The shrinking story: It’s enrollment in Florida’s traditional public schools.

Ten days into the new year, districts across the state are reporting student counts below last year’s numbers — in many cases much lower than what they had been expecting.

Miami-Dade County, for instance, was looking at a 13,000 student decrease though superintendent Jose Dotres predicted more children will register, WSVN reports. Dotres attributed the decline to a decrease in immigrant students, a lower birth rate and the rising costs of living in the county, the Miami Herald reports.

Orange County budget planners told their school board that they faced a 7,000 student decline, more than double what they anticipated, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Broward County schools have seen their student county drop by about 11,000, WPLG reports. Hillsborough County had about 10,000 fewer students in classrooms this year than last.

With funding allocated per student, you can see where this is going. Districts stand to see their budgets shrink by millions, even as their costs rise.

The trends also have longer term implications. Leaders in both Pinellas and Pasco counties are already talking about how they might reassess their building use to be more efficient (read: possible school closures or mergers).

Expect more details to emerge in the coming weeks as schools near their official state student count, and as school boards finalize their budgets. Read more here.

Hot topics

Crosswalk art: Florida’s crackdown on street murals is prompting the removal of artwork that had been installed as part of a safety project outside several Hillsborough schools.

Discrimination policies: Florida State University has withdrawn a proposal to remove references to race, religion and gender from its sex discrimination and sexual misconduct rules, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Employee discipline: The Santa Rosa County school district has suspended without pay a information technology specialist after a second incident in which he was accused of inappropriate activity involving student athletes, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

Medical school: Indian River State College has proposed creating the first medical school in the nation to be attached to a community college, TC Palm reports.

Morning pledge: The Florida Department of Education has begun starting each work day with a public recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Public information: A Volusia County school board member is criticizing the district’s requirement that more than 100 administrative staff sign non-disclosure agreements regarding certain aspects of their work, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

Security: Leon County school district officials will decide whether to place metal detectors at schools after a spate of weapons-related arrests at and near campuses, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Teacher vacancies: The Polk County school district is looking to fill about 300 teaching positions, about the same level of openings as past years, Lakeland Now reports.

From the police blotter ... The FBI has taken over an investigation into allegations of child neglect against three Alachua County high school administrators, WCJB reports. • A Palm Beach County middle school teacher was arrested on accusations of killing her father, WPTV reports. • A Clay County elementary school teacher was arrested on allegations of child abuse against a student, Clay Today reports.

From the court docket ... A Duval County parent announced her intent to sue the school district after her daughter was injured by a teacher at a school pep rally, WJXT reports.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.

Before you go ... Did you catch the Starship launch the other day. It was a sight to behold.

Jeffrey S. Solochek is a reporter covering education as a member of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub in partnership with Open Campus. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here.