Today's news

NO NEW TAX RATE: The Pasco School Board considers a budget in which the tax rate remains stable. Unlike other districts, it doesn't recommend major reductions in the construction budget.

IMPEACHED: The University of Central Florida student senate votes to remove one of its members who stands accused of stealing a communion wafer from Catholic Mass, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

BRING AN IPOD, LOSE AN IPOD: Martin schools see an uptick in theft, with hand-held devices like phones and MP3 players leading the way, the Stuart News reports.

THE NEED TO KNOW: Lakewood Ranch High in Manatee didn't know one of its star football players had been arrested on a gun charge in 2007 until he recently was arrested again, this time for murder, the Bradenton Herald reports. That lack of knowledge put the school at risk, the principal says.

BAD TEACHERS ON PARADE: A veteran Broward teacher faces dismissal over her alcohol problems, the Miami Herald reports. A Coral Springs private school teacher pleads not guilty to having sex with an underage male student, the Sun-Sentinel reports. The Leon school district investigates allegations of misconduct against several softball coaches at a local high school, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. The principal of a Polk charter school faces an investigation into allegations that he intimidates teachers, the Lakeland Ledger reports.

BUDGET ROUNDUP: State economists say Florida's economy is worse than expected and the bad times will last longer than projected, the AP reports. The Martin School Board whittles its budget in time for a public hearing, but expects more cuts to come, the Palm Beach Post reports. Indian River board members are rethinking their decision to pay superintendent Harry LaCava $99,000 for unused sick time at his last job, saying the economy doesn't justify the move, the Vero Beach Press-Journal reports. Clay teachers will get a 3 percent raise, the Florida Times-Union reports. Manatee's stalemate over teacher pay plays on, the Herald-Tribune reports.