Wife and mother Carlene Meloy left the Pinellas County school district nine years ago for a teaching job with Florida Virtual Schools. There were some trade-offs, but after four years “I don’t think I would ever go back.”

When Carlene Meloy answers her front door on a recent weekday afternoon, she looks like any other stay-at-home mom in blue jeans and a T-shirt.

Husband Chris is away at work. In a few hours, their two kids will be home from school. Until then, a barefoot Meloy juggles laundry and dinner with her other job as a teacher at Florida Virtual School.

“I can grocery shop in the morning,’’ she said, and be back in front of her computer in time for a 1 p.m. high school leadership class. If her daughter, Camryn, needs to go to the community center for a theater class, “I can use the Wi-Fi’’ to stay connected to students.

It’s that flexibility that convinced Meloy, 38, to leave the local school district four years ago and work for the nation’s largest online education program.

Meloy is among a growing number of educators across the country that has discovered school choice is an opportunity not only for parents and students, but for teachers, too. No longer are their options defined by school boards or unions – or traditional school calendars.

Today, teachers willing to embrace choice and, maybe, take a bit of a risk, can find satisfying careers in charter schools, private schools and online education. The bonus: a job that gives them more of a say in customizing lesson plans, including ones that adhere to personal religious beliefs; and access to cutting-edge technology that, to some extent, allows them to set their own schedules.

“Now that I look back, I realize I felt stuck,’’ Meloy said of her old job, where she often had to rush from her fourth-grade classroom to take her son, Cole, to baseball practice. “I really do not have the stress that I did in a brick-and-mortar school.’’

Florida Virtual is a free public school. It was founded in 1997 by homeschool parents and educators in Central Florida. Back then, there were seven teachers. A decade later, there were 424. Today, there are nearly 1,500, working with 149,000 students.

FLVS doesn’t track whether teachers come from private schools or districts, spokeswoman Tania Clow said. But the program continually attracts interest. Depending on how many positions are available in a given year, applicants may number as high as 20,000, she said.

Carlene Meloy’s planner shows how she balances her personal life with her work schedule.

Making the leap to Florida Virtual was scary, at first, Meloy said. She had always dreamed of being a teacher back in Indiana, where she grew up playing school with cousins whose parents were educators.

After graduating from Ball State University, Meloy moved with her husband to Florida. She briefly taught at a private elementary school before signing on with the Pinellas school district – where she worked for nearly a decade and thought she would stay.

But when her sister-in-law went to work for Florida Virtual, Meloy, a mother now, was intrigued.

“She said, ‘the kids are awesome and they can work at their own pace,’ ’’ recalled Meloy, who liked the idea of not having to rush through assignments. Then there was the flexible schedule: “You always, as a working mom, try to find that balance with your kids and job.’’

Meloy obtained credentials in health and physical education. Florida Virtual hired her at about $42,000 a year to start. She had been making about $41,120 when she left the district.

Meloy is bound by an annual contract. Like her district counterparts, she undergoes yearly evaluations, which are based in part on student test scores. But FLVS reviews include student feedback.

Training at FLVS is ongoing. As a new teacher, Meloy went to Orlando for four days of orientation followed by seven weeks of online meetings with trainers. She also was partnered with a “content buddy,’’ another teacher who acted as a mentor of sorts for about a year. In the district, Meloy recalled one day of training “and that was mostly about insurance,’’ she said.

Full-time FLVS teachers typically have 175 students, depending on the course, Meloy said. At a traditional high school teaching an elective, she might have six periods with 30 to 40 students each.

Unlike traditional school teachers, though, FLVS instructors are available to students from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Teachers can adjust their schedules as long as they meet students’ needs, said Meloy. She works about 40 to 45 hours a week and allows students to contact her as late as 11 p.m.

About two years ago, she became a mentor at FLVS and now oversees 65 teachers and 30 students. She also switched subjects, moving from P.E. and health to leadership development, an elective that helps students build confidence and leadership skills.

From her FLVS-issued computer, Meloy’s students can see her but she can’t see them. “What I love,’’ she said, “is that you have no judgment. You don’t know the clothes that they’re wearing, what color their skin is. There are no walls built up.’’

She connects with them through the sound of their voice, through the words they write. Often, she said, it’s on a deeper level than when she was a traditional teacher. “It’s amazing how well you get to know them,’’ Meloy said.

Most of her students text her if they need help – “email is for grandma,’’ she joked. Meloy checks in with the kids and their parents at least once a month via telephone.

Carlene Meloy’s home office is next to her kitchen, where she keeps her schedule posted so everyone in her family can see when she’s working.

During a recent class, Meloy worked near her kitchen in a small room painted apple green. Above her desk was a bulletin board with her weekly schedule. That’s for her benefit and to remind her family when she is working.

Class sizes typically are small. On this day, Meloy’s leadership class has only two students, who usually have a different teacher.

“Hi there,’’ Meloy greets them warmly. “Can you hear my voice?’’ Both students signal they can with a little smiley face emoticon, then set about the lesson creating their personal brand. First they identify the logos of some well-known companies.

“Everyone knows what Apple is,’’ one student instant-messages. When they move on to their brands, the other writes: “I am honest, trustworthy and respectful.’’

Meloy guides them to support each other’s writing with compliments. When the class ends about 20 minutes later, she commends them: “I’m going to tell both your teachers how amazing you were.’’

Although Meloy loves her job, she acknowledged some downsides. It’s still tough striking a reasonable work-life balance. She also misses some of the hands-on projects and experiments she got to do in the district. Her elective doesn’t call for such assignments, but other FLVS courses, like chemistry, do.

Still, Meloy said, the trade-offs add up in her favor: “I don’t think I would ever go back.’’

Teachers unions. The rise of Fedrick Ingram, new president of the the Miami-Dade teachers union. Miami Herald.

Teacher conduct. Ocala Star Banner: “Teacher suspended for bonk with a banana.”

Dual enrollment. A mandate that school districts pick up the tab for dual enrollment students is putting districts in a tough spot. Fort Myers News Press.

Rick Scott. The governor must decide on several high-profile education issues, including virtual school funding and the future of state-mandated tutoring for low-income students, reports News Service of Florida. He’s going to veto a proposed tuition hike, reports the Times/Herald.

School atmosphere. A Palm Beach County School District investigation finds an elementary school torn apart by a feud between the principal and a school board member, reports the Palm Beach Post. The Florida Commission on Ethics dismisses two complaints against the board member, including one filed by the principal, the Post also reports.

Bullying. State officials work with the Walton County school district to combat bullying, reports the Northwest Florida Daily News. Pasco Superintendent writes in this op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times that bullying prevention is a moral imperative.

School closings. Citing cost concerns, Manatee plans to close a small high school for struggling students. Bradenton Herald.

School zoning. Extra Credit: Some Palm Beach County  parents zoned out of an elementary school are on a list to maybe get back in.

School spending. Pinellas is cutting up to 115 ESE classroom aide positions, reports Gradebook. After the latest audit turned up several problems, the Polk school district decides to increase the number of schools audited every year, reports the Ledger.

School safety. It’s worth considering whether the sheriff’s office should take over school security from the Palm Beach County school district, reports the Palm Beach Post. The Post also reports that district and law enforcement officials are worried about a slew of recent school bus crashes.

Testing. A few hundred seniors in Treasure Coast school districts are at risk of not graduating because of poor scores on the FCAT. TCPalm.com.

Kiera Wilmot. She talks to Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

PTA. A PTA president at a Pasco school is charged with embezzling the group’s funds. Tampa Bay Times.

Private schools. The Tampa Bay Times lists the valedictorians and salutatorians at Pinellas private high schools.

Magnet schools. Polk plans to boost arts instruction at a Lake Wales middle school. Lakeland Ledger.

Grit. Wracked with cancer, a senior at Dixie Hollins High in Pinellas strives to graduate. Tampa Bay Times.

Students with disabilities. The public school transfer option that comes with F-rated ESE centers isn’t opening up good choices for disabled students. Orlando Sentinel.

Pre-K. Duval plans to add more pre-K classes. Florida Times Union.

STEM. Middle school girls are the focus of a science summit organized by the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Bradenton Herald.

Class size. Have Manatee’s really been too small? Sarasota Herald Tribune columnist Tom Lyons.

Texas: House lawmakers approve a plan to expand charter schools statewide (Associated Press).

Pennsylvania: The state’s director of open records says  charter schools are the No. 1 violator of the law (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review). Philadelphia public school officials recommend closing Discovery Charter School due to a dispute over enrollment caps and other concerns (NewsWorks). The School Reform Commission approved the renewal of five charter school contracts, with all agreeing to abide by a new enrollment cap (The Notebook).

Louisiana: State Superintendent John White warns of the fallout from the recent Supreme Court ruling on voucher funding, revealing the state needs to find an extra $29 million for the current school year (Times-Picayune). White also contends that the ruling will result in a $12 million refund for the public school system (Shreveport Times). More from Education Week. Charter Schools USA and National Heritage Academies look to build four charter schools in the Lafayette Parish (The Advertiser). The education department received applications for more than 100 charter schools (Times-Picayune).

Ohio: Lawmakers introduce a bill that would require Columbus schools’ property-tax dollars be shared with charters, and give the mayor the power to sponsor charter schools (Columbus Dispatch).

Maine: Democrats push bills that impose a moratorium on virtual charter schools and require charter schools function as nonprofit organizations (Bangor Daily News). More from the Kennebec Journal. The Education Committee votes along party lines to reject virtual schools (Portland Press Herald). Gov.  Paul LePage wants to allow colleges and universities to authorize charter schools (Maine Public Broadcasting Network).

Florida: A magnet elementary school is considering becoming a charter school to save arts and music classes from district budget cuts (redefinED). A bill that won approval on the last day of the legislative session will open up public school funding to private virtual schools (Tampa Bay Times). Duval County Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says he miscalculated the impact that funding for charter schools would have on next year’s school budget (First Coast News).

Alabama: Gov. Robert Bentley wants a two-year delay on private school tax credit scholarships (Associated Press). More from the Birmingham News. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh vows to reject the tax credit delay (Montgomery Advertiser).

Illinois: School superintendents join forces with lawmakers to propose a one-year moratorium on new virtual charter schools (Daily Herald). United Neighborhood Organization charter schools relies heavily on funding from the state and loans, a newspaper analysis finds (Chicago Sun-Times).

Washington, D.C.: Charter schools turn to a relatively new concept in education - crowdfunding - to help raise dollars for facilities (Washington Post).

Minnesota: Educators want to allow Minneapolis Public Schools to operate more like charter schools (Minnesota Public Radio.)

California: Nine more San Fernando Valley district schools may convert to affiliated charters, which allows them to continue receiving district services (Daily News).

New York: For the third year in a row, there are more than 50,000 families waiting for a seat at one of the city’s public charter schools (New York Daily News). Charter school operator Eva Moskowitz is firing another salvo in her ongoing war with Democratic mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio (New York Daily News). The Bronx has 24,647 families applying to charter schools - the most of any borough in the city (New York Daily News). When a community learned that its Ukrainian Catholic school was closing, an independent Catholic school was born (Auburn Citizen).

Maryland: School board receives seven charter school applications, including two for all-girls schools and one for an all-male college prep program (The Baltimore Sun).

Oklahoma: Proposed legislation would allow public school districts the same ability as charter schools to opt out of some state mandates (Tulsa World).

Delaware: The Senate passes a school choice bill that creates a uniform system for school choice applications, making the process easier for parents to navigate (Associated Press).

Nevada: Gov. Brian Sandoval wants to give tax breaks to Nevada businesses that donate to tax credit scholarships for low-income children to attend private schools (Associated Press).

Wisconsin: Republican lawmakers push to expand school vouchers statewide – beyond what Gov. Scott Walker recommended (Wisconsin Public Radio). A recent poll shows voters are split on vouchers with 48 percent in favor of expansion and 44 percent wanting to end the program (Fox 11). School vouchers help boost student performance (Wisconsin Reporter). A voucher advocate, who helped Wisconsin become the first state in the nation to have a school voucher program, blasts Gov. Scott Walker’s plans for expanding it (Journal-Sentinel).

Indiana: Ball State University pulls its sponsorship of five charter schools (State Impact).

Utah: Charter schools will get more scrutiny now with new evaluations on finances, academics and governance (Salt Lake Tribune).

South Carolina: The Senate prepares to tackle school choice proposal this week that would give parents tax deductions, depending on whether their children attend private school, are homeschooled or go to a public school that’s outside their regular zone (The State).

North Carolina: A renewed attempt to funnel more money to charter schools is likely put to bed for the legislative session (Winston-Salem Journal).

Montana: Lawmakers failed to pass a bill calling for tax credits or any public money for private or  charter schools, but they say they’re not giving up (Billings Gazette).

Connecticut: Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ’s year-old education reform program appears out of danger concerning loss of support in the upcoming two-year budget (New Haven Register).

The debate over a private learning option for poor schoolchildren in North Carolina has a familiar ring to it because Florida faced similar fears a dozen years ago. But a targeted and accountable scholarship can strengthen our commitment to equal educational opportunity by giving more tools to the students who face the greatest odds.

Don’t trust me, a lifelong progressive Democrat and former teacher union president who now leads the nation’s largest scholarship program for low-income students. Look instead at the track record in a state with a scholarship that is similar to the plan being offered by a bipartisan coalition of N.C. House members. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship can provide at least a few answers:

The scholarship serves the students who struggle the most. Scholarship opponents say that the most disadvantaged students are the most likely to remain in public schools. But the experience in Florida is just the opposite. As the state’s independent researcher noted in the latest report: “Program participants tend to come from lower-performing public schools prior to entering the program. Likewise, as in prior years, they tend to be among the lowest-performing students in their prior school.”

• These same students are making solid academic progress. According to the results of their nationally norm-referenced tests, these students who were losing ground prior to choosing the scholarship are now achieving the same gains in math and reading each year as students of all income levels nationally. “In other words,” said the latest report, “the typical student participating in the program gained a year’s worth of learning in a year’s worth of time.”

• Traditional public schools are not hurt financially. One N.C. community organizer recently wrote: “At their core, vouchers are about taking public money and giving it to private schools.” But in Florida, five different independent agencies over the past decade have reached the same conclusion: The scholarship saves tax money that can help public schools. That’s because the scholarship is substantially less than the cost of public education, and most of its recipients would have otherwise attended public school. The Florida Revenue Estimating Conference pegged the savings this year at $57.9 million.

• The poorest families are empowered. Several N.C. educators have suggested a $4,200 scholarship would leave too much of a tuition gap for low-income families, and a higher scholarship would certainly improve the program. But Florida has a $4,335 scholarship that serves 51,000 students this year whose average household income is $23,579 – or just 6 percent above poverty for a family of four. The reality is that, for scholarship students, many private schools discount their tuitions or write off the difference together.

As a teacher who once helped create the first International Baccalaureate high school in Florida, I understand how educational choice programs can create angst among those who teach in other schools. But this is not about competition. It is about a partnership that recognizes the value of customizing public education, of giving students as many opportunities to find the learning environment that works best for them.

In Florida, state-sponsored research has shown that the more a public school has children participate in the program, the higher the learning gains are for the children who remain at that public school. This program has helped increase the performance of traditional public schools.

The kind of polarized debate that often surrounds private scholarships tends to obscure our common educational objective. Public education is a collective commitment to each new generation, and nowhere is that pledge more vital than to children who struggle with poverty. To be sure, these scholarships are no miracle cure. But for underprivileged students who are struggling, a different approach can sometimes turn around their lives.

Parents aren’t the only ones driving the expansion of school choice. Growing numbers of teachers and principals are opting for alternative settings, too.

Their voices should be a bigger part of the education debate. So, beginning Monday, we’re rolling out an occasional series of stories simply called, “Teachers and Choice.”

The stories aren’t hard to find, especially here in Florida. A full 43 percent of students in the Sunshine State now attend something other than their zoned schools. A slew of teachers are now teaching them there. In charter schools alone, the number of teachers has doubled in the past five years – to more than 10,000. Over the same span, the number in Florida Virtual School has tripled – to nearly 1,500.

One of my favorite high school teachers spent 30 years in public schools but now heads a private school in Jacksonville. When U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio visited a Christian school in Tampa the other day, he spoke to teachers who migrated from public to private. On the phone this week, I talked to a teacher in Tallahassee who switched to a charter despite less pay. The freedom to be creative, she said, more than made up for it.

The subject of Monday’s feature by redefinED’s Sherri Ackerman is Carlene Meloy, who works for Florida Virtual. I won’t spoil it by disclosing details, but this quote serves as a nice tease: “Now that I look back,” she said of her old school, “I realize I felt stuck.”

Just like parents, teachers offer myriad reasons for their choices. Along with the benefits, there are complications, tradeoffs, and unknowns. We’ll do our best to explore them.

You can help us. Let us know if you see issues in this realm that are worth spotlighting, or teachers and principals worth profiling. We also welcome guest posts that further this conversation. You can reach me at rmatus@sufs.org, and Sherri at sackerman@sufs.org.

Private schools. The principal of Seminole High in Pinellas is leaving to take the top job at Indian Rocks Christian. Gradebook.

Charter schools. Funding for charters, vouchers and tax credit scholarships figure into Duval’s budget considerations. First Coast News.

Kiera Wilmot. Mom: “We’ve been a living a nightmare.” Orlando Sentinel.

Teachers unions. FEA files a motion for rehearing on dismissed SB 736 suit, reports Gradebook. Fedrick Ingram, the new president of the Miami-Dade teachers union, is sworn in, reports the Miami Herald.

Teacher conduct. The Broward County school district should have stopped a middle school teacher from having sex with one of her students, the victim’s family alleges in a lawsuit. Miami Herald.

Teacher pay. The Tallahassee Democrat follows the email trail between the FEA and Gov. Rick Scott’s office over the shape of teacher pay raises in the waning days of the legislative session.

School boards. The Palm Beach County School Board is at odds with one of its members and Superintendent Wayne Gent over where to put an all-male choice academy. Palm Beach Post.

School spending. Manatee Superintendent Rick Mills says layoffs are coming. Bradenton Herald, Sarasota Herald Tribune.

School districts. Who’s high performing? Gradebook.

Grade recovery. Duval Superintendent Nikolai Vitti wants to do away with a program he says is too easy and creates unnecessary paperwork for teachers. Florida Times Union.

There are endless reasons why parents consider charter schools, but here’s a fresh one from Florida: The local school district is neck-deep in financial problems.

Karen Carpenter

Rowlett Magnet Elementary, a popular A-rated school in Bradenton, is caught in a districtwide crisis that has resulted in a spending freeze until July and threatens to leave administrators little choice but to drop programs to cut costs.

Instead of losing classes devoted to drama, film-making and music, Rowlett’s leaders are vying for a shot at running the school independent from the Manatee County school district.

“I really can’t say that I blame them for wanting to leave,’’ school board Chairwoman Karen Carpenter told redefinED this week. “They want some determination over their future.’’

Many of the district’s problems appear to be self-inflicted. Superintendent Tim McGonegal resigned last fall as questions mounted over accounting errors that led to a $3.4 million budget deficit. A scathing audit later concluded a lack of oversight was part of the problem. A citizens’ advisory group pointed to dysfunction on the school board.

Florida is no stranger to charter conversions, with 20 district schools making the leap since the first one in Lake County in 1997. If its charter application is approved, Rowlett would become the first conversion school in Manatee, though, where 4,500 of the district’s more than 44,000 students attend one of 12 charter schools.

The school is in an “exploratory and fact-finding phase’’ right now to determine if the conversion is a viable option, according to a prepared statement from the Manatee County school district.

Conversions aren’t easy. Teachers and parents have to vote on the switch, with a majority of parents taking part in the vote. Support must come from a majority of teachers and a majority of parents.

The school’s advisory committee chairwoman has already asked in writing – as required by law - for Rowlett’s principal to start the balloting process. The vote is set for this month.

If the proposal succeeds, Rowlett officials would have to formally apply to the district, showing a separate governing board, curriculum outline and a financial plan that illustrates how the school will remain solvent.

The district would have to sign off on the whole thing.

“I would be sorry to see them leave our system,’’ Carpenter said. “But that would be their choice. ’’

And although the top priority is helping students, the proposal might help the district, too, she said, as it grapples with the fallout of poor financial management, including state intervention.

The matter hasn’t come before the school board for discussion, yet, but Carpenter said she felt her colleagues would judge the proposal fairly.

With a daughter running a charter school in Boston, Carpenter said she knows enough to be open-minded, but cautious. One of her worries: whether a private management company would be involved.

“I’m a little biased,’’ said Carpenter. “I’m not too keen on the for-profit charters. I like having a local school board with local governance so there is some control over what goes on.’’

Her other concern is what happens in the future, when the children of parents pushing for this conversion move on to middle and high school?

“What happens to their engagement and involvement … ?” she asked. “I’ll be very interested in how they constitute their governing board.’’

Rowlett’s principal, Brian Flynn, could not be reached for comment. According to the Bradenton Herald, he told parents during a recent meeting that his staff’s financial security was his biggest concern.

Under a charter, he said, Rowlett’s approximately 75 teachers would continue to be public employees, enrolled in the district’s retirement program and offered benefits plans that were “competitive if not better’’ than what they had with the district.

Kiera Wilmot. Prosecutors won’t file criminal charges against the Polk County student who has become a cause celebre after igniting a small chemical explosion on school grounds, reports the Lakeland Ledger. Beth Kassab says the arrest took things way too far. In the aftermath, neighboring Orange will get clarification on its zero tolerance policies, reports SchoolZone. Huffington Post op-ed: “Five ways to stop a black scientist.”

Online learning. Privatization, everywhere. Bradenton Herald.

School choice. A private transportation option – at $1,350 annually per student – has emerged for students in Brevard’s district choice schools, reports Florida Today.  The Palm Beach County school board is urged to move ahead with plans to create an all-boys middle school, reports the Palm Beach Post.

School administration. Pinellas Superintendent Mike Grego shuffles the team at the top. Gradebook.

School uniforms. The Volusia school board plans to again discuss the possibility – for students and teachers. Daytona Beach News Journal.

School closures. Brevard school board members reaffirm their decision in the face of continued opposition. Florida Today.

Testing. Superintendent Tony Bennett says the state will decide by the end of June on an FCAT replacement. SchoolZone.

Gay Straight Alliance. After months of hurdles, the group finally holds its first meeting at Carver Middle School in Lake. SchoolZone.

Rick Scott. He’s got key decisions to make on several education bills. News Service of Florida (subscription required).

Tony Bennett. News Service of Florida asks him about Common Core and relations with the FEA. (Subscription required.)

Here’s something important about charter schools that mostly is overlooked: When it comes to facilities, they tend to be pretty modest.

Many have smaller classrooms than traditional public schools. And many don’t have libraries, or computer labs or adequate kitchens.

A new survey of charter schools in 10 states highlights what charters face in terms of facilities – and why, perhaps, charter advocates in states like Florida are seeking recurring sources of money for those needs.

Put together by the Charter School Facilities Initiative, a joint effort by the Colorado League of Charter Schools and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the survey did not include Florida. But there’s little doubt that many charter operators in the Sunshine State will identify with the findings:

• In each of the surveyed states, at least 60 percent of the charter classrooms were considerably smaller than those in district schools.
• Fewer than 50 percent have a kitchen that allows the school to prepare meals on site and qualify for free, federally-funded meal programs.
• Many middle and high school charters don’t have access to gyms. In Tennessee, 53.3 percent of them don’t have access. In Indiana, it’s 50 percent.
• In almost every state, a majority of charter schools don’t have at least one specialized instructional place, such as a library, computer lab or music classroom. In Indiana, 71.4 percent of charters lack a library. In New Jersey, 60.6 percent don’t have a computer lab. In Texas, 56.2 percent don’t have an art or music room.
• Charters, on average, spend more than 10 percent of their operating budgets on facilities instead of using the money for hiring additional teachers or purchasing curricular materials.

The report offers some ideas for states to help charter schools with capital funding, including creating a state grant program and/or loan program for charter school facilities. Washington, D.C.’s loan program totals more than $30 million. Another possibility: states could give charters equal access to tax-exempt bonding authorities or a charters-only bonding authority. Connecticut has provided public charter schools with $20 million in bond financing for facilities.

Florida charters didn’t get the recurring funding they wanted this legislative session for construction and maintenance. Lawmakers did agree to a one-time $91 million – $36 million more than last year – but with 203,000 students and 579 charters, supporters said it’s still not enough.

Gov. Rick Scott approved the allocation last week.

Teacher evals. Governing looks at whether teachers unions in other states will file suits similar to Florida’s.

Teacher conduct. A veteran Broward County teacher is suspended for 13 days without pay for allowing an “overly permissive” classroom environment in which, among other things, she talked about her sex life. Her reassignment to a school for at-risk kids prompted a board member to ask, “How long are we going to continue to pay people to fail kids?” Miami Herald.

School spending.  Hernando projects a $4 million budget deficit, reports the Tampa Bay Times. Pinellas should be getting $37 million more next year, reports Gradebook. The Flagler school board considers cutting paraprofessionals in an effort to fill a budget gap, reports the Daytona Beach News Journal. Broward is considering outsourcing its facilities department, reports the Miami Herald. The Volusia school board votes to outsource custodial services for an estimated savings of $30 million over five years, reports the Daytona Beach News Journal. The Miami-Dade district auditor says a health care firm may have overbilled the district more than $1 million, the Herald also reports.

School choice. Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning talks about expanding district choices. Tampa Tribune.

Rick Scott. The Republican Party of Florida unveils two ads supporting the governor’s education record. StateImpact Florida.

Jeb Bush. The next Foundation for Excellence in Education summit will be in Boston in October. EdFly Blog.

Zeros. The Broward school board drops the idea of nixing zeros for grading purposes. South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Student discipline. Pinellas is setting up a special team to deal with chronically disruptive students, reports Gradebook. The Polk school board hasn’t decided what to do with Kiera Wilmot, a teen who ignited a chemical explosion on school grounds, was later arrested and has since spawned a massive online petition campaign in support of her, reports the Lakeland Ledger. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Superintendents. The St. Lucie school board names six finalists, reports TCPalm.com. The Polk school board will pick its new super next week, reports the Lakeland Ledger. A lawsuit between Clay Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. and the school board has been settled, reports the Florida Times Union.

School boards. Hillsborough board member Candy Olson is stepping down, after 20 years, once her term ends next year. Tampa Bay Times.

Testing. A district investigation in Collier finds staff members at an elementary school didn’t act inappropriately with an FCAT prep test. Naples Daily News.