News & Public Affairs
FAST assembly addresses citizen's concerns listen
04/08/08 Jamie KidderWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: religion, drugs, affordable housing, education
Faith and Action for Strength Together (FAST) is a Pinellas County faith-based orginization that works toward community justice.
FAST held its annual Nehemiah Action Assembly in Largo last night, where local community leaders, members of law enforcement and local government officials were invited to answer questions about issues that FAST members feel should be addressed.
The topics included education, affordable housing and crime. Members of FAST asked a series of yes-or-no questions t...
Be the first to commentParents push schools to go green listen
04/01/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Hillsborough County Schools, education, MaryEllen Elia, Linda Saul-Sena, recycling, Candy Olsen
A group of environmentally conscious parents and educators has formed in Hillsborough County to encourage schools to go green. This Environmental Improvement Force met today to share their accomplishments and ideas for upcoming initiatives with Hillsborough County Public Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia.
The Environmental Improvement Force met at the Jan Platt Library in South Tampa. Leslie Farrell, chairman and founder, described the group's mission.
“We’re a nonpolitical, nonpro...
Be the first to commentPalm Beach schools sued over minority graduation rates listen
03/31/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: education, graduation rates, ACLU, civil rights
Low graduation rates, especially among minority students, in the School District of Palm Beach County have led to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Muslima Lewis is a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida and director of their Racial Justice Project.
Today, WMNF spoke with Lewis about the lawsuit and about the high school graduation rates in Palm Beach County and in Florida.
Learn more:
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Be the first to commentReport: Florida falls short on education investment listen
03/31/08 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Last month, the chief economist for former Gov. Jeb Bush released a report that shows Florida falling behind from other states in attracting high-wage jobs because of its lack of investment in education and inadequate linkage between schools and economic development.
Economist Antonio Villamil, who worked for the former governor, says Florida ranks 46 among the 50 states in combined state and local spending for public schools. His report was commissioned by the United Teachers of Dade Coun...
Be the first to commentDeclining demand for teachers in state’s schools? listen
03/24/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Education
Because of state budget cuts and declining student enrollment, some of the largest school districts in Florida are expected to hire fewer teachers this fall than they have in the recent past. This follows years of increased recruitment due to a chronic shortage of teachers in the state.
Andrea Zahn is director of communications for Pinellas County Schools. She says the county expects to hire about 100-200 fewer teachers this fall. Student enrollment is projected to be lower next year in P...
Be the first to commentACLU meeting focuses on racial justice listen
03/12/08 Jamie KidderWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: ACLU, Race, Felon's Rights, Education, Civil Liberties
The Tampa ACLU held a meeting on racial justice at the John F. Germany Library in Tampa yesterday. The speakers touched on subjects pertaining to racial injustice, such as felon disenfranchisment and educational inequality.
The Florida ACLU is one of the fastest growing ACLU affiliates in the nation, with local chapters in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Gainsville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Pensacola.
The Tampa chapter of the ACLU has been involved with a number of events in the area...
Be the first to commentUpdate on higher education budget cuts
03/10/08 Ryan IacovacciWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Education
Good Evening and welcome to the University Update, a new weekly segment providing a diverse perspective on the rather convoluted world of higher education here in the state of Florida and the Tampa Bay area.
Florida is currently dealing with a major budget deficit, and lawmakers plan to make drastic cuts soon. The 11 public universities have been requested to take a $350-million cut, calling into question the priority and quality of higher education.
Administrators at USF are taking...
Be the first to commentBoard of Governors opposes amendment proposal listen
03/04/08 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Education
A day after a legislative committee approved a bill that could cut more than $90-million from state universities and colleges, the State Board of Governors announced today it will fight hard to stop a proposal to be introduced in the Legislature this week that the Board says will severely impact its influence and the quality of higher education over all in the state.
At issue is a proposed constitutional amendment that would strip the board of much of its power, including its authority to ...
Be the first to commentClass size task force meets in Tampa listen
02/25/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday
Tags: class size, education, Hillsborough County School District
This fall, school classrooms across the state must meet strict class-size limits mandated by a constitutional amendment that Florida voters passed in 2002. But several groups, including the state Legislature are looking at ways to usurp the constitutional mandate and make the class size rules more flexible.
A Class Caps Community Task Force meeting was conducted by Hillsborough County Schools this morning in Tampa.
The class-size reduction amendment sets a limit of no more than 18 stud...
Be the first to commentPlan to teach evolution approved with caveat listen
02/19/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: evolution, science standards, education, intelligent design, Board of Education, Donna Callaway, Roberto Martinez, John Stemberger, Ed Homan
Florida’s Board of Education today approved new standards for teaching science in kindergarten through 12th grade. The Board voted 4-3 to approve the science standards that for the first time include the word "evolution."
Late Friday, an alternative to the proposed standards was suggested that added the term “Scientific Theory of” throughout the standards before the word “evolution” and “Scientific Theory of” or “Law of” before other scientific concepts. This was to appease some members of...
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