TEST Broward Schools & Property Tax Edition: Capitol to Courthouse Headliners, November 12

 

To view a complete story, click on the headline below: 

 

Class-Size Vote Will Add $1 Billion to State Budget

Florida voters sent mixed fiscal signals when they overwhelmingly approved a nonbinding referendum calling on the federal government to balance its budget.

 

Ag Tax Exemption: Popular, Potentially Costly

Override of Crist’s veto is assured; land speculators could be prime beneficiaries

Hard-luck farmers, ranchers and citrus growers stand to benefit from the Legislature’s impending override of Gov. Charlie Crist’s veto of House Bill 981.

 

Editorial:  Legislative session likely to aid special interests

GOP intends to override vetoes, relax regulations

On Nov. 16, the day they’re sworn in as Florida’s legislative leaders, Rep. Dean Cannon and Sen. Mike Haridopolos plan to get to work. They’ll hold a one-day special session to override some vetoes issued by Gov. Charlie Crist.Basic stuff, Florida’s next House speaker and

 

Schools May Sue State Over Funding

 School leaders across the Central Florida banded together on Monday to send a message to politicians in Tallahassee: There is not enough money to properly teach children next year.

 

Overtime excesses curbed by Broward schools

Savings expected to reach $1 million

Nearly every weekday for four years, Jim Kale collected up to three hours of overtime for taking on extra duties at the Broward School District boosting his pay, in total, by about $81,000.

 

More than 60 top staffers in Legislature drawing six-figure salaries

 To help shrink state government, the new leaders of the Legislature have brought in a stable of advisers at six-figure salaries.

 

Fewer property tax appeals expected

The good news is that fewer appeals have been filed this year to contest property tax assessments.

 

School cafeteria fight pits Broward district against contractor

An elementary school cafeteria is at the center of an increasingly lengthy dispute between the Broward School District and a builder over the accounting of millions of dollars.

 

Parents, teachers reject Boca Raton High charter conversion

A contentious bid to convert Boca Raton High to a charter school ended with a thud Thursday, as voting results showed parents and teachers overwhelmingly preferred to remain under Palm Beach County School District control.

 

Hillsborough School board officials face fiscal challenge

Three new members elected to the Pasco County School Board barely will have time to take a deep breath after being sworn in Nov. 16 before they need to start worrying about the school district’s finances

 

School District of Palm Beach County Launches New TV Show for Hispanic Population

Palm Beach County’s Hispanic Community is the largest minority in our schools and county

 

It’s over:  Andrews declared winner of School Board seat after recount

Race for District 6 seats ends with candidates just 40 votes apart

Marcia Andrews is the new Pal m Beach County School Board member in District 6 – the retired local educator was finally declared the election winner Thursday, more than a week after the polls closed.

 

Indian River School Board authorizes $25 million in bonds for 2 schools

School Board members unanimously agreed Tuesday to issue up to about $25 million in virtually interest-free bonds to build the new Vero Beach Elementary and Osceola Magnet schools.

 

Florida TaxWatch poll:  Utility customers willing to pay more for renewable energy

Utility regulators wrangled Tuesday over a proposed federal rule that could require utility customers in Florida to pay for new transmission lines they may not benefit from.

 

New approach proposed for fees on Pasco development

For 25 years, Pasco and other Florida counties have sought to pay for new roads primarily with assessments on construction – so-called impact fees.

 

City parks at risk as Sarasota County hedges

 A water slide for the kids.  Green grass along meandering walking paths for the parents. A clean basketball court for the teenagers.

 

St. Lucie School District may seek corporate partner, superintendent says

Schools Superintendent Michael Lannon said the St. Lucie County School District can’t count on public money to fund its entire budget and hopes to turn to a private corporation for financial help.

 

Audit:  Ex-principal raided school accounts for band director’s travel expenses

With the revelation this week that Suncoast High’s band director ran up a six-figure deficit on two international band trips and took at least six family members to Paris on the school district’s dime, a harsh spotlight has been cast again on then-Principal Gloria Crutchfield.

 

Bay school district, BESPA reach agreement on contract issues

Bay District School Board and Bay Education Support Personnel Association negotiators reached agreement Tuesday on several new contract items, including the School Board’s willingness to pick up the cost of a 16 percent health insurance price increase for BESPA members.

 

Brevard schools awaiting Race to the Top decision

Race to the Top could bring $7M

Brevard Public schools officials are awaiting a Nov. 22 decision on an estimated $7.125 million in grant money after submitting their 195-page Race to the Top application to state education officials this week.

 

Collier schools out to ‘stop the cheaters’ in changing school zones

When Kevin Stockman sat through the often acrimonious rezoning meetings for Collier County elementary and high school students earlier this year, one thing stuck with him.

 

Lawmakers Eye Use of Mobile Technology in Schools

State lawmakers are exploring ways to bypass traditional textbooks and promote the use of mobile technology like laptop computers and electronic reading devices by Oklahoma students.

 

Florida Senator Don Gaetz to head redistricting committee

State Sen. Don Gaetz, already in line for the 2012 Senate presidency, got a second scoop of political clout Wednesday with the chairmanship of a committee that will draw the boundaries of other lawmakers’ districts.

 

Governor-elect Rick Scott issues ethics code

Gov.-elect Rick Scott ordered a one-year lobbying ban for members of his transition staff and volunteers Tuesday.

 

Keiser University drops lawsuit against Florida State College at Jacksonville

Keiser University, a regional for-profit college, has dropped a lawsuit filed last month against Florida State College at Jacksonville and two top administrators.

 

Blog:  Revamp California’s School Funding Model, Report Says

California’s school funding model is nearly “impossible to comprehend,” and should be made more transparent and more focused on helping districts that serve large numbers of students who are the most expensive to educate, a new report argues.

 

Classes at the midnight hour:  A new national trend

We’ve seen the studies suggesting that teens might perform better in school if their classes began later, to coincide more closely with their sleeping and waking patterns.

 

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email bellis@cftlaw.com.