Wilcox, Robinson make nice

The Pinellas school district's top two administrators have called a truce - with a little help from a former Hillsborough school chief.

Superintendent Clayton Wilcox (left) and School Board attorney Jim Robinson (right) signed an agreement Monday crafted by former Hillsborough superintendent Earl Lennard that calls on them to "express their mutual respect of one another and commit to working together in a collaborative fashion."

The agreement, titled a "working protocol," also encourages them to meet at least weekly and to "make every effort" to be available to each other by phone on an as-needed basis.

Pinellas School Board members directed Wilcox and Robinson to meet with a facilitator when long-simmering differences threatened to boil over last month. While the agreement is not binding, School Board chairwoman Nancy Bostock is hopeful that it will put an end to the discord.

"I think they're both professionals and will make a renewed effort to work in a way that will benefit the school district," Bostock said.

To read the whole story, see tomorrow's St. Petersburg Times.

- Donna Winchester, Pinellas education reporter

Good Friday teacher absences

In the end, Hillsborough teachers showed up for school on Good Friday in better numbers than students.

School officials finally have tallied the teacher absentee rates. About 27 percent of teachers were out on Friday, March 21, the first time in years that Hillsborough has held school on Good Friday. About 4,000 teachers took off that day.

That compares to the 60 percent of students who skipped classes, and 40 percent of bus drivers.

The Good Friday numbers are likely to see much scrutiny -- and perhaps some hand wringing -- as officials try to make sense of them. Sure, kids skipped in huge numbers. But that was after a week of warnings about high employee absenteeism that resulted in mass cancellations of bus routes, and schools sent out hugely different messages about what to expect that day.

The issue is moot for next year, when Good Friday falls during Spring Break. Any bets on whether the religious holiday will be a school day in the future?

How many rotten apples are there?

Is it just a coincidence we've been barraged by teacher sex scandals? Maybe. But there may be more of this going on that we're inclined to believe, according to an exhaustive and award-winning Associated Press series that ran last fall.

The AP found more than 2,500 cases of sexual misconduct involving teachers in the past five years, according to disciplinary records in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. "The findings draw obvious comparisons to sex abuse scandals in other institutions, among them the Roman Catholic Church," the AP wrote on day one of its series. "Clergy abuse is part of the national consciousness after a string of highly publicized cases. But until now, there's been little sense of the extent of educator abuse."

An exaggeration? The AP isn't the only journalism outfit looking into teacher misconduct – and finding lots to report. In its 2003 series, "Coaches Who Prey," the Seattle Times found 159 coaches in Washington state who had been fired or reprimanded over the course of a decade for sexual misconduct. The newspaper found at least 98 of those coaches continued to coach or teach.

Closer to home, the Sarasota Herald Tribune reported last year – after a two-year investigation – that more than 300 Florida teachers have been punished in recent years for sexual misconduct and nearly 450 more for physically attacking or verbally terrorizing students. And yet, the Herald Tribune found, more than half of those teachers kept their teaching licenses and at least 150 of them were still teaching in Florida.

Wrote the paper: "The actual number of questionable teachers in Florida schools is likely much larger because more than 70 percent of cases reported to the state are dismissed after a review by investigators who have little or no formal training. Of the cases that don't get dropped, state officials close 9 in 10 with settlement deals that allow teachers to avoid admitting guilt."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

On technology, give Florida a B

When it comes to technology in schools, Florida rates above the national average, according to the newly released Education Week report Technology Counts. Along with North Dakota, the state gets a B grade, putting it tied for fourth in the ranking. Only West Virginia received an A. (To see the rankings, click here.)

The report also breaks out each state.

On access, Florida gets a B-minus, compared to the national average of C. On use, Florida gets its best mark, an A-minus, while the national average is a B-minus. And on the capacity to use technology - that's looking at state policies - the state earns a B, compared to the national average of a C.

Notably, Florida schools offer slightly higher access to computers for fourth-graders (97 percent) than the average (95 percent), but it falls off when it comes to eighth grade (81 percent with access compared to 83 percent).

Florida also has fewer students per computer than the national average. To see the Florida pages, click here. (Photo from Pinellas School District)

Today's news

RISING STAR: State Sen. Don Gaetz didn't take the advice that newly elected lawmakers should be seen and not heard in Tallahassee. Now in his second session, the Education chairman is considered a likely prospect for Senate president.

A GUIDE POST FOR FLORIDA: As lawmakers consider creating a state college system - where community colleges offer two- and four-year degrees - St. Pete College is looking like the model. Edison College wants to become a "state college," the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

THE 'ENROLLMENT GAP': Women are outpacing men in attending Florida's colleges and universities. While some don't see this as much of an issue, at least one school - St. Pete College - is trying to do something about it, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

SCHEDULING PROBLEMS: The Legislature's decision that school districts can't start classes more than two weeks before Labor Day is causing headaches for the Palm Beach system, the Sun-Sentinel reports. (The Florida Senate education committee killed a bill this month that would have made the problem go away.)

NOT RECRUITING: Lee district officials say they won't take part in job fairs or actively recruit teachers, seeing as they expect to begin layoffs soon, the Naples Daily News reports.

'PARTICULARLY INSULTING': The Daytona Beach News-Journal laments that the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is proposing to take away a stable source of education funding at the same time it would allow Florida to give tax money to private religious schools.

FACING THE AX - AGAIN: Duette Elementary, Florida's last remaining one-room school house, is threatened with closure as Manatee school officials look for ways to save money, the Herald-Tribune reports.

SPORTS TRAVEL ON THE BUBBLE: The Manatee district also is considering whether to stop teams from traveling outside Manatee and Sarasota counties, except for when required by state rules, as a money-saving venture, the Bradenton Herald reports.

Coming up

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Pasco School Board, 9:30 a.m., Hernando School Board, workshop 1 p.m., meeting 7 p.m.; Spring break begins for Pinellas; Senate Education and Higher Education committees, 3:30 p.m.; House Schools and Learning Council, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Senate Education and Higher Education appropriations committees, 8:30 a.m.; Senate Education Facilities Appropriations Committee, 1 p.m.

Friday: Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, 8:30 a.m.

April 7: Spring break begins for Hernando, Pasco and Hillsborough

April 8: Pinellas School Board, workshop, 9 a.m.

April 15: Pinellas School Board, 10 a.m.; Hillsborough School Board, 3 p.m.; State Board of Education, TBA

April 17: Council on Homelessness, Education Committee, conference call, 2 p.m.

April 22: Pasco School Board, 6 p.m.

Today's news

THE SPOTLIGHT'S GLARE: A spate of teacher sex scandals has turned attention to the Tampa Bay area and its educators. (For an example, see this Newsweek article.) While the focus is discomforting, some experts say it helps people realize that sexual abuse by teachers is a real problem that needs to be dealt with.

ONE BOOK, ONE SCHOOL: Lakewood High has all its students read Benjamin Ajak's book, "They Poured Fire On Us From the Sky," to get kids to read more and think more deeply about their reading. Ajak then spoke at the Pinellas school to drive the point home.

PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND: Woodlawn Elementary principal Kathleen Proper says that most people have no idea what goes on in schools these day, or how hard it is to overcome the achievement gap, columnist Bill Maxwell writes.

"HEARTBREAKING" DECISIONS: Volusia superintendent Margaret Smith explains her district's move to close seven small elementary schools in an op-ed piece for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

OPPOSITION TO TAX PLAN EMERGES: Florida's powerful business lobby seeks to stop a tax proposal that would, among other things, change the way the state funds education, the Sun-Sentinel reports. South Florida education leaders also worry that the proposal would take too much money away from already strapped schools, the Miami Herald reports.

NO SWEAT: Many Florida elementary schools aren't really getting students' heartbeats up in response to the state's new mandate of 30 minutes of daily physical activity, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS: When J. David Armstrong made the move from community college chancellor to president of Broward Community College, he didn't necessarily expect everything that came his way, the Miami Herald reports.

GET YOUR SHOTS: The Board of Governors requires all new freshmen and transfer students to get a meningitis vaccination, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

EASY TO CHEAT: New technologies make it simpler than ever for kids to cheat on school work. But the underlying motivation to do it hasn't changed much over time, the LA Times reports.

A weekend interview with ...

... Benjamin Ajak, co-author of "They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky," an award-winning 2005 book about boys caught up in civil war in Sudan. Ajak was 5 years old when government troops destroyed his village. For years, he and thousands of other boys wandered from one bad situation to another. Many of them died along the way. Eventually, Ajak ended up at a refugee camp where he faced a tough choice: Hustle for money and feed yourself well. Or go to school and eat once a day. Ajak chose school.

Lakewood High in Pinellas is using Ajak's book to try to instill a love of reading into its students. You can read more about the program in Sunday's St. Petersburg Times. Ajak, who visited Lakewood High this week, talked with reporter Ron Matus about education and reading. His comments have been edited slightly for space and clarity. (Photo from Louisville High School student newspaper)

Why was the school at the refugee camp so important to you?

Well, school is very important to me, because I have no mother, I have no father, and I don't have any other close relatives. So I think that school is going to be my parents and is going to be my future.

How did you make the connection between school and a better life, and between reading and a better life. Did your parents teach you that?

When I seen what is going on around the world, I believe to myself that if I can make education a No. 1 key for me, and I could open my future door with my education, that would help me a lot. I just learned that on my own.

What do you think of the fact that everybody at Lakewood High is reading your book?

Today's news

HOW CLOSE IS TOO CLOSE? Having sex with students obviously crosses the line. But what about sending e-mails? Meeting with a student behind closed doors for a private educational conversation? Tampa Bay area teachers talk about how even the most innocent acts can be misconstrued, and how they need to take care to avoid trouble. (istockphoto.com)

TWEAKING TAX PROPOSAL: The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission edits its tax-swap proposal before sending it to voters. A key move is to change some dates so schools wouldn't lose money while lawmakers decide how to replace lost revenue, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

FORGET UF: Florida Gulf Coast U's new president wants to make his university the top choice, at least for students in southwest Florida, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

LET'S TALK: Broward's superintendent suggests a meeting with Lauderdale Lakes leaders who have proposed suing the district over what they consider uneven education offerings, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

LEGACY WORTH PROTECTING: Residents of rural eastern Manatee County plan to fight to keep their one-room school - Florida's last - from falling to the budget ax, the Bradenton Herald reports.

SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT: The University of Florida sees several of its programs move up in the US News & World Report annual college ranking guide, the Gainesville Sun reports.

Visit the Gradebook at noon for an interview with Benjamin Ajak, a Sudanese refugee who has won acclaim for his book about his struggles. He visited Lakewood High earlier this week and talked to reporter Ron Matus about reading, education and life.

Don't stand so close to me

The stories about local teachers' sexual misconduct with students have been coming so fast and furious these days, you knew it would just be a matter of time before someone would put together a web site dedicated to them all.

That would be tampabay.com. Yes, our own parent web site has created "Wrong Choices: An outbreak of teacher sex scandals," which is dedicated to the topic.

It's got links to all the stories, room for your commentary and even a photo slide show. (Just mug shots. Come on, now. We run a family friendly web site.) And it will be updated regularly, too. Look for new stories on the subject both Saturday and Sunday.

Community college leaders like State College idea

A proposal to create a State College System in Florida – a potentially sweeping change in higher education - won unanimous endorsement yesterday from the Council of Presidents, which consists of the presidents of all 28 Florida community colleges. The plan "has positioned us to meet a critical need in Florida, and that need is for bachelor's degrees," COP Chair Jackson Sasser (left), who is also president of Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, told The Gradebook after the vote.

Meeting in Tallahassee, the COP specifically endorsed SB 1716, which won unanimous, bipartisan support from the Senate Higher Education Committee last week. The bill would convert Florida's community colleges into state colleges, and allow more of them to offer 4-year degrees. Currently only a handful of them do, including St. Petersburg College, which is widely cited by supporters of the state college idea as a model for the future.

A House proposal hasn't surfaced in committee yet, but key House leaders strongly back the idea. To see a draft that began circulating last week, click here. To read a recent St. Petersburg Times story on this issue, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

St. Pete College: Come on down!

With Florida universities considering cut-backs in summer classes, Florida community colleges say they're ready to fill the gaps. St. Petersburg College announced yesterday it's creating space for 1,500 additional students this summer.

"These are difficult times, but we don't feel that students should suffer," SPC President Carl M. Kuttler Jr. (right) said in a press release. "We know students are feeling the financial pinch because we have received twice as many applications for summer scholarships as we usually do." Summer enrollment begins April 2.

Last summer, SPC had 13,991 students in its 2-year programs and 1,034 students in its 4-year programs. This spring, its total enrollment is nearly 26,000.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

"Tough, tough decisions"

Committee meeting by committee meeting, the future of Florida's education funding is becoming a bit more clear.

As the Gradebook reported Tuesday, the House budget includes reductions to school recognition funds under A-Plus, bonuses paid to National Board certified teachers and even support to school advisory committees. Its average per-student funding would dip by $86.

The Senate budget targets some of the same items, but in many instances with bigger cuts.

As the Palm Beach Post reports, the Senate's version would slash per-student funding by $115.91. It would cut the money that schools get for good FCAT grades to $80 per student, compared to the House's $90. It would reduce the money teachers get for classroom supplies by $50 each. And it would delay implementation of the final phase of the class size reduction amendment for two years.

"These are tough, tough decisions," committee Chairman Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, said in the Post article. "They're not for the faint of heart."

Today's news

OVERHAULING ED GOVERNANCE: The Senate approves a bill that would let voters decide whether to change the way Florida's education systems operate. The House has yet to schedule debate on the measure.

GO AHEAD AND CHOOSE: Hernando's black families can opt out of the district's desegregation-oriented busing plan. It's not a new right, but it's news to many of the families who didn't know the rules had changed. (NY Times photo, 2007)

TEACHER HAD PAST INCIDENTS: Former Seminole High teacher Thomas J. Anderson faced complaints of inappropriate touching of students before the latest accusation that prompted him to resign his job.

PARENTS PEEVED ABOUT BUSING: No, not the inner city Tampa parents whose kids will be bused. It's the New Tampa parents whose kids' schools will receive the inner city students who are complaining.

COLUMNISTS ON EDUCATION: Schools' Good Friday lesson: Whatever (Sue Carlton); Hernando County superintendent shakes things up to even things out (Andrew Skerritt)

CHARTERS CHALLENGED: The Ohio Federation of Teachers is questioning the tax status of several charter schools run by White Hat Management Inc. or its affiliates, a group that also has charters in Florida, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. A bill won Florida Senate approval to require more rigorous scrutiny of the state's charter schools, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

DIP INTO THE RESERVES: Education is critical to Florida's future, so the Legislature should find the money to pay for it, the Sun-Sentinel editorializes.

COLLIER DISTRICT FIGHTS FOR ACCREDITATION: At least one School Board member thinks the district might not succeed, the Naples Daily News reports.

ENROLLMENT CAP DELAYED: The Board of Governors puts off a decision to limit enrollment in Florida's public universities, the Palm Beach Post reports.

UNITED THEY STAND: Residents of the rural Volusia communities that are slated to lose their elementary schools join forces to fight the decision, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

Seminole HS teacher faced trouble over massages before

It looks like former Seminole High coach and teacher Thomas J. Anderson has been in trouble over massages before.

Just one difference - last time, Anderson was the one accused of doing the massaging.

Back in 1999, a student who served as Anderson's assistant filed a complaint against him for rubbing her shoulders and lower back. Anderson denied the charges and kept his job in exchange for a promise that there would be "no touching of any female in any way that could be interpreted as inappropriate."

Anderson resigned earlier this week rather than face dismissal over accusations that that he took a female student home during school hours. He admitted that he took her to his house, but denied the student's allegation that she gave him a massage in his bedroom.

See tomorrow's St. Petersburg Times for more details.

- Donna Winchester, Pinellas education reporter

Senate OKs ethics law, high school grade changes

The Senate just approved two laws sponsored by former Okaloosa schools superintendent Don Gaetz (left), Republican senator from the Panhandle.

The Ethics in Education Act (SB 1712) tightens the standards for hiring, screening and disciplining educators in cases of misconduct. No one convicted of sexual crimes such as voyeurism or enticing a child could teach. Schools and districts could not enter confidentiality agreements aimed at quietly dismissing educators involved in unethical activities. And any educator convicted of an offense against a child would lose pension retirement benefits. School districts also would have to report even suspicions of misconduct, and could see superintendents or school board members lose their salaries for a year if they fail to do so.

"We need professional, ethical standards across the state," said Sen. Lisa Carlton. "With this bill, we've brought together the best policies from various districts to create consistency."

Another bill (SB 1908) would change the way high schools are graded, so that students' FCAT performance accounts for just half the grade. The rest would depend on a school's graduation rate; students' SAT and ACT performance; participation and success in advanced placement, IB and industry certification courses; and performance on end of course exams.

Ed overhaul gets Senate OK; now House decides

Now it's up to the House. The Senate just voted 32-4, with Sens. Arthenia Joyner, Nan Rich, Charlie Justice and Stephen Oelrich opposed, for a proposed constitutional amendment that will ask voters to overhaul education governance in Florida.

The education commissioner would be elected, the governor and Cabinet would serve as the state Board of Education, community colleges would become the Florida College System offering 2- and 4-year degrees, and the Board of Governors would shrink.

More significantly, the BOG also would see its authority over state universities "revised...as prescribed by law." Translation: The Legislature would squelch once and for all the BOG's contention that the BOG has the power to set tuition. As lawmakers have since the BOG's 2002 creation, the Legislature would continue to set college tuition every year as part of its budget-making authority.

Don't blame the parents

Parents are one reason kids succeed, or don't, in school. But hardly the only one, an ACLU lawyer blogs this week (click here). The group recently filed suit against the Palm Beach County school district (see story here), pointing to anemic grad rates as proof the district isn't providing the high quality education required by the Florida Constitution.

What about personal responsibility?, asked Tallahassee Democrat columnist Bill Cotterell. "Government schools are like the Florida Turnpike – provided for everyone to use equally, but how far and how fast you go is, inevitably, up to you," he wrote here. "Whether you arrive in a sputtering 1978 Mazda with no windows and the exhaust pipe held on by a coat hanger, or a new Bentley, is something the government can't control."

In his response, the ACLU's David Blanding didn't riff on Cotterell's analogy (he could have said, "But what if the government helps steer students in those Mazdas off the Turnpike, by not ensuring them access to the same high-quality teachers as their peers in the Bentleys?") Instead, he cited a 19th century education reformer: "Horace Mann once proclaimed that ‘education … is the great equalizer of the conditions of men – the balance-wheel of the social machinery.' If this is to remain true, our public schools must be responsive to the varying amounts of social capital and debt our children inherit."

The ACLU suit, which has attracted national interest, echoes a pending suit in Pinellas County. The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement points to the mile-wide achievement gap between black and white students as proof the district is failing (see this St. Petersburg Times story). Don't accountability types make similar arguments about schools? Could it be that Jeb Bush, the ACLU and the Uhurus are all on the same page?

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Today's news

BLAINE AMENDMENT GOES TO VOTERS: The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission puts the state's controversial "no-aid" amendment, which prevents the state from funding religious programs, to the voters for a repeal. Some critics see the provision as a back door way to put education vouchers back in play, the Herald-Tribune reports.

"ACADEMIC FREEDOM" BILL CLEARS FIRST HURDLE: A bill that would open the door to teachers casting significant doubt on the state's newly established curriculum standard setting evolution as a key idea underpinning biology gets through the Senate education committee. Changes to the proposal helped quiet some critics, the Miami Herald reports.

SHOW THEM THE MONEY: Leaders of Pasco's teachers association reject the superintendent's request that they hold off on their annual step increases, saying the administration should look to cut elsewhere first.

THINK AGAIN: Pinellas School Board members suggest superintendent Clayton Wilcox should reconsider his policy of forcing out teachers who have reached their deferred retirement deadline but want to stay on the job.

SEEKING PROTECTION: Florida's universities compile a list of things to do to make their campuses safer. The cost: $18-million, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

CITY MIGHT SUE SCHOOLS: The Lauderdale Lakes city commission ponders a lawsuit against the Broward district, saying the students in the city's lone high school receive a subpar education, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

SMILE. YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA: Who needs SRO's? The Cape Coral police will be watching what's going on inside three city-run charter schools once new wireless security cameras are installed, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

FCAT IS ALREADY A GAMBLE, SO ... If Florida wants to rely on gambling money to fund education, why not teach gambling in Florida schools, Palm Beach Post columnist Jac Wilder VerSteeg wonders in a (we think) tongue-in-cheek piece.

CAN'T AFFORD THESE CUTS: The arts in education matter in ways that lawmakers must think about closely before deciding to slash the programs, the Daytona Beach News-Journal editorializes.

CALENDAR WOES: The Palm Beach school district has troubles deciding when to set midterm exams, vacation days and holidays under new state rules mandating a later start to the school year, the Palm Beach Post reports.

SINGLE-GENDER NO MORE: The suburban Atlanta school district that wanted to segregate its students by gender has dumped the plan under heavy parental opposition, the AP reports.

"Academic freedom" bill passes Senate committee

By DAVID DECAMP
Times Staff Writer

TALLAHASSEE — A Senate panel endorsed “protections” Wednesday for students and teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution — despite a report saying there’s never been a case alleging such discrimination in Florida.

Sen. Ronda Storms’ “academic freedom” bill, which won a 4-1 vote by an education committee, says teachers cannot be punished or denied tenure if they “objectively” present scientific information, even if it questions evolution. Students receive the same shield in their coursework.

“It’s interesting for me to note that the only folks who have brought up religion today have been those in opposition,” said Storms, R-Valrico, who suggested the bill helps foster critical thinking, not faith-based teaching.

The bill (SB 2692/HB 1483) has prompted stiff defense by cultural conservatives, and equally stiff objections from scientists and the American Civil Liberties Union — and renewed the debate over evolution and creationism in schools. The bill was introduced after the State Board of Education voted 4-3 last month to adopt new science standards that embrace evolution, but refer to it as a “scientific theory.”

Of sex ed, start dates and twins

The Senate's K-12 panel today shot down Sen. Bill Posey's bill to allow school districts to start high school earlier each year. A 2006 law mandated the school year to start two weeks before Labor Day. The Rockledge Republican had revived his failed bill from 2007, with a few tweaks. It still failed 4-1 this afternoon.

School officials asked for more flexibility, because later start dates push final exams past the winter holiday  and mash schedules. But lobbyists for the tourism and restaurant industry opposed the bill because they want a longer summer to boost revenues into August. They had won the mandated date two years ago.

Tax reform commission steers clear of class-size changes

If changes are in store for Florida's class-size amendment, they're not coming from the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The panel today decided not to move ahead with a proposal that would have asked voters to scale back the class-size reduction rules they approved six years ago.

The issue was up for reconsideration after the commission last week defeated the idea but left room for another vote if a compromise could have been reached in the meantime. That didn't happen.

That leaves it to the Legislature to find ways to deal with the costs and other concerns that the amendment has sparked among school district leaders around the state. So far, the House and Senate have different ideas in play, but key lawmakers have said they'll find a compromise before the end of session. The most likely scenario, insiders say, is a two-year delay in implementing classroom counts, saving about $600-million each year.

In other TBRC action, the commission agreed to ask voters to reconsider the "no-aid" amendment that has been used to justify banning state money from going to religious schools (vouchers, okay, we said it), our sister blog the Buzz reports.

Storms' evolution bill passes first panel

The Senate's committee on K-12 education voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve Sen. Ronda Storms' bill to protect teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution and students who offer other theories. Only Sen. Ted. Deutch opposed it, despite criticism from some science instructors and the ACLU.

Storms, R-Brandon, said the bill doesn't say creationism or other religious-based ideas should be taught, but critics said it was a back-door way to allow religious theories counter to Darwin. She did amend it with Sen. Steve Wise to tight a few weaknesses, such as allowing Holocaust deniers to be heard.

"This is very confusing to me, because I believe this will open the door to very serious problems in the school system," said Sen. Larcenia Bullard, who suggested she might oppose the bill in a full Senate vote.

Here's the vote tally, in case you wondered -- Bullard, Wise, Lisa Carlton, and Alex de la Portilla supported the bill, Deutch opposed it, and chairman Don Gaetz and vice chair Frederica Wilson were absent.

-- David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

What's going on?

You knew the question had to come, with three female teachers arrested for on charges of having sex with students in such short order.

"What's going on there?" the Today show asked this morning, to lead into a 2-1/2-minute story on the Tampa area's school sex scandal. (Video here.)

The show talked about Stephanie Ragusa, Mary Jo Spack and Lisa Marinelli (shown above, left to right), not to mention the now infamous Debra Lafave (left).

And so, too, it turns out, are lots of folks around the bay area. Which meant it was only a matter of time before the bad jokes started rolling in.

Thanks to 98Rock for perhaps the most bawdy and irreverent take on the subject. It's begun a contest to see who can guess which school will make headlines next.

The Buckethead Show on 98Rock touts the "school pool" on its web site, complete with photos of Lafave, Marinelli and others. Listeners are asked to pick which high school will be next; whether the next implicated teacher will be a woman or a man (let's not forget Thomas J. Anderson from Seminole High and Michael Aaron Black (right) from Pasco Middle); and what subject they teach.

Winners, the website says, will be given "cash for new school supplies and maybe some 'private tutoring' of your own ;-)."

The idea, Buckethead tells the Gradebook, is just to "have a few laughs" with the situation. Everybody likes to guess what the next one will be, he observes. All joking aside, Buckethead adds, the national notoriety isn't all that: "It's always nice to be known for something. I just don't think this is the thing we want to be known for."

- Ron Matus and Jeff Solochek

Where's the problem?

As the Senate education committee gears up to debate Sen. Ronda Storms "academic freedom" bill today, a recently released committee staff analysis raises this point: "According to the Department of Education, there has never been a case in Florida where a public school teacher or public school student has claimed that they have been discriminated against based on their science teaching or science course work."

Sound familiar? The Gradebook raised this issue three weeks ago.

The staff analysis also references the nature-of-science component of the new science standards to conclude: "Taken as a whole, the science standards encourage teachers and students to discuss the full range of scientific evidence related to all science, including evolution." Does that mean Storms' bill – which would give teachers the "right and freedom to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views" on evolution – is redundant?

The committee packet also includes a proposed amendment from Sen. Stephen Wise, who is co-sponsoring Storms's bill. We'll hear more about all this in a bit …

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Ed. overhaul close to Senate OK

A few Senate Democrats including Ted Deutch (left) questioned the need for a proposed constitutional amendment overhauling K-20 education governance, but SB 2308 - a priority of Senate President Ken Pruitt - appears headed for passage in his chamber, based on the lack of spirited debate on the floor just now. It rolled over and is headed to a final vote in coming days.

The bill reinstates an elected education commissioner, shrinks the Board of Governors created in 2002 to oversee universities, created a "college system" for community colleges, and seeks to clarify once and for all that the Legislature - not the BOG - sets tuition.

"If education is of paramount importance in the state of Florida, the person heading up that department, a K-20 system, should be accountable to the people of Florida," said bill sponsor Lisa Carlton. "This resolution does not strip the authority of the BOG to set tuiton. The Board never had that authority. This body has been setting tuition, and guess what? We'll set it again in 2008."

Science, non-science, nonsense

Calling all you die-hards who can’t get enough of the evolution debate. Eckerd College in St. Petersburg has a treat for you: A guest lecture Thursday night from Lawrence Krauss, who heads the physics department at Case Western Reserve University and is one of the few living scientists often described (by no less than Scientific American, for example) as a "public intellectual."

Krauss's lecture, free and open to the public, is entitled, "Science, Non-science and Nonsense: From Aliens to Creationism." For a taste of what Krauss thinks about this issue, see this essay he wrote for the New York Times.

Krauss has written seven books, including "The Physics of Star Trek," an international bestseller. And in recent months he has helped push ScienceDebate2008, which calls for a presidential debate on science and technology.

Krauss's lecture begins at 7:30 in Miller Auditorium. Eckerd College is at 4200 54th Avenue South. For more info, e-mail events@eckerd.edu or call (727) 864-7979.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

(PS. The Senate "academic freedom" bill is scheduled for its first public hearing today in the Education Pre-K-12 Committee. Click here for a short story on the hearing from the Fort Myers News-Press.)

Today's news

FIRST, THE BUDGET: The Florida House and Senate come up with different ways to cope with declining revenue. Their plans on how to fund education and other services are likely to dominate the rest of the session.

Proposals call for the first reduction in per-student funding in years, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Tuition increases of 6 percent are also on the table, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Bright Futures, though, remains untouched, the Palm Beach Post reports.

If the state doesn't meet its obligations to support education, Duval school leaders say they might sue, the Florida Times-Union reports. Meanwhile, many districts including Lee prepare for layoffs and program cuts in the wake of expected shortfalls, the Naples Daily News reports. Summer school takes the first hit in Brevard, Florida Today reports.

Now the rest of the news ...

ACCUSED TEACHER RESIGNS: Seminole High teacher and coach Thomas J. Anderson quit his job rather than face a hearing over his interaction with a female student.

WRONG? OR WRONGED? Family and friends stand by Lisa Marinelli, the Mitchell High substitute teacher who was arrested on charges of having sex with a student.

DO YOUR JOB: The Hillsborough school district should have stood behind its decision to remain open on Good Friday rather than send the message to students and employees that it was okay not to attend, the Times editorializes.

TOP OF THE CLASS - PASCO: Pasco High student's photo wins contest, calendar page; River Ridge Middle raises $894 for cancer hospital; 'Wildlife' signs result of students' actions (Seven Springs Middle)

HELP HOUSING: Volusia school officials consider a cut to the county's education impact fee, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

NO WHINING, JUST WORK: A Miami Springs teen recruits classmates to prepare by themselves for the SAT. Their goals - a score of 700 on each section, a scholarship to a major university and a white-collar career, the NY Times reports.

IS FAMU FIXED? An accrediting team is on campus to find out, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

UNDER FIRE: Critics again question whether Sen. Mike Haridopolos has a conflict of interest by serving in the Legislature while  pulling down a salary from UF, the Gainesville Sun reports.

SLOW DOWN: Manatee County extends its reduced-speed school zones to the streets surrounding elementary schools, the Bradenton Herald reports.

IT'S NOT WORKING: After-school tutoring aimed at helping students improve their performance under No Child Left Behind isn't reaching as many kids as expected and, when it does, their results aren't so hot, USA Today reports.

Bills on vouchers, anti-bullying clear hurdles

A piece of legislation that would greatly expand Florida's school choice programs took another step forward today. On a largely partisan vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed, the House Policy and Budget Council approved HB 653, which would allow more low-income students to participate in the Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship program.

Democrats argued that the bill ignores the larger problems in public education, and it takes money away from the system at a time when money is short. "If we want to fix this (education system), let's do it right," said Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall of Miami.

Republicans saw it as a matter of parental choice and improved education options, one that might save money, too. "This program provides the means to those parents that are underprivileged ... to go to a school of their choosing at a fraction of the cost of FTE," said Rep. Kevin Ambler of Lutz. "This is the exact right time to be extending a program like this."

The bill next heads to the House floor.

The House Schools and Learning Council also moved forward an anti-bullying bill (HB 669)that the House has approved twice before. To read an interview with the mom who's pushing for the legislation, click here.

Sex, teachers and videotape

TAMPA -- The Hillsborough School Board is not usually a magnet for TV cameras, but no fewer than three packed into a tiny classroom today and suffered through two hours of talk about district goals.

They were waiting for five minutes at the end of meeting, when the discussion turned to what Board member Candy Olson summed up as "sexy teachers, or teachers and sex."

A recent one-two punch -- the arrests of teachers at Freedom High and Davidsen Middle within two weeks of each other -- has Board members using words like epidemic. Four Hillsborough teachers have been arrested in the last five months for inappropriate sexual contact with students. Three of those teachers were women.

Now Board members are calling for a special meeting to discuss what to do the spate of teachers having have sex with students. The meeting is April 15 from 1 to 2 p.m. Special guests include Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober and Public Defender Julianne Holt.

Until then, here's a primer on names of Hillsborough female teachers with sex charges:

March 20, 2008: Mary Jo Spack, a 45-year-old honors English teacher, accused of having sex with a 17-year-old boy after buying liquor and bringing him to a motel.

March 13, 2008: Stephanie Ragusa, a 28-year-old math teacher, arrested and accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Oct. 23, 2007: Christina Butler, a 33-year-old special education teacher at Middleton High School in Tampa, arrested, accused of having sex up to a dozen times with a 16-year-old boy.

Oct. 8, 2007: Former Wharton High School teacher and coach Jaymee Wallace pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a student who played on her girls basketball team.

Former Greco Middle School teacher Debra Lafave was sentenced to three years of house arrest and seven years of probation after pleading guilty in 2005 to having sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Pickens: Ed budget "not as bad as I expected"

The talk around Tallahassee was that education funding would take a hard hit of about $1.5-billion for the coming fiscal year. But the cuts don't look nearly that severe in the House budget proposal that hit the capitol this morning.

"It's not as bad as I expected it to be," Schools and Learning chairman Joe Pickens told his council as he reviewed a summary of the spending plan. He credited budget chairman Ray Sansom and speaker Marco Rubio for taking money from other places to keep schools comparatively shielded.

When taking into account spending shuffles, tuition increases and revenue decreases, the bottom line, he said, looks like a cut of $481.2-million, or 1.7 percent, for education K-20. "The reduction is much smaller than I anticipated," Pickens said.

The proposal includes these ideas:

• Level per-student funding for prekindergarten.
• An average decrease in per-student funding for K-12 of $86. Some districts would see larger cuts, while others including Hillsborough stand to see slight increases.
• Cuts in school recognition funding (to $90 per student), Florida lead teacher funding and school advisory committee funding.
• Elimination of the mentoring portion of the Excellent Teaching program for National Board certified teachers.
• Reduction of 16.3 percent of spending to the State Board of Education.
• A slight increase in community college funding (about 1 percent), after tuition increases.
• A slight reduction to university funding (about 2 percent), after tuition increases.

The Senate Education Appropriations committee meets later today. Pickens said he expects the House budget could be "very different" from the Senate's version.

Private school kids might get to play public school ball

You send your child to a private school. You like the school's academic program, or its religious focus, or some other aspect. What you don't like is that the school doesn't offer the sports program that your child adores. What's a parent to do?

If a bill moving through both the Florida House and Senate keeps gaining support, the answer would be, choose both. HB  1481 and SB 526 would  allow you to keep your football loving son, or weightlifting prodigy daughter, in private school while having him or her play for the local public high school.

Of course, the legislation raises concerns about recruiting violations. Consider, for instance, the fullback who can't pass the FCAT and then moves to a private school that has neither the FCAT nor football. He could return to the field for the team he just left. There's also the question of whether the private school student could use public school choice to transfer to any school in the district for athletics. And another issue is whether public school students could take part in programs that private schools offer but the publics don't.

Members of the House Schools and Learning Council, which approved the measure 14-1 this morning, said such matters could be smoothed out in amendments before the bill gets to the floor. Sponsor Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, said he would work to fine-tune the bill with the Florida High School Athletic Association "so we can limit the abuses but truly let the kids play ball."

Said council chairman Joe Pickens, "It's a wonderful concept, as long as adults don't abuse it."

(Times photo, 2007)

Flexibility? Or a threat to families?

A year ago, the Florida Legislature decided that school districts were starting classes too early, as at least one district set its first day of classes for the end of July. So lawmakers did what they like to do - they changed the rules. For the 2007-08 academic year, districts could not begin school any earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.

Many parents - and Florida's powerful tourism industry - rejoiced. But educators and school district officials did not. The move forced districts to eliminate many days off during the first semester, in order to squeeze everything in before semester exams and winter break. Or it pushed midterms after winter vacation, a choice not beloved by high schoolers.

The action pushed the administration of the FCAT back, which messed with spring break scheduling and also caused an expected delay in the return of the test results. That, in turn, could mess with the state's ability to offer students extra help over the summer and to provide parents choice options allowed under No Child Left Behind.

Into the fray steps state Sen. Bill Posey, who wants to give school districts back the choice of when to start the school year. His bill (SB 2816) comes up for its first committee vote on Wednesday.

Columnist Andrew Skerritt writes that lawmakers should not relent. Posey's bill "sounds reasonable," Skerritt writes, "but the proposal could weaken one of the most family-friendly pieces of education legislation passed in recent years."

Skerritt suggests that school districts could provide both excellent education and summer family time if they wanted. August should be for lazing around with family, and not for going to school, he contends.

We'll let you know later this week whether the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Committee agrees.

Today's news

COMMUNICATION, RELIGION AND CHANGE: Hillsborough school officials are still talking about absenteeism on Good Friday and why things turned out the way they did. Columnist Ernest Hooper writes that the district should not let the rule-breakers rule when the issue comes up again.

TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND SEX: A Pinellas teacher faces dismissal after he's accused by a female student of taking her to his house and giving him a massage. A Pasco sub is arrested after she's charged with having an "unlawful sexual relationship with a minor" male high school student.

TOUGH WORK: University lobbyists face rough times in Tallahassee these days, with little money available and their bosses suing the Legislature and all.

SHE'LL DO THE JOB FOR FREE: State Sen. Evelyn Lynn gives up her salary to lead an outreach center for FSU's Florida Center for Reading Research, saying the controversy over her pay was distracting from the mission behind the work.

JACKSONVILLE'S COMMITMENT: The University of North Florida and Jacksonville Community College offer unlimited scholarships to Jacksonville high school seniors who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, the Florida Times-Union reports. Two other area colleges provide smaller numbers of grants as part of the area's efforts to boost the community's education level.

RECONSIDERING 'NO-AID' PROVISION: The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will consider whether to ask voters to toss out the constitutional amendment that doomed the state's school voucher program, the Miami Herald reports.

ART TEACHER MIGHT LOSE JOB OVER MATH: An Orange County art teacher who knows he's no good at math could lose his certification because he can't pass a state-required math exam, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

GENDER DETERMINES MAJORS: The Fort Myers News-Press examines enrollment records at southwest Florida's universities and finds, as the headline puts it, that "Math is for men, nursing for women."

PAY CUTS FOR ALL: That's just one of the budget possibilities for Manatee schools. Other ideas include ending all field trips and closing the district's last one-room school house, the Herald-Tribune reports.

Sen. Lynn wants to give up FSU pay

Sen. Evelyn Lynn, under fire for the $120,000 job she got in an FSU reading program that she helped create, will now just be a volunteer.

In a letter she just sent to FSU president T.K. Wetherell, Lynn requests that her status as Outreach Center director be made "leave of absence without pay" be extended for the term of her contract. Now, she is on unpaid leave of absence just for the 2-month legislative session.

Read the letter here: Download evelynlynnLETTER1.pdf

Pasco sub arrested on charges of sex with student

NEW PORT RICHEY — A Pasco County substitute teacher was arrested Monday and charged with having a sexual relationship with an underage male student at Mitchell High School.

Lisa Robyn Marinelli, 40, of 9824 Nicklaus Drive, New Port Richey, had been under investigation by the Pasco Sheriff's Office since late February, after the victim's father reported seeing his son get out of Marinelli's car while pulling up his pants, sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll said.

During the course of the investigation, the father turned over records of hundreds of cell phone calls and text messages between the boy, whose name is not being released, and Marinelli. Thirty-five text messages remained in the boy's phone, including one asking, "How about a quickie 2morrow afternoon?" and another inviting the boy to Marinelli's home "because real men only need 20 minutes."

Doll said the boy showed deputies that he had a pair of Marinelli's underwear, which she gave to him as a memento of their sexual relationship.

More in tomorrow's St. Petersburg Times and on tampabay.com. (Photo from Pasco County Sheriff's Office)