Florida schools seek improved courtesy from students, parents and staff
The big story: To hear some school teachers and employees tell it, common courtesy has become a thing of the past.
Kids misbehave. Parents scream and swear. Community residents level personal attacks. Not all of them, of course, but enough to make the school experience more miserable than it needs to be.
The Pasco County school district wants to turn things around.
Using its student code of conduct as a platform, the district is advancing civility guidelines that officials hope will direct interactions to a more respectful place.
“It’s a pretty simple concept,” superintendent Kurt Browning said. “You treat us civilly, we will treat you civilly.” Read more here.
Hot topics
High school sports: Pasco County high schools are set to get competitive girls flag football teams in the fall. • The State Board of Education is set to consider rules allowing students to continue playing high school sports if they graduate early, News Service of Florida reports.
Graduation: For some Florida students, a single state test stands between them and their high school diploma, WTSP reports.
Diversity programs: Florida Atlantic University students have taken over the space previously used for school diversity, equity and inclusion programs, WPTV reports. • Florida is among several states placing restrictions on how teachers are prepared to teach lessons about race and instruct students of diverse backgrounds, Education Week reports.
College football: University of South Florida trustees gave initial approval to the terms of a $340 million contract for an on-campus football stadium. A final vote is set for June 4.
Closures: Hundreds of Duval County residents are fighting to stop the school district’s plans to shut down several schools, the Florida Times-Union reports. The chairperson of an independent oversight committee charged with monitoring how the Duval district spends its sales tax revenue on school construction projects resigned, saying the district has not been transparent as it talks about financial shortfalls and the need to close campuses, WJXT reports.
Charter schools: Alachua County school board members remained silent on the dispute over whether a public vote was successful to convert a local elementary school to charter status, MainStreet Daily News reports. • An Orange County charter school has gone through three principals in a year, Orange Observer reports.
Cell phones: An Orange County high school offered students extra activities to replace cell phone use, and found improved academic performance and student behavior followed, WKMG reports.
Career education: The Hendry County school district has plans to convert an unused car parts store into a career and trades education center, WFTX reports. Officials say it’s needed as enrollment grows and demand for skilled workers increases.
Absenteeism: Duval County school and community leaders are seeking ways to get children who miss large amounts of school back into classrooms, WJXT reports.
From the police blotter ... A volunteer football coach for Wesley Chapel High School in Pasco County was arrested on allegations of soliciting a romantic relationship with a student. • A Marion County middle school canceled its evening award ceremony after a deadly shooting occurred in the school’s parking lot, WESH reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
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