From record teacher shortages, to safety, book bans, and parental rights, the new school year means uncertainty for many in Florida's K through 12 public schools.

We take a closer look at the state of education, and the biggest concerns of South Florida, educators, parents, and students.

That, and more.

Stay with us as we dive into "Your South Florida".

Hello and welcome to "Your South Florida", I'm Sun Sentinel senior journalist, Scott Travis, filling in for Pam Giganti.

Florida's 2021/22 school year began with a record 9,000 teacher vacancies, book bands, and the fight for parental rights, leaving teachers, parents, and students with more questions than answers about the future of public education in Florida.

Local school boards also saw big shakeups following the primary elections, and most recently with governor DeSantis ousting four Broward school board members following a damning grand jury report.

And the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, at the end of last school year has also kept safety and mental health top concerns for many in our public schools.

As part of our recent virtual town hall, I was joined by local school board members, and PTA, and union representatives to look at the most pressing issues facing South Florida educators, and parents, and how school districts are navigating a politically charged climate.

There is a big shake up to the Broward County school board, on August 26th, the governor DeSantis took a grand jury's recommendation to suspend four Broward School Board members for engaging in what the governor called "incompetence, neglective duty, and misuse of authority."

The report stemmed from an investigation into the Broward School Board's response to the 2018 MSD school shooting.

And it also blasted the school district for the mismanagement of a $1 billion school safety and renovation bond program.

Now, Sarah, you are not one of the four, you were elected in 2020.

The report found that you and three other school board members were not involved in any misdeeds.

Now, what is your reaction to the report, and the governor's decision to replace these school board members with more conservative alternatives?

I think that the report really speaks for itself.

And I found that a lot of people including myself as a teacher, ran for office in part because of the concerns that are also expressed in the report, especially around facilities and safety.

And I am committed as one board member to making sure that those recommendations outlined in the report are taken seriously and addressed, so that our students, and our employees can feel safe in our public schools.

Well, let's talk about some of the August 23rd primary election results, which included races for seats on all three county school boards.

The Miami-Dade school board will have two new members, Roberto Alonso, and Monica Colucci, both endorsed by the Governor DeSantis.

Now these are supposed to be nonpartisan seats, but we've repeatedly seen politics being injected into these school board races, and some conservative groups I've seen have actually said that now Miami-Dade County School Board is the largest school district in the country, or the largest school board in the country to have a conservative majority now.

So Tony, how do you see this impacting the union's relationship with the board?

Well, when it comes to the school board of Miami-Dade County, hopefully we'll continue to have a feasible relationship where we can actually get the job done that we're all there to do, which is educate students.

So we're looking forward to, you know, you have to give people the chance, we wanna make sure that they're independent, and they're following their constitutional duties as elected school board members to do the right thing for the children we serve, and the professionals who serve them.

So, Maria, how do you see this change affecting the PTA's relationship with the school board?

Well, we hope that there's no changes, that we all can continue to collaborate together for the betterment of our students, that we can make every child's potential reality, and we're looking forward to working with our new members.

Now, Dr. Robinson, there were quite a few conservative candidates running for the Palm Beach County school board, still school board members, the incumbents did pretty well, with Karen Brill, and Erica Whitfield, easily retaining their seats.

Incumbent Marsha Andrews is heading to a runoff in November, but she still got almost 50% of the vote way ahead of the second place finisher.

So Dr. Robinson, after more than 20 years on the Palm Beach County School Board, you did not seek re-election.

What did these results tell you about the work that the Palm Beach County School Board has done?

Well, I would like to believe that these results show that we have continued to stay focused on students, and the adults that serve them.

Of course, that's always gonna be in the eye of beholder.

But I believe that we've done a good job at that despite all the controversies, and acknowledging the fact that we have not had the same level of controversy that other school districts have had.

So I think that we've been blessed or lucky, whichever word you wanna use in that regard, but yeah, hopefully we will stay focused on the needs of children actually much better than ever in the past.

Okay, well, speaking of controversies, Broward voters, despite all the controversies that that school district has had, still approved a property tax increased recently for teacher salary, school security, and mental health services, similar initiatives will be going in Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County before voters in November.

But Sarah, how does the Broward School Board establish trust with voters following this grand jury report?

I think that really begins with us publicly discussing the report, discussing the recommendations, and then taking action on those recommendations.

We really have to put it all out on the table, and have an open discussion involving the public, listening to public concerns to establish trust again.

And that begins with transparency for me.

Now let's take a closer look at one of the biggest points of contention in Florida's public schools, book bands.

This is stemming from two recent bills signed by Governor DeSantis, which state's parental rights and education law often referred to by critics as the Don't Say Gay Bill, the opponents say that it's an attack on the LGBTQ plus community, but the law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, as well as in a manner that's not age appropriate for older students.

The law also allows parents to sue a school district if they believe a teacher has violated the law.

And Florida's Individual Freedom Law, also known as the Stop WOKE Act, aimed at stopping perceived critical race theory, or CRT, which is generally taught at the college, or graduate level, that law states that a curriculum cannot include concepts that anyone is privileged, or oppressed based solely on their race, color, sex, or national origin, or that anyone is inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously by virtue of their race, color, sex or national origin.

Both laws went into effect July first of this year.

On August 18th, the federal judge temporarily blocked the Stop WOKE Act, saying it violates the first amendment.

However, that was not before the state rejected 54 math textbooks, claiming CRT, and social emotional learning appeared in some.

And it's not just Florida, we're seeing book bands in school districts across the country.

Now, Dr. Robinson, you are one of two no votes, on the Palm beach county school board opposing a policy to align with the parental rights law.

What are you hearing from parents and teachers about this decision, and what changes come with this new policy?

What I've heard continuously is that it's an overreach.

In the good old days, we trusted teachers to understand what materials were appropriate for their students, I think that that remains today.

I don't think that it's appropriate for everyone to have an equal voice, although everyone should be heard, I would agree with that.

So I think we are trying to do the dance to make sure we're not violating the law, but doing the right thing for children, and respecting the educators.

Well, as of this town hall, Broward Schools has not announced a plan to navigate the parental rights law, but obviously with a new conservative majority that could be coming in the near future.

Superintendent Cartwright has previously voiced her concern about, " What the unintended consequences are going to be."

Sarah, what are your thoughts on these book bands, and what are you hearing from parents, and teachers in your district?

How how's the district navigating this?

Yeah, what I'm hearing from parents and teachers is definitely fear.

And I'm hearing from parents specifically that although this is being done under the guise of parental rights, it really ignores the rights of parents in Broward county, parents like myself who want our children to have an inclusive, expansive education, and learn about black history, and learn about LGBTQ history.

So people are fearful for their jobs, and they're fearful for their children.

And they're worried about the environment of education right now in the state of Florida.

Tony, could you explain your union's position, and what it could mean for teachers?

How are they expected to teach civil rights for example?

How will the union support teachers facing potential future lawsuits, or criminal charges?

Well, as far as the union goes, we expect some things to come out of this, we expect some lawsuits, we expect teachers of truth tellers.

It's gonna be very difficult to walk a tight line teaching truth, opposed to teaching what they refer to as propaganda.

The curriculum itself for every public school in our state is set by the Florida Department of Education, not by individual school boards, not school administrators, or teachers.

So Maria, what is your PTA A's stance on the parental rights law, and the Stop WOKE Act, and what are you hearing from your members?

Well, PTA opposed the parental rights law, even though we've been advocating for parental rights for 125 years, that's all behind our mission, which is to empower, encourage our parents, to advocate for their children.

But there's many areas within this bill that reflects not what public schools should reflect, which is the desires of the majority.

It more reflects on the minority, those that want to pretty much, I guess, control everybody, and not let everybody make their own options.

Pretty much we want children to go to school excited, not be afraid to be discriminated against because of their views, their sexuality, their gender identities, their parents.

So we don't want that to interfere with our children's education.

We want them to go to school, feel safe, feel encouraged and grow.

Now let's pivot to teacher shortages.

A Florida Education Association report shows that more than 9,500 teaching and support staff positions are vacant throughout the state.

Dr. Robinson earlier this year, the Palm Beach County School Board approved an average 3.5% pay raise for teachers, the highest in the state.

What else do you think the school board can do to retain quality teachers?

Well, I think we really need to look at the workplace culture, and climate, and we need to make sure that administrators, despite the pressure placed on administrators, that they are supportive of the educators, who are then supporting and educating the children.

So it is in that interaction.

I'm also concerned that some of this legislation will inspire some people, specifically parents, and community members to be even harsher in their approach to teachers when they have questions about what may have happened in class.

So I think we had to put a cocoon really honestly, around the teachers, and let them do what they know to do.

Oh, well, Governor DeSantis is promoting a pathway for military veterans to become teachers, eventually expanding it to include retired police, firefighters, and EMTs, and in some cases they don't have to have a college degree.

Tony, what is the union's take on this pathway, and do you see this as a possible temporary solution to fill these vacancies?

Well, I'm actually a military veteran myself, and I think that's the worst possible idea you could ever come up with.

The bottom line here is that there's a reason why there are so many layers one of us go through before becoming the teacher, and waving of college degree, and teaching experience requirements, is a critical mistake that undermines the qualifications for classroom instruction.

The shortage of teachers in Florida is due to several factors, and many of them are happening all across the country, lack of salaries, lack of support, cost of living in one of the highest places in the place to live here in South Florida, the workplace environment, as Dr. Robinson mentioned earlier, the earlier the morale.

So there's a lot of things that are discouraging people if I can say, from entering this profession.

Maria, do you agree with that?

Yes, definitely, we need effective very well trained teachers in the classroom.

It's not like, okay, just because I play video games, now I can be a neurosurgeon just because I'm good with my hands, we can't do that with teachers either.

I mean, I think the majority of parents during the pandemic, when they had to step in more than usual than just the homework time, they realized what it takes to be a teacher, and at that time, all our teachers were heroes, we were praising them because they went from just your typical book paper, to all of a sudden unknown world of Zoom, and they all jumped in, they were all our heroes, and now all of a sudden we forgot that, that they were so versatile, they jumped right in, they put their mental health aside, they put their family's mental health aside, just to make our children's grow, and then all of a sudden we wanna say, you know what, everybody can do your job, and I don't think our children should suffer that way.

Recently, PBS News Hour student reporting labs brought together teachers from across the country for a summer workshop, from burnout to staffing shortages, teachers shared the hardest, and most rewarding aspects of being an educator, and their advice for others questioning their career in education, let's take a look.

I think one of the most significant challenges last year that is leading to teacher burnout, especially in my case, is that apathy of the students, when they came back, they weren't as connected to each other, they weren't as connected to their teachers, and they really had a hard time just getting motivated to do the things that they used to kind of enjoy doing.

I think the biggest challenge that I've seen at the elementary level is the idea of just not having the capacity to take on more.

A lot of teachers feel like we're just in survival mode, we're trying to make it through, we're trying to teach the required curriculum, and it's really hard then to bring in and enhance that curriculum because of all of the outside influences that we have to factor in.

I think there has to be a perception shift for the public, and seeing actual value in what I do, and what my fellow teachers do, and until that happens, it's not going to change.

Teachers yelling and screaming into the void, or quitting in mass, it hasn't changed things yet.

Every year, I think this is my last year, I'm not coming back, I don't wanna do this anymore, it's hard, it's a little defeating sometimes.

Then you get that one student that you think, okay, this kid gets it, and I wanna watch them graduate, I wanna watch them, I wanna launch this birdie out of my nest, and see what happens.

And so if it wasn't for the kids, there's no way I would have lasted to year 15.

So many teachers that I work with when you talk about pandemic, and you talk about burnout, they go down the rabbit hole of the last year and a half, and they want to talk about the negative experiences, they wanna talk about what was a struggle, and what damaged them if you will.

I feel like I have to work on myself to find out what can I do to be better, to make my class better, to process this more, to make a better experience for the students moving forward, and that's why I'm still here.

I think a piece of advice I would give to any new teacher is don't take things personally right now, education is kind of a mess, just do the best you can, and if you can connect with someone, either at your school, in your district, even a family member, who's an educator, it's helpful to have support right now.

I would recommend to other educators to realize when you have to turn the switch off for school, and realize when you have to leave the computer at school, or not even pick up your cell phone necessarily, and realize that whatever needs to get done will be there for you tomorrow when you show up to work.

If I meet somebody who's a young professional, or a young person right out of college, who's looking to get into teaching, I would encourage them to do so, there's obviously a calling there.

There's obviously something that is asking them to be involved with this profession.

The harder question would be, and the harder conversation would be three years down the road, five years down the road, talking to them about staying in it.

Wow, so Tony, is this on par with what you're hearing from teachers in Miami-Dade?

Well, that's certainly on par, teachers have a wealth issues, everybody during the pandemic.

I mean, realistically, we're coming out of something that none of us has ever experienced.

For almost two years, we had to develop a new way to teach.

Teachers are used to face to face contact, our relationships with our students are built on that basis.

And we were thrown into a situation where everything turned virtual, but teachers are stressed their mental health is just as important as our students' mental health at this point, because obviously all of us who have children, we understand that our children's learning conditions depend on the teacher's working conditions.

And if they're working conditions are bad, and keeping them in the doldrum, that is easily reflected in the children's educational history.

So these people are spot on them.

And Maria, you are also a teacher.

So what do you want parents to know about being a teacher today?

Parents to be more communicative, sometimes teachers only hear from parents once a year, open house, send the teacher a note saying, he did great when he was doing his math today, He is reading now, and really enjoying books.

So being more communicative with our teachers.

In good and in bad we need to be more of a team, not just drop off, and then I'll pick you up at three.

Dr. Robinson, what's your message to teachers facing burnout in all of the changes in education today.

I would say, we need to understand clearly in terms that we cannot misinterpret what you need.

I have my ideas, I observe, I talk to teachers, and so forth, but if you want, for example, for the board to take action, or the superintendent to take action, give it to us clearly, for those of us who've never been in the classroom as a teacher, make me understand so I can stand up and fight that fight because the comment that children's learning conditions are reflected by the teacher's working conditions that is spot on.

And so while I'm gonna continue to focus on students, I understand I don't get what I'm hoping for with children without the teacher.

And I want them to be happy you know, there's a book that says you gotta feed the teachers, and then eat the children, so let's feed them, let's give them, I mean, those folks are working hard.

I think we need to have social workers everywhere to help unburden some of the load on teachers, what do you need?

Like, just make it clear, like tell me, tell us 'cause otherwise we can't support you if we're thinking we know.

Just before the start of the new school year, Dillard High School held a wellness retreat for teachers, and staff at the new L.A. Lee YMCA Mizell Community Center, in Fort Lauderdale.

It's purpose to prepare teachers physically, and mentally for what's sure to be a demanding school year.

Let's take a look.

Can you believe the summer is over, and we are here getting ready to do it all over again for the students of the Dillard community, and surrounding communities.

I'm just so excited about this year, and this morning.

We're here collaborating with the YMCA on a partnership where I as the principal have come up with a theme that healthy is the new superpower.

Exercise your mind, and your body to enhance your craft.

You see staff participating in water aerobics, playing basketball, we're actually even doing conversations around school data, and reflections, and how we can improve in our own craft of teaching and learning.

I think campus morale is so important.

So in your classroom, you want the classroom morale to be high 'cause that's how you get the highest levels of engagement from the students.

So I think that principal Robinson working with the YMCA saying, oh, we're gonna start like this together, helps us to establish a campuswide, faculty and staff wide morale, which is gonna help push us as the year goes on.

It's so important that we already mentally and physically to receive our students, and I don't expect one day to do that, but what I do expect is that this would be the beginning of something new for you.

Being healthy is just the most important thing, we know that if we are not healthy as professional educators, that it's gonna be hard for the long run to do our best with our students.

And so one of the things that Broward County Public School has a big emphasis on is social and emotional learning.

And so thus is one of the reasons why we're doing yoga, we want our teachers to be healthy physically, socially, and emotionally, and that's why we're here today.

I'm hoping that together in the words of Mrs. Robinson, together we can make great things happen with respect, grace, to each other.

It's gonna be a great school year, and we know that coming here is just gonna enhance that, help us as professional educators to enhance our craft.

Now let's turn to school safety.

The memories of the 2018 Parkland shooting have been really difficult for all of us.

Plus there is a Uvalde shooting as well in Texas, and Palm Beach County schools among other harding measures, a new crisis alert system will equip every school district employee with a panic button on their ID badge.

Automatically alerting local authorities, and locking down a school campus.

In Broward county, students from sixth to 12th grade will be subjected to random screenings with handheld metal detectors.

Sarah, talk about this policy and other ways security is being ramped up in Broward schools.

Yeah, the new superintendent has definitely taken security and safety seriously.

And last year we saw a huge uptick in instances of violence, in children bringing weapons to school because of the wake of the pandemic, and those issues.

And so I think this is the superintendent's way of trying to mitigate those things, and create a situation where our schools are much safer, and kids aren't engaging in violent behaviors at school.

Tony, teachers are often looked at as the last line of defense between students, and an active shooter.

Talk about the stress this adds for teachers.

You know, the actions that were taken, some of them in Parkland with the coach, people do what's natural for them.

And when you are a teacher, the main most important thing is that a child feels safe and secure before anything else happens.

That's part of the reason that the shortage is the way it is, some people cannot simply handle the pressure over, and over, and over.

But as I mentioned, as a whole, I think teachers are very resilient, they're going to do whatever's necessary to keep our children safe.

And in a lot of instance, that means sometimes we lose our own lives in the process.

You can watch the full town hall on our Facebook page @YourSouthFL.

I'm Scott Travis, thanks for watching.