Teaching shortages in grades K-12 have been prevalent since before the pandemic, according to north central Florida school administrators. However, they say COVID-19 has increased issues for educators.
Read More »Four Alachua County public schools are not meeting state class-size requirements
Stephen Stanquist sits down each evening with his fifth grade daughter to do their respective homework at a cardboard table in their living room. The Oak View Middle School teacher said his homework load has increased as class sizes get larger. Stanquist said he’s had to adjust how to manage …
Read More »The Point, April 29, 2022: Florida taxpayers aren’t on the hook for Disney’s debt, governor’s administration promises
The special district has $1 billion in outstanding bond debt.
Read More »The Point, April 27, 2022: Governor schedules Florida’s special session to deal with property insurance rates
It will begin May 23.
Read More »The Point, April 26, 2022: Alachua County purchased nearly 4,000 acres near the Putnam County line. Here’s what it plans to do with the land
The 2,200 acres of pine flatwoods on the purchased property had been used for timber production and will be restored by reforestation with longleaf pine and prescribed fire.
Read More »The Point, April 22, 2022: Florida Legislature passes redistricting plan, along with repeal of Disney’s special status
Lawmakers in control pushed past protests on Thursday to accomplish their goals.
Read More »Nonprofit organizations in Gainesville awarded more than $6M in federal funds
The Gainesville City Commission on Thursday voted to accept funding recommendations for allocating millions of federal dollars for local nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation of North Central Florida’s board of directors evaluation team provided the recommendations to the commission. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which President Joe …
Read More »College stories: Florida students share their (sometimes) rocky roads to graduation
For the class of 2022, their time was split in halves – virtual and in-person. College students adapted to “distanced” and classroom learning while routinely being administered COVID-19 tests. Students traded their extracurricular activities, sports games and parties for endless Zoom meetings and masks. Some dealt with academic responsibilities while sick with the virus. Many lost loved ones.
Read More »Community health advocates have worked tirelessly to close the Latino vaccination gap. It’s working.
At the beginning of the vaccine rollout in 2021, data show Latinos lagged behind whites in vaccination uptake. In Florida, that trend is reversing with Latinos now taking the lead. Before the vaccination clinic opened its doors at the Farmworker Association of Florida, Teresa was waiting outside. She was first …
Read More »How a Black marching band style was erased from Gainesville’s fields, and why it matters decades later
The story of this high school band reflects a much larger history of who the school system serves, and how the consequences of old decisions still ripple through the community decades later.
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