School, but that’s not stopping a group of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds from attending class there.
New York’s Christie Calls for More Cuts and Big Changes to Schools
Governor Chris Christie signaled Tuesday that his second year in office will be as full of conflict and wrenching change as his first, calling for more deep cuts in state spending and public employee benefits, and a broad education overhaul that quickly drew scorn from Democrats.
Springfield, Massachusetts goes after property tax delinquents
Springfield is getting serious about collecting delinquent property taxes.
Michelle Rhee, ex-Washington DC schools chief, looks to take reform message nationwide
Looking back, Michelle Rhee says there are a few things she didn’t do successfully during her three years as chancellor of the District of Columbia public schools.
Billionaire to open private high school at former West Palm Beach Jewish Community Center site
Billionaire energy magnate Bill Koch isn’t satisfied with the quality of high schools in Palm Beach County.
Florida Prepaid cost increases, sales decrease
Plans are all-inclusive this year
If you want to start saving for your child’s college education, you have about three more weeks to buy a Florida Prepaid plan at this year’s prices.
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Writing: Higher scores might be needed for good school grades
Florida students might need to write better essays when they take the FCAT writing exam this year for their schools to maintain their current A-to-F grades.
Collier County schools figuring ways to prepare students for pass-to-graduate Algebra test
“Math test” is going to take on a new meaning for Florida high school students.
Florida International University bans smoking on campus and in cars
Nicotine-craving students and professors at Florida International University may be feeling a bit on edge this week.
Check this out! Library loans e-readers
Responding to the growing popularity of electronic readers like the Kindle and Nook, the Broward County Library system has launched a pilot project to loan out the devices.
When Erin Daniels, 23, headed to the Weston Branch Library to check out the latest best selling book, there was no need to search through dusty book shelves — her choice novel was ready for her in an instant, downloaded for her onto an electronic reader.
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