The big story: It’s been Florida law since 2018 that making threats of violence against schools is a criminal offense.
The state has had a zero tolerance policy toward weapons on campus even longer.
With a spate of threats occurring this fall, the Orange County school district wants to make sure there’s no misunderstanding. So it’s created a threats and weapons online course for parents and students. The course comes at the direction of the Florida Department of Education.
“As a result of the training, parents should understand that all threats will be taken seriously and will result in severe consequences up to and including arrest, restitution and expulsion,“ education commissioner Manny Diaz wrote. Read more from WKMG.
Hot topics
Trump’s education agenda: Observers expect president-elect Donald Trump to base his education agenda on Florida’s system.
Superintendents: Newly elected Pasco superintendent John Legg sends a message with his choice of his second in command.
Scholarships: Orange County’s outgoing elections supervisor Glen Gilzean created a stir by using $2.1 million from his office funds to establish a new student scholarship in his name, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Faculty hiring: New College staff members complain that the school’s recent hiring has focused more on administrative ideology and fiat than academic qualifications, The Guardian reports.
Elections: School board candidates who won seats after getting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ endorsement called his support invaluable, Florida Politics reports.
Bus safety: A Miami-Dade County resident is challenging the illegal passing citation he received based on video taken from a school bus camera, WFOR reports. The question involves whether the bus was fully stopped when he passed, the recently implemented law seems to require.
Book bans: The Florida Department of Education released a list of more than 700 books removed from schools after public challenges during 2023-24, WMFE reports. The number was an increase over the past year.
Attendance zones: More than 600 Palm Beach County students will be reassigned to a new school aimed at easing crowding in Wellington-area schools. Officials are still trying to decide which ones, the Palm Beach Post reports.
From the police blotter … A Flagler County middle school employee was arrested on accusations of hitting a student with disabilities, WPEC reports. The arrest has prompted a push for cameras in special education classrooms, WTVT reports.
From the court docket … A Palm Beach County teacher is accused in a federal lawsuit of sexually assaulting a fourth grade student, WPBF reports. No criminal charges have been filed.
Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.
Before you go … How many times a day do you say OK? Do you know where the word came from?
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