Big story: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has increasingly used biblical references that evoke images of war in an effort to appeal to conservatives.

DeSantis and his supporters have portrayed their efforts as a battle between good and evil.

And schools are at the center of much debate. Please check this out for details.

DeSantis has recently taken his message on the go, as he encourages his followers to beat the “elite,” according to a report by The 74.

hot topic

School boundaries: Hillsborough County School District officials are considering whether to redraw attendance zones to balance enrollment numbers.

sex education: The Duval County Board of Education has delayed adoption of sex education materials amid concerns it may not meet new state requirements, reports WJXT.

Gender lessons: A plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s new law on how gender identity is taught has asked the court to lift a suspension on the state’s ability to seek information from defendants, Florida News Service said. are reporting.

access: Some Pasco County parents are urging schools and county officials to provide safer ways for their children to walk to school after thousands of shuttle buses were scrapped. reports Bay News 9.

Teacher payment: A newly approved deal has raised basic teacher salaries in Duval County to $48,700, reports the Florida Times-Union. The deal will affect thousands of teachers as the first few years of the pay scale are the base.

budget: The Palm Beach County Board of Education has approved a budget that will lower property tax rates and boost income, reports The Palm Beach Post.

Other school news

An elementary school in Leon County has joined the ranks of magnets. It will be incorporated into the district’s International Baccalaureate program, reports the Tallahassee Democrat.

The Board seeks to strengthen its nursing programs. Lawmakers have poured millions of dollars into initiatives billed as employee affairs, reports Health News Florida.

Some Osceola County students conducted science experiments on the latest Blue Origins space mission. The project has suffered an “anomaly” that has doomed all payloads on board, reports WKMG.

The Miami-Dade County Board of Education has denied students participation in a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by a gay playwright. Over the past few years, students have participated in performances. Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago wrote that district officials have not explained the change in position.

The Broward County Board of Education may stop paying legal bills for suspended members. Some of the money was used to try to prevent the publication of the scathing grand jury report, Sun-Sentinel reports.

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From the police notebook… Gulf County Board of Education Chairman Dennis McGron has been arrested on suspicion of stalking, according to the Port St. Joe Star newspaper.

From court records… A former Palm Beach County teacher has been sentenced to three years in prison for forcing an underage student to have sex in a school closet, The Palm Beach Post reports. • Escambia County mother accused of accessing her student records to help her daughter win Homecoming Queen.

Don’t miss the story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s recap.

Before you go… This is a story from nearly 50 years ago. And it’s still great.

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Get updates every Thursday on what’s happening in schools in the Tampa Bay area. Times Educational reporter Jeffrey S. Solocheck. Click here to sign up.