Today's news

THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT: The economic crisis is pinching Florida college students, many of whom are cutting back credit hours, seeking more financial aid and even applying for food stamps.

HANDLE IT: Pinellas schools are resegregating - quickly - even as the achievement gap grows. The broader community needs to deal with this issue before it becomes a bigger problem, the Times editorializes.

SRO FIRED: The resource officer at Pasco's River Ridge Middle is dismissed after telling a 13-year-old girl he was falling in love with her.

TEACH THEM TO SWIM: Rather than canceling swim lessons for kindergartners, Hernando should make the classes mandatory, the Times editorializes.

WHAT'S YOUR MAJOR? Some freshmen at Florida Gulf Coast University struggle to decide, the Naples Daily News reports.

SAVE IT IF YOU HAVE IT: Vero Beach High opens its own bank, in association with RBC Bank, to teach students the value of saving a buck or two, the Vero Beach Press-Journal reports.

CHECK THOSE ID'S: A state audit dings Manatee schools for not doing enough to screen campus visitors, the Herald-Tribune reports.

HERE COMES THE VOTE: Miami-Dade is scheduled to consider a contract for newly appointed superintendent Alberto Carvalho. It might not approve the deal, the Miami Herald reports.

GRADING THE TUTORS: Florida is preparing to issue letter grades for the tutoring firms hired under NCLB supplemental education services contracts, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

HELP US: Orange superintendent Ron Blocker calls upon the community to give the district budget balancing ideas, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

TALKS SUSPENDED: Leon postpones contract negotiations until after the state's November revenue estimating conference, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

FAILING AT MATH: A new study indicates that U.S. schools do not properly develop students' math skills, particularly those of children at the highest capability levels, the NY Times reports.

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