Education

By Andrew Powell | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Jacksonville on Monday to propose sweeping changes to education, including a Teacher's Bill of Rights which will empower educators to be leaders in their classrooms.

In the proposed legislation, teachers will have their paychecks protected, while $1 billion will go towards teacher pay increases. School board members will have a maximum term of eight years, instead of twelve.

OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2023) — The College of Central Florida has received $17 million to expand its nursing program, including a $6.7 million Linking Industry to Nursing Education grant funded by the Florida Legislature and a $10.3 million commitment from the Citrus County Hospital Board.

The LINE Fund was created in 2022 by the Florida Legislature to alleviate the statewide nursing shortage by providing matching funds for nursing education programs that partner with health care providers. 

The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents free events for children on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

On Saturday, January 7, 2023, the museum will host “Watercolor Winter Wonderland,” where kids can follow along with a guided painting activity. Recommended for kids ages 7 and up, the program will take place from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

OCALA, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2022) — January 1, 2023, will mark the 100th anniversary of the Rosewood massacre, in which at least five Black residents of the small Levy County community died.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the College of Central Florida will host Lizzie Robinson Jenkins, founder of the Real Rosewood Foundation, who will recount her family’s stories of the massacre. The community is invited to this free presentation at 6:30 p.m. in the Ewers Century Center, 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala.

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2022) — The College of Central Florida is hosting two free seminars to help college students, the community and local businesses learn more about personal finance and business economics.

OCALA, Fla. (Aug. 29, 2022) — The College of Central Florida District Board of Trustees has three new and one continuing member, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“We welcome our new board members and appreciate the service of our returning board member – all who have demonstrated commitment to our community,” said Dr. Jim Henningsen, CF president. “They have broad experience in workforce, health care, finance and more, and we look forward to their leadership in impacting our college, students and community.”

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday suspended via executive order four Broward County School Board members “due to their incompetence, neglect of duty, and misuse of authority.”

Board members Patricia Good, Donna Korn, Ann Murray and Laurie Rich Levinson were suspended effective immediately.

By RaeLynn Ricarte | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, calls President Joe Biden’s decision to transfer student loan debt from borrowers to taxpayers a “dramatic overreach of his authority” and a “slap in the face to every hardworking person in Eastern Washington who will now have to foot the bill.”

OCALA, Fla. (July 6, 2022) ­­— The College of Central Florida has honored Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson with the renaming of the Citrus Campus. The CF District Board of Trustees approved the renaming at its meeting today.

(The Center Square) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed another school safety bill into law.