USF goes for the big score with $340M stadium project

| 12/28/2023

USF goes for the big score with $340M stadium project

In 2021, Will Weatherford -- who had just been appointed to the University of South Florida's board of trustees -- asked around about creating a football stadium for the university. Leaders at USF told Weatherford, managing partner of Tampa-based investment firm Weatherford Capital that the stadium idea had been bandied about before. But for a variety of reasons, it never got far. Weatherford, now chairman of the USF board, decided to push for the university's first football stadium for the Bulls. [Source: Business Observer]

A four-day week for some high school students? Broward is discussing the idea

The reason: The school district’s most academically successful high school, Pompano Beach High, offers classes four days a week, Monday to Thursday. Students still attend the number of hours required by the state each week, but they do that by going to school more than 8 ½ hours per day, instead of the typical seven hours for students in other high schools. [Source: Source]

Streamlining school spending

Whether it’s teachers buying school supplies or grant recipients of government programs, the compliance requirements to ensure funds are used for the right purpose create friction and thwart the speedy implementation of good intentions. The problem led him in 2014 to create ClassWallet, a platform for purchasing and reimbursing public funds. [Source: Florida Trend]

It’s not just Florida. Book bans are on the rise across the country

When a Fox News debate between governors Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom entered its education portion, DeSantis pulled out a prop: a page from the book Gender Queer, which he said was “pornography” aimed at children. The memoir, which is about the author coming out as nonbinary, isn’t just targeted in Florida: it’s the most banned book in American public schools. In the past two years, 41 states and 247 school districts have implemented bans. [Source: South Florida SunSentinel]

Meet the 10 finalists vying for Pinellas County teacher of the year

The finalists were picked from a group of 132 nominees who were scored by a panel of judges from the district’s Teaching and Learning and Professional Development departments. The finalists then participate in interviews before a winner is announced in a ceremony on Jan. 22 at Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida Keys schools now part of the Silver Knights Awards honoring high school seniors [FLKeysNews]
High school seniors in the Florida Keys will be eligible to participate for the first time in the annual Silver Knights Awards, the Miami Herald and el Nuevo competition that recognizes both academic excellence and commitment to students’ schools and communities.

› Amid statewide education issues, South Florida superintendents reflect on 2023 challenges [WTVJ]
Reviewing the year in education statewide does not necessarily align with the year in education in South Florida.

› FIU institutes a 'pause' in hiring Cuban, Chinese researchers as law goes into effect [WLRN]
Florida International University has instituted an immediate “pause” in hiring individuals from several countries, including China, Cuba and Venezuela. The freeze is due to a law passed earlier this year meant to combat “countries of concern” infiltrating the higher education system.

› Which 10 Northeast Florida elementary schools lead U.S. News rankings? [Florida Times Union]
Jacksonville Beach Elementary School is heading into the new year ranked No. 1 out of 4,212 public elementary schools in Florida rated by U.S. News & World Report

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