Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
Sakia Donaldson described a hands-on workshop that uses everyday beauty practices — including a body-scrub experiment and lessons on skin layers — to introduce girls to STEM and provide an entrepreneurial pathway.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
The board unanimously approved an agreement with EPI to continue hosting cultural‑exchange (J‑1) teachers. Members praised the program's value for English‑language‑learner (ELL) instruction while raising concerns about long‑term retention and bilingual teacher pipelines.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
The Hillsborough County School Board unanimously approved a contract addendum to adopt Magic School, an AI platform for teachers, after staff outlined privacy safeguards and board members requested biannual usage reports and a future approval step before student‑facing rollout.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
District presenters said Hillsborough County non‑charter students showed an 11‑point improvement from PM1 to PM2 in grades 3–10 combined (34% to 45% proficiency), with subgroup gains for Black, Hispanic, ELL and students with disabilities; staff linked work to targeted grants and school support plans.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
Multiple parents, students and community representatives urged the board to expand Dobie Elementary to a K–8 model to preserve continuity, citing enrollment growth and concerns about leadership changes at nearby schools.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
Superintendent Ayers announced a 90.9% graduation rate for 2024–25 (a 2.9 point increase) and the board recognized award-winning teachers and staff; the district highlighted subgroup gains and community partnerships.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
Speakers warned the board about explicit sexual content in some books remaining available in district libraries and about unregulated generative AI materials being given to students; union and staff later urged careful study of AI tools.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
The Hillsborough County School Board unanimously approved item C601, a budget and general amendment for November–December activity. CFO Jamie Lewis explained referendum timing that created temporary deficits, $9.5M in school recognition funds and major reallocations and grant receipts.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
Multiple parents and community leaders told the Hillsborough County School Board that Black and Latino students are overrepresented in suspensions and alternative placements and urged monthly public data releases, a task force, and consistent academic work for students while excluded.
Florida / School Districts / Hillsborough
Parents from Waterset and Apollo Beach urged the board to place a Dobie K–8 expansion on the capital plan or start a feasibility study, citing enrollment growth, charter spillover and projected capacity issues.