Florida students demand university take sides in Israel-Hamas war

The big story: A group of 18 students at the University of South Florida ratcheted up their opposition to Israel’s war on Hamas by launching a protest against the school’s investments in firms that support Israel.

They demanded trustees divest from companies such as Northup Grumman, and began a hunger strike, saying they’re willing to die for their cause.

“We will die if that’s what it takes to reaffirm the belief and the truth that there is blood on your hands, that there’s complicity on your hands,” senior Will Mlezcko told the board.

Trustees urged the students not to put their health at risk. They said the board has no direct investments in any corporation, and a change in its financial strategy was not coming. Chairperson Will Weatherford said the school would remain “apolitical.” Read more here.

Hot topics

Superintendent searches: The Duval County school board has officially readvertised its vacant superintendent job, WJXT reports.

Security: Flagler County’s superintendent is downplaying a county government proposal to stop funding school resource officers, Flagler Live reports. • Manatee County schools have faced more than 100 threats of violence over the past three years. Law enforcement and school officials want students to know the threats are taken seriously and criminal charges can follow, the Bradenton Herald reports.

School referendums: The Manatee County school district has proposed new uses for its local-option property tax if voters renew it in November, the Observer reports.

New schools: Two St. Johns County schools scheduled to open next year now have names, Jacksonville Today reports.

Claims bill: A Pasco County family says it will continue to fight for financial relief from the Pasco County school district despite the failure of a measure in the legislature that would have waived the district’s sovereign immunity, WTSP reports. The district had agreed to pay Marcus Button $1.2 million to settle a claim stemming from a 2006 school bus crash, but the claim bill did not pass.

Book challenges: The right-leaning Citizens Defending Freedom has sued the Polk County school district, alleging the district violated state law in its process for handing library book challenges, the Ledger reports. The group is represented by Republican congressional candidate Anthony Sabatini. • The Hernando County School Board removed four books from its libraries, Suncoast News reports. Advisory committees had recommended keeping three of the four.

From the police blotter ... A Santa Rosa County high school student was arrested on allegations of bringing a gun to school and threatening other students, WKRG reports. • The baseball coach at an Alachua County high school has been placed on administrative leave amid a state investigation into allegations of crimes against children at the school, WCJB reports.

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