ReportWire

Tag: APP Education

  • Students start a new year in N.C. as ICE expands operations to schools

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — As the Trump Administration ramps up deportation efforts, there are growing concerns among parents about whether U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s operations could impact their local school districts. 

    What You Need To Know

    • No ICE operations have been reported in any North Carolina school districts 

    • Earlier this year, both Durham and Wake County school boards issued immigration enforcement policies in response to the Department of Homeland Security extending operations to schools and churches

    • Advocacy groups are encouraging families, regardless of immigrant status, to consider developing a family preparation plan in the event of a raid in their community


    There have been no reported ICE operations at any North Carolina schools. But the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent confirmed this month that a 15-year-old boy was pulled from a car and handcuffed outside Arleta High School in northern Los Angeles.

    Spectrum News 1 reached out to Wake County Public School System and Durham Public Schools for comment on how the school districts were preparing to address those concerns. A spokesperson for WCPSS confirmed it has not issued any additional updates to parents and directed us to a statement it issued earlier this year.

    “Our district has always complied with federal and state laws and will continue to do so. We are equally committed to ensuring our schools remain safe and welcoming spaces for all students and families,” WCPSS said in the statement. “Additionally, our district does not ask for or record information about the immigration status of any family. We will continue to honor all laws protecting the privacy of student records as outlined in board policies.” 

    Anthony Lewis, superintendent for Durham Public Schools, said in a statement to Spectrum News 1: “We recognize that recent changes to federal immigration laws have caused uncertainty, worry and fear for many of our students, families and staff. Please know that the safety, dignity and well-being of our school community remain our highest priority.”

    “While our district is carefully reviewing these changes with our legal counsel to fully understand their impact, we want to assure our community that we have not experienced any ICE raids or investigations. In the unlikely event that such an incident were to occur, we would expect and advocate for mutual respect of established protocols and standard operating procedures between our district and federal agencies,” Lewis said. 

    Earlier this year, both DPS and WCPSS issued immigration enforcement policies responding to the Department of Homeland Security extending operations to schools and churches.

    Spectrum News 1 asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to confirm whether families could expect the agency to conduct investigations at any of the state’s local school districts and whether the agency is taking a specific approach to how it deals with these cases. 

    ICE spokeswoman Lindsay Williams responded in an email, “As a matter of policy and operational security concerns, [the agency] does not discuss future operations.”

    El Centro, an organization working to provide socioeconomic resources to Hispanic and Latino communities, said it’s working closely with residents across North Carolina communities to prepare them if a situation such as an ICE raid or investigation occurs in their district. 

    “It becomes a health concern. Nobody wants children to be worried in school, because if they’re worried, then they’re not thriving,” said Emilia Ismael, with El Centro. “They’re not focusing on studying and their academics, and just developing socially.”

    Ismael said that through their education department, families can take advantage of resources to learn about their constitutional rights. “We also have case management so that a specialist in case management can help them create a roadmap,” Ismael said.

    Ismael encourages families, regardless of immigration status, to consider developing a family preparation plan, and for any residents, not just those of immigrants, to visit or call the organization if they have questions.

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    Darrielle Fair

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  • Guilford County Schools adds ‘safety vestibules’ to protect its students

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    GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — As students return to class after summer break, Guilford County Schools is stepping up security with new additions to every elementary and middle school in the district.

        What You Need To Know

    • The district is installing what it calls “safety vestibules,” a secure entryway that’s designed to ensure visitors are properly screened before getting access to students

    • The new system creates multiple checkpoints, keeping families and guests contained until staff clear them for entry

    • Assistant Superintendent of School Safety Mike Richie says the goal is to raise all schools to the highest security standards

    • District leaders are working to complete the upgrades across all elementary schools as part of a district-wide push to make safety a top priority


    The district is installing what it calls “safety vestibules.” It’s a secure entryway that’s designed to ensure visitors are properly screened before being allowed into school buildings.

    At Kirkman Park Elementary School in High Point, Principal Yajaira Owens says safety is at the heart of her role.

    “Safety has become, or was on the top of my list since I got here because we are in the center of High Point,” Owens said.

    She says that because they are an open campus, it was important to her to have the vestibule installed. 

    “Learning cannot take place if kids or staff don’t feel safe,” Owens said.

    She says the students are the priority.

    “I love seeing children, I love hearing them and just laughing with them,” Owens said. “But I think, most importantly, I want to make sure that I’m impacting their lives in a positive way.”

    In the past, visitors could walk directly into the building. Now, the new system creates multiple checkpoints, keeping families and guests contained until staff clear them for entry.

    Assistant Superintendent of School Safety Mike Richie says the goal is to raise all schools to the highest security standards.

    While the changes may add a brief wait for families, Owens says parents and staff have already responded positively.

    “Even though it might get a little annoying with them having to wait to get buzzed in, I think that it’s adding an extra protection for them and for their children,” Owens said.

    District leaders say construction at Kirkman Park finished before students returned after summer break.

    Leaders are actively working to complete the upgrades across all elementary schools as part of a district-wide push to make safety a top priority.

     

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    Ashley Van Havere

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  • New Manatee Co. schools superintendent shares plans for this school year, future

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Manatee County School Board has selected Dr. Laurie Breslin as the county’s new superintendent.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Manatee County School Board has selected Dr. Laurie Breslin as the county’s new superintendent | Read school system news release

    • Breslin has been employed with the school district for over 15 years — including her most recent role as the Executive Director of Student Support and Family Engagement

    • Breslin said her contract is expected to be finalized Sept. 9

    Breslin has been employed with the school district for over 15 years — including her most recent role as the Executive Director of Student Support and Family Engagement.

    Wednesday marked the start of a new era for the school district, with Breslin walking into her new office for the first time, one day after being selected for the superintendent role.

    “It truly is, to me, a calling. I felt that once the position opened, there was a great opportunity to step in and fulfill my vision, which is to support every student in this district,” she said.

    Breslin started her career in education 23 years ago as a P.E. teacher. She later taught English and reading in grades 6 through 12, and she has spent 17 years in Manatee County schools working in various positions.

    “I think it’s most important to lean on our previous experiences as we move through the leadership spectrum,” she explained.

    Breslin said her contract is expected to be finalized Sept. 9.

    “The very first priority is rezoning to make sure that we have a solid plan in place and that we are completely transparent and factual with all of our community members,” she said.

    She also noted that security is another priority. As for academics, literacy will be at the top of her list.

    “Boosting literacy at all levels with a laser focus on ELA reading for grade three. We really believe that by supporting our littlest learners first, we will continue to see gains and achievement,” she said.

    As Breslin prepares for this next step in her career, she said she’ll continue to put the families and students of the district first.

    One addition the community can look forward to is a new SOAR Lab coming in September, which Breslin says will help strengthen literacy education for students.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Polk County schedules public forums on school rezoning

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Public Schools wants your input on a plan to rezone its high schools.

    The district is holding the first of six town hall meetings on Thursday.

    Each meeting will focus on a different region, starting with schools in the southwest part of the county.

    The district recently released tentative maps of new attendance zones, but nothing is set in stone.

    Administrators expect to finalize the zones by November, with changes to take effect this time next year.

    The goal is to balance enrollment and maximize resources as Polk County continues to grow.

    Below is a schedule of the meetings:

    Southwest Region — Rezoning Town Hall

    DATE: Thursday, Aug. 28

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

    LOCATION: Bartow High’s auditorium, 1270 S. Broadway Ave., Bartow, 33830

    TOWN HALL FOCUS:The meeting will cover rezoning proposals for Bartow High, Fort Meade Middle-Senior High, George Jenkins High and Mulberry High.

    Northwest Region — Rezoning Town Hall

    DATE: Thursday, Sept. 4

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

    LOCATION: Harrison Theatre, 726 Hollingsworth Road, Lakeland, 33801

    TOWN HALL FOCUS:The meeting will cover rezoning proposals for Kathleen High, Lake Gibson High, Lakeland High and Tenoroc High.

    Central Region — Rezoning Town Hall

    DATE: Thursday, Sept. 11

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

    LOCATION: Winter Haven High’s auditorium, 600 6th St. SE, Winter Haven, 33880

    TOWN HALL FOCUS:The meeting will cover rezoning proposals for Auburndale High, Lake Region High and Winter Haven High.

    Northeast Region — Rezoning Town Hall

    DATE: Thursday, Sept. 18

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

    LOCATION: Ridge Community High’s auditorium, 500 Orchid Drive, Davenport, 33837

    TOWN HALL FOCUS: The meeting will cover rezoning proposals for Davenport High, Haines City High and Ridge Community High.

    Southeast Region — Rezoning Town Hall

    DATE: Thursday, Sept. 25

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

    LOCATION: McLaughlin Academy of Excellence’s cafeteria, 800 South 4th St., Lake Wales, 33853

    TOWN HALL FOCUS: The meeting will cover rezoning proposals for Frostproof Middle-Senior High and McLaughlin Academy of Excellence.

    All Regions — Virtual Rezoning Town Hall

    DATE: Thursday, Oct. 2

    TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

    TOWN HALL FOCUS:The meeting will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel and will cover rezoning proposals for all PCPS high schools in all regions.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Local students receive help from Greater Dayton RTA ahead of school

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    DAYTON, Ohio — The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton is helping students prepare for the school year through donated school supplies from the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority. 

    Dayton RTA held its annual “Stuff the Bus” drive from July 21 through Aug. 11 where the RTA and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1385 worked to fill an RTA paratransit bus with backpacks, school supplies and after-school snacks.

    “We are thankful to RTA and ATU for their generosity in donating school supplies, backpacks and snacks for Dayton youth,” said Crystal Allen, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Dayton. “As a result of your support, more than four hundred young people received backpacks and supplies to start the school year with confidence, helping them feel prepared, encouraged, and ready to succeed. Your commitment reminds youth that their community is behind them every step of the way, and we are grateful for your partnership in our mission.”

    Donations were stored and sorted by The Foodbank Inc. because of limited space. 

    Union leaders and the RTA handed out hundreds of pre-filled backpacks to students attending the club’s annual Back-to-School Community Block Party on Aug. 18. 

    For more information about The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton, please visit www.bgcdayton.org.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Photos: 2025 back-to-school photo submissions

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    BY

    Daniel Gray

    North Carolina


    PUBLISHED 10:30 AM ET Aug. 22, 2025
    PUBLISHED 10:30 AM EDT Aug. 22, 2025

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    Daniel Gray

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  • Southeastern University to open childhood center to help fill need

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Southeastern University in Lakeland is moving forward with plans to build an early childhood development center.

    What You Need To Know

    • Southeastern University to open childhood center in fall of 2026

    • The center will help fill a gap in childcare and be for children of employees and non-employees.

    • The center will be located directly across from the university.


    School officials say it will serve a dual purpose. First, the center will provide childcare for both SEU employees and others in the community, and it will serve as a learning lab for students enrolled in the college of education.

    Over the past three years, Patrick Fitzgerald has learned the ins and outs of the school system at SEU as a chief of staff.  

    As a former student and now employee, Fitzgerald said his family has been his biggest support system.

    “This is actually our whole family, that’s me my wife, Theo and Tori down there.”

    Like many other parents, he said it can be challenging juggling work and childcare now.

    He’ll be one of many employees at SEU who will benefit from a childcare center being built by the university. A ground breaking was held earlier this month.

    “It’ll be really nice for our kids to be right down the street instead of on the other side of town, where they’re currently in daycare, and it’ll be really great to just know the people who are taking care of our kids. That’s so important,” he said.

    The center will serve 160 children from six weeks to four years old. Pricing for the center has not been set yet, but officials say they want to provide the best quality care for children.

    It will be available for both employees and non-employees.

    Project leaders say it will help fill a gap in childcare. Ted Church is the project lead.

    “We’ve seen a lot of schools, preschools and even daycares have a long waitlist, where they’re on the waitlist for eight, 10, 12 months and beyond,” Church said.

    A fact sheet from First Five Years Fund found that the demand for quality care far outweighs the supply, making access to childcare difficult.

    People involved with the new Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Center hope it will change that.

    “Having great places to put your kids is one of those things that it’s just hard to keep up with, with the population growth we’ve had in this area,” Fitzgerald said.

    He said the center will create a special space where he can watch his children grow and learn, nearby.

    The center is set to open in the fall of 2026.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Eliminating the stigma: Food program ensures all Durham students get fed

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    Durham Public Schools has qualified for the second year of the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP.

    When enough students are directly certified for free meal benefits, the entire school qualifies for the CEP option, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    What You Need To Know

    • Durham Public Schools is among the few districts in the state taking part in the Community Eligibility Provision

    • School officials stated that the county qualified due to the percentage of students in the Durham School District on SNAP, food benefits, and facing homelessness

    • Each student can have one breakfast and a lunch at no cost to the family each day

    • If nothing changes from a funding standpoint, the program is expected to run through 2030


    The school district is among a few in the state with county-wide participation.

    School officials stated that the county qualified due to the percentage of students using SNAP, food benefits, and facing homelessness.

    Parents aren’t required to fill out applications for the free or reduced-priced meals.

    Each student can have one breakfast and a lunch at no cost to the family each day.

    County health and school officials say they’re thankful this is one less thing for struggling families to worry about, and students can focus less on hunger and more on their schoolwork.

    “It’s important for people to understand this isn’t just about free lunch for kids. It’s about taking care of their emotional needs,” James Keaton, director of school nutrition services for Durham Public Schools, said. “It’s taking care of the family. It’s being able to take care of the whole community. And it just looks good for people to be able to say, ‘We care enough about the kids to do what’s right.’”

    And for Keaton, this issue hits even closer to home, as he says he, too, benefited from a similar program.

    “It’s part of my past. I was one of the free reduced kids,“ Keaton said. “When I was a kid, they would actually put you out of your classroom 30 minutes before lunch, and we would eat our lunch, and then all the other kids, while they were eating lunch, we had to scrape trays, wash tables, empty milk cartons. We had to earn our lunch.”

    He said it’s a stigma no child should have to deal with, and with this program, there’s no way to single any one student out.

    “With a lot of regulations changing, we’re hoping that CEP is one of the things that doesn’t get cut very deeply because it’s so important for kids to have those meals,” he said.

    If nothing changes from a funding standpoint, he said the program is expected to run through 2030.

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    Daniel Gray

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  • Winston-Salem school nurse says staffing shortages continue to rise

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Across North Carolina, schools continue to struggle with staffing shortages — from teachers and cafeteria workers to bus drivers and school nurses. Stephanie Smith, a school nurse at Carver High School in Winston-Salem, has experienced those shortages firsthand.

         What You Need To Know

    • Across North Carolina, schools continue to struggle with staffing shortages — from teachers and cafeteria workers to bus drivers and school nurses

    • Stephanie Smith has experienced those shortages and has worked as a school nurse for the last 15 years

    • The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports the state’s teacher attrition rate during the 2023-24 school year was 9.88%. That’s down from 11.5% the year before, but still above the seven-year average of 8.64%
    • Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green has pushed for higher teacher pay as part of his legislative agenda
    • As of April, the state reported an average starting teacher salary of just under $43,000, ranking North Carolina 39th in the country
    • The average teacher salary is just over $58,000, ranking 43rd in the nation


    Smith began her career in public health, but after having her first child, she switched paths.

    “A school nurse position came available the summer before he started kindergarten, and that seemed like a fantastic fit,” Smith said. “I really enjoyed working with kids. I had been previously working with first-time moms and babies and really enjoyed that population of like young kids.”

    She’s been working as a school nurse for 15 years, but she says staffing challenges have changed the way she works.

    “We have had some increase in positions available, but not necessarily an equal increase in staffing for those positions,” Smith said. “Some years there’s no increase in positions and we have turnover in staff.”

    When she started at Carver, Smith was full time at the school. Now, she splits her time between two schools.

    “We had a significant amount of assignment changes and needs for schools like new schools being built, additional schools being built, and need for more school nurses,” Smith said.

    Smith says part of the demand comes from the rise in chronic health conditions among students.

    “The national standard is for there to be one school nurse in every school, and that doesn’t exist in this county,” Smith said.

    The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports the state’s teacher attrition rate during the 2023-24 school year was 9.88%. That’s down from 11.5% the year before, but still above the seven-year average of 8.64%.

    Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green has pushed for higher teacher pay as part of his legislative agenda.

    As of April, the state reported an average starting teacher salary of just under $43,000, ranking North Carolina 39th in the country. The average teacher salary is just over $58,000, ranking 43rd in the nation.

    Smith says the pay challenges aren’t limited to teachers.

    “There is a significant difference in what nurses specifically are paid as school nurses versus as nurses in the private sector or in some other areas of public sector,” Smith said.

    The shortages have sometimes forced teachers to step into roles outside of the classroom.

    “I’m sure it is defeating and disappointing for them because they would love to be able to focus their time and energy on their teaching and helping these kids learn and grow,” Smith said.

    Even with the challenges, Smith says she finds the work fulfilling.

    “The passion for me is being able to see the difference that I can make, not just in one day and one visit with the student, but across their entire lifetime,” Smith said.

     

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    Ashley Van Havere

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  • Southeastern University to open childhood center to help fill need

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Southeastern University in Lakeland is moving forward with plans to build an early childhood development center.

    What You Need To Know

    • Southeastern University to open childhood center in fall of 2026

    • The center will help fill a gap in childcare and be for children of employees and non-employees.

    • The center will be located directly across from the university.


    School officials say it will serve a dual purpose. First, the center will provide childcare for both SEU employees and others in the community, and it will serve as a learning lab for students enrolled in the college of education.

    Over the past three years, Patrick Fitzgerald has learned the ins and outs of the school system at SEU as a chief of staff.  

    As a former student and now employee, Fitzgerald said his family has been his biggest support system.

    “This is actually our whole family, that’s me my wife, Theo and Tori down there.”

    Like many other parents, he said it can be challenging juggling work and childcare now.

    He’ll be one of many employees at SEU who will benefit from a childcare center being built by the university. A ground breaking was held earlier this month.

    “It’ll be really nice for our kids to be right down the street instead of on the other side of town, where they’re currently in daycare, and it’ll be really great to just know the people who are taking care of our kids. That’s so important,” he said.

    The center will serve 160 children from six weeks to four years old. Pricing for the center has not been set yet, but officials say they want to provide the best quality care for children.

    It will be available for both employees and non-employees.

    Project leaders say it will help fill a gap in childcare. Ted Church is the project lead.

    “We’ve seen a lot of schools, preschools and even daycares have a long waitlist, where they’re on the waitlist for eight, 10, 12 months and beyond,” Church said.

    A fact sheet from First Five Years Fund found that the demand for quality care far outweighs the supply, making access to childcare difficult.

    People involved with the new Robert and Sandra Graper Early Childhood Center hope it will change that.

    “Having great places to put your kids is one of those things that it’s just hard to keep up with, with the population growth we’ve had in this area,” Fitzgerald said.

    He said the center will create a special space where he can watch his children grow and learn, nearby.

    The center is set to open in the fall of 2026.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • First week back in school leads to hundreds of citations in school zones

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — There were nearly 700 traffic stops in school zones across Orange County during the first week of school. 

    The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said that out of those stops, deputies handed out about 250 citations for speeding, for which fines are double.

    What You Need To Know

    • Nearly 250 drivers were cited for speeding in Orange County school zones the first week of school

    • All of those fines are doubled in a school zone

    • Deputies caught drivers going upwards of 40 mph over the speed limit in a school zone


    In a video posted by the sheriff’s office, one deputy even caught a driver going upwards of 40 mph over the speed limit

    “It is alarming that a lot of people are not following the law around schools, around where children are,” said Justin Battle, a dad in Orange County.

    Drivers from last week who were cited now have to pay hundreds of dollars, which is an expensive reminder to slow down in a school zone.

    Dozens of other Orange County drivers were let go with a warning, and that’s just one week.

    “It is wild,” said Katilin Page, an Orange County mom.

    Kaitlin walks home with her son Lucas every day.

    “He loves the school. He told me he almost likes it better than the weekend,” she said.

    Lucas loves school, but he also loves the crossing guard.

    The crossing guard keeps a close eye on speeders and distracted drivers.

    “Sometimes people aren’t paying attention, and he will blow his whistle multiple times, so we feel very safe with him guiding us through the crosswalk,” Kaitlin said.

    Kaitlin said she would love to see flashing lights and even more signage near Hillcrest Elementary to remind drivers, kids are here. 

    A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office says they do increase patrols in school zones now that school is back in session and the SROs who are already there, help keep an eye on speeders and distracted drivers.

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    Sarah Winkelmann

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  • Rick Nolte, Polk County School Board member, dies

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County Public Schools announced Wednesday that Rick Nolte, the board’s District 3 member, has died.

    Nolte was elected in 2022 and was serving his first term, which was to run through November 2026.

    He had been on medical leave, according to a statement from the district.

    “Mr. Nolte cared deeply about the mission of public education,” said Superintendent Fred Heid. “As a former educator, he had tremendous respect for teachers and staff, and he admired their daily commitment to preparing students for bright and successful futures. I am grateful for the time I had to work alongside him, and our prayers remain with his family during this difficult time.”

    Nolte taught in Orange, Polk and Hillsborough counties and was a small business owner in Lakeland. He graduated from Southern College in 1978 and received a master’s from Rollins College in 1980.

    Heid said filling his board position will be addressed in the future but for is asking the community to respect his family.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Polk County school district takes steps to move forward with tax referendum

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    BARTOW, Fla. — Polk County Public Schools is joining the list of districts in the Tampa Bay area requesting a tax referendum.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Polk County School Board unanimously approved tentative ballot language to levy an additional $1 million in ad valorem property taxes for four years, which would be $1 in tax for every $1,000 of property value

    • Eighty percent of that money will be allocated to increase teachers’ salaries; 20% will go to school programming

    • Public input will be taken at the Sept. 9 School Board meeting, then the board will vote to take this to the county commission


    The district’s board unanimously approved tentative ballot language at their meeting last Tuesday that would levy an additional $1 million in ad valorem property taxes for four years, allocating 80% of that money to increase teachers’ salaries.

    The president of the Polk Education Association says this is a long time coming, and she thinks the tipping point for the school board was seeing Hillsborough County voters approve that school referendum last year.

    “As we continue to be defunded from Tallahassee from our own state government, districts have recognized that they’ve had to ask their communities to support strong, public schools,” said Stephanie Yocum, President of the PEA.

    As a former teacher and parent, she says she wants the best educators in Polk County schools but says that currently, they can’t compete.

    “Polk is so large,” Yocum said. “If you live anywhere on the perimeter of the county, we touch 10 other counties and most of the Bay area now — from Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, all the way down to Sarasota — have a millage referendum, and yet we don’t.”

    The Polk County School Board is taking steps to change that. At Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted unanimously, approving ballot language for the tax referendum, devoting 80% to salaries and 20% to school programs.

    “I think that we’ve been working on this for a minute now, and so it’s finally nice to see it coming to fruition,” said Kay Fields, a Polk County School Board member.

    Yocum thinks the community will also recognize the need and show its support.

    “If we can pool our money together and decide what’s important to our community, and that we want strong public schools everybody kicking in a little bit to make that happen so that teachers and support staff can stay and live in their community, and teach in their communities, I think that is a good use of our taxpayer dollars,” she said.

    The next step is a public meeting to finalize the ballot language — that’s on Sept. 9. Then, the board will vote to move this on to the county commission.

    The goal is to get this on the ballot this November.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • New program looks to fill air traffic controller need

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    BARTOW, Fla. — The Polk County School District is hoping a new state-of-the-art program can help fill the need for air traffic controllers in the county and nationwide.

    What You Need To Know

    • Polk County Schools introduces new state-of-the-art air traffic control program
    • The program is 10 months long and is made of academics and hands on training


    The past few weeks have been busy for students in the control tower operator program at Traviss Technical College.

    They’re learning the ins and outs of the demanding air traffic control industry. For students like Macklin Deangelo, this program has allowed him to find a career he enjoys.

    His favorite part has been stepping into the control tower.

    “Being able to look out over the airfield and a pattern that is being actively controlled, it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,“ he said.

    Bartow Executive Airport is the current home of the program. No experience in the aviation industry is necessary to enroll.

    Students like Isaiah Cruz receive hands-on training that will prepare them for a future career.

    “This course is giving me a lot of knowledge that I never knew and it’s very interesting to know all the intricate different ways you can talk to pilots and all the commands you can tell them,“ he said.

    The ten-month program includes an academics portion and simulation trainings.

    “We focus on each section of becoming an air traffic controller individually and definitely whenever the students show that they have the aptitude for it then we start trickling them up to the tower to get them live air traffic control time,” said Randy Clayton, the chief instructor of the Control Tower Operator program.

    Program leaders say this will help fill positions quicker, because typically entry-level applicants must complete several months of training and additional job experience before being placed in an air traffic controller position.

    The FAA reports a total of more than 6,000 current employees will leave the industry from now until 2028.

    Officials with the program are hoping to reduce the impact, while attracting more students to the aviation industry.

    “You got to understand a lot about this industry and about the planes that you’re working with in order to be an effective controller, “says Macklin.

    The goal is to get more eyes on the sky to keep pilots and passengers safe.

    Once students are certified they can apply to the FAA as a prior experience applicant to help place them in air traffic control positions.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Top 2 candidates vie for spot as Manatee superintendent

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    BRADENTON, Fla. — Interviews with the top two candidates for the next superintendent in Manatee County are taking place Monday, as school board members prepare to make their pick.

    This will be the School District of Manatee County’s fifth superintendent in a dozen years.

    Originally, the field was narrowed to four candidates. Now, school board members will pick between Dr. Laurie Breslin and Dr. Misty Mathis.

    Breslin is the internal candidate and currently works as the executive director of student support & family engagement for Manatee Schools. She worked her way up from a teacher and became assistant principal at Manatee High and Palmetto High before leaving to work as a principal in Sarasota County.

    She then returned to Manatee County to work in different leadership roles.

    Jill Harden used to work alongside Breslin at Manatee High.

    “I don’t think anybody would have something negative to say about her,” Harden said. “You can rarely say that about people, honestly.”

    She said Breslin was always easy to work with and has a positive attitude.

    “If you don’t understand the way the county works… you have may have a hard time dealing with the county,” Harden explained. “She is from here! So she is very aware of how the county works, and that’s why she had to go outside of the county for a little to do what they needed. She’s back – and I’m so glad she is.”

    Candidates for the superintendent position in Manatee County.

    Dr. Misty Mathis is the executive director of curriculum and instruction for Nassau County schools. She started her career as a teacher and then became principal of two separate elementary schools in Nassau County. She also worked for years as the director of exceptional student education.

    Mandy Conner, who has a daughter with special needs, says Mathis cares for people in such a deep way.

    “I’ve been in meetings with Misty and five other special needs families, and she sat on the phone with us for 4 hours to talk about each parent’s problem. That is incredible to take that kind of time after hours… to talk to your parents. Then to know she’s supporting her teachers too,” she said.

    Conner says she is very organized and has so much passion.

    “I think passion is what needs to drive anyone in an educational role, and passion is what she has,” Conner explained.

    The two candidates will take part in panel-style interviews on Monday. They will be live-streamed here.

    The candidates will also be at a meet & greet on Monday from 6:15 – 7:45 p.m. at Manatee Technical College located at 6305 State Road 70 E. Anyone in the community is invited to attend.

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    Angie Angers

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  • Manatee family worries about school safety on U.S. 19 in Palmetto

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Now that school is back in session, some Manatee County parents are concerned about the dangers of their kids walking to and from school on busy roads.

    Florida law says students who live within a two-mile radius of their school are not eligible to ride the bus. A Bay area family says their only alternative is to drive their kids to and from school every day.

    What You Need To Know

    • U.S. 19 in north Palmetto is a heavily traveled highway

    • That’s why one Manatee County family is not comfortable letting their kids walk to and from school

    • A Florida statute states that students who live less than two miles away from their school are not eligible for district transportation

    “Give them a hug and a kiss, tell them I love them, and have a good day,” he said.

    That’s how Ryan Foster and his wife start every morning on the way to dropping off their two sons at Palm View Elementary School. They say driving their kids to school is their only safe option.

    “It’s so fast right here,” Ryan said.

    He’s talking about U.S.-19 in north Palmetto. And he’s right — it is a heavily traveled highway.

    That’s why Foster and his wife don’t feel comfortable letting their kids walk to and from school.

    “And it’s busy,” he explained.

    Spectrum News/Julia Hazel

    But they can’t take the bus either. A Florida statute states that students who live less than two miles away from their school are not eligible for district transportation.

    “Shocked, really. I didn’t know that. I thought being closer to the school, yeah, it wouldn’t be a problem like that. I thought people that are closer to the school are the ones that for sure are going to be able to get on the bus,” he said.

    The family’s drive to school is a smooth ride, and the drop-off is easy.

    It’s actually later in the day when Ryan said he is more concerned — pointing out that the worst traffic on this stretch of highway is when kids get out of school.

    “I don’t even want them walking or riding their bikes to school because it’s so fast — these cars are moving,” he said.

    The situation has affected the family’s business, too.

    “I like to work till 4 or 5 (p.m.). That cuts my job by two hours. I can’t go pick them up from school, drop them off, and then go back to work,” he said.

    While Ryan and his family navigate their way through the school year, they hope the district will add a bus stop by their house.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Students enjoy living room style classrooms at Port Richey Catholic school

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    PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Did any of your classrooms growing up resemble your living room at home? Probably not, but it’s a concept Bishop Larkin Catholic School in Port Richey is taking on, and the principal says it’s actually helping students academically.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bishop Larkin Catholic School in Port Richey added living rooms to each classroom, and the principal says it’s helping students academically

    • The school provides the furniture, and teachers can decorate to make the space their own

    • The school still has traditional classrooms with desks, with a comfortable space in the back of the room


    It’s sort of like math class around the kitchen table, and all of the classrooms at Bishop Larkin Catholic School include couches, comfortable spaces and creative décor.

    “We want children parents, teachers, everyone to feel welcome here, and when we think about where we all likely feel the most valued, or the most welcomed, it’s in our homes and at home, so we wanted to recreate that for our teachers and our students here in our classrooms,” said Bishop Larkin Catholic School Principal Stacy Cervone.

    Cervone says while this is still a traditional Catholic school, these comfortable spaces have proven to be a great addition. “It’s amazing that you give the kid a couch to sit on with their book to read as opposed to sitting at their desk the whole time, it’s amazing, they are drawn to it.”

    Bishop Larkin Catholic School in Port Richey living room style classroom. (Spectrum News)

    The school provides all of the furniture for the teachers, so they can make the space their own. By having an area that feels homey, Cervone says students also feel more comfortable.

    “The teacher is always the authority, but that, you know, you’re here and I’m here, and I need to have the right answer, and I need to raise my hand, it kind of breaks that barrier down. There’s something about sitting right next to somebody on the same level as them and having the opportunity for your peers to be there also,” she said.

    Considering many students spend more time at school than anywhere else, having this space gives them a home away from home. 

    Cervone says many parents are pleasantly surprised when they see the classrooms at the school. At Bishop Larkin Catholic School, they also group the middle school classes into “houses” with their own flags, symbols and cheers. The school has children from age 3 all the way through eighth grade.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • Incentives announced for Pasco County teachers at 8 ‘Opportunity Schools’

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Paso County recently announced a package of incentives for teachers at eight designated opportunity schools this year.

    What You Need To Know

    • Teachers being incentivized to work at poorly performing Pasco County schools

    • Eligible teachers can earn up to $15,000 in incentives

    • New teachers explains why she decided to participate in incentive program

    The initiative was launched in July in hopes of filling any remaining vacancies before the start of the school year.

    The goal is to help kids succeed in school, but to do that, the district wants to bring in more strong teachers, especially at what the district calls “opportunity schools.” They are schools that have received a lower grade from the state, a D or lower.

    Shana Rafalski, assistant superintendent for Opportunity Schools, says this is a chance to help kids — and find incredible teachers. 

    “We know that the teachers of the Opportunity Schools are gonna be working really, really hard,” she said. “There’s a lot of extra scrutiny on them and so for their extra effort, we looked at the funding sources that we had that are earmarked specifically for this type of turnaround work and opted to provide all of the teachers that would qualify on some of this incentive money.”

    Teachers and schools are ranked on a state system, known as the “Value Added Model” — or VAM, for short.

    Teachers with a highly effective or effective rating on that system can receive up to $15,000 or $7,500, respectively — at a qualifying school.

    For teachers who don’t have a state score yet, there’s a different route to the benefits.

    Teachers with a district-level, three-year average rating of effective or highly effective can earn up to $4,500. And teachers with no rating can still get $2,000.

    One teacher participating in the program is Brittany Nelson, a new STEM curriculum specialist at Anclote Elementary school in Newport Richey. 

    She recently moved to the area from Illinois.

    “Having this new role as a curriculum specialist, that being able to coach the teachers and in the long run, we’re really looking for student achievement. So being able to be part of that teacher bond in that partnership with the teachers, really, pulled my attention towards that,” she said.

    Nelson says she was drawn to Pasco County school’s program not only because of the incentives, but because it recognizes the hard work and dedication that teachers pour into their jobs every day.      

    Additionally, all opportunity school teachers receive a 50% discount on several “before and after” school programs during the school year.

    There is no deadline to apply.

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    Amber Gerard

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  • Winter Haven elementary school kicks off first day with new campus

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — Students at Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven arrived at a brand-new campus on Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven opened a $50 million, brand-new campus on Monday

    • The district decided to modernize Elbert Elementary after the old campus started to show signs of age

    • The two-year construction included new classrooms, science labs, and playgrounds, and more

    • MORE BACK TO SCHOOL HEADLINES

    The $50 million campus, located next to the original building that was more than 60 years old, was made possible by impact fees and the district’s half-cent sales tax.

    Staff members cheerfully greeted students as they hopped out of cars for the first day of school. Some kids walked into Elbert Elementary’s building with ease, while others needed a little encouragement. Luckily, third-grade teacher Alexis Dewberry was able to walk her two daughters into the building.

    After working at the school for the past four years, she said she was glad to finally show them the changes.

    “They’re excited as well. As a mom, it means a lot to me being able to be in the same school with my child,” she said.

    Principal Julie Thomas said about 700 students are expected this year — double the school’s original enrollment. The district decided to modernize Elbert Elementary after the old campus started to show signs of age.

    Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven opened a $50 million, brand-new campus on Monday. (Spectrum News/Alexis Jones)

    “The original building was built in 1962, and it was experiencing some issues and it was not the best for the students and so the decision was made and the district decided we were going to redo,” Thomas said.

    The new facility features fresh classrooms, science labs, two playgrounds and more. Thomas said the project took about two years to complete. During that time, students and staff temporarily relocated to a campus in Haines City.

    Now, students get to attend school in an upgraded facility closer to home — which Thomas said she’s most excited about.

    “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. “You don’t get to open a brand-new school very often. I’ve been with the county for 35 years. This is my first time being at a brand-new, what I can call, my school.”

    Like Thomas, Dewberry is looking forward to welcoming students to a place they can call their own too.

    “It just feels good to be back home,” Dewberry said.

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    Alexis Jones

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  • Citrus County makes sure kids have an extra meal on school campuses

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    INVERNESS, Fla. — While all 67 Florida school districts are required by state law to provide breakfast and lunch on school campuses, the Citrus County School District goes one step further to fill the gap and provide more fuel for students who continue learning, interacting and performing several hours after their lunch period has ended.

    Roy Pistone, Citrus County School District’s director of Food and Nutrition Services, said the rules have changed a lot over the past 30 years when it comes to prepping meals and serving thousands of school children, but the need remains the same.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Citrus County School District has added a third in-school meal for students participating in certain after-school activities

    • The “Super Snack” is available to students participating in things like athletics, band, YMCA and numerous after-school clubs

    • Roy Pistone, Citrus County School District’s director of Food and Nutrition Services, said it is important to make sure students have the fuel they need to succeed


    “Children can learn without books, but a child cannot learn without food,” said Pistone, who also serves as the president of the Florida School Nutrition Association.

    “We have outstanding teachers here in Citrus County as well as across the state and nation,” he added. “But if a child is hungry, their attention span is very low and they will never be able to learn. So, the importance of us providing these free meals to our children is of the utmost importance.”

    In partnership with the Florida Department of Health, the district serves a free Super Snack meal to all students participating in any qualified after-school program, including athletics, band, YMCA and numerous school clubs.

    Some students eat lunch in the cafeteria as early as 11 a.m. before going back to class, but school administrators say many after school programs can run late into the evening.

    Pistone said Super Snacks are designed to be a nutritious, complete meal that is packed with protein.

    “Each one of our super snack meals has at least 19 grams of protein, which is especially important for our athletes because they definitely need a little extra protein,” he said.

    “If you have a 275-pound offensive lineman on one of our high school football teams, he needs some extra calories from what he got during lunch,” Pistone added. “Super Snacks provide our students with whole grains, vegetables, milk, fruit, and they get the whole gamut of what they need to be able to succeed.”

    He said the goal is to boost students’ brain power and energy at the end of a long school day as they transition to the next round of extracurricular activities.

    Citrus County students are required to have at least 15 to 20 minutes of academic enrichment with the meal.

    “They usually come into our cafeteria and do about 15 to 20 minutes’ worth of homework while they’re eating our Super Snack meals,” said Pistone.

    Three Bay Area school districts, Citrus, Polk and Hernando, fall under the federal government’s Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students on every campus in the district.

    Approximately 70% of students in Citrus County qualify for free or reduced meals.

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    Erica Riggins

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