During their March 9 meeting, the County Commissioners approved the proposed maximum discretionary funding levels for outside agencies for Fiscal Year 2022. Besides the main benefactor of the ordinance, the Community Human Services Partnership (CHSP), other agencies and events will also receive funds for future endeavors. Provided below is a description of the three agencies […]
Leon County recently launched Homework Hub, a brand-new online educational resource. Homework Hub is a voluntary after-school initiative offered by the Leon County Public Library System that connects students in kindergarten through eighth grade with one-on-one tutors through Zoom. Rick Minor, Leon County Commission Chairman, said the new online educational resource will assist students in […]
Relying on federal coronavirus relief funds for schools, Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing to spend $106 million to bolster civics education, including offering bonuses to teachers who complete training. During a news conference Wednesday in Naples, DeSantis announced what he’s calling the “Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative.” Part of the plan would direct the Florida Department […]
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — Despite the leisure and hospitality industry still struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate continues to improve as vaccinations increase and people return to the workforce. The state Department of Economic Opportunity reported Monday that Florida’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.8 percent in January, […]
TR’s weekly report (March 8 – March 14) on Leon County COVID cases, hospitalizations, and testing positivity rates is detailed below. TR’s March 7th weekly report can be reviewed here. The weekly COVID report, ending March 14th, shows decreases in new cases, the positivity rate and hospitalizations. Since the middle to the end of January 2021, […]
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has declared Oak Ridge Elementary, Hartsfield Elementary and Pineview Elementary to be three of the “Lowest 300” performing elementary schools in the state. FDOE lists the schools based on three-year averages for achievement on state exams in English language arts, and increases in exam scores over those years. The […]
At the March 9th Leon County Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners approved an agreement with Marpan Recycling to maintain the County’s single-stream recycling program’s sustainability. For fiscal year 2022, the proposed contract with Marpan is anticipated to result in an upswing in conservation costs by about $80,000. “As discussed during the Nov. 17, […]
During the March 9th Leon County School Board meeting, the board unanimously voted for the approval to decrease the amount of required formal and informal evaluations for teachers during the school year. Deana McAllister, the Labor and Employee Director and Equity Officer for Leon County Schools, made the case that teachers have been under additional […]
By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida TALLAHASSEE — After debating whether county school board members should be paid, and if ending salaries would threaten diversity on the boards, a House panel took a first step Friday toward letting voters decide the issue in 2022. The Republican-controlled House Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee, […]
On March 10 of this year, there was a funeral mass for the late Russell Joseph Camarda, better known as “RJ” by his friends, familyand peers. In his home, with his family by his side, RJ Camarda passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 at the age of 93. Camarda was born on June 1, […]