Governor DeSantis – COVID-19 Executive Order (March 9, 2020)

Yesterday, Governor DeSantis held a press conference to address COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Governor DeSantis also released Executive Order 20-52 to enact several facets of agency action, funding access and rule-waiving to assist should Florida need to address widespread effects of COVID-19. See press conference and executive order below: 3/9/2020 Governor’s Press Conference…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 14, 2018

Our hearts go out to those touched by today’s terrifying and heartbreaking shooting at one of our public high schools. We are so grateful to the heroes – law enforcement and other first responders, school personnel, and so many others — who stepped up to protect and comfort our students in this tragic situation.  Please…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 12, 2018

Now that we have started the 6th week of the Legislative Session, please be sure to watch our Legislative Weekly video featuring FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina providing some highlights of our Day in the Legislature conference and a recap of the progress on the budget and bills that were considered last week.  Today, there…

Puerto Rican Students Displaced by Storm Adjust to Mainland Schools

The flow of students from Puerto Rico has slowed in recent weeks, but mainland schools continue to take in new evacuees five months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island.  In parts of the country with large Puerto Rican communities, districts are still hiring bilingual staff, monitoring students closely for signs of trauma, reconfiguring classrooms, tinkering…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 6-8, 2018

The FSBA Day in the Legislature Conference has been in full swing this week with more than 125 school board members and other attendees in Tallahassee to participate in legislative briefings and advocacy training, network with education leaders, and meet with legislators to discuss issues of interest to school districts. This has been a particularly…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 5, 2018

Today is the beginning of the 5th week – and the half-way mark — of the Legislative Session.  Please be sure to watch our Legislative Weekly video featuring FSBA Executive Director Andrea Messina providing a recap of bills considered last week and a preview of some of the issues coming up.  There were no legislative…

FSBA Session Spotlight — February 1, 2018

Although there were only a few legislative and Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) Committee meetings today, several topics of interest were considered, including a new proposed House bill and a CRC proposal that both addressed government ethics and integrity. Please click on the link below for our report on the outcome of consideration of these issues…

FSBA Session Spotlight — January 30, 2018

Legislative committees considered several bills of interest today, including, most notably, bills relating school board member term limits and school district accountability. Please click on the link below for our report on the outcome of the consideration of these bills and others that were considered today.  Tomorrow, the Appropriations Committees in both chambers will be…

FSBA Session Spotlight — January 29, 2018

Legislative committees considered several bills of interest today, including bills relating to student safety and health, juvenile justice, public meetings, school funding, early learning, and curriculum. Please click on the link below for our report on the outcome for these bills and others.  Tomorrow, legislators will consider several more bills of interest, most notably, bills…