A former substitute teacher, who gained national attention last year when he said he lost his job over an accusation about practicing wizardry, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Pasco County School Board. Jim Piculas claims in the lawsuit that school officials damaged his reputation by making false accusations about his teaching abilities. ...more

January 28, 2009

The $825 billion stimulus package taken up today by Congress would pump millions into Hillsborough County schools and revive plans administrators put on hold as the economy soured. If the package is approved as previously crafted, the school district could gain $143 million in federal aid during the next two years. The money could be used for technology upgrades and school renovations, among other needs. ...more

January 28, 2009

Palm Harbor Elementary School will pass into history with the end of the 2008-09 school year. The school's building on 15th Street, however, may live on as a center of education. Steve Christopoulos, principal of the Plato Academy, in Clearwater, says he is interested in opening the charter school's second location in the former home of Palm Harbor Elementary School. ...more

January 24, 2009

Buoyed by a decision at Coleman Elementary School not to install a cell tower on campus, parents at Pride Elementary in New Tampa are mobilizing to get one removed. ...more

January 21, 2009

Buoyed by a decision at Coleman Elementary School not to install a cell tower on campus, parents at Pride Elementary in New Tampa are mobilizing to get one removed. ...more

January 21, 2009

If given a choice, would Hillsborough County school employees choose layoffs and salary cuts to help close a multimillion-dollar deficit, or would they take a few days off without pay? ...more

January 17, 2009

If given a choice, would Hillsborough County school employees choose layoffs and salary cuts to help close a multimillion-dollar deficit, or would they take a few days off without pay? As the head of the teachers union put it, it's like asking, "Would you rather cut off your right arm or your left leg?" But the district wants their input. School officials circulated a survey to 25,000 employees this week, asking for their thoughts on the grim options they're considering to save as much as $55 million. ...more

January 16, 2009

If given a choice, would Hillsborough County school employees choose layoffs and salary cuts to help close a multimillion-dollar deficit, or would they take a few days off without pay? As the head of the teachers union put it, it's like asking, "Would you rather cut off your right arm or your left leg?" But the district wants their input. School officials circulated a survey to 25,000 employees this week, asking for their thoughts on the grim options they're considering to save as much as $55 million. ...more

January 15, 2009

Five Pinellas County elementary schools will close at the end of the current term and four middle schools will combine into two, school officials decided Tuesday. ...more

January 14, 2009

Pinellas County school officials this morning are expected to discuss and likely vote on unpopular cuts to their budget for the 2009-2010 school year. Faced with a need to slash $69 million to $82 million, they have acknowledged drastic action is the only way to balance the financial numbers. ...more

January 13, 2009