K-8 schools emerge as popular alternative as Florida districts close campuses

The big story: As they cope with low enrollment at some campuses, districts across Florida have explored closing and combining schools.

It’s rarely a popular move, as evidenced by strong community pushback in Duval and Broward counties.

One way to mollify some of the upset has been to offer families something they like as an alternative. Increasingly, the kindergarten through eighth-grade (K-8) model has become a popular choice.

The Pinellas district recently made that move as it prepares to merge two of its nearby elementary schools in Largo. Now the Pasco district is doing the same for three of its schools in New Port Richey. Read more here.

K-12 hot topics

Book bans: A coalition of publishers filed suit against Florida, contending its 2023 law regarding school book challenges violates First Amendment rights.

Financial literacy: A bank and an education training group have partnered to offer new financial literacy curriculum to Florida schools, Florida Politics reports.

Pay raises: Volusia County school support personnel reached a contract agreement that would provide raises to more workers, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports. Administrators also are to receive pay hikes approved by the school board. • Santa Rosa County school support employees protested their lack of raises while all other district workers got one, the Press-Democrat reports. • Clay County teachers concluded contract talks that include $4 million in additional money for salaries, Clay Today reports.

Security: Student absences spiked at a Palm Beach County elementary school amid concerns about a parent’s antisemitic comments got him banned from the school, Palm Beach Post reports.

Speed zones: The city of Fort Walton Beach is considering whether to add cameras to school speed zones to help with enforcement, WEAR reports. • The city of Hialeah Gardens is launching a new initiative to help catch speeders near schools, WSVN reports.

From the police blotter ... A campus monitor at a Pinellas County high school was arrested on accusations of sexual battery against a 15-year-old female student, WTVT reports. • A Leon County high school student was arrested on allegations of bringing a loaded gun to campus, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

In higher ed

University of Florida: The university has fired at least six of Ben Sasse’s political hires since his departure from the president post, the Gainesville Sun reports. Sasse has come under criticism for his spending while leading the school.

Rollins College: The school plans to open a 300-bed dormitory in 2026, WFTV reports.

Lake-Sumter State College: President Heather Bigard unexpectedly resigned effective immediately, the Daily Commercial reports. Bigard recently had been placed on administrative leave.

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Before you go ... The ukulele is so underrated, isn’t it?