Schools & Kids
Thursday, June 11, 2026 · Tavares
South Sumter Middle School Students Build Fire Training Dollhouses for County Firefighters
South Sumter Middle School construction students built five training dollhouses for Sumter County Fire & EMS. Firefighters demonstrated fire behavior by burning one structure while students observed with thermal imaging cameras.
Montverde Academy Students Earn 99 AP Scholar Awards
Ninety-nine Montverde Academy students earned AP Scholar awards following spring exams, with 16 achieving the program's highest distinction as National AP Scholars.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
UF Eyes $500M Engineering Boom to Tackle Florida Tech Shortage
The University of Florida is pushing for $500 million in state funding to expand engineering facilities, aiming to supercharge STEM education amid Florida's booming tech sector. The proposal targets workforce gaps in high-demand fields like data science and advanced manufacturing. With Gainesville at the epicenter, UF's multibillion-dollar building spree could reshape the state's innovation landscape.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Florida Senate OKs Bill Capping Teacher Tenure at 4 Years
In a bold move to elevate classroom performance, the Florida Senate has passed legislation limiting teacher tenure to just four years while mandating merit-based evaluations. The measure, aimed at statewide public school gains, reignites a decade-old debate on accountability versus job security. Backed by GOP leaders, it heads to the House amid teacher union pushback.
Thursday, June 11, 2026