The big story: Some Tampa Bay schools are taking a new approach to helping improve students’ mental health.
They’re adopting a more welcoming model that officials say will give students the opportunity to take a pause and recalibrate before situations get out of hand.
The nonprofit coalition Tampa Bay Thrives is partnering with schools to create “wellness rooms.” So far, four campuses in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have benefited from the support, with more to come.
“The sooner we can help them learn (coping mechanisms) in high school, the better they can perform and achieve. Then, the better adults they’ll be,” Brandon High principal Allison Wright said. Read more from Tampa Beacon.
In other student wellness news, the Escambia County school district is launching a new drug diversion program in three high schools, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.
Cellphones: The Hamilton County school district updated its student cellphone use rules, including a rule that all emergency calls be made through the school office, WCTV reports.
Charter schools: Some Hillsborough County parents scrambled to find a new school for their children after a judge agreed that their children’s charter school must shut down for safety concerns, WFLA reports.
College expansion: Private universities are expanding their footprints into new cities and states around the nation. One highly watched initiative is bringing a campus of Vanderbilt University to West Palm Beach, the New York Times reports.
Enrollment: Okaloosa County school district officials say the district faces a $4 million shortfall after enrollment missed projections by 452 students, primarily in kindergarten, Get the Coast reports.
Pay raises: Florida A&M University president Marva Johnson announced 4% raises for faculty and staff, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.
School mergers: Some Marion County parents are criticizing the school district’s proposal to consolidate two nearby schools, saying it could cause transportation problems, WCJB reports.
Security: The Flagler County school district is exploring the addition of more security cameras and the installation of weapon detection systems as part of its ongoing effort to improve campus security, WESH reports. • A St. Johns County mother says she’s afraid to send her son back to school after he was attacked on a school bus, WJXT reports.
Teacher discipline: A Polk County teacher was reprimanded but kept her job after a mother complained that the teacher sang a racially insensitive birthday song to her child, WTSP reports. • An Alachua County teacher who is accused of demeaning a student for his conservative views faces an administrative hearing in January that could determine whether the teacher keeps her state certification, WCJB reports. • Florida education commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas has filed a complaint against a Clay County teacher who wrote on social media that he hopes “the unvaccinated die quickly,” Florida’s Voice reports.
From the police blotter … A Pasco County teacher was arrested on accusations of second degree homicide in the death of her child. • A St. Lucie County middle school student was arrested on allegations of making a hoax bomb threat to a school, TC Palm reports. • An Escambia County elementary school custodian was arrested on allegations of attempting to lure a child for sex, WEAR reports.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Before you go … Sisters Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar perform live on stage together for the first time.
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 by clicking here.