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Articles by Divya Kumar
Padre demanda al distrito escolar de Hillsborough por supuestos mensajes sexuales de una maestra de Armwood
El padre de un exalumno de la escuela secundaria Armwood está demandando a la junta escolar del condado de Hillsborough por negligencia en un caso en el que un exprofesor fue arrestado en 2025 tras ser acusado de enviar imágenes sexuales a varios estudiantes. El profesor Anthony Jenkins se declaró inicialmente inocente de todos los cargos, incluyendo la posesión y distribución de imágenes con pornografía infantil y zoofilia.
Parent sues Hillsborough over Armwood teacher’s alleged sexual messages Original
The parent of a former Armwood High School student is suing the Hillsborough County school board for negligence over a case where a former teacher was arrested in 2025 after he was accused of sending sexual images to multiple students. The teacher, Anthony Jenkins, initially pleaded not guilty on all charges, including possession and distribution of images containing child pornography and bestiality.
Hillsborough teachers, support staff get raises, pan state funding levels Original
The big story: The Hillsborough County school board this week approved the contracts for instructional employees and support professionals, who will start getting back pay from July 1. The contracts, ratified by 92% of instructional employees and 94% of support professionals, will move all eligible employees up one step on their existing salary schedule. School psychologists will be moved to a new salary schedule.
Attacks, allegations permeate heated Hillsborough school board race Original
School board races in Hillsborough County are nonpartisan. ButDistrict 2 candidates Brittany Lyssy and Daniela Simic have weathered accusations and campaign scrutiny that have veered from the political to the personal, at times overshadowing their policies. Advertisements, push polls and online commenters have attacked the candidates over everything from their backgrounds to their backers to their homes, even pulling their families into the fray.
Hillsborough looks to rebrand south Tampa middle school
The big news: Hillsborough County residents will soon have an opportunity to provide ideas for naming a newly merged South Tampa middle school slated to open next fall. In 2024, the district closed Monroe Middle School, though they still owned the property. The students at the school were moved to Madison Middle School.
Hillsborough looks to rebrand south Tampa middle school
Hillsborough County School Board member Stacy Hahn says families in the south Tampa area are excited about giving Monroe Middle School a fresh start. ©Jefferee Woo The big news: Hillsborough County residents will soon have an opportunity to provide ideas for naming a newly merged South Tampa middle school slated to open next fall. In 2024, the district closed Monroe Middle School, though they still owned the property. The students at the school were moved to Madison Middle School.
Hillsborough looks to rebrand south Tampa middle school
The big news: Hillsborough County residents will soon have an opportunity to provide ideas for naming a newly merged South Tampa middle school slated to open next fall. In 2024, the district closed Monroe Middle School, though they still owned the property. The students at the school were moved to Madison Middle School.
Hillsborough motiva a los niños a leer desde temprana edad y está funcionando
Los alumnos de la clase de jardín de infancia de Cami McVay en la escuela primaria Kenly se sentaron en una alfombra con el alfabeto mientras leían palabras en una pantalla. —Me senté en la estera —dijeron lentamente. —Bien —les dijo McVay. “¡Lo logramos!”, gritaron de vuelta. A pocas aulas de distancia, los alumnos de la clase Head Start de Airen Young hablaban sobre las partes de un libro, desde el lomo que lo mantiene unido hasta el título y el índice.
Hillsborough is trying to spark kids to read earlier — and it's working
Students in Cami McVay's kindergarten class at Kenly Elementary sat on an alphabet carpet as they sounded out words on a screen. “I sat at the mat,” they called out slowly. “Good,” McVay told them. “We did it!” they yelled back. A few classrooms away, students in Airen Young's Head Start class talked about the parts of a book, from the spine that holds it together to the title and table of contents.
Hillsborough is trying to spark kids to read earlier — and it’s working Original
Students in Cami McVay’s kindergarten class at Kenly Elementary sat on an alphabet carpet as they sounded out words on a screen. “I sat at the mat,” they called out slowly. “Good,” McVay told them. “We did it!” they yelled back. Cami McVay reviews the sounds of vowels and consonants with her kindergarten students Students at Kenly Elementary School, where a new grant from the Helios Education Foundation is expanding literacy programs in Hillsborough County.
King High School to end IB classes, start AI and innovation program
Hillsborough school district officials have confirmed plans to sunset the International Baccalaureate program at King High School with the current class of students, expected to graduate in 2030. The school was the second high school in the district to offer the IB program in 1994, after Hillsborough High School. The district has since expanded IB to three other high schools. District spokesperson Tanya Arja said a new artificial intelligence program is expected to open at the school in 2028.
Hillsborough school board condemns referendum on elected superintendent
Weeks before election day, the Hillsborough County School board on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution saying it “strongly supports” keeping its superintendent position appointed, urging constituents to vote “no” on a ballot measure that would make it elected and partisan. The measure, which will show up as Referendum 1 on Hillsborough County ballots, spurred from a bill passed by the state legislature last session.
Hillsborough schools advance plan for employee affordable housing Original
The big story: Hillsborough County school officials moved forward with plans this week to build affordable housing for employees. The district approved a lease with Westbury Commons, at a rate of $1 per year for 55 years, to develop six acres of district-owned unused property surrounding the shuttered McLane Middle School in Brandon. The complex is slated to offer between 100 to 150 units for eligible employees. District officials estimated around 10,000 employees would be eligible.
Hillsborough llega a un acuerdo con el sindicato del personal no docente
El distrito escolar del condado Hillsborough ha llegado a un acuerdo de aumento salarial con la Federación de Empleados Escolares de Hillsborough, el sindicato que representa a más de 4.300 empleados no docentes, incluidos conductores de autobuses, conserjes y empleados del servicio de alimentación estudiantil.
Hillsborough reaches agreement with non-instructional staff union
The Hillsborough County school district has reached a pay raise agreement with the Hillsborough School Employees Federation, the union representing more than 4,300 non-instructional staff, including bus drivers, custodians and student nutrition employees. The agreement advances each employee one step up on the existing scale; gives employees at the top of the scale a one-time, nonrecurring payment of $2,000; and makes safe drivers eligible for an additional stipend.
Hillsborough reaches agreement with non-instructional staff union
Follow Hillsborough reaches agreement with non-instructional staff union Updated Thu, October 8, 2026 at 8:28 AM EDT Non-instructional staff received a step-increase in salary. The Hillsborough County school district has reached a pay raise agreement with the Hillsborough School Employees Federation, the union representing more than 4,300 non-instructional staff, including bus drivers, custodians and student nutrition employees.
Hillsborough reaches agreement with non-instructional staff union
The Hillsborough County school district has reached a pay raise agreement with the Hillsborough School Employees Federation, the union representing more than 4,300 non-instructional staff, including bus drivers, custodians and student nutrition employees. The agreement advances each employee one step up on the existing scale; gives employees at the top of the scale a one-time, nonrecurring payment of $2,000; and makes safe drivers eligible for an additional stipend.
Hillsborough school board condemns referendum on elected superintendent Original
Weeks before election day, the Hillsborough County School board on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution saying it “strongly supports” keeping its superintendent position appointed, urging constituents to vote “no” on a ballot measure that would make it elected and partisan. The measure, which will show up as Referendum 1 on Hillsborough County ballots, spurred from a bill passed by the state legislature last session.
King High School, Fla., Trades IB Courses for AI Program
IE 11 Not Supported For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers. Preparing K-12 and higher education IT leaders for the exponential era Home K-12 Higher Ed Events Webinars Surveys/Awards Thought Leadership About King High School, Fla., Trades IB Courses for AI Program A high school in Florida is shuttering a 32-year-old International Baccalaureate program and launching a new technology-focused magnet program that will teach students about AI, cybersecurity and computing.
King High School to end IB classes, start AI and innovation program Original
Hillsborough school district officials have confirmed plans to sunset the International Baccalaureate program at King High School with the current class of students, expected to graduate in 2030. The school was the second high school in the district to offer the IB program in 1994, after Hillsborough High School. The district has since expanded IB to three other high schools. District spokesperson Tanya Arja said a new artificial intelligence program is expected to open at the school in 2028.
Hillsborough officials question finances of D-rated charter school Original
The big story: When Florida Connections Academy, a virtual charter school, presented its improvement plans this week, Hillsborough County School Board members had questions. As required by state law, any charter school receiving a D or F grade must present before the school board. Last year, the school that serves around 6,000 students, received a D.
Florida education leaders: We’ll listen to teachers on science standards
Paul Burns, senior chancellor for the state department of education, at the first stop of the listening tour to review science standards. ©Divya Kumar As teachers across Florida express worries about rewritten science standards — including topics, like evolution, they feared were missing — state leaders are telling them their feedback is important.
Florida education leaders: We’ll listen to teachers on science standards Original
As teachers across Florida express worries about rewritten science standards — including topics, like evolution, they feared were missing — state leaders are telling them their feedback is important. At the first stop on the state Department of Education’s listening tour on science standards, held Tuesday at Armwood High School in Seffner, education officials took a different tone from the department’s social media rhetoric about removing “ideology” from the state’s science standards.
Hillsborough school board weighs new rules on partisan politics on campus
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., left, and Sen. Ashley Moody take questions from reporters during a press conference at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School on Aug. 26. ©Jefferee Woo Hillsborough County school board members considered a proposal Tuesday to ban partisan political activity from school board property and require the school board to be notified by email about visits from elected officials.
Hillsborough school board weighs new rules on partisan politics on campus Original
Hillsborough County school board members considered a proposal Tuesday to ban partisan political activity from school board property and require the school board to be notified by email about visits from elected officials. But after a thorny conversation about how a policy might work without running afoul of First Amendment rules, the board decided to push any policy changes to next spring.
After state demands, Hillsborough pulls more books from school shelves
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
After state demands, Hillsborough pulls more books from school shelves
Hillsborough County schools are again culling books from their shelves after Florida's new education commissioner on Wednesday renewed calls to purge books deemed inappropriate. Hillsborough wasspecifically highlighted in Education Commissioner Henry Mack's seven-page memo calling for a 90-day, nine-step plan to remove all inappropriate materials.
After state demands, Hillsborough pulls more books from school shelves
Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack, left, speaks to Ida Shuler, a media specialist, during a news conference at Lamb Elementary School in Tampa on Aug. 5. Mack this week issued a memo calling for a 90-day plan to remove all inappropriate materials from school shelves. ©Jefferee Woo Hillsborough County schools are again culling books from their shelves after Florida’s new education commissioner on Wednesday renewed calls to purge books deemed inappropriate.
Escuela secundaria jesuita de Tampa recibe una donación de 10 millones de dólares
El instituto jesuita anunció la mayor donación de su historia. Se trató del aporte realizado por el Dr. Manuel Mon, el mejor alumno de la promoción de 1968 de esta escuela en Tampa. El señor Mon se dirigió a la clase en su ceremonia de graduación donde anunció que legaría a su alma mater una herencia de 10 millones de dólares, la mayor donación en la historia de la escuela. También donó a la escuela 100.000 dólares en efectivo.
Tampa’s Jesuit High receives $10M donation, largest in school history
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Tampa’s Jesuit High receives $10M donation, largest in school history
Jesuit High School announced its largest donation in school history last week. Dr. Manuel Mon, the Tampa school’s 1968 valedictorian, addressed the class at its convocation after announcing he would bequeath a $10 million estate gift, the largest in school history, to his alma mater. He also gifted the school $100,000 in cash.
Tampa’s Jesuit High receives $10M donation, largest in school history
Follow Tampa’s Jesuit High receives $10M donation, largest in school history Updated Mon, September 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM EDT Jesuit High School received its largest single donation in school history. [TAILYR IRVINE | Times] Jesuit High School announced its largest donation in school history last week.
Hillsborough students improve reading skills in intervention program
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Jeffrey S. Solochek is an education reporter covering K-12 education policy and schools. Reach him at jsolochek@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Hillsborough students improve reading skills in intervention program
Hillsborough County high schools have seen improvement in reading proficiency among students participating in the Read 180 program. ©Jefferee Woo The big story: Hillsborough students who participated in an intensive reading intervention program saw an 18 percentage point gain as a group in reading proficiency scores, the organization behind the reading program said.
Hillsborough students improve reading skills in intervention program
The big story: Hillsborough students who participated in an intensive reading intervention program saw an 18 percentage point gain as a group in reading proficiency scores, the organization behind the reading program said. Nearly 7,000 high school students in Hillsborough participated in Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)'s Read 180 program, which provides teacher support and coaching, and adaptive technology that focuses on phonics and vocabulary and responds to students' individual reading levels.
Hillsborough schools’ credit outlook dips amid enrollment, voucher pressures
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Hillsborough schools’ credit outlook dips amid enrollment, voucher pressures
Facing increasing pressures from declining public school enrollment and persistent inflation, the Hillsborough County school district saw a downgrade in its credit rating outlook this week, with Fitch Ratings moving it from “stable” to “negative.” The credit rating agency upgraded the district from an A to an A+ on its Community Investment Tax sales tax revenue refunding bonds, and maintained its main issuer default rating as an A+.
Hillsborough schools’ credit outlook dips amid enrollment, voucher pressures
Facing increasing pressures from declining public school enrollment and persistent inflation, the Hillsborough County school district saw a downgrade in its credit rating outlook this week, with Fitch Ratings moving it from "stable" to "negative." The credit rating agency upgraded the district from an A to an A+ on its Community Investment Tax sales tax revenue refunding bonds, and maintained its main issuer default rating as an A+.
Hillsborough schools honor area's winningest football coach
The big story: Hillsborough High School's new football stadium will bear the name of its coach: Earl Garcia Jr., a longstanding fixture of high school sports in the district and school. Garcia started as an assistant football coach at Hillsborough High from 1977-1981 and again in 1992. He became head coach in 1993, and has served in the role since. Through his career, he and his staff have produced more than 200 scholarship student athletes and 15 NFL players.
Hillsborough schools honor area’s winningest football coach
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Jeffrey S. Solochek is an education reporter covering K-12 education policy and schools. Reach him at jsolochek@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Hillsborough school district, teachers union reach tentative benefits deal
Teachers and students from various Hillsborough County schools give presentations, while guests listen during a back to school news conference at Lamb Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Tampa. Teachers in Hillsborough will see a modest pay increase among other benefits this year. ©Jefferee Woo The Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association and the county’s school district have reached a tentative agreement on pay and benefits after months of negotiation.
Hillsborough school district, teachers union reach tentative benefits deal
Follow Hillsborough school district, teachers union reach tentative benefits deal Updated Mon, September 14, 2026 at 4:49 PM EDT Teachers and students from various Hillsborough County schools give presentations, while guests listen during a back to school news conference at Lamb Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Tampa. Teachers in Hillsborough will see a modest pay increase among other benefits this year.
Hillsborough teacher hospitalized after possible lightning strike near car line
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Hillsborough teacher hospitalized after possible lightning strike near car line
Follow Hillsborough teacher hospitalized after possible lightning strike near car line Updated Fri, September 11, 2026 at 4:55 PM EDT An Apollo Beach teacher was impacted by a lightning strike during the school pickup. ©Angelica Edwards A Hillsborough County teacher was hospitalized after lightning possibly shocked him while he worked in a school car line earlier this week.
Hillsborough teacher hospitalized after possible lightning strike near car line
An Apollo Beach teacher was impacted by a lightning strike during the school pickup. A Hillsborough County teacher was hospitalized after lightning possibly shocked him while he worked in a school car line earlier this week. Ten minutes into dismissal at York PreK-8 Innovation Academy in Apollo Beach on Tuesday, a light drizzle started, school district spokesperson Tanya Arja said. Students were moved under a covered area.
After RFK visit, board members seek new policy to keep politics out of schools
A week after health secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s visited two Tampa Bay schools, fielding questions about his opinions on vaccines and taking photos flanked with elected officials some Hillsborough County school board members want to introduce a policy to keep politics out of schools. During the board members’ comments, some board members said they had approached the board’s lawyer about further expanding a policy to later come before them that would further limit partisan politics in schools.
Hillsborough to place vape detectors in middle schools
Divya Kumar is an education reporter. Reach her at dkumar@tampabay.com. Jeffrey S. Solochek is an education reporter covering K-12 education policy and schools. Reach him at jsolochek@tampabay.com. Anyone can view a sampling of recent comments, but you must be a Times subscriber to contribute. Log in above or subscribe here. Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines.
Hillsborough to place vape detectors in middle schools
The big story: Middle school bathrooms in Hillsborough County will soon be equipped with vape detection devices. The Hillsborough County School district is expanding its vaping detection and education program to 56 middle schools, after its initial rollout in 29 high schools. The move will cost about $866,000.
After RFK visit, Florida school board members seek new policy to keep politics out of schools
TAMPA, Fla. - A week after health secretary Robert F. Kennedy's visited two Tampa Bay schools, fielding questions about his opinions on vaccines and taking photos flanked with elected officials some Hillsborough County school board members want to introduce a policy to keep politics out of schools.
After RFK visit, board members seek new policy to keep politics out of schools
A week after health secretary Robert F. Kennedy's visited two Tampa Bay schools, fielding questions about his opinions on vaccines and taking photos flanked with elected officials some Hillsborough County school board members want to introduce a policy to keep politics out of schools. During the board members' comments, some board members said they had approached the board's lawyer about further expanding a policy to later come before them that would further keep politics out of schools.
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