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Scott Travis

@smtravis.bsky.social

Reporter, South Florida Sun Sentinel. My focus is on education.

379 Followers  |  106 Following  |  117 Posts  |  Joined: 18.11.2024  |  1.7759

Latest posts by smtravis.bsky.social on Bluesky


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Hey, happy Sunday. We're sending out a special edition covering two big media industry stories, plus big news about Bob Iger, ESPN, the NFL, and more...

Some news in this Sunday special edition of Reliable Sources:

Don Lemon is booked on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday night cnn.it/4a941eD

01.02.2026 17:27 β€” πŸ‘ 98    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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A year later, new Broward schools watchdog hasn’t yet released findings of investigations Some Broward School Board members are questioning whether they should continue paying for the services of the county’s Office of Inspector General.

A year after the Broward School District contracted with the county’s Office of Inspector General to help it root out waste, fraud and abuse, the watchdog agency has yet to produce any reports identifying problems.

01.02.2026 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools will hold graduations in the same venues as last year The new graduation schedule, with most ceremonies at external venues, replaces one released earlier this year that placed most ceremonies at high school gymnasiums.

Broward schools will hold graduations in the same venues as last year

29.01.2026 00:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The man killed by a US Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis was an ICU nurse, family says Family members say the man who was killed by a federal officer in Minneapolis was an intensive care nurse at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital who cared deeply about people and was upset ...

The man killed by a US Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis was an ICU nurse, family says

25.01.2026 12:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools back down on plan to hold graduations in gymnasiums Superintendent Howard Hepburn said funding has been secured to ensure that each school will host its commencement ceremony in the same or similar venue as 2025.

Broward schools back down on plan to hold graduations in gymnasiums www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/23/b...

24.01.2026 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools receive surprise $5.5 million withholding from tax collector The tax collector withheld $5.5 million that the Broward School District was expecting to receive from a voter-approved referendum, creating another financial setback for the district.

Broward schools receive surprise $5.5 million withholding from tax collector www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/24/b...

24.01.2026 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools receive surprise $5.5 million withholding from tax collector The county’s tax collector withheld $5.5 million that the Broward School District was expecting to receive from a voter-approved referendum, creating another financial setback for the cash-st…

Broward schools receive surprise $5.5 million withholding from tax collector

24.01.2026 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools back down on plan to hold graduations in gymnasiums Superintendent Howard Hepburn said funding has been secured to ensure that each school will host its commencement ceremony in the same or similar venue as 2025.

Broward schools back down on plan to hold graduations in gymnasiums.

24.01.2026 02:37 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Gymnasium graduation plan prompts heated Broward School Board debate Broward School Board members spent about four hours on graduation venues and still remained split on what to do.

Gymnasium graduation plan prompts heated Broward School Board debate

22.01.2026 01:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward School Board to address graduation venue backlash Wednesday School Board members say they’ve gotten many emails and phone calls since the district announced plans to hold most ceremonies in high school gymnasiums instead of outside venues.

Broward School Board to address graduation venue backlash Wednesday www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/21/b...

21.01.2026 11:55 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward moves some high school graduations to gymnasiums, sparking backlash The plans to hold most graduations on high school campuses is expected to save about $500,000, but some parents and students say it’s the wrong place to cut.

Broward schools‬⁩ plan to cut costs by moving some high school graduation ceremonies from performing arts centers and a university arena to school gymnasiums, sparking a backlash among some students and parents.
www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/17/b...

17.01.2026 15:05 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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DeSantis declares Broward School District β€˜disaster,’ and says placing it in receivership might be needed Gov. Ron DeSantis excoriated the Broward School District for a β€œlaundry list of failures” and suggested it’s been so impervious to reform that placing it in receivership might be an option.

DeSantis declares Broward School District 'disaster,' and says placing it in receivership might be needed

12.01.2026 18:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools to investigate administrators related to botched construction oversight effort Two Broward schools administrators face personnel investigations after an audit revealed failures in the district’s attempt to hire a company to oversee construction, the superintendent said.

Broward schools to investigate administrators related to botched construction oversight effort www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/08/b...

08.01.2026 14:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff The School Board also agreed to ask the district’s chief auditor to investigate why the most senior employees were added to the pool of employees who received referendum dollars.

Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/06/r...

06.01.2026 23:18 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff The School Board also agreed to ask the district’s chief auditor to investigate why the most senior employees were added to the pool of employees who received referendum dollars.

Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/06/r...

06.01.2026 21:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lori Alhadeff says she won’t seek reelection on Broward School Board Lori Alhadeff is endorsing longtime educator and fellow Parkland resident Sharry Kimmel to replace her for the District 4 seat, which includes northwest Broward.

Lori Alhadeff says she won’t seek reelection on Broward School Board

05.01.2026 11:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Higher-paid Broward school staff got referendum payments. It shouldn’t have happened, board members say. A spokesman said the School Board approved supplements to stay competitive with other districts. But some School Board members said they don’t remember approving them for some of the highest-…

A voter-approved tax increase that was pitched as a way to help teachers afford to live in Broward County was expanded to provide supplements of more than $10,000 to some of the highest-paid employees in the Broward school district.

03.01.2026 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools operations chief to resign following construction, office rental debacles Wanda Paul submitted her resignation letter Sunday evening, the same day School Board member Adam Cervera called for her to step down and amidst two significant controversies.

Broward schools operations chief Wanda Paul to resign following construction, office rental debacles.

29.12.2025 23:21 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A breach of trust imperils Broward schools | Editorial Two more embarrassing high-level controversies in Broward County Public Schools underscore the need for major changes in the weeks ahead, the Editorial Board finds.

A breach of trust imperils Broward schools | Editorial www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/26/a...

26.12.2025 21:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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BIG NEWS: The SunSentinel Guild voted unanimously to ratify a historic contract.
The two-year contract will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits. @newsguild.org @cwaunion.bsky.social

24.12.2025 01:42 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools chief: β€˜Emergency’ now exists for troubled construction program Superintendent Howard Hepburn wrote in a memo on Thursday that a potential lapse in construction management could create a risk of school closures and possibly even β€œinjury or death.”

The Broward schools superintendent has declared an emergency for the district’s troubled construction program, writing in a memo that a potential lapse in management could create a risk of school closures and possibly even β€œinjury or death.”

19.12.2025 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜A five-alarm fire’: Broward schools to take emergency action on construction Broward School Board members said district staff defied the direction of the School Board and placed the district’s construction program in jeopardy.

'A five-alarm fire': Broward schools to take emergency action on construction

17.12.2025 22:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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DeSantis says Schools of Hope will be limited to β€˜toughest areas’ of Florida Charter schools known as β€œSchools of Hope” won’t be taking over high-performing schools, but will instead be limited to the β€œtoughest areas” in the state, Gov. Ron DeS…

Gov. Ron DeSantis is a big fan of Success Academy. He isn’t thrilled that competitor Mater Academy (owned by Academica) has made requests to open Schools of Hope all over, including at high-performing schools in affluent areas. He said it won’t happen.

10.12.2025 23:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools’ $2.6 million office rental contract plagued by missteps Superintendent Howard Hepburn sent School Board members a three-page after-action review about the Handy building leasing and updated it following questions from the Sun Sentinel.

Broward schools’ $2.6 million office rental contract plagued by missteps

25.11.2025 19:52 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools reverse course on controversial schedule change The proposal would have ended traditional block scheduling and personalization periods, or study halls, in secondary schools and limited the ability of teachers to make extra money by teaching clas…

Broward schools reversed course on a controversial school schedule change. The proposed $35 million cost-cutting measure ended the same way it began a few weeks ago β€”behind closed doors.

19.11.2025 00:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Rebuild of Rickards Middle School, site of roof collapse, delayed by structural issues The Rickards gymnasium, one of two large buildings planned for the campus, has received a red tag, or an order requiring any work to stop, due to inspection issues.

A roof collapse at Rickards Middle School became a symbol of the many problems with construction in Broward schools, and a project to rebuild the school has done little to restore confidence.

14.11.2025 17:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Charter school operators seek to share 46 Palm Beach County campuses The Palm Beach County School District received requests from three charter school providers expressing their intent to open β€œSchools of Hope” in 2027.

Charter school operators seek to share 46 Palm Beach County campuses. Some schools got multiple requests.

12.11.2025 20:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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This was surprising. Duval County School District, like many districts & govt agencies, has a portal to submit public records requests. But unlike others, it charges $7 service fee. When did service fees qualify as allowable charges? They're usually limited to copying & extensive staff time.

12.11.2025 19:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A lot of tension at Broward School Board meeting over employee discipline. Many firings and suspensions were on agenda today & union groups say recommendations were capricious or overly harsh. Most were postponed for further review. Here’s a resolution from employee groups.

12.11.2025 18:47 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Broward schools superintendent aces first yearly evaluation The eight Broward School Board members who filled out the evaluations rated Superintendent Howard Hepburn as highly effective, the top score available.

Broward schools superintendent aces first yearly evaluation.

07.11.2025 23:20 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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