[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6676845,"mediaKeyId","2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97","parentId",2360479,"title","Trustees press district on 1-to‑1 devices and home internet access; district to pursue partnerships","audioSeconds",239,"startMs",12392000,"endMs",12631000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97&start=12392&end=12631","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97/thumbnail_12392000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6676845/Florida/Trustees-press-district-on-1-to1-devices-and-home-internet-access-district-to-pursue-partnerships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676845-cb847666816038f3325e280d55b12f8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171117&Signature=XG7DleZf7-CyJRWMOM85w2cERXfcoLXjrnA9O6vGj6EPII84dcV4xBT8FBFjsMP6hbFwPGdGDwGoa1Sp7dLnsG50shAhtv3utmtEA0gnGNCf0q5H58rNx4AknC-LcfBJ-Jz84wCiKgXLdy3f~KUF-jQtNG87Z-DdhwMbud0Umqnu2d05ObfCtxRgbptqwPcOJzqQiSItSKhtUbHxqd3cTvAzvCc2GeadkPrqBXI8IdqOrNnUUhBND4wJZIu~tkdm0F51xI0Vs0EPH69fAjBvc07V5dwLgPhVdDJGStZOIuqevsHxVh4vbSZs7WOLLuNRnoOpT5Lix6fV-ANfmY~-2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Broward County Public Schools","date","2025-02-19T10:31:00Z","article","Board members discussed efforts to ensure students have computers and internet access for learning beyond the classroom and urged the superintendent to return with a plan and cost breakdown.

Lede: Trustees asked the superintendent Feb. 19 to pursue a districtwide one-to-one device strategy and to explore partner-funded solutions for home internet connectivity, with staff to report back on remaining gaps and estimated costs.

Nut graf: Several trustees and the student advisor stressed that inequitable home access impairs students’ ability to complete homework and participate in learning; staff said the district is pursuing device replenishment while awaiting an RFP outcome and will coordinate with partners and grants to secure low-cost or free connectivity for families in need.

What trustees requested
Trustees asked the superintendent to identify options and costs for providing devices and internet access to students who lack them. Staff said the district is already on the path toward one-to-one devices pending resolution of a vendor protest on the RFP and that current inventory should cover device needs at the start of the next school year. For home internet, staff said they will work with partner organizations and federal/state programs to match families to low-cost or free services and will return to the board with the number of students remaining and any district cost implications.

Student voice and device form factor
Student advisors and trustees discussed device preferences; staff and students noted many district-issued laptops have convertible touchscreens that can function similarly to tablets. Trustees cautioned that tablets are not always functionally equivalent to laptops for certain assignments and that devices should support the full range of classroom tools.

Cost illustration and next steps
The CIO provided a sample cost estimate for connectivity at scale (a 12-month hotspot option used illustratively showed multi-million dollar costs if the district alone funded hotspots for large student cohorts). Trustees urged staff to exhaust federal, state and philanthropic resources first. The superintendent agreed to bring back a plan that catalogs partner options, likely costs if the district must supplement, and a timetable for achieving one-to-one device distribution at school and home where feasible.

Ending: Trustees expressed general support for the goals, asked staff to prioritize students lacking access and requested a March follow-up with the number of students who still lack home connectivity and a range of options to close the gap.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Broward County Public Schools - The School Board of Broward County, Florida - Feb 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members debated proposals to ensure all students have devices and internet access. The superintendent said the district is pursuing 1:1 devices at the start of the school year and will exhaust partner options for home internet before asking the board to consider any district-funded gaps.","taxTitle","Broward, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15571,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676850,"Board adopts revised public‑comment rules after extended public input and multiple amendments",3929,4947000,8876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97&start=4947&end=8876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97/thumbnail_4947000.jpg","/articles/6676850/Florida/Board-adopts-revised-publiccomment-rules-after-extended-public-input-and-multiple-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676850-f8d4e585e5b992b4f97ac55dc4bb5710/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171117&Signature=ByV4YHli3UCW~m3N-FIBf1ivmg85TS8-BNZfXtAgJ3H1ArixYnDd6GP10Vuo8Q6K8d2cz1dnQpgCvDSqy5NX7YicPA38~nYkuAFnzGlIZx6-paPUx5LK8KGFQ5WPnlDgrOKB3nxU72bn1dE6fEiAyaEJNZHXnewE9g28tqqAeI66sdnYOEzcwovhJr5NI2McWKsely3O4HQFYeU4ZHR5C-RvKimgOCevHnGkqXToTNYsa84Zi3gzFiUk2jSZ1V4CuDRn5zQ~dTDpeHg-pMgvPxFku3C5PgUJdNs~FN8bDF21Wb~eoYdfKG4dyTd3PRIVG7oG3zXJ26gG9l6KC1abVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Board of Broward County voted Feb. 19 to adopt a revised public-comment and advisory-committee policy following two workshops, a community input session and extensive public testimony at the meeting.

Lede: Trustees approved a revised version of Policy 10.20 governing how members of the public and advisory committees address the board, setting new limits on cumulative public-comment minutes, clarifying committee-report expectations, and adding procedures for workshop agendas.

Nut graf: The item drew large public turnout and multiple proposed amendments. Speakers from parent, advisory and community groups urged the board not to curtail public participation and to provide more—rather than fewer—opportunities for input; trustees debated several specific edits to balance orderly meetings against access.

Key changes approved
- Total speaker time: The board replaced a draft that split allotted time between consent and open agenda items with a single cumulative cap. After amendments, a single speaker may not exceed 12 minutes total in a meeting, not including the routine morning/afternoon general public comment segment; speakers receive one extra minute if a motion they addressed generates an additional motion. Committee reports are excluded from the 12-minute cap.
- Committee reporting: The board adopted language that verbal committee reports should include certain specified elements (a referenced checklist) and that written reports submitted in lieu of a verbal report should include the same specifications. The board softened the mandatory language in places from “shall” to “should” to make the templates advisory guidance in practice.
- Workshops and agendas: The policy restated that workshops are for nonbinding discussion and added that the chair will seek board input on future workshop agendas. The board also clarified procedures for placing items on regular and special-meeting agendas and confirmed the chair’s authority to accept late items for “good cause” under statute.

Public and committee feedback
More than one dozen speakers urged the board to preserve or expand public comment opportunities. Advisory committee chairs and members asked that scheduling and information templates not be onerous for volunteers; several trustees agreed and adjusted the draft’s form requirements so that committee minutes or otherwise substantive material could satisfy reporting expectations.

Why trustees changed the draft
Trustees said they wanted to avoid a perception that the board was cutting off input while ensuring meetings remain usefully organized. Many members expressed interest in more transparent workshop planning and clearer guidance for committee chairs; the final motion added direction that the board receive forthcoming workshop agendas for the next two cycles so members and the public can plan attendance.

Votes and next steps
The board adopted the policy as amended after a series of roll-call and voice votes on amendments. Staff were asked to return with any technical clarifications and to implement the revised guidance, including updated forms and public notices. Several trustees urged that staff coordinate an additional community-facing guide summarizing the policy in plain language.

Ending: The debate illustrated friction between desires for broader public participation and trustees’ operational goal of keeping lengthy meetings focused. The board’s revisions attempted a middle ground by preserving in-person comment while standardizing committee reporting and workshop planning.","After two rule-making workshops, a community meeting and a long public-comment session, the Broward School Board voted Feb. 19 to adopt a revised policy governing public speaking, committee reporting and advisory processes — including changes to time rules and reporting templates — with several amendments approved at the meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676854,"Board debates finance reports and audit findings amid questions on fund balance and bookkeeping",0,6379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97&start=6379&end=6379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97/thumbnail_6379000.jpg","/articles/6676854/Florida/Board-debates-finance-reports-and-audit-findings-amid-questions-on-fund-balance-and-bookkeeping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676854-a9d15dfbcdfb4cf22b86f2943ef082c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171117&Signature=Y9EJWoO~ow~yAMBfYHDgmI9ta2TWMKXsbnvI2b0dKdvK6lAPvBvJ-6LegXBVLclOVsWKH~UzFRt3ihJp~pIuC5V1ObJl9Pt4jBCMsAjRoueIJCVNK-40ckqe2H~SDdDW9rygJX9Q9QQjso5jdncGNC6ov~FkfQjXzIlnRKYzaIlpUyTfvbzO0wiNbD4d5OQ1oak~grfq6FlWz6jqf8swBbqLuQmDCE~PfS9fJstYT2afdZdy9VsE5K8obMUjdHk~4~X1Ebio8m1UTGCHVExgappGqchzTaDAA1gXo4weF7nSC3~BSPfR-EnUuXzGwZO3yuZhM-eiirLutfMJ3k4DCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees on the Broward County School Board pressed the district’s chief financial officers and audit staff Feb. 19 about fund-balance reporting, when and how adjustments are recorded, and whether financial statements properly reflected long-running items such as the charter school settlement.

Nut graf: The board’s audit committee had transmitted the annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) to the full board with a divided vote; several trustees and committee members said they wanted more clarification about how interest on the charter settlement was recorded and whether the presentation affected the fund-balance calculation that the state uses to assess statutory minimum reserves.

What trustees asked
Multiple trustees asked for a simple timeline and clearer labels showing whether reported fund-balance numbers were interim “cash flow” snapshots or the legally relevant June 30 unassigned fund balance. One board member urged staff to stop reporting interim fund balances as if they were the legally defined end-of-year metric because the state’s 3 percent requirement is based on the June 30 unassigned fund balance. The chief financial officer told trustees that the district was in compliance and that the ACFR presentation places certain accrued items in districtwide financial statements rather than the fund financials—which, staff said, is why some adjustments did not reduce the fund balance below the 3% threshold.

Charter settlement accrued interest and material presentation
Members of the audit committee asked whether accrued interest on a charter school settlement was properly presented in fund financials or only on districtwide statements; one auditor said including it in the fund financials could have shown the fund balance below 3% if booked differently. The CFO and lead auditors said they had conferred and that the district’s recognized approach followed applicable accounting guidance for government-wide statements; the committee requested further explanation and the CFO agreed to return with more detail.

Questions about budget amendments and timing
Trustees raised concerns that some budget amendments are not consistently presented to the board and that the district sometimes does not receive the state’s final funding calculations until late in the fiscal year; the CFO said that when budget amendments are required they are and will be presented and that the district is still awaiting the third calculation from the state.

Audit committee concerns
The audit committee’s report, transmitted with some dissent, documented items such as vendor reporting and contract administration concerns identified during an audit of graduation cap-and-gown purchasing and related controls, as well as internal-fund bookkeeping issues. Staff and external auditors described prior recommendations, what had been corrected, and remaining items the committee wished to follow up on.

Board direction and next steps
Trustees asked the superintendent and the CFO to provide clearer, standardized fund-balance presentations (with June 30 unassigned balance annotated) and to return with the additional detail requested by the audit committee about the charter settlement accrual, budget amendment timing and potential implications for the fund balance. The CFO said an updated explanation and supporting schedules would be provided to the board and to the audit committee in follow-up meetings.

Ending: Several trustees complimented the CFO and superintendent on improvements to the finance packet and encouraged quick follow-up so board members and the public can better interpret operating cash flow versus the legally defined fund balance at year-end.","Trustees pressed district finance leaders and external auditors about the district's fund balance, recording of the charter-school settlement interest, and timing of budget amendments during a lengthy discussion of the audited comprehensive annual financial report and related budget items.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6676856,"Broward school board upholds short suspensions after contested personnel hearings",1028,1481000,2509000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97&start=1481&end=2509","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2360479-75ddb230029eb700a9c4ba55fe573a97/thumbnail_1481000.jpg","/articles/6676856/Florida/Broward-school-board-upholds-short-suspensions-after-contested-personnel-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6676856-40ab56a6e0c75156a4425ad7e156a3d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171117&Signature=VbWoMNAQg-~BOUL77cSdQO41Ze6VsycqfkwNnXDuIpBCvkKWYf7L-xl1bwEm396i4KYAXGmzLzKp5H5pB6WIOABKqHNJ9SzignGlyPUbq7g-jOW~Hgp~WdxnK4jHHB1Xrpxu0CkC2jKmeGHJaMMDfaVnvfLZP5A~IIv6D1JvGl~wUcLFt4eKwt~XtC8rzBYOJ70bvVIGvZYUmCrM5TuAOdnWYyZPgu-mXJK~Z2ZoG5kPyDFXuX2gctf5OVCTt8gQm5qQe1Zv2IsiUA8EXi-uwkY5hBogI86zD1gUSX52GreN5mC4eus8MgskP-keaFem45OzXjyEhRKA-mXkoi7A0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Broward County School Board voted on three personnel-discipline items Feb. 19, approving recommended short suspensions in each case while several board members urged further review of processes and timelines.

Board members debated the recommended three-day suspension for an assistant principal accused of encouraging students to fight in a cafeteria (item C1), a three-day suspension for staff who lost sight of an ESE student who left a classroom (item C2), and discipline for a teacher accused of snatching a ball and shoving a student (item C3). The board approved the superintendent’s recommendations and moved the matters that will be subject to the established administrative appeals process where applicable.

Why it matters: These were formal personnel complaints that triggered investigations and, in some cases, the right to an administrative law hearing. Board members pressed staff on investigative timelines, prior discipline, the distinctions between on-site corrective actions and PSC (Professional Standards Committee) referrals, and whether the written findings adequately reflected context that could affect discipline outcomes.

The C1 hearing — assistant principal accused of egging students to fight
The board considered a superintendent recommendation for a three-day suspension of an assistant principal after an investigation concluded she told students “go ahead and fight, you’ll get nine days.” Several board members questioned whether the statement’s intent might instead have been to warn students of consequences for fighting; others pointed to prior incidents involving the same administrator and video evidence of aggressive behavior as justification for the recommended sanction. The superintendent’s counsel and the district’s chief people officer told the board the recommendation reflected the superintendent’s view after investigation. The assistant principal had requested a hearing through the Division of Administrative Hearings; the board’s action moves the matter forward through that appeal process. The motion to move forward with the recommended discipline passed 8–1 with Dr. Jeff Holness recording the lone vote against the recommended three-day suspension.

The C2 hearing — staff supervision when an ESE student left a classroom
Board members asked whether the recommended discipline matched past practice when a student, described in the report as an ESE student, exited a classroom unnoticed and remained away for a prolonged period. The district’s director of professional standards said historically three-day suspensions had been issued for leaving a child unsupervised; the board presssed for additional details about the supervising staff member’s assignment and the proportion of ESE students in that classroom. The board approved the superintendent’s recommendation; staff said they would follow up on role assignment and monitoring.

The C3 hearing — alleged snatching and shoving by a teacher
Board members reviewed an investigation that concluded the teacher snatched a ball from a student and shoved the student. Several trustees asked whether district de-escalation guidance had been followed and whether staff training or calling for additional administrative support would have been an expected protocol. The teacher had requested a hearing; the board approved the superintendent’s recommended discipline and the matter will proceed with the employee’s right to appeal intact.

Process and timeline concerns
Multiple board members expressed frustration that investigations and formal complaints can take many months to reach the board, complicating both accountability and due process. Some trustees urged clearer timelines and more transparent indicators of where a case sits in the disciplinary pipeline so the board and public understand whether an item is an initial site-based action or a PSC-level matter. Several trustees also emphasized the special sensitivity when ESE students are involved and discussed possible monitoring or probationary follow-up when staff interact physically with students who have communication or behavioral disabilities.

What happens next
Where employees filed appeals, the matters will proceed to administrative-hearing processes before an administrative law judge; the board will later review recommended orders after the hearing process concludes. In matters without an appeal, the board’s action will be recorded in personnel files and any further internal follow-up will be administered by the superintendent’s office.

Ending note: The board repeatedly framed its role as reviewing the superintendent’s recommended discipline and reminded members that employees retain the right to challenge discipline through the statutory administrative hearing process. The board voiced interest in improved case-tracking and clearer categorization of site-based versus PSC cases going forward.","The Broward County School Board voted on multiple personnel discipline items Feb. 19, approving short suspensions and moving other cases to administrative hearings after board debate about intent, timelines and precedent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Trustees press district on 1-to‑1 devices and home internet access; district to pursue partnerships

Board adopts revised public‑comment rules after extended public input and multiple amendments

Board debates finance reports and audit findings amid questions on fund balance and bookkeeping

Broward school board upholds short suspensions after contested personnel hearings