School Board Officials Respond to Graduation Rate Drop

School Board Officials Respond to Graduation Rate Drop

Officials at the Leon County School Board have responded to a Tallahassee Reports story published about a decline in high school graduation rates. The report, based on information released earlier this month by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), showed that high school graduation rates in Leon County dropped by 3.7% for 2016-17. Gillian Gregory, Assistant […]

School Board, Superintendent Proposals Head to Constitution Revision Commission

School Board, Superintendent Proposals Head to Constitution Revision Commission

Two measures that would affect Florida school boards and school superintendents are headed to the full state Constitution Revision Commission. On Thursday, the commission’s Local Government Committee approved a measure (Proposal 43), sponsored by Commissioner Erika Donalds of Naples, that would limit school board members to no more than two four-year terms in office. Currently, […]

Hanna: School Choice Caused Resegregation

Hanna: School Choice Caused Resegregation

During the October 10th Leon County School Board (LCSB) meeting, Superintendent Rocky Hanna blamed school choice in Florida for Leon County’s recent ranking as one of the five most highly-segregated school districts in the state. Hanna faced questioning from LCSB chair Georgia “Joy” Bowen on the resegregation of Leon County schools identified in a Sept. […]

State Audit Finds Leon County School Board Erred in Giving Teacher Bonuses

State Audit Finds Leon County School Board Erred in Giving Teacher Bonuses

Tallahassee Reports has confirmed with the Leon County School Board that a state audit has determined that approximately 20 teachers received bonuses that must be returned. The bonuses range from $5,000 -$10,000. The total amount expended by the error that occurred in 2017 was expected to be around $120,000. The bonuses were part of the […]

Hanna Not Happy with HB 7069

Hanna Not Happy with HB 7069

TALLAHASSEE — While not prepared to join other Florida school districts in a lawsuit against recently passed HB 7069, Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna is clearly frustrated with the new legislation. “The state is trying to destroy public education which is a cornerstone of our great nation. Without a productive education system, I fear […]

School Board Member Alva Striplin Becomes a Democrat

School Board Member Alva Striplin Becomes a Democrat

TALLAHASSEE— Leon County School Board member Alva Striplin said even though she recently changed her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, nothing else has really changed. Striplin was first elected in 2014 when she was a registered Republican. She defeated Forest VanCamp, who was also a registered Republican. As she launches her re-election campaign to […]

Leon School Board to Consider Settlement Agreement with Woody Hildebrandt

Leon School Board to Consider Settlement Agreement with Woody Hildebrandt

Tonight the Leon County School Board is scheduled to vote on a settlement agreement between the Leon County School Board and former employee Woody Hildebrandt. The agreement can be viewed here. A review of the agreement shows that the Leon County School Board will pay Woody Hildebrandt $55,000 in accrued sick leave, will not provide […]

RAA Teacher Facing Criticism Over Discussing a White Supremacy Theory in Language Arts Class

RAA Teacher Facing Criticism Over Discussing a White Supremacy Theory in Language Arts Class

A RAA middle school language arts teacher is facing criticism over an article distributed in her class about a controversial white supremacy theory. Several sources also said the teacher told her students they were welcome to come to her classroom if they chose to walk out of a class showing the inauguration of Donald Trump […]