Education

The Washington Post reports: It’s back-to-school week for many families in the United States — just as coronavirus cases surge among children and teens. Weekly pediatric coronavirus cases surpassed 250,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, according to the most recent data published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Its data shows that more than a …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: The Wake County school board voted 8-1 on Tuesday to continue its universal masking requirement to comply with a new state law requiring monthly votes on mask policies. Board members said Tuesday they need more time and information before they can agree to require either COVID testing or vaccinations. Jasmine Raeford, a kindergarten teacher, …

Kansas City’s ABC News affiliate reports: The Pleasant Hill Board of Education voted unanimously to require masks in its schools. Following the announcement of the board’s decision, several people were throwing fits and hitting one another in the parking lot. Pleasant Hill sheriff’s deputies got involved and handcuffed one individual. The unrest led to more police officers arriving on scene. …

USA Today reports: About two in three parents of children under age 18 said they supported mask mandates for both teachers and students as pediatric cases have risen, according to a poll released Tuesday. The USA Today/Ipsos poll determined that 64 percent of parents back requiring teachers to wear masks in schools regardless of their vaccination status, and 62 percent …

Gothamist reports: The New York City teachers union has formally requested the state to intervene against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s vaccine mandate for all city Department of Education employees, calling it “draconian” and a violation of due process with less than two weeks to go until the first day of public school September 13th. The union said the city is …

The Oregonian reports: Kevin Purnell was fired Monday as superintendent of the Adrian School District just one week after students returned to school. The Adrian School Board, convening in an emotionally charged special meeting, voted 4-1 Monday evening to terminate Purnell after meeting in an executive, or closed door, session for less than half an hour to consider the matter. …

Fort Myers’ NBC News affiliate reports: The Lee County School District will now require masks for teachers and students, eliminating the opt-out form. The school superintendent made the announcement Monday. At a workshop meeting Monday, Superintendent Ken Savage said the mandate will be reassessed after that 30 days. “To those that are angry with this decision today, I will likely …

The Associated Press reports: The Education Department announced Monday that it’s investigating five Republican-led states that have banned mask requirements in schools, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions. The department’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to education chiefs in Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. Those states have barred schools …

The Hill reports: An unvaccinated elementary school teacher in California who was diagnosed with COVID-19 infected half of the students in their classroom and sparked a community-wide outbreak, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The teacher showed up to work while symptomatic, and continued to teach for two days before receiving a test. …

Via press release from Liberty University: As part of its ongoing monitoring of positive COVID-19 rates on campus as well as active community cases and local hospital capacity, Liberty University administration announced on Thursday that it is enacting a temporary mitigation period from Aug. 30-Sept. 10. The university is making adjustments to campus operations during this time, which are designed …

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports: A Texas man stripped during a contentious school board meeting to make a point about wearing masks, causing a stir in the small town of Dripping Springs. When James Akers first approached the microphone for his allotted 90 seconds to speak before the board and the socially-distanced audience gathered in the auditorium, he was fully …

The Detroit Metro Times reports: Paul Marcum, who witnesses say flashed a Nazi salute and chanted “Heil Hitler” at a raucous Birmingham Board of Education meeting last week, has lost his job as a tennis instructor at the Sports Club of West Bloomfield. Police are investigating Marcum after witnesses said he flashed the Nazi salute and repeated “Heil Hitler” Wednesday …

New York City’s NBC News affiliate reports: All New York City public school teachers and other staffers will have to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, officials said Monday as the nation’s largest school system prepared for classes to start next month. The city previously said teachers, like other city employees, would have to get the shots or get tested weekly …

Peoria’s CBS News affiliate reports: A current part-time Morton High School teacher is facing accusations of homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and racial insensitivity. Student testimonies show these claims go as far back as 2009. The district’s superintendent Dr. Jeff Hill twice confirmed in e-mails that there is an ongoing investigation into these allegations against French teacher Kim Johnson. “I remember comments …

Fort Myers’ ABC News affiliate reports: The woman caught on camera yelling racist insults at a mother and kids is no longer employed by the Collier County School District. According to CCPS’ staff email directory, Patricia Schmidt was an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Specialist at Lely Elementary School, but she has since been fired, a spokesperson for CCPS confirmed. “Are …

Axios reports: After record-shattering daily COVID-19 counts, school boards in Florida’s Hillsborough and Miami-Dade Counties held emergency meetings Wednesday and voted to again require face coverings on campuses. The districts are the nation’s fourth- and seventh-largest — representing more than 600,000 students. They join Broward, Leon and Alachua Counties in openly defying Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department …

Fort Myers’ NBC News affiliate reports: The woman caught on camera yelling racist insults at a mother and kids was placed on administrative leave by the Collier County School District. According to CCPS’ staff email directory, Patricia Schmidt is employed as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Specialist at Lely Elementary School. The video shows Schmidt mocking the child behind the …

Jacksonville’s NBC News affiliate reports: The State Board of Education on Tuesday voted in favor of a recommendation to “use its enforcement powers” against Alachua County Public Schools after the district defied a statewide order to allow students to opt out of wearing a face mask without a doctor’s note. With a unanimous vote, the board authorized the Florida Department …

From the Hillsborough County School Board: The Hillsborough County School Board will hold an Emergency School Board Meeting on Wednesday, August 18, from 1-3:30 p.m. in the School Board Auditorium. Board Members will meet to discuss the latest district COVID-19 impact and will discuss the best way to mitigate against the spread of the virus, up to and including mandatory …

The Austin Statesman reports: The Texas Supreme Court stepped in Sunday evening to block lower-court orders that had allowed Dallas and San Antonio to impose mask mandates in defiance of an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott. The action voided temporary restraining orders, issued by separate District Court judges and upheld Friday by two intermediate appellate courts, that halted enforcement …