The big story: The fight over which books belong in Florida public schools lately has played out in the courts more than in school board meeting rooms.
One of the more notable cases involves authors suing the Escambia County school district over the removal of their books, such as “And Tango Makes Three.” They have argued that pulling their books off the shelves violates their First Amendment rights. To prove the point, they’ve sought to depose school board members to get at the thought process behind the decisions.
A federal judge has stood in the way. Board members do not have to testify, the judge ruled, because of “legislative privilege.” Read more from News Service of Florida.
Hot topics
Teacher discipline: The Indian River County school board is taking steps to fire a high school criminal justice teacher despite an administrative law judge’s recommendation that the teacher be reinstated, TC Palm reports. The teacher was accused of allowing sexually suggestive discussions in class, during a lesson on the charges against Jeffrey Epstein.
Superintendent search: The Alachua County School Board still needs to hire a temporary superintendent after firing Shane Andrew from the post. Some board members did not like the process, the Independent Alligator reports. After two hours of discussion, the board tabled consideration of an interim leader until Nov. 4, MainStreet Daily News reports.
Student discipline: Parents at a Miami-Dade County K-8 school criticized the district for allowing a student accused of making a threat of violence against the school to remain on campus during the investigation, WSVN reports.
School grades: Some Alachua County parents are raising concerns that their children’s teachers are being transferred away halfway through the semester, WCJB reports. District officials said state law regarding school grades and teacher evaluations required the moves.
Restraint and seclusion: The St. Johns County school district entered an agreement with the federal government to resolve findings that the district physically restrained students with disabilities hundreds of times, WJAX reports.
Elections: The Orange County school district is seeking renewal of its half-cent sales tax for school improvements and construction projects, the Orlando Sentinel reports. • Two newcomers are seeking to replace a Duval County school board member who is leaving because of term limits, the Florida Times-Union reports. • Seminole County voters will decide whether to extend a local sales tax to support school infrastructure projects, WKMG reports. • A new University of North Florida poll suggests that Amendment 1 to establish partisan school board elections in Florida does not have sufficient support to pass, USA Today Florida Network reports.
Car line: A Flagler County charter school is seeking solutions to its car line that backs into traffic more than an hour before classes let out each afternoon, Spectrum 13 reports.
From the police blotter … A Hillsborough County middle school teacher was arrested on accusations of bringing a loaded handgun to school. • An Orange County middle school employee was arrested on accusations of possession of child sex abuse material, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is just a click away.
Before you go … Jon Batiste offers his blues variations of Beethoven. Here’s a taste. The full recording is due out in mid November.
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