A rally was held on Wednesday, what is that last day of school for many students, to protest recent legislation impacting schools in Florida.

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez used a public school’s back entrance to avoid a group of protesters who were chanting outside during her visit on Wednesday morning in Miami-Dade County.

It is the holiday season and almost winter break for schools in South Florida, so the Miami-Dade teachers union tried to avoid a confrontational tone on Thursday.

On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, hosts Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney welcome Lieutenant Governor Candidate Karla Hernandez-Mats, attorney Larry Davis, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

By the time Charlie Crist officially named Miami-Dade Teachers Union President Karla Hernandez-Mats as his running mate for lieutenant governor, the opposition had already launched.

Charlie Crist's pick to join him on the ticket as lieutenant governor made the rounds Wednesday on the campaign trail.

Democrat Charlie Crist has tapped Miami-Dade County teachers union president Karla Hernandez-Mats as his running mate as he challenges Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida.

Teachers’ unions in South Florida oppose the state’s new effort to have fewer requirements for U.S. military veterans and their spouses to work in public schools.

In the wake of yet another school shooting, arming teachers has once again been proposed as a solution to stopping mass murder in American classrooms.

When it comes to education, the classroom is where the rubber meets the road, where the actual learning takes place.

A union spokesperson said the event is being held in response to the growing number of COVID deaths at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

In recent weeks, you’ve probably heard the term critical race theory and you may also have heard Gov. Ron DeSantis denounce it as “cultural marxism,” though what he means by that is still not clear.

Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran is asking school districts to make mandatory face mask policies voluntary for the next school year.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Advocacy groups recently met in Miami-Dade County to denounce what they say are several oppressive Florida legislative proposals that are in the works. CRIMINAL LAW: PROTESTA Florida legislative proposal would make it easier to criminalize protesters and prevent civil litigation if a protester is a victim of police brutality. Florida Senate Bill 48 creates publicly funded educational savings accounts to help families pay for tuition at private schools. Florida Senate Bill 84 voids the state’s pension plan for a privatized 401(k) retirement plan. Florida Senate Bill 90 limits vote-by-mail applications to one election cycle and eliminates drop-off boxes.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is asking Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration to make sure teachers and school staff have priority access to the coronavirus vaccine after healthcare workers and first responders. In a Tuesday letter to Dr. Scott A. Rivkees, Florida’s surgeon general, Carvalho wrote that teachers’ priority access to the vaccine and to more reliable coronavirus testing is critical. Ron DeSantis visits Donald Trump at White House vaccine summitDeSantis said Tuesday during Trump’s administration summit on the coronavirus vaccine that he will first have it distributed to Florida’s long-term care facilities’ residents and to hospitals. It’s unlikely that DeSantis will introduce a vaccine mandate since he did not impose a statewide face mask mandate.

Miami-Dade County School Board member Steve Gallon III fainted on Tuesday after delivering a speech during a swearing-in ceremony. Hours later, he said he was ready to get back to work. “We need him now more than ever because a lot of important decisions are being made at our school board that impact our entire community." Gallon, who was born and raised in Miami’s Liberty City, is the elected District 1 school board member for the Miami-Dade County Schools and the vice-chair. By the time he made it to Jackson Memorial Hospital, Gallon was conscious again.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Miami-Dade County is nearing 300 schools that have confirmed coronavirus cases, and Broward County has reached 200 schools that have students or faculty with infections, according to the state’s latest data. The Florida Department of Health’s weekly report on COVID-19 in primary and secondary schools shows 675 of them with confirmed positive cases across Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties since early September. The latest data includes cases confirmed through Oct. 31. According to the state report, Hollywood Academy of Arts & Science had 11 cases newly confirmed last week, including 10 students — the most among Broward schools. Local educators have said that parents are notified of cases at their children’s schools before cases are certified by the state.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The number of primary and secondary schools in South Florida that have had COVID-19 cases confirmed by the state is approaching 500. The total number of schools with infections in those four counties is up 32% (from 361) week over week. The cumulative totals include cases dating back to Sept. 6, which is earlier than many South Florida students returned to the classroom. Local educators have said that parents are notified of cases at their children’s schools before cases are certified by the state. View and download the state’s latest report on COVID-19 in schools below:(If you cannot see the chart above, click here.)

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – One public school in Miami-Dade County temporarily went back to virtual learning just a week after schools began reopening. MAST Academy closed its campus Monday after two students tested positive for COVID-19. The wellbeing of our students and employees is our top priority at Miami-Dade County Public Schools.”MAST, however, isn’t alone with coronavirus cases. Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ dashboard shows new cases at Flagami Elementary, Royal Green Elementary, North Dade Center for Modern Languages Elementary and two at Coral Park Elementary. When asked why MAST Academy was shut down after the COVID-19 cases, while other schools with positive cases have remained open, Zea noted that high schoolers are moving around more than others at school.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Joining This Week in South Florida are Karla Hernandez-Mats, who represents United Teachers of Dade, Anna Fusco heads the Broward Teachers Union, past president of the Miami-Dade Parent Teacher Association Joe Gebara, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Broward State Attorney candidate Gregg Rossman, FIU professor of politics Kathryn DePalo-Gould and Barry University political science professor Sean Forman. The full episode can be seen at the top of this page.

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Just days into reopening classrooms, the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Miami-Dade schools. In Broward County, some parents and teachers wondered of the schools would be a safe and healthy learning environment. On This Week in South Florida, voices from every perspective were heard; those who head the teachers unions in both counties:Karla Hernandez-Mats represents United Teachers of Dade, Anna Fusco heads the Broward Teachers Union, and Joe Gebara is a parent activist and past president of the Miami-Dade Parent Teacher Association. They all joined TWISF hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg to discuss the ongoing situation. Their conversation can be seen at the top of this page.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – During its first in-person meeting of the new school year, the Miami-Dade County School Board had two options: whether to stick to the plan they recently approved or follow the state education commissioner’s request to reopen schools on Oct. 5. #BREAKING: Miami-Dade @MDCPS votes to reopen physical #classroom starting Oct. 5, then staggered until Oct. 9. Throughout meeting, loss of #millions of $$ in #funding was repeatedly discussed and part of the reason for scrubbing their previous vote to start Oct. 14. “It’s very frustrating,” said Miami-Dade School Board Member Lubby Navarro. Staggered return for selected students begins on October 5. https://t.co/rSLYzzQKqT pic.twitter.com/gcL7cfSU37 — Miami-Dade Schools (@MDCPS) September 30, 2020Added Miami-Dade School Board Member Martin Karp: “We want to take everybody’s considerations into mind.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Broward County Schools Superintendent received the same three-page letter that was sent to Miami-Dade County Schools from the Florida’s Commissioner of Education. I hope our board holds their ground to ensure proper safety.”She called an earlier return to school “unfathomable negligence.”A special school board meeting has been called for Tuesday, according to MDCPS Chief Communications Officer Daisy Gonzalez-Diego. In a memo sent by Carvalho to the board, he announced that the meeting would be held “in person” in the School Board Administration Building auditorium. (See the letter below from Florida Department of Education to Miami Dade County Schools. Also, Miami superintendent’s memo to school board calling special meeting.)

Richard Corcoran’s three-page letter, addressed to Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho and School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, said that in-person learning must be made available by Oct. 5. I hope our board holds their ground to ensure proper safety.”A special school board meeting has been called for Tuesday, according to MDCPS Chief Communications Officer Daisy Gonzalez-Diego. “Your plan does not offer that option for all students until 40 days from the time (Miami-Dade) county entered Phase 2, more than twice as long as Palm Beach County Schools,” Corcoran stated. “The District was prepared to launch Stage II of our reopening plan, under the adjusted timeline proffered and unanimously approved by the School Board last week. Also, Superintendent memo to school board calling special meeting.)

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Students, teachers and school staff could soon be back inside their respective school buildings. The school boards in Broward and Miami-Dade counties will take up that very issue in the coming days. Both counties are targeting early October for a return to in-person learning, which is just a couple of weeks away. Some of the most significant voices in the debate are the leaders of the teachers unions. Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco and United Teachers of Dade president Karla Hernandez-Mats joined This Week in South Florida to discuss with hosts Glenna Milberg and Michael Putney.