Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Federal judge backs 'best and brightest' settlement

Federal judge backs 'best and brightest' settlement

A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement that calls for the state to pay $15.5 million in a class-action lawsuit alleging discrimination in the controversial “Best and Brightest” teacher-bonus program. The lawsuit has focused on a decision by state lawmakers to partly base Best and Brightest bonuses on teachers’ scores on SAT and ACT college-admission exams. More from WPEC and CBS Miami.

DeSantis and teacher union at odds on how to best compensate teachers

Florida is near the bottom of the nation when it comes to teacher pay. Governor Ron DeSantis wants to change that by raising the base salary. But the state’s largest teacher union says the governor’s plans don’t go far enough. DeSantis’s proposal would raise the base salary for teachers from under $38,000 to $47,500. He says that bump will move Florida to among the top states when it comes to teacher pay. [Source: WUSF]

Bank of America, Raymond James to pay $12 million for college fund overcharges

Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) and Raymond James Financial Inc (RJF.N) will pay roughly $12 million in restitution to customers who incurred excessive fees on investments meant to help their children afford college, a U.S. regulator said on Wednesday. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority said Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch unit will pay at least $4 million and two Raymond James units will pay $8.03 million. [Source: Reuters]

Florida school districts remain among nation’s largest

Florida’s enrollment overall has seen increases in recent years, and its 14 total districts in the Top 100 account for more than 2 million students. The Sunshine State still pales in comparison to Texas, though, which has 21 districts on the list, including nine that more than doubled in enrollment since the 1987-88 rankings. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida Virtual School needs new board, new ethics standards, state education department says

The troubled Florida Virtual School should get a new governor-appointed board, new ethics standards for employees and a new inspector general inside the school to oversee internal audits and investigations, according to a report released Friday by the Florida Department of Education. The recommendations are in response to a scandal that rocked the virtual school last year when its former General Counsel Frank Kruppenbacher resigned amid accusations of improper behavior and spending. [Source: ]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami Dade College is spending $60M to rescue a downtown architectural masterpiece.
Three years after taking possession of Miami’s grandly historic but long-vacant federal building, Miami Dade College is nearing completion on the initial phase of a massive $60 million renovation that will return the 1933 Neoclassical masterpiece to public use.

› State Board prepares to adopt rule for full-time adjunct teachers
With concerns over a teacher applicant shortage still strong in Florida, the state is preparing to offer school districts another path to fill its classrooms — the full-time adjunct instructor. Districts long have had the ability to employ part-time adjuncts, who need not meet the same credentialing as contracted employees and do not fall under the same pay and benefit structure as if they were represented in collective bargaining.

› University of North Florida program would place students in health care jobs
The State University System Board of Governors Strategic Planning Committee approved the University of North Florida’s plan to create a Medical Nexus, or MedNEX, the nation’s first university-based health care network. The committee approved the proposal Oct. 3. Upon approval by the Board of Governors, the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis would need to sign off on it.

› University of Florida to sell alcohol at men’s basketball games
The University of Florida will begin selling alcohol at men’s basketball games, the school announced Monday. Only beer and wine will be available at select concession areas of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The pilot program will start with Tuesday’s home opener against North Florida. The move comes just months after the Southeastern Conference amended its policy to allow the sale of alcohol at athletic events.