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A true legend in his own time: Brevard residents mourn death of Richard 'Dick' Blake
A true legend in his own time: Brevard residents mourn death of Richard 'Dick' Blake

By Britt Kennerly The honors bestowed upon Richard "Dick" Blake in life were many and well deserved, from a Rockledge park and a Cocoa sports stadium named for him to receiving the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Service Award from Brevard Democrats in 2015. Now, as word of Blake's death at... Continue Reading

Date posted06/4/2025


Santa Ono falls at final hurdle to become UF President
Santa Ono falls at final hurdle to become UF President

By A.G. Gancarski After an acrimonious process and personal attacks against him, Santa Ono failed in his attempt to become the new University of Florida President after one of the most dramatic meetings of the Florida Board of Governors in history. This throws the decision back to the UF... Continue Reading

Date posted06/4/2025


A top DeSantis aide could become Florida’s next education commissioner
A top DeSantis aide could become Florida’s next education commissioner

By Jeffrey S. Solochek A key aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis with little public profile could soon rise to the nationally prominent post of Florida’s education commissioner. Anastasios I. Kamoutsas, one of DeSantis’ four deputy chiefs of staff, has emerged as one of the most frequently... Continue Reading

Date posted06/3/2025


DeSantis signs bill restricting cellphone use in public schools
DeSantis signs bill restricting cellphone use in public schools

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a bill that will expand a restriction on cellphone use in Florida schools. The bill (HB 1105), which was approved by the Legislature on May 2, revises a law that has prevented students from using cellphones during instructional time. The bill will prohibit... Continue Reading

Date posted06/3/2025


Trump administration pushing for national school voucher plan
Trump administration pushing for national school voucher plan

By Cory Turner, Michel Martin MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Private school voucher programs have been popping up all over the country in recent years. But now, for the first time, a national voucher plan is on the table - part of the big tax bill passed by the House that the Senate is now... Continue Reading

Date posted06/3/2025


Florida Senate president's 'rural renaissance' proposal will have to wait
Florida Senate president's 'rural renaissance' proposal will have to wait

By Jim Turner When lawmakers begin budget conference talks Tuesday, a couple of priorities of Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, likely will already be off the table. Lawmakers aren’t expected to approve Albritton’s “rural... Continue Reading

Date posted06/3/2025


Wayne Blanton, a force for Florida’s public schools, dies at 78
Wayne Blanton, a force for Florida’s public schools, dies at 78

By Gabrielle Russon Wayne Blanton, a public education icon who was an advocacy force in Tallahassee for 40 years, died Thursday at age 78. “Members of the Florida Legislature come and go. Governors come and go, and department heads come and go,” said his friend, former Sen. Bill... Continue Reading

Date posted06/2/2025


Governor approves measure to ease charter school conversions, ban student cellphone use
Governor approves measure to ease charter school conversions, ban student cellphone use

By Jesse Scheckner Parents in Florida will soon have an outsized say in whether a private company should operate their kids’ public school. Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed HB 1105, a patchwork of multiple education-focused measures lawmakers carried this year that failed to pass... Continue Reading

Date posted06/2/2025


Finding a new superintendent tops to-do list for Manatee school officials
Finding a new superintendent tops to-do list for Manatee school officials

BY Jason Lanning The school year is ending for students and teachers, but Manatee County school officials will be busy this summer. The school board’s first order of business is finding a new superintendent. Last week, in a meeting that caught several members of the school board off... Continue Reading

Date posted06/2/2025


BDS plans for new location of Tyndall Academy
BDS plans for new location of Tyndall Academy

by: Riley Lehman Plans for a new school on Tyndall Air Force Base are moving forward. Bay district leaders held a workshop meeting on Tuesday to discuss the next steps for the Tyndall Academy K-8 facility. The current school is old. It was built in 1950 and has had several upgrades,... Continue Reading

Date posted06/2/2025


Who will be Florida’s next education commissioner?
Who will be Florida’s next education commissioner?

By Jeffrey S. Solochek Floridians won’t have to wait long to find out who will be Florida’s next education commissioner. State Board of Education chairperson Ben Gibson has added an item to the board’s June 4 agenda for a discussion on how to replace Manny Diaz Jr., who was... Continue Reading

Date posted05/30/2025


School districts given more flexibility with revised locked door law
School districts given more flexibility with revised locked door law

By Fallon Silcox After hearing from school administrators across the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law updating the current locked door policy. Right now, all school doors and gates are required to be locked at all times students are on campus, even outside the hours of the normal school... Continue Reading

Date posted05/30/2025