The big story: School districts across Florida started removing books from their shelves without formal review this summer, soon after the State Board of Education threatened legal action against Hillsborough County for having materials that board members called harmful to minors.
A handful of Hillsborough parents told their school board Tuesday exactly what they thought of their district’s quick move to comply. Some said it was a necessary correction, while others raised objections to the way things were handled.
A key concern: It might lead to more districts ignoring state law requiring public evaluation of books that are challenged for their content. If there’s no formal objection, they suggested, there might not be a formal review, leaving district officials to act unilaterally.
That’s not what is happening in Pasco County with its latest group of questioned books.
Pasco, which did remove books from the list sent to Hillsborough, received an informal email in mid-August from a parent who complained about the presence of four titles. Those are Speak Up by Rebecca Burgess, A is for Activist by Innosanto Sagara, Elle Campbell Wins Their Weekend by Ben Kahn and The Beautiful Something Else by Ash Van Otterloo.
“I will give the district 14 days to remove all books related on gender or any books that are violation of state and federal laws and guidelines. If no action is taken, I will report to both state and federal agencies,” wrote parent Rebecca Yuengling, who in 2024 successfully pushed for the removal of The Letter Q, a series of essays directed at LGBTQ+ youth.
Rather than immediately pull the books, the district decided to convene committees that include teachers and parents to look at each as if a formal challenge had been submitted, district spokesperson Toni Zetzsche said.
She said the committees would follow all relevant state law and district policies in determining whether the books should remain in school libraries. The state agreed last year in a lawsuit settlement that books in school libraries are not subject to the Parental Rights in Education Act because they are not used for class instruction.
The work is expected to be done no later than the end of the first semester, Zetsche said, most likely much sooner than that. The school board does not vote on individual titles.
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Technical education: The Hillsborough County school district is building a new technical college in Plant City. The school board named the facility after a former Plant City mayor.
Student achievement gaps: Pinellas County school district leaders raise questions about whether the federal government will allow them to continue the yearslong effort to diminish the gaps between Black and non-Black students.
School principals: Four Hillsborough County schools have new principals, including the high school whose newly appointed leader was arrested on drug charges.
School closures: Broward County superintendent Howard Hepburn urged calm amid discussion of the fate of 34 under-capacity schools, but offered few details about his plans, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Board members said closing a campus should be the last option, WTVJ reports.
Safe sidewalks: The Florida Department of Transportation supported school crosswalk art in 2021 for its innovation and safety. Now the state is demanding the designs be removed, Axios reports. • The mandate has riled up the community at one Brevard County elementary school, WKMG reports. • An Orange County elementary school is having to remove the sidewalk designs that won a state art contest in May, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Land deals: Leon County school board members are considering whether to give the county government nine acres in exchange for a 40-year lease on a local stadium, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
Enrollment: Miami-Dade County schools have seen their student population drop by 13,000 from a year ago, the Miami Herald reports. • Bay County school enrollment is down by about 500 students, WMBB reports.
District superintendents: The Manatee County school board selected Laurie Breslin, the district’s executive director of student support, to be its next superintendent, WUSF reports.
Contract talks: Leon County school district and teacher union leaders are pushing back against commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas’ allegation that they improperly delayed state-funded raises, the WFSU reports.
College presidents: North Florida College, the smallest school in Florida’s state college system, is poised to choose a new president this week, the Citrus County Chronicle reports. • Florida Memorial University officials defended the school’s president selection process amid accusations by a group of trustees of illegal action by another faction of trustees, Florida Politics reports.
Classroom tech: The Brevard County school board won’t allow high school students to use cellphones in class but is revamping policy to permit other electronics with teacher approval, Florida Today reports.
Break time: A new snack service is debuting on the University of Florida campus, promising a 10-minute delivery time, MainStreet Daily News reports.
Bible study: A national Bible study program is trying to provide services in Duval County schools, WJXT reports.
Attendance zones: The Polk County school district has scheduled six town hall meetings to explain plans to redraw its high school boundaries, Bay News 9 reports. The first one is Thursday.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go … This Florida YouTuber highlights places to visit across the Sunshine State. Have you made it to all 12 of these “fairytale” spots?
Jeffrey S. Solochek is a reporter covering education as a member of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund byclicking here.
