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Florida education news: ‘Do not hire’ lists, new scholarships and a Blaine Amendment battle

A roundup of stories from around the state.
 
An empty classroom at Bloomingdale High School in Hillsborough County. [Skip O'Rourke | Times]
An empty classroom at Bloomingdale High School in Hillsborough County. [Skip O'Rourke | Times] [ SKIP O'ROURKE | Skip O'Rourke ]
Published Jan. 23, 2020

DO NOT HIRE: Folks used to derisively call it “passing the trash.” That was when a school system would let an employee quit in lieu of firing over a sometimes egregious act, leaving that worker free to take a job in a different unsuspecting district. Florida lawmakers want to put an end to that, and have advanced legislation to create a “do not hire” list that particularly targets school staff who have been involved in sexual misconduct. “Today we have an opportunity to protect our students from sexual predators,” said Rep. Ralph Massullo.

ELECTED VS. APPOINTED: A House panel gives the thumbs up to a bill that would change Duval County’s school superintendent job to an elected post, Florida Politics reports. More from the Florida Times-Union.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Florida lawmakers propose a new scholarship to support students seeking an associate’s degree or job certification at a state college. Recipients would have to work in Florida for the same length of time that they used the funds, Center Square reports. More from the Sun-Sentinel. • A House panel also gave an initial nod to a scholarship to support students who attend historically black colleges and universities in the state, the News Service of Florida reports.

BLAINE AMENDMENT CHALLENGE: The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Montana’s tax credit scholarship program, which was much like Florida’s, and signals a readiness to make it easier to use public money to support religious schooling, the Associated Press reports.

POST-SECONDARY FUNDING: Florida House members consider reducing the amount spent on grants to students attending private colleges and universities in the state, Florida Politics reports.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES: After losing two top officials in the aftermath of a sexual harassment investigation, the Sarasota County School Board is exploring ways to improve its policies for handling such cases, the Herald-Tribune reports. The board has hired an outside expert to offer advice.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: The race for Clay County superintendent, where the incumbent is no longer in the running, gets another candidate as a local math teacher jumps into the race, Clay Today reports.

LABOR UNIONS: A House committee reports favorably on a bill that would require public employees, such as teachers, to formally renew their union membership annually. Some observers consider it union-busting legislation, Florida Politics reports.

TODAY: Senate Appropriations, 10 a.m. (Athletic trainers) • House Education, 12 p.m. (Parental rights, student athletes) • Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining, 2:30 p.m.

ICYMI: Yesterday’s Florida education news roundup