Local

Seminole Co. schools saving more than $50,000 in teacher training

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County school leaders are reconsidering a plan to send teachers to an expensive training seminar this summer.

They've learned they can get the same training on campus at half the cost.

Seminole County was set to send more than 170 teachers to a national learning seminar in Orange County. It would have cost Seminole County taxpayers about $100,000.

It's almost $600 per head, but the company offers the same training over a live broadcast for less than half the cost.

Seminole County parent Elaine Lamar said money should be put into educating teachers, but she would definitely appreciate the cost savings.

The school leaders are canceling the trip to switch to the cheaper version and will host the live simulcasts on campus instead.

Orange County is still planning to send at least 60 teachers to the seminar and has no plans to explore the simulcast version because, they said, grant money is paying for the training.

A live simulcast held in an auditorium is more cost-effective, but some educators said teachers would lose face time they get in small-group exercises with professionals from around the country.

Osceola County is also sending a number of teachers, but officials couldn't say exactly how many or how much they plan to spend.