The big story: Leaders in some of Florida’s fastest growing counties have raised major worries that the Legislature’s Live Local legislation would cause financial troubles for school districts and local governments.
The measure would give developers tax exemptions for creating what they deem affordable housing, and also allow home construction in areas set aside for commercial or industrial uses without prior review and approval. Among the concerns: More families and students would move in, without generating the taxes for services to support them.
During the 2024 session, lawmakers agreed to let local commissioners opt out of the tax exemptions.
Now Pasco County is taking advantage, with leaders pressuring the Legislature to make even more changes to Live Local. Read more here.
Hot topics
Armed teachers: A Florida high school principal and an Ohio high school assistant principal offer different views on whether schools should include armed teachers as part of their security measures, Education Week reports.
Branding: Florida State University has scaled back its use of its Seminole head logo, keeping it for athletics only as it advances a new “academic mark,” the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Cellphones: Martin County school district officials are discussing whether to confiscate phones from students who use them without permission during class, WPTV reports.
Early learning: Central Florida schools are looking to improve early learning by instilling a “maker mindset” in preschoolers, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
School closures: Duval County superintendent Christopher Bernier met with the local NAACP chapter to discuss the future of school closures and other issues of concerns in the community, WJXT reports.
School leadership: Three Hernando County schools are getting new principals, Suncoast News reports. • The Polk County school district announced 18 principal changes, the Ledger reports.
Science books: The Florida Department of Education defended its decision to ask textbook publishers to remove references to climate change, saying Florida has to ensure textbooks align to the state’s rigorous standards and do not include ideology or indoctrination, WJAX reports.
Union label: Highlands County school support employees face a union recertification vote after failing to meet the 60% membership threshold imposed by the state, Highlands News-Sun reports.
University leadership: One his first day in office, the new president of Florida Polytechnic replaced the school’s provost since 2016 with a new hire from New College, the Ledger reports. • Florida A&M University appointed two new deans, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
From the court docket … Lawyers for the Escambia County school district are seeking to depose a 7-year-old student whose family is involved in a lawsuit challenging the district’s right to remove library books, the USA Today Florida Network reports. The lawyers have argued that school board members may not be deposed in the case.
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Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go … There’s a new Formula 1 movie on its way, starring Brad Pitt. But who needs the fictionalized version when you have Lewis Hamilton winning again for the first time in nearly three years?
