Florida universities seek millions for football
The big story: Another Florida university is seeking millions of dollars to improve its football facilities.
Florida State University, on the verge of a highly anticipated season, is looking into taking on $285 million in debt so it can renovate Doak Campbell Stadium.
It’s the third major state school to explore stadium changes as a gateway to enhancing its football future. The University of Florida has upcoming renovations with a cost of about $400 million, while the University of South Florida has asked for a $340 million on-campus stadium. The USF project goes before the State University System Board of Governors for consideration this week.
FSU’s proposal heads to the school’s trustees for review on Friday. With questions swirling around whether the Seminoles can afford to remain in the ACC, discussions about the financial feasibility of the plan are anticipated. Read more here.
Hot topics
Virtual school: Alachua County’s online eSchool has cut its faculty in half as enrollment has dropped, the Independent Florida Alligator reports.
Start times: The Broward County school district is asking the state for a waiver from new law mandating high schools start classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m., beginning in 2026, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Broward officials said the requirement would cost more to implement.
School board elections: Sarasota County School Board member Karen Rose, who pushed to remove former superintendent Brennan Asplen, has filed to seek reelection, the Herald-Tribune reports. Far-right groups have threatened to challenge Rose because she did not support an applicant for superintendent with conservative credentials.
Nicknames: More than 10,000 Collier County families have signed forms allowing teachers to call their children by nicknames, the Naples Daily News reports. It’s not clear whether the parents must submit a new form every year.
Classroom supplies: Teachers in Florida and other states are finding it more costly to keep their rooms stocked with extra supplies such as pens and papers, CNN reports.
Black history: A Miami-Dade County high school history teacher has left her job, saying she refuses to tell lies about Black history in order to comply with new Florida law, WLRN reports. Renee O’Connor was a finalist for the district’s teacher of the year honors in 2022.
Other school news
A state audit found the Lake County school district did not report complaints against employees to the Department of Education in a timely manner. The Auditor General recommended the district comply with the law requiring reports be filed within 30 days, Center Square reports.
A Martin County high school principal has been removed during a professional standards investigation. The principal recently had been investigated by the Sheriff’s Office for “inappropriate behavior,” TC Palm reports.
The Flagler County school district has a new permanent superintendent. The School Board unanimously selected LaShakia Moore, who had been doing the job on an interim basis, Flagler Live reports.
A Duval County teacher was removed from the classroom for a second time amid allegations of inappropriate touching. The alleged misconduct dated back to 2013 and 2014, WJXT reports.
Parents at a Sarasota County elementary school want reassurances after a violent threat was made against teachers there. School Board members attempted to address their concerns, while also stressing that they must adhere to privacy rules, the Herald-Tribune reports.
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Before you go ... Jimmy Buffett was quintessentially South Florida chill, and he will be missed. How many remember his 1997 musical “Don’t Stop the Carnival,” which debuted at the Coconut Grove Playhouse?
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