Nearly Half of Manatee 3rd-Graders Can't Read at Grade Level: FCAT

Manatee third-graders trailed the state in reading and math scores on the FCAT, with about a quarter at serious risk of being held back.

Slightly less than half of Manatee County's third-graders read and perform math at or above grade level — at 49 percent, according to FCAT results released Friday. About a quarter of the third-graders scored a "1," the lowest score on reading and math exams, which means they are at serious risk of being held back. Scoring on the third-grade FCAT is numbered from 1 to 5, with 3 the minimum for students to be considered at grade level. In Manatee schools: There were several standout schools in the county. Anna Maria Elementary topped Manatee elementary schools, with 86 percent of third-graders reading at or above grade level, and 80 percent meeting or exceeding standards in math. At Williams Elementary, 70 percent of third-graders were at or…

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Teacher Layoffs Detailed at School Board Workshop

Employees receiving layoff notices for next school year include all first-year teachers.

Up to 182 teaching positions and 80 administrative posts are being eliminated under a financial recovery plan that Manatee Schools Superintendent Rick Mills detailed at a school board workshop Monday. (See attached pdf document outlining the district's presentation at the school board workshop.) The tough measures will yield a projected $20 million in savings that the school district needs to balance its budget and meet requirements for reserves through the 2013-14 school year. "The school district must restore financial stability, so that it can move forward in serving children and compensating employees," according to the district's statement in the workshop document. The Bradenton Herald is reporting that teachers targeted by the cuts …

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Sophia

9:22 am on Friday, May 24, 2013

I don't have children either Al, but this is about jobs, not who does or doesn't have children. Children without education through grade 12 will not contribute to society. It's not about being selfish, it's about supporting your community. About teaching values to children not to have them grow up thinking everything is someone else's responsibility. "Extra activities" are a separate issue, the …   more ›

Teachers Layoffs Protested by Parents, Kids

As Manatee School District prepares to lay off staff, parents and kids turn out for a sidewalk protest.

As the Manatee County School Board met Monday afternoon, parents and students stood outside to show their support for teachers at risk of losing jobs to budget cuts. Bradenton.com estimated that 100 people showed up for a rally to protest plans to eliminate teaching positions to fill a budget gap and restore depleted reserves. A robo-phone message went out to families last week about the impending cuts. The rally started after school Monday outside the Manatee School District building, 215 Manatee Ave. W. Get the Bradenton Patch newsletter delivered to your email for free.

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LRHS Orchestra Teacher Hangs Up Baton After 44 Years

Lakewood Ranch High School student blogger Tyler Gordon has the scoop on a longtime orchestra teacher who's saying goodbye.

Manatee Schools Ordered to Freeze Spending

Superintendent Rick Mills puts a hold on new hires, purchasing and overtime.

Manatee County School District has put a hold on new spending, with overtime, hiring and purchases halted at least until July 1. Superintendent Rick Mills is urging more fiscal responsibility, as the district is unable to meet mandates for reserves. All requests must go through the district's finance director, Angela Fraser. The austerity measures are needed, as the district's reserves have fallen to $100,000, well below mandates from the state. According to the Bradenton Herald, Mills said: "These measures should reduce our spending between now and the end of the fiscal year." Get the Bradenton Patch delivered to your email each day.

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The Latest News From Lakewood Ranch High

The students of Lakewood Ranch High School News are blogging on Patch about the school's world record attempt and Wednesday's Faculty Awards Night.

Patch welcomes the students of Lakewood Ranch High School News, who are now sharing the latest school happenings in their blog on Bradenton Patch. Check out the latest headlines from LRHS: Mustangs Need One More Try for World Record, by JoAnna De La Cruz LRHS SGA Prepares Faculty Awards Night, by Bianca Odoardi Sign up for the Bradenton Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight to your inbox so you won't miss a thing!          

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Manatee Eyes Teacher Layoffs

Schools must be ready to lay off staff, in order to meet budget requirements, school leaders say.

Manatee County schools need to fast track plans to cut staff, reduce spending and build reserves, which have fallen way below state requirements. The Bradenton Herald is reporting that Superintendent Rick Mills' transition team is recommending that the district move forward to reduce personnel to meet budget requirements. A detailed plan is expected by June 1, with the consolidation to be in place by July 1. School leaders expressed hope that most of the cuts can be done through attrition. But Manatee County Schools must be ready to lay off workers, said Karen Carpenter, the school board chairwoman, according to the Bradenton Herald. Carpenter noted that cutting staff will result in the biggest savings, as personnel costs are 80 percent of…

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MRiss

8:37 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013

Central is a school to get kids who have messed up in high school back on track. Southeast is just like any other high school, with the exception of the IB program (which places intelligent, hard-working kids in an extremely rigorous program that mirrors what one would find at a University). Although their numbers are low, consolidating these two schools would eliminate any chance of not-so-great…   more ›

Schools Chief Changes Top Leadership Posts

The changes eliminate some jobs and create new positions. Displaced administrators can re-apply for newly created jobs.

Rick Mills, the new superintendent for Manatee Schools, was given the go-ahead by the School Board Monday to restructure top leadership posts in the district. Mills told the Board that the changes will lead to a better-run organization and student outcomes. The Sarasota Herald Tribune wrote that the restructuring also: "pushes out two administrators who have been connected to a recent police investigation of groping allegations made against Manatee High assistant football coach Rod Frazier: Assistant Superintendent Bob Gagnon, implicated by law enforcement in the Frazier investigation for non-reporting and lying to police and Martin, who briefly investigated the case before police intervened." The changes include eliminating two assistant …

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Will Manatee High Football Coach Be Charged?

According to media reports, Bradenton Police are asking for arrests in the case of Manatee High's assistant coach Rod Frazier.

Arrests may be forthcoming in the highly publicized investigation of Manatee High School assistant football coach Rod Frazier, accused of improper conduct with a female student. The Bradenton Herald reports Wednesday that Bradenton Police are requesting arrests in the case. Police Chief Mike Radzilowski would not disclose details, while acknowledging that recommendations were forwarded to the State Attorney's Office. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is reporting that Frazier, along with four school district officials, may face criminal charges based on allegations that Frazier groped a female high school student. The article also names Bob Gagnon, assistant schools superintendent, and former Manatee district investigator Debra Horne. Citing …

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