BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — According to a report that the state’s auditor general released, Brevard Public Schools has a lot of work regarding youth mental health awareness and assistance training. As of last summer, just 24% of school personnel had completed the required training. Read: 2 Osceola County schools exceeding standards for maximum classroom sizesVanessa Skipper is the vice president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers. She is also one of the Brevard Public Schools personnel who has taken Florida’s required youth mental health awareness and assistance training. “This training is not for teachers or our normal school staff to be able to solve the student’s issues,” Skipper said.

Brevard Public Schools leaders welcomed students back from winter break as disciplinary changes began across the district.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools has a new interim superintendent who was approved Tuesday during a special meeting. Dr. Robert Shiller told Channel 9 he’s already had a number of briefings and conversations with the outgoing superintendent to make the transition as seamless as possible. The move comes two weeks after approving a separation agreement with outgoing Superintendent Mark Mullins. “My whole intent is to get it ready for a terrific, seamless handoff to whomever becomes their permanent superintendent.”Mullins’ last day with the district is Dec. 31. READ: Report calls on Congress to require colleges to provide full cost in financial aid offersSee the full story in the video above.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — With a promise of consequences for disruptive behavior, Brevard Public Schools families may want to take the winter break to review district policy. On Tuesday, school leaders discussed what students and parents can expect when they return after the new year. There’s also the opportunity to have more management over discipline at the individual school level. Brevard Public Schools is having its discussion as newly elected school board members and an interim superintendent take on leadership roles. The district approved Dr. Robert Schiller as the new interim superintendent.

Brevard County school leaders are promising a new crackdown on cell phones in the classroom as the district continues to work on a new disciplinary policy.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools is set to hold a special meeting on Thursday to talk about what school board leaders are calling problematic behavior in classrooms. Last week, the head of the board said he hopes to put “the most prolific school discipline policy” in place that the district has ever had. Brevard Public Schools There is not enough evidence to prove that a crime was committed after a Brevard County student claimed she was groped in a school bathroom, according to Brevard County deputies. (WFTV.com News Staff)The Brevard Federation of Teachers says a lack of student discipline is a big reason why many teachers are leaving the profession. Thursday’s special board meeting comes after Sheriff Wayne Ivey spoke out about cases of classroom violence in Brevard County.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools is looking for a new superintendent. The school board accepted a separation agreement with the current superintendent, Mark Mullins, on Monday. Read: Brevard Public Schools superintendent to leave position, search for new leader starts soon“It’s been 29 amazing years,” Mullins said. and under your leadership, I have trusted Brevard Public Schools to do that job,” one member of the public said. Video: BPS board expected to approve separation agreement with superintendent Brevard County school leaders plan to meet Monday morning to discuss parting ways with the district’s superintendent.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County school leaders plan to meet Monday morning to discuss parting ways with the district’s superintendent. Last month, Superintendent Mark Mullins agreed to enter into negotiations for a separation agreement. READ: Brevard Public Schools superintendent to leave position, search for new leader starts soonBrevard Superintendent Mark Mullins Brevard Superintendent Mark Mullins (wftv.com)As teachers express ongoing concerns with student discipline, some board members have said the change is necessary. Channel 9′s Melonie Holt will be at Monday morning’s Brevard Public Schools board meeting, which gets underway at 9 a.m.Stay with WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News at Noon for updates on this developing story. READ: ‘Students are out of control’: Brevard County school discipline plan gains support from teachersWATCH: Brevard school leaders host 'parent academy' on student behavior Parents in Brevard County met with school leaders Thursday to ask questions about new policies they’re preparing to re-write and implement.

The Brevard County School Board will vote Monday on approving the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins.

If a separation agreement now in writing is approved, Dr. Mark Mullins would resign as Brevard Public Schools’ superintendent on News Year’s Eve.

Brevard Public School leaders held a conference with parents Thursday evening to discuss topics like behavior trends in schools and best practices for dealing with students.

Days after the Brevard County School Board ousted the superintendent, plans are underway for a new school disciplinary policy in Brevard Public Schools.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools has announced a plan to make up for classroom time lost to Hurricane Ian. On Tuesday night, the school board approved schedule changes to recoup the school days canceled thanks to last month’s storm. READ: OCPS announces Hurricane Ian makeup daysThe board agreed to move two days — Jan. 6 and Jan. 9 — from the second semester into the first semester. School board members also decided to convert four early release Fridays into full school days. Administrators are trying to expel himThe revised days will include:Nov. 4, 2022Nov. 18, 2022Dec. 2, 2022Jan. 6, 2023The School Board has approved Hurricane Ian make-up days.

READ: Hurricane Ian forms, expected to rapidly strengthen on track towards FloridaLake County:Lake County Schools announced initial plans in preparation for the storm. Video: Central Floridians fill sandbags as Hurricane Ian threatens Florida As Hurricane Ian is forecast to impact Florida this week, residents in Central Florida should be preparing for the storm. *IAN UPDATE* As of now, @volusiaschools has no plans to cancel school or extracurricular activities for Monday or Tuesday. 9.25.22 Tropical Storm Ian Update: https://t.co/EK7SYpoTMBRollins will continue to monitor updates and advisories this evening and overnight as tracks continue to change. pic.twitter.com/6S6ZEl1pIm — Rollins College (@rollinscollege) September 25, 2022UCF:#UCFAlert: Tropical Storm Ian UpdateForecasts for Tropical Storm Ian show significant uncertainty, and it is currently too soon to know whether the storm will pose a direct threat to Central Florida.

After Hurricane Ian moved through the area, Central Florida schools announced how they are handling the storm’s aftermath and when they will be reopening.

ORLANDO, Fla. — This election year, many school board races are engulfed in fights over cultural hot-button issues like gender education, textbooks and masks. Now, all Central Florida school boards have made a national conservative watchlist, SchoolBoardWatchlist.org. READ: White House works with teacher groups for back-to-school COVID-19 safety“School boards across the country hold a massive sway over the education of our children and the future of our country,” the website reads. “For too long, they have operated silently under the radar, with no organization holding them accountable for their actions.”Gov. Ron DeSantis has endorsed school board candidates including here in Volusia, Flagler and Brevard counties.

Video: Palm Bay Magnet High School launches firefighter program (WFTV)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — One hundred students are enrolled in the new firefighting and technical education program at Palm Bay Magnet High School. Brevard Public Schools just opened this program in Melbourne. “I’ve been wanting to find a job where I can help people and have time for myself,” said Bryson Burrows, a student at Palm Bay Magnet High School. “Right now in the fire service industry, in the state of Florida, there’s a retention-recruitment issue,” Bogle said. “And so this is a great start, especially for people that are homegrown talent.”Read: Orange County Animal Services waives adoption fees as overcrowding continuesStudents will be learning from retired Palm Bay Fire Rescue Lt. Chester Bombriant.

VIDEO: Brevard Public Schools superintendent optimistic for upcoming school year VIDEO: Brevard Public Schools superintendent optimistic for upcoming school year (WFTV)BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — With just two days until the start of school, there are still thousands of teacher and support staff vacancies across Florida. In Brevard County, after two years of uncertainties and disruptions, the district is regaining its momentum. Brevard Public Schools students return to the classroom on Wednesday. Channel 9 spoke with Brevard Public School Superintendent Mark Mullins about the upcoming school year. “If you’re watching the growth that is happening in Brevard County - I know across the state, but particularly in Brevard County with the expansion of the space industry and all the supporting industries, for that, I am cautiously optimistic,” Mullins added.

Brevard Public Schools said the district has 143 classroom teaching openings just two days away from the start of the 2022-23 school year.

One of the most tense Brevard County school board meetings in recent years, parents and family members demonstrated against the district’s transgender guidelines, which in 2021 read that all students were allowed to dress, access bathrooms and locker rooms and play sports consistent with their gender identity.

Brevard Public Schools reached a tentative agreement with the Brevard Federation of Teachers union Friday for a new contract that will raise salaries for district teachers, school officials said.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A six-hour contract talk Wednesday led to progress made by both Brevard Public Schools and the teachers’ union, according to a news release. Among the talks, BPS has increased its salary raise to 4.15% for teachers, the news release states. Both sides also agreed on recruitment and retention bonuses for teachers at priority schools. Teachers at Tier 2 schools will get $2,000 and teachers at Tier 3 schools will get $3,000. The district and the union also agreed to a $5,000 recruitment and retention bonus for teachers at Gardendale Separate Day School.

The Brevard Schools Foundation is partnering with several sponsors to give out school supplies to 2,000 students.

An Orlando judge dismissed a lawsuit by the Brevard chapter of Moms for Liberty and four Brevard parents who said the School Board and Brevard Public Schools discriminated against conservative parents who criticized the board with its public speaker policy, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.

Brevard Public Schools has 132 current openings for teachers, a district spokesperson said Wednesday.

Brevard Public Schools offered a 4% raise for both teachers and recruitment/retention pay in the district’s priority schools, though union leaders rejected the offer, according to district officials.

A career fair in Brevard County will be looking for support staff on Tuesday as Central Florida sees a shortage in public school staff.

School Board Chair Misty Belford and member Katye Campbell brought up the possibility during a candidate debate last week when asked how to tackle BPS’ budget challenges.

This is never going to stop.

Vanessa Ziade is trying to raise compassionate children. But she was concerned that her goal was being undermined as she watched vitriolic battles over mask mandates play out at school board meeting after school board meeting.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A new law is going to help even the playing field for Central Florida children on the Autism spectrum. In 2019, Investigative Reporter Karla Ray discovered the amount of behavioral therapy students can receive in school varies from district to district. That’s because of the way state law was written. At that time, Osceola and Orange County school leaders both told 9 Investigates though they could allow Registered Behavior Technicians in classrooms, they chose not to. Shortly after our stories aired, BPS changed its rules to allow RBTs, but not every district followed suit.

A middle school teacher is now fired after being arrested this week on a child exploitation warrant.

A Brevard County middle school teacher was arrested on charges of sending harmful material to a child, according to the sheriff’s office.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools is getting some extra help to keep students safe on their way to school. The district is participating in a pilot program alongside safety technology company BusPatrol to help curb the illegal passing of stopped school buses. As part of the program, the district equipped 10 buses with stop-arm cameras to deter drivers from passing the stopped buses. “We have experienced far too many drivers ignoring our stopped school buses while our children are trying to either get to or from school. The trial program will also provide data including where and when violations are most likely to occur.

Safety technology company BusPatrol will partner with Brevard Public Schools for a pilot program meant to improve the effectiveness of cameras designed to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses, the district announced.

Students and staff were once again evacuated from Cocoa High School Wednesday because of a bomb threat.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A threat made against Cocoa High School was cleared, Brevard Public Schools said. UPDATE: Cocoa High has received an all-clear from law enforcement after investigating and securing each building on campus. School operations have resumed as normal. — Brevard Schools (@BrevardSchools) February 4, 2022Students and staff members were not allowed to enter the school. READ: Middle school teacher accused of kissing student in classroomSchool operations have resumed as normal, officials said.

Cocoa High School has been closed due to a threat made by a parent, officials say.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — State Attorney Phil Archer said Monday that investigators found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing after Brevard Public Schools staff members were accused of improperly masking a disabled student. Archer said that in a review of the Indian Harbor Beach Police investigation into the allegations from parent Jeffery Steel in October 2021. “I want to commend Chief Butler and his investigative staff for a very thorough and professional investigation,” Archer said in a statement. “As leaders and as a community, we must do better.”READ: Stealth omicron: New COVID-19 variant seen in 40 countriesClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ©2022 Cox Media Group

ORLANDO, Fla. — A major front is on the way to Central Florida. On Friday, it will be mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers. It will be mild, with daytime highs in the mid-70s. Daytime highs will stay in the upper 50s, to near 60 for a high. READ: ‘There’s no excuse’: Brevard Public Schools sending parents to court over student absencesBy Monday morning, we’ll be in the upper 30s in Orlando.

At Tuesday's School Board meeting, members passed new boundaries for some district schools, while some parents criticized an upcoming staff training as "extreme leftist" and a bus driver plead for higher wages to offset a driver shortage crisis.

As documented COVID-19 cases in Brevard Public Schools near the heights of fall’s surge, the district is working with local health organizations to secure more testing kits for students and staff.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools is set to give away nearly 15,000 at-home COVID-19 tests. Brevard Health Alliance is partnering with BPS to distribute the tests it received through an allocation of FDA-approved COVID-19 at-home self-test kits from the federal government through a testing supply program. Officials said testing kits were given to BPS on Friday and BPS will deliver the kits to each school and worksite. “We are proud of the great relationship between Brevard Health Alliance and BPS,” said Superintendent Dr. Mark Mullins in a statement. “We value our commitment to our patients and our community,” said Austin Helton, CEO of Brevard Health Alliance.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard County school district is asking families and employees to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom as students prepare to return from winter break. Employees return Wednesday and students follow on Thursday, but Brevard Public Schools said if any of them aren’t feeling well they should stay at home. READ: COVID-19 scams: How to prevent buying fake COVID tests“In just the last four weeks, our numbers have doubled week over week, and now they’re quadrupling week over week,” said Don Walker, director of Brevard County Communications. That’s why the district sent an email to employees and parents Monday strongly encouraging masks for adults and students while on district property. Brevard Public Schools’ current cleaning protocols will also continue through the second semester.

Brevard Public Schools is taking a largely voluntary approach as schools prepare to reopen Thursday amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases countywide likely due to the highly contagious omicron variant.

A school threat hoax circulating on social media across the nation prompted Brevard Public Schools to issue a statement to concerned parents Thursday, according to a BPS spokesman.

Faced by a national labor shortage, Brevard Public Schools is offering additional pay to substitute teachers who agree to work certain days around the district’s winter break.

Thanksgiving break is starting early this year for tens of thousands of students.With early dismissal Friday, Brevard Public Schools students are off for the next ten days.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County students and teachers, listen up: If you prefer an extra side of vacation with your holiday turkey, you’re in luck. Brevard Public Schools will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving. District officials announced the move Wednesday to shutter all campuses for an extended holiday. With Board consensus, Brevard Public Schools will move forward with scheduling Thanksgiving week off for all students and staff. — Brevard Schools (@BrevardSchools) November 10, 2021The district noted another reason for its decision to extend the Thanksgiving holiday -- no hurricane make-up days are necessary this academic year.

Almost two weeks after Brevard Public Schools allowed parents to opt out of masks for their students, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran thanked the school district for the change in policy.

Brevard Public Schools is partnering with local hospitals to provide all babies born in the county their first picture books as part of an initiative to increase early childhood learning.

Two Central Florida school boards submitted letters Thursday responding to the state’s 48-hour notice to comply with mask requirements.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The clock is ticking for Brevard Public Schools after it received a letter of reprimand from the state for its student mask mandate. BPS is one of ten school districts that received the letter from the state, which threatened to deduct school leaders’ salaries if they refuse to drop their mask mandate. If the district doesn’t get rid of its mask mandate, the entire board will be short of more than $12,000. The state board of education has already made it very clear what they’re going to do if we do that,” Campbell added. If cases spike again, the school board would have to recreate a mandate if they want to require masks.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The clock is ticking for Brevard Public Schools after it received a letter from the state reprimanding them for its student mask mandate. School district leaders said they still need more time to decide. Federal grant money approved by the Biden administration would even things out, but the state approved a decision to fine the district further. The district will need to get down to 50 to drop the student mask mandate. Channel 9will be checking today whether Orange County, which was also named, has already received its letter.

Brevard Public Schools has pulled a graphic novel memoir from its libraries that depicts the experience of learning to exist outside the gender binary. Maia...

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools on Tuesday will revisit its emergency mask mandate. Now, the school board must decide if the mask requirement will be extended or allowed to expire. Just pulled up to the Brevard meeting to find someone trying to push past deputies at the door. pic.twitter.com/Bly1CsoWNX — Nick Papantonis WFTV (@NPapantonisWFTV) September 21, 2021READ: ‘A major crisis’: Brevard County school board sends letter to DOE regarding mask mandateThe mask mandate states that, with few exceptions, students and staff are required to wear a face covering while indoors on school district property. Photos: Parents line up for Brevard Public Schools mask meetingSchool board chairwoman Misty Belford said since Aug. 30, the school district has seen a 77% decrease in reported cases.

Brevard Public Schools reported fewer cases than it did earlier this fall in its twice-weekly COVID-19 update, with 213 reported infections of staff and students, and 616 quarantines from Friday to Tuesday.

The State of Florida currently has billions of dollars earmarked to help local school districts through the pandemic that has not been dispersed, according to records obtained by News 6.

Volusia School Board debates possible mask mandate Volusia Public Schools became the latest to consider implementing a mask mandate despite an order by the governor banning such policies. Ron DeSantis overstepped his constitutional authority in a July 30 executive order aimed at preventing school mask mandates. The DeSantis administration appealed that ruling, a step that led to an automatic stay while the case was pending at the appeals court. The DeSantis administration quickly returned to the appeals court with an emergency motion to reinstate the stay --- which led to Friday’s order. “Thus, the governor could not possibly have violated the Parents’ Bill of Rights by protecting parents’ rights.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools converted the driveway of its Mid-South Transportation Center in Melbourne on Thursday into a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site for students and staff. So, I’m assuming that’s what it is,” said Brevard County resident Cynthia Gonzales. On Tuesday, another 131 positive COVID-19 cases were reported to the district, although volume was likely lower due to the Labor Day holiday. “We kind of had a reset,” said Russ Bruhn, with Brevard County Schools government and community relations. Students and staff can still preregister for testing Friday at the Clearlake Adult Education Center in Cocoa.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran demanded that Brevard Public Schools withdraw its classroom facemask mandate by Wednesday morning or the Florida Department of Education would withhold School Board member salaries.

NASA Mars rock sample This composite of two images shows the hole drilled by NASA's Perseverance rover during its sucessful sample-collection attempt. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)ORLANDO, Fla. — More than six months after first landing on Mars, NASA’s Perseverance Rover completed a major milestone this week. The rover, nicknamed Percy, recently collected a sample of Martian rock, the first ever drilled on another planet. An earlier attempt to collect a Martian rock sample failed because the rock crumbled during the drilling process. I’ve captured my first Mars sample and I’m ready to core a second sample from this same rock.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLA. — Brevard Public Schools’ recently adopted 30-day mask mandate has already sparked protests. Late Friday, the Florida Department of Education sent a letter to Superintendent Mark Mullins and School Board Chair Misty Belford. Read: Dozens gather to protest Brevard County Schools’ mask mandateThe deadline to provide a response on how the district is in compliance is Wednesday. Belford said she believes the Department of Education will find that Brevard Public Schools is in compliance. Read: DeSantis touts monoclonal antibody treatment while visiting health department in VieraShe said the school district has about seven different exemptions in the policy, including medical and mental health exemptions.

In a letter to Brevard Public Schools, the state education commissioner announced the school district is under investigation for its COVID-19 mask mandate, which does not currently allow students to opt out with a parent note.

Following the implementation of a mask mandate, Brevard Public Schools have loosened their COVID-19 quarantine requirements for masked students in several common situations.

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Roughly 30 parents, grandparents, and other residents gathered at school board headquarters Thursday for a protest of Brevard Public Schools’ newly adopted emergency mask mandate. “You got kindergarteners being put in this.”WATCH: Brevard School Board votes to reinstate mask mandate3,500 cases have been reported to the district since Aug. 2. On Monday, the school board voted three to two to require students and staff to wear masks while indoors on school district property for the next 30 days. WATCH: Florida’s ‘vaccine passport’ ban will be enforced starting this monthDuring a visit to Brevard County on Wednesday, Gov. READ: Coronavirus: Florida teen dies days before starting senior year of high schoolThe Brevard County school board has not discussed modifying its recently adopted policy.

DeSantis warned Brevard Public Schools could become another Florida district facing financial punishment for mandating face coverings.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla — In Brevard county, the demand for COVID-19 testing is high. The Florida Department of Health, Brevard Public Schools, and Brevard County Emergency Management are all working to meet the demand. HIGH, ATLANTIS, CHALLENGER 7 & ENTERPRISE ELEMENTARY are eligible for COVID-19 testing Wed./Thurs. And the demand is not only for school students and staff, residents have also felt the impact of the shortage of testing options around the county. They’ll be able to process about 100 tests per hour,” said Assistant County Health Department Director, Anita Stremmel.

The new testing option opens Wednesday.

Brevard County Public Schools announced Friday that the district will close the campus of Madison Middle School to students for two days next week.

Madison Middle School closes Madison Middle School in Titusville will be closed to students Monday and Tuesday “because of expanded cases of COVID-19 and to prevent further spread of the virus,” Brevard Public Schools announced Friday evening. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Madison Middle School in Titusville will be closed to students Monday and Tuesday “because of expanded cases of COVID-19 and to prevent further spread of the virus,” Brevard Public Schools announced Friday evening. The meals, along with the devices and hot spots, can be picked up at the school Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. While the school is closed, a custodial team along with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety will conduct a deep cleaning and disinfecting of the school, the district said. READ: FWC: Child dies after boating accident in Brevard County©2021 Cox Media Group

Bayside High School is set to host its first football game of the season Thursday night, while two other Brevard County public schools are cancelling preseason games due to COVID-19 quarantines.

Brevard Public Schools reported Tuesday that 3,000 more students and staff have been quarantined from Friday to Monday.

Due to several hundred new cases of coronavirus being reported in the school district, more than 3,000 Brevard Public Schools employees and students are currently...

With help from pandemic relief money, the Brevard County school district is assigning some special new school supplies to thousands of kids.

Brevard Public Schools updated its COVID-19 dashboard Friday showing more than 400 students and employees tested positive.

With rising COVID-19 cases on the Space Coast, Brevard Public Schools announced Tuesday that they will reopen applications for Brevard Virtual School through Friday.

A Brevard Public Schools bus driver was arrested Thursday night and charged with distributing obscene material to a teenage student, according to police.

The Brevard Public Schools superintendent said students and employees will still see some of the same practices as last year.

Brevard Public Schools has lost another teacher to COVID-19.

Brevard Public Schools announced it would make a one-time payment of $1,000 to all of its employees following a year that “brought unique challenges” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a meeting Friday morning, Brevard Public Schools voted to make masks optional once the school year ends at the beginning of June.

VIERA, Fla. – Tuesday night’s Brevard County school board meeting drew supporters and opposition who often clashed vocally in the discussion about the district’s guidelines for gay and transgender students and staff. School board member Jennifer Jenkins said a group speaking out against the guidelines for LGBTQ+ displayed, “so much hate towards a group of children.”[TRENDING: Will coronavirus ever go away? AdThe guidelines allow students to use bathrooms and play sports that correspond with their gender identity. “LGBTQ students were brave enough to come here and stand up for their rights,” Jenkins said. AdJenkins reiterated what the district continues to say - the LGBTQ+ guidelines follow the latest laws now.

FreeImages.com/Rob GonyeaBREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Brevard Public Schools announced they reached a new deal with the Brevard Federation of Teachers. On Tuesday, the school district said both sides agreed to pay raises of 4.1 percent on average for the 90 percent of teachers who are rated "highly effective." The deal includes a 6.5 percent raise for almost 50 percent of teachers entering their 12th year or later with the district, according to Brevard Public Schools. The district said the new deal includes time for teachers to prepare their homes before a hurricane and more bereavement leave. School officials said if teachers vote yes before the Oct. 29 school board meeting the teachers can get more money before Thanksgiving.

That led to a special magistrate decision that supported giving teachers more than the school board proposed.But Superintendent Mark Mullins rejected that ruling. It was then up to the school board to take the district's offer or the union's offer. "Colucci announced the results of the vote at a Tuesday school board meeting. "We all know that this vote was largely symbolic and that it will actually delay the adoption of beneficial contract language," Colucci said at the school board meeting. To be clear, our teachers voted no on this contract, because it was a vote of yes for their dignity.

All Brevard schools are expected to open and operate normally Tuesday. ***ORIGINAL***As the heat index soared, at least five Brevard County schools reported problems with air conditioning on the first day of class. Problems were corrected at both Meadowlane schools, Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary and Pinewood Elementary by 1:30 p.m., Hensley said. Dismissal times were not affected at any of the schools, Hensley said. Repairs were recently made at Building 1 at Robert Louis Stevenson, but the three affected classrooms were in Building 2.