Advertisement

Redrawing school attendance zones sparks strong pushback from Florida parents

A roundup of Florida education news from around the state
 
BRONTE WITTPENN   |   Times
Ballast Point Elementary, a popular A-rated school in South Tampa, is operating at 110% of its official capacity. Other schools in Hillsborough County are a third or even half empty, prompting officials to commission a boundary study that could mean new school assignments for many families.
BRONTE WITTPENN | Times Ballast Point Elementary, a popular A-rated school in South Tampa, is operating at 110% of its official capacity. Other schools in Hillsborough County are a third or even half empty, prompting officials to commission a boundary study that could mean new school assignments for many families. [ "BRONTE WITTPENN | TIMES" | Times staff ]
Published Oct. 6, 2022

The big story: As noted in yesterday’s roundup, Florida school districts are trying to cope with shifting enrollments in tight financial times.

The Hillsborough County school district — seventh largest in the nation — has seen its student numbers ebb and flow in different parts of the county. It has booming, overcrowded campuses in some corners, and shrinking, under-uses ones in other spots.

Its leaders hope to have a solution in place soon, perhaps in time for the start of the next academic year. But they have to contend with one critical factor: Parents,

The idea of disrupting their children’s education for the sake of district efficiency doesn’t go over well in some families, who have begun making noise about their concerns as the process advances. Read more about it here.

Other school news

Hurricane aftermath: Flagler County students won’t have to make up any days lost to Hurricane Ian, Flagler Live reports. • Lee County students should get an update on their schools’ reopening plan on Friday, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. • The Florida Department of Education allowed districts forced closed by the hurricane to shift the days of their official student counts, to protect their funding, the News Service of Florida reports. • Some experts say closed schools can make the after effects of a hurricane worse for children, the Associated Press reports.

Testing: Florida’s new student testing model promised less time sitting for the tests, but that’s not what is happening, WUFT reports.

Graduation rates: An Alachua County after-school program uses tennis, tutoring and mentoring as a way to encourage academic success in middle school students, WUFT reports.

Security: The Alachua County school district has a new chief security officer, Main Street Daily News reports.

Gaming: Tallahassee Community College is among the growing number of schools fielding e-sports teams, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.

Before you go ... Few do justice to Beatles covers. Fiona Apple offers a lovely “Across the Universe.” Now in HD.

• • •

Sign up for the Gradebook newsletter!

Every Thursday, get the latest updates on what’s happening in Tampa Bay area schools from Times education reporter Jeffrey S. Solochek. Click here to sign up.