Florida school cell phone ban faces pushback from parents

The big story: Florida schools have led the national charge to limit student cell phone use in schools.

Several students have told students to keep their devices off and out of sight during classes unless specifically allowed by teachers. Some children may take them off during passing periods and at lunch. Others have to wait until the final bell rings.

As expected, many students complained. In Broward County, so do parents. What is their concern? Read more from Associated Press.

Some parents are also angry about a Palm Beach County high school’s approach to preventing cell phone use, WPTV reports. The students place their phones in a locked magnetic pouch when they arrive on campus.

Popular topics

Cuts: Even after schools close, Duval County district officials project a A budget deficit of $100 millionreports Jacksonville Today. School board members ask about options to make up the difference.

Vocational training: Students from three schools in Pasco County are learning about this robotics in the operating room.

Charter schools: A growing charter school in Polk County is working with local government on plans to do just that improve the roads off campus as enrollment increases, Lakeland Now reports.

College presidents: Former state representative Mel Ponder will be the next president of Northwest Florida State Collegereports Inside Higher Education.

Hurricane recovery: Students could return to Lee County’s hurricane-ravaged Sanibel School next week, WINK reports.

Sex education: Polk County Schools did not provide sex education since 2023 pending state approval of their curriculum, the Ledger reports. The courses will not resume until December at the earliest.

Teacher shortages: Lee County’s new superintendent has been appointed filling teacher vacancies in the district as her top priority, the Fort Myers News-Press reported.

Union dues: A federal judge supported the challenge of two Florida teachers unions to a 2023 state law that prohibits school districts from deducting union dues from employees’ paychecks, News Service of Florida reports.

From the police magazine… A Santa Rosa County school district administrator has been placed on leave and is facing a law enforcement investigation following allegations that she stealing from her employer for at least two years, the Pensacola News-Journal reports. • A Hillsborough County high school student was arrested on charges of bringing an unloaded gun to schoolWFLA reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to it yesterday’s round-up.

Before you go… Thanksgiving is coming! Are you ready to make your pumpkin pie?