Today's news

BACK AND FORTH ON STEPS: The United School Employees of Pasco offers some leeway on its refusal to delay annual step increases. District officials say they aren't sure the compromise will make enough of a difference.

CALLAWAY QUITS STATE BOARD: Donna Callaway, perhaps best known for her strong opposition to science standards relating to evolution, decides to return to the Leon school she led for a decade.

SAVE THE UNIVERSITIES, TOO: Gov. Crist showed leadership in finding a way to protect the Everglades. Now someone needs to do much the same to stop Florida's top scholars from leaving its public universities, the Times editorializes.

HE MIGHT GET SICK: The Indian River School Board agrees to pay new superintendent Harry LaCava nearly $100,000 for sick leave he accrued while working in Broward schools, the Vero Beach Press Journal reports.

UNFAIR? Lee superintendent James Browder gets to retire for a month, take advantage of the state's DROP program and return to work while others in the district who tried to do the same were told they couldn't because the district is in layoff mode, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.

TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET: New and relocating teachers are finding Florida's job market a tough prospect, with just 22 districts participating in this year's state job fair, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Many are trying the private school market, the Sentinel reports. More applicants than expected show up for Leon's interview day, too, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

KIDS STILL WALK: Some Okaloosa residents question the need for a new sidewalk in front of a school that's been closed. The superintendent reminds them the kids will still need to walk to school past it, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.

BUDGET ROUNDUP: Florida Atlantic University is the latest to cut jobs and programs, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Manatee seeks to make another $5.4-million in cuts, the Bradenton Herald reports. Broward approves a scaled-back construction plan, the Miami Herald reports. Miami-Dade takes steps to postpone contractual raises for teachers, the Miami Herald reports. Some Alachua teachers get shuffled to new jobs as the district cuts back positions, the Gainesville Sun reports.

Comments

[Doug Tuthill]

Jeff-Your readers might enjoy the article below from today's New York Times on career academies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/education/26careers.html?th&emc=th