Florida seeks direction after Hillsborough school tax referendum battle

The big story: Hillsborough County School District officials say they were surprised when county commissioners blocked the district’s attempt to hold a property tax referendum in November.

It also surprised observers across the state.

Commissioners were expected to approve the initiative on a ballot, as is common practice across Florida when school boards seek voter support for additional revenue for teacher salaries and other general expenses.

After the rejection, the district had to figure out its next steps with about a month to go before it loses access to the November ballot. Education officials across the state are now watching Hillsborough to see if the courts will uphold the authority of counties to overturn school boards’ property tax referendums. Read more here.

Current subjects

University Presidents: Observers reflected on Ben Sasse’s legacy as president of the University of Florida following his surprise announcement that he would step down to deal with his wife’s health issues. Reactions to the news continued to pour in from students, staff, alumni and colleagues, the Gainesville Sun reported. The university’s trustees are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss choosing a new president, WCJB reported. • Florida A&M University praised outgoing President Larry Robinson for his seven-year term, while also discussing what kind of leader the school needs next, WFSU reported.

Sex education: Schools in Orange County stopped teaching sex ed last year after the state Department of Education refused to approve materials for the lessons, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The situation was similar in several Florida districts, including Hillsborough County.

School board elections: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the endorsement of 23 school board candidates across the state, including six in the Tampa Bay area. • DeSantis also named one of the candidates to fill a vacant seat on the Osceola County School Board to complete the term, just a month before the election, the Orlando Sentinel reports. • DeSantis also named a new member to the Okaloosa County School Board, replacing a member who had resigned, Mid Bay News reports.

Influencers: Private interests played a major role in the development of several education policy initiatives proposed by the Florida Legislature, Seeking Rents reports.

Financial help: According to WUSF, community experts are helping teens complete their FAFSA forms, while Florida still lags behind in completion.

Employee discipline: The Broward County School Board is on the verge of firing the mother of a transgender student who was allowed to play on a high school girls’ volleyball team, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

Construction projects: Officials with the Hillsborough County School District heard ideas from community members for the reconstruction of the recently closed Just Elementary School and nearby Stewart Middle School.

Read the most important stories before rush hour

Subscribe to the Times and receive our afternoon newsletter, The Rundown

We’ll be covering the biggest environmental, political, business, education and cultural news in Tampa Bay every weekday

You’re all signed up!

Would you like to receive more of our free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s start.

Discover all your options

Safety on campus: While the Miami-Dade County School District held active shooter drills, experts said such drills could do more harm than good, the Miami Herald reports.

Back to school: Students at two Brevard County schools are returning to class today as part of a year-round pilot program, WKMG reports.

Don’t miss a single story. Here is the link to Friday’s overview.

Before you go… A new ESPN documentary is out about the struggles that tore apart a Lee County high school baseball team. Check it out.