What not to wear? Florida schools grapple with students’ clothing choices.
The big story: What’s appropriate for students to wear at school?
Amid all the debate over what books kids should read and whether they should carry cell phones in classrooms, the discussion over dress code never goes away.
In Pasco County, the buzz has been over shirt length. A year ago, a school board member called for restrictions, saying students — particularly girls — were showing too much midriff.
The board spent hours on the topic, adopting and rescinding rules as they got complaints and questions all around. Now the issue is back for another round. Some officials wish they would focus on more critical issues, such as attendance. Read more here.
Hot topics
Taxes: Hillsborough County voters will get another chance to decide whether to increase their property tax rate to support public school teacher salaries. Voters narrowly rejected such a proposal two years ago. “I would not be bringing this referendum forward if I did not feel the urgent need for Hillsborough County Public Schools right now,” said Superintendent Van Ayres.
Security: Escambia County middle and high school students will be subject to random weapons searches as the district begins using a new weapon detection system, WALA reports. • The Brevard County school board is considering whether to implement the same system in its schools, WKMG reports.
School rules: The Sarasota County school board is revising 21 policies, including rules for use of artificial intelligence and for opting out of sexual health instruction, the Herald-Tribune reports.
Salaries: Orange County teachers ratified their new contract, paving the way for “historic” 10% pay raises to appear in their paychecks, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Rumors soon followed that the raise will lead to elimination of jobs, Spectrum 13 reports.
Investigations: A Volusia County teacher accused of calling her students by a derogatory term will not return to the classroom, instead moving to a different school, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.
Elections: Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed a candidate for Indian River County School Board to complete the term of a board member who resigned in 2023, TC Palm reports. • Former Martin County superintendent John Millay has announced his bid to unseat a veteran school board member, WPTV reports.
Charter schools: Some Newberry city residents have filed complaints against the mayor and a commissioner, claiming they violated state Sunshine laws to craft a plan for converting three district schools to charter status, the Gainesville Sun reports. Tensions are growing in the community as parents prepare to vote on the conversion proposal, WUFT reports. • The Palm Beach County school board agreed to pay area charter schools $54 million from the district’s 2018 property tax referendum, putting an end to a lengthy legal battle over the money, the Palm Beach Post reports.
Campus closures: The Duval County School Board approved closing an under-enrolled elementary school and merging it with another, Jacksonville Today reports. Officials are considering more school closures amid shrinking enrollment and rising construction and operations costs.
Cafeteria protest: Cafeteria workers at Jefferson County K-12 walked off their jobs to protest their manager being placed on administrative leave over accusations that she stole $27 from the school snack stand, WCTV reports.
From the police blotter ... A former student of a Seminole County charter school was arrested on allegations of going to the school with a gun and threatening students, WOFL reports.
From the court docket ... The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case regarding the University of Florida’s collection of student fees during the pandemic campus shutdown, News Service of Florida reports.
Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.
Before you go ... Have you gotten hooked by 3 Body Problem on Netflix yet? The show by the Game of Thrones creators is intriguing and sometimes perplexing. Maybe this short video explaining the science of Isaac Newton’s three body problem helps?
