Hillsborough County Schools

Hillsborough County School officials are working to find alternate ways to get funding.

The possible pay raises for school bus drivers was discussed the same day the Florida House approved slashing funding for Hillsborough County and 11 other school districts.

The agreement would provide one-time salary increases for all Hillsborough County public school instructional personnel. It still needs to be ratified by the union and approved by the school board.

The proposal would redirect $200 million from 12 school districts — including Hillsborough and Sarasota — to districts that did not require students to wear masks.

A Florida lawmaker wants to cut $200 million from school districts that enforced student mask mandates, including Hillsborough and Sarasota counties.

Omicron has exploded in schools across the Tampa Bay region this year and some local high school students say their district isn't doing enough to notify them of possible exposure.

In Pasco County, there were 649 teacher vacancies on Monday, with most related to COVID-19. It has forced the district to double up classes, or pull in staff members with teaching backgrounds to fill in.

The Tampa Bay History Center is marking a half century of desegregation in Hillsborough County schools with a panel discussion this week.

Sarasota Schools are not requiring masks right now.

The Hillsborough County School District says the mandate has resulted in a 58% decrease in coronavirus cases since they reached their peak last month.

The mask requirement risks provoking the wrath of the governor and education commissioner.

The Hillsborough County School Board will discuss ways to curb the spread of the virus in schools.