Influence

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Education is big business. These are stories about the politicians, businesses, lobbyists and other leaders seeking to impact education decisions.

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May 14, 2012

Columnist: Gov. Scott’s Panel Will Sell Out Higher Education

Stephen Goldstein, writing in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, opens up both barrels on Gov. Rick Scott’s plan to overhaul the state’s higher education system. Scott has appointed a panel, but Goldstein says the recommendations are already written: Sell out state universities and turn them into glorified vocational institutions. The real solutions are simple, he writes:

FAMU’s Marching 100 Will Stay Sidelined

Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 band will stay sidelined indefinitely. FAMU President Dr. James Ammons told the FAMU Board of Trustees this morning that the band’s suspension will continue through the 2012-2013 school year. The trustees met via teleconference. Their focus was last November’s hazing death of drum major Robert Champion and whether the suspension […]

May 8, 2012

Search Begins For Florida Polytechnic Trustees

Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland is ready for its own Board of Trustees. Gov. Rick Scott has launched a national search for thirteen trustees that will govern Florida’s 12th public university. It turns out applicants can live anywhere. They don’t have to be in Florida to serve. “We must have a globally competitive education system […]

May 7, 2012

Governor Creates Task Force To Reform Florida’s University System

Gov. Rick Scott has created another task force. It comes on the heels of his new public safety panel charged with examining the Stand Your Ground law. This one will concentrate on reforming the State University System. Scott says the Blue Ribbon Task Force on State Higher Education Reform will look at how the State […]

May 1, 2012

Five Reasons Why Gov. Rick Scott Believes Florida Polytechnic “Makes Sense”

Gov. Rick Scott says his decision to approve Florida Polytechnic University “makes sense.” In an interview with WUSF radio, Scott provides his defense: 1. It focuses state resources “where the jobs are right now” – STEM (science, technology, engineering and math.) 2. “It will pay off ” by producing more STEM graduates. 3. “It’s the […]

Florida Boasts National Green Ribbon Schools

The U.S. Department of Education has recognized three Florida schools for their environmental efforts. Learning Gate Community School in Hillsborough County, Pine Jog Elementary School in Palm Beach County, and TERRA Environmental Research Institute in Miami-Dade County were named 2012 Green Ribbon Schools. Receiving the national recognition was no easy feat. These schools had to […]

April 30, 2012

No Layoffs At USF Poly For At Least A Year

The University of South Florida may be closing its Lakeland campus, but those employees will have jobs for at least another year. That’s according to USF president Judy Genshaft, who says employees will stay on staff until at least July 1, 2013. Some employees left a meeting last week worried they may lose their jobs […]

School Board May Mandate Faculty Watch the Film “Bully”

Florida politicians and school officials watched the documentary film Bully over the weekend. The Vice Chair of the Miami Dade School Board, Lawrence Feldman, was at the screening, hosted by the United Teachers of Dade. And watching the film caused him to send a text message while he was in the theater. “Its to my […]

April 24, 2012

Mack: Floridians More Concerned About Jobs Than Student Loans

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Florida Republican U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack downplayed the importance of student loan interest rates during an interview with MSNBC this morning. President Barack Obama and Democrats are trying to make rising college debt a campaign issue, including student loan rates and […]

April 20, 2012

Five Ways Gov. Rick Scott Could Make His Florida Polytechnic Decision

Gov. Rick Scott is in a tough position when it comes to signing or vetoing legislation that would create a Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland independent from the University of South Florida system. The decision is due Saturday, but the Lakeland Ledger and others have reported Scott will announce his decision today. The consequences for […]

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