Today's news

SHOOTING REACTION: A rampage at the Kirkwood, Mo., city council meeting doesn't prompt Hernando school or government leaders to push for increased security at their meetings - that's actually been in the works for a while. The shooter's wife, by the way, is a St. Petersburg middle school principal. For other area school and government leaders' views, click here.

BRIGHT FUTURES' FUTURE: Florida university leaders are working on a plan to redistribute the scholarship funding to help students from poor families and those pursuing degrees in science or math, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

FEELING THE SQUEEZE: School fund raisers aren't pulling in as much money as usual in tight economic times, the Bradenton Herald reports.

BUT DON'T TELL THAT TO UM: The University of Miami, seeking to lift its profile, nets $1.4-billion in a fund driving goal toward that end, the Miami Herald reports.

EDUCATION ADVOCATE: Former Duval sheriff Nat Glover takes a job as adviser to University of North Florida president John Delaney so he can have a say on such issues as student recruitment and diversity, the Florida Times-Union reports.

UNDER ADVISEMENT: A Lee circuit judge has heard arguments and now he'll decide whether to let former Collier superintendent Ray Baker's lawsuit against the School Board that fired him move ahead, the Naples Daily News reports.

CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND THE FIRE CODE: The Marion school district seeks to reduce the price of new classroom wings, but finds the fire code requirements in the way, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.

PRINCIPAL PERFORMANCE PAY: The nation's first wide-scale teacher merit pay plan had some troubles when it tried to expand to principals, but Denver's effort for school leaders is now moving ahead, the Rocky Mountain News reports.

Visit the Gradebook at noon for an interview with Pasco food and nutrition services director Rick Kurtz, who talks about school districts' recent decision to remove beef from the cafeteria menu.