DeSantis names wide-ranging education transition committee

While speculation swirls over who he wants to be Florida’s next education commissioner, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced his 41-person team to develop a plan aimed at implementing his education goals.  The list includes a broad cross-section of the state’s education advocacy groups, representing everything from district public schools to home schools. Some of…

Florida education commissioner Pam Stewart resigns

Pam Stewart, Florida’s education commissioner since 2013, announced her resignation Tuesday as speculation swirled that Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis sought to replace her with former House Speaker Richard Corcoran.  In a letter to State Board of Education chairwoman Marva Johnson, Stewart said she would return to her original plan to retire on Jan. 8. Read More

Recounts loom larger, legal action begins as margins tighten in key Florida races

As the Senate race between Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson appears headed to a statewide recount, both candidates are mobilizing teams of lawyers and legal skirmishes are well underway.  Thursday dawned with Scott leading Nelson by just more than one-fourth of a percentage point. The candidates for agriculture commissioner are much closer, divided…

‘Framers’ of schools amendment seek role in court battle

Some members of the 1998 Constitution Revision Commission are seeking to file a brief in the Florida Supreme Court as part of a legal battle about whether the state is meeting its constitutional duty to provide a high-quality system of public schools.  Describing themselves as the “framers” of a 1998 ballot measure that put the…

VIDEO: Legislative Weekly – Week 4

Tallahassee, FL – This week’s updates on the Florida Legislative Session come directly from the steps of the Historic Capitol where we will join with over 125 school board members next week at the FSBA Annual Day in the Legislature. Watch this week’s edition to learn more about proposed budgets, chamber priorities, and the components…

FSBA Session Spotlight — January 12, 2017

As we close out the first week of the 2018 Legislative Session, it was a fairly quiet day at the Capitol today.  The House was in session to consider several bills on 3rd Reading and a few proposals of interest were considered by Constitution Revision Commission Committees.  Please click on the links below for our report…

Frank Brogan, former Martin County superintendent, lands national education position

President Donald Trump has tapped a former Martin County superintendent for a top national education post. Frank Brogan, superintendent here from 1988-1994 before moving on to stints as Florida’s commissioner of education and lieutenant governor, was nominated as assistant secretary of education for elementary and secondary education, the White House announced Monday. Read More

School board pay question will return to Constitution Revision Commission

Erika Donalds barely saved her proposal to end Florida school board members’ salaries when it came before the Constitution Revision Commission education committee in November.  Headed for defeat, Donalds moved to postpone action rather than cast what would have been a tying vote for the measure. Proposals must have a majority in support to win favorable…

State looks at limiting school board members to 8 years

While the Volusia County school district has seen School Board members serve as many as 20 years, that kind of long-term tenure may no longer be possible under a new state proposal that aims to cap their representation at eight years.  The measure, supported unanimously by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission’s Education Committee, seeks to…