Latest news with #HillsboroughSchools
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hillsborough County schools face state pressure over books under review
The Brief Hillsborough County's superintendent is meeting with state officials this week over demands to ban certain school library books. Florida's attorney general and education commissioner said the district hasn't removed "inappropriate" books fast enough. The school board hasn't voted on the matter, but hundreds of books are now under review. TAMPA, Fla. - Hillsborough County School Superintendent Van Ayres is scheduled to meet with Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz in Miami on Wednesday. What we know The meeting follows a letter from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier demanding the "immediate removal" of what he called "patently pornographic" books from school libraries. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube In response, the school district has launched a new review of potentially hundreds of titles, a process that could cost up to $500,000, according to board members. No official vote was taken at Tuesday night's school board meeting, but emotions ran high as members and parents debated the direction of the district's approach to book removals. What they're saying Parents for the ban said the action by state officials have been a long time coming. RELATED:Florida leaders send letter to Hillsborough Schools demanding certain books deemed inappropriate be removed "It's just been a complete failure to protect kids. So that's what we've been fighting," said one Moms for Liberty parent. "I've been to probably 35 meetings and there has been zero progress in Hillsborough County." Another parent said, "Hopefully now, our state education commissioner will hold them accountable and let them explain why they haven't been following the laws." The other side Critics of the book bans argue that many of the targeted titles are not only appropriate but also vital for students from marginalized communities. "I feel like they're highlighting the worst-case scenarios," said Hillsborough parent Gianny Hunt. "Maybe that is reality for some kids. Maybe it speaks to a child who's experiencing something like that." Hunt added that some of the books flagged for removal include stories about race, immigration, and military service — narratives she says resonate with many students. The Source This article is based on reporting from a Hillsborough County School Board meeting, official statements from the district and Florida state officials, and interviews with local parents and community members. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida leaders send letter to Hillsborough Schools demanding certain books deemed inappropriate be removed
The Brief The Hillsborough School District came under fire after the Florida attorney general demanded certain books the state deemed inappropriate be removed from libraries. Uthmeier sent a letter addressed to Hillsborough school board members, identifying several books he considered "pornographic." This comes after Florida's education commissioner sent a letter to Hillsborough Schools' superintendent last week, identifying two books he considers inappropriate. TAMPA, Fla. - The Hillsborough County School District came under fire this week after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier demanded certain books the state deemed inappropriate be removed from school libraries. Big picture view Uthmeier sent a letter addressed to Hillsborough school board members. In it, Uthmeier identified several books he considers "pornographic" and wrote that the materials should be immediately removed. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "You should undertake an immediate review of your current collection to remove any additional harmful, sexualized content that has errantly been presented to students," Uthmeier wrote. "Your obligations under the constitution, state statute, and your own policies demand it. And so do I. I will monitor your actions to determine whether formal legal action by my office is warranted." The backstory This comes after Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz sent a letter to Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Van Ayres last week, identifying two books he considers inappropriate, but available in some high school libraries: 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts).' Diaz ordered the superintendent to attend the upcoming Florida Board of Education meeting and explain why the materials are still on bookshelves. Uthmeier identified several additional materials that he believes should be removed. READ: Hillsborough County Public Schools wins 'U.S. District of the Year' award What they're saying Julie Gebhards, a parental rights advocate who has worked with Moms for Liberty, applauded the move. She said she's been sharing what she considers inappropriate content from books in question on her social media accounts to try to bring attention to them. "I'm really grateful and for just the accountability that comes when someone like the attorney general of Florida is writing to your district, and you know, leaning in saying, why aren't you doing anything about this?" said Gebhards. "This is a violation of the law. That is traction that we need desperately so that we can protect these kids from really awful content." Anti-censorship advocates, including the Florida Freedom to Read Project, meanwhile, believe this is an overreach by the state. "This is now the third attempt from somebody at the state to pressure books off the shelves against those in the community. None of these books have faced formal objections. None of them have gone through a committee review process," said Stefana Ferrell, with the Freedom to Read Project. "Every community should get to decide its standards. Based on the needs and interests of the students and the socioeconomic needs of the community." MORE: Why student loan delinquencies are soaring - and credit scores are dropping The other side In a response letter to Diaz that the district provided to FOX 13 on Friday, Ayres outlined the actions taken. The superintendent wrote he directed the Library Media Services department to remove from all schools the books identified by the state as inappropriate. He also directed the department to place "under review" any other title the state has included on lists of potentially questionable material. Ayres also outlined potential policy changes to ensure the district is in compliance with state standards and statutes. The Hillsborough school district has previously said it follows state law regarding book challenges and allows any community member to do so. The books are then subject to reviews by a school committee, the school board and potentially the state. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Aaron Mesmer. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$10 Million Mistake: Hillsborough eyes legal action as Synergy fallout continues
TAMPA, Fla. (BLOOM) — Hillsborough County Public Schools approved a new student information system in hopes of ending months of turmoil caused by its $10 million Synergy rollout. A software failure that board members now say could lead to legal action. On Dec. 2, the school board voted to spend $600,000 to begin implementing Focus, a platform used by 49 other Florida districts. The board also approved $750,000 for outside consultants to help manage the transition, citing widespread frustrations from teachers, administrators, and staff who have struggled with Synergy since it launched in summer 2024. 'We are not a bank,' said board member Karen Perez. 'You will not come here and sell us a program that does not work and take our money without some ramifications.' Hillsborough Schools face major challenges with $8.5 million software rollout District officials initially hoped Synergy, developed by Edupoint, would modernize Hillsborough's 30-year-old internal systems. Instead, it created errors in attendance tracking, scheduling, and even student transcripts — with some seniors falsely flagged as not on track to graduate. Despite months of attempted fixes, teachers were still reverting to paper records and scrambling to navigate a system many described as 'unusable.' Board members, union leaders, and IT staff alike described the implementation as a crisis that disrupted day-to-day education and risked compliance with federal reporting standards. Though Focus is expected to be easier to use, the district will still need to pay for Synergy through 2025. Meanwhile, Focus is set to launch in phases, which started with scheduling tools in January 2025. The shift means Hillsborough will be paying for two systems meant to do the same job — a point of frustration among board members who questioned how the district ended up in this situation in the first place. The district also acknowledged internal missteps, including the decision to dismantle its project management office around the time Synergy was first purchased. Without that infrastructure, the rollout lacked proper oversight, which is a mistake Superintendent Van Ayres said won't be repeated with Focus. 'We cannot get this wrong,' Ayres told board members. Several board members have now openly called for legal action to recover the millions spent on Synergy. Though no formal litigation has been announced, discussions are reportedly underway regarding the viability of pursuing reimbursement or penalties for nonperformance. While only one other Florida district (Clay County) uses Synergy, Focus has become the preferred system for major districts across the state — including Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Pasco, and Palm Beach. The transition to Focus is now being supported by the tech consulting firm MGT, which the board brought on in October to triage Synergy's issues and help guide future implementations. Still, questions remain about the district's ability to effectively train staff and manage new technology. Especially given its recent history. Synergy will remain in place through the end of the school year, with Focus expected to fully replace it by August 2025. In the meantime, the district says it is prioritizing communication and staff readiness. If Focus succeeds, the district may finally move past a costly chapter in its technological evolution. But if the rollout stumbles again, Hillsborough could face deeper trust issues — and legal fallout that extends beyond software. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
