Broward County Public Schools confirms four measles cases at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, Florida, prompting close collaboration with the Florida Department of Health. The school's principal is keeping families informed and following health department guidelines. Measles, a highly contagious disease, presents with symptoms including high fever, cough, and a distinct red, dotted rash. The situation reflects a broader trend of rising measles cases in the U.S., attributed in part to vaccine hesitancy.
Broward County Public Schools officials confirmed a case of measles at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, Florida, with the infected individual reported to be a third grade student with no history of travel. Measles, a highly contagious viral infection, is rare in the United States due to widespread vaccination. The school district is working closely with the Florida Department of Health in Broward County to address the situation and is communicating with families to take necessary precautions.
On the sixth anniversary of the Parkland school shooting, students and staff at Eagle Ridge Elementary School in Coral Springs gathered to create a heart shape in honor of the victims, while other schools in the area held moments of silence and reflection. Activities such as a service dog visit, mindfulness activities, and creating messages of kindness and love were planned to commemorate the day across Broward County Public Schools.
Teachers in Broward County, Florida, are demanding better pay, with protesters calling for a 9% increase. The Broward Teachers Union has been requesting a 7% pay increase since June, but the school district countered with a 1.7% offer. The school board recently voted against raising teachers' wages, despite an increase in state funding and a property tax referendum generating $177 million. The board instructed the superintendent to bring back a budget in January that includes the pay increase.
Broward County Public Schools officials announced that students will only be allowed to bring clear backpacks and bags next year, in a measure aimed at increasing school safety. The decision, which affects more than 260,000 students, comes more than five years after 17 were killed during a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The rule change will only apply to students and not staff, teachers, volunteers or visitors. Some students are not thrilled with the change, calling it an invasion of privacy. Exceptions to the rule include small non-transparent pouches for personal hygiene items, thermal food containers, and school-approved cases for either athletic or band equipment.
Broward County Public Schools in Florida will require all students from Pre-K to 12th grade to carry only clear backpacks and bags starting from the 2023/24 school year. The new rule aims to provide a safe learning environment and serve as a deterrent to prohibited items being brought to school. Lunch boxes, purses, duffel bags, fanny packs, and any other type of bag must also be transparent, except for a few exceptions. The measure does not apply to teachers, staff, volunteers, or visitors.
