DISC Village, Legal Services of North Florida, Tallahassee Senior Citizens Foundation Set to Receive Funding

DISC Village, Legal Services of North Florida, Tallahassee Senior Citizens Foundation Set to Receive Funding

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 Launches Online Homework Hub

Leon County Launches Online Homework Hub

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 […]

DeSantis Releases Civics Education Plan

DeSantis Releases Civics Education Plan

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 […]

Florida Jobless Rate Falls to 4.8%

Florida Jobless Rate Falls to 4.8%

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, […]

Weekly Report Ending March 14th: Leon COVID Cases, Positivity Rate, and Hospitalizations Down

Weekly Report Ending March 14th: Leon COVID Cases, Positivity Rate, and Hospitalizations Down

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, […]

Three Leon County Elementary Schools Among the “Lowest 300”

Three Leon County Elementary Schools Among the “Lowest 300”

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 […]

School Board Approves Decrease In Teacher Evaluations for 2021

School Board Approves  Decrease In Teacher Evaluations for 2021

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 […]

House Panel Targets School Board Pay

House Panel Targets School Board Pay

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, […]

RJ Camarda, Former Maclay School Teacher, Dies at 93

RJ Camarda, Former Maclay School Teacher, Dies at 93

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, […]

County Commission Approves Discretionary Funding Levels for 2022

County Commission Approves Discretionary Funding Levels for 2022

The Leon County Board of County Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Maximum Discretionary Funding Levels for outside agencies during its meeting on Tuesday. The agenda item involves the establishment of funding levels for the Community Human Services Partnership (CHSP), Commissioner Office Budgets and non-departmental categories, including special events. Discretionary funding levels must be finalized […]