News Briefs

+ State releases FCAT results
The Florida Department of Education last week released writing and reading results for portions of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, better known as FCAT.

In reading, levels for FCAT 2.0 reading range from one to five, with level 3 or above indicating proficiency.

In Manatee County, ninth-grade students equaled the state average, with 52% of students scoring level 3 or higher. Tenth-grade students also equaled the state average in FCAT 2.0 reading with 50% scoring at or above level 3.

The Florida State Board of Education held an emergency meeting to adjust calculations for performance in writing after students statewide performed significantly lower than expected under new grading criteria.
Under new scoring, FCAT writing scores of 3.0 or higher indicate proficiency.

In Manatee, the percentage of fourth-grade students scoring at level 3 or higher was 76%, and the percentage of fourth-graders scoring at level 4 or higher was 22.3%.

Eighth-grade students scoring at level 3 or higher was 68.9%, and tenth-grade students scoring at level 3 or higher was 80.5%.

McNeal Elementary School was one school in the county that performed higher than many others, with 98% of McNeal fourth-graders scoring at a level 3 or higher.

+ Local governments close for Memorial Day
Manatee County government offices will be closed Monday, May 28, to commemorate Memorial Day.

Trash, recycling and yard-waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Tuesday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated Manatee County. County parks, beaches and preserves will remain open.

Additionally, Lakewood Ranch Town Hall will be closed May 28 in observance of Memorial Day, as well.

+ Albertsons readies for June 9 closure
The Albertsons grocery store at Lockwood Ridge Road and University Parkway is preparing to close its doors and has begun liquidating its inventory.

Albertsons LLC announced in April it would close 13 of 17 “largely unprofitable” stores in Florida within about 60 days, including the one at 8415 Lockwood Ridge Road and another at 7415 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. The stores are slated to close on or about Saturday, June 9.

“It depends on how quickly the inventory depletes,” Albertsons spokesperson Christine Wilcox said, adding store liquidations began May 9.

The company is also closing a distribution center in Plant City. Of about 1,100 statewide being closed, about 80 are in Manatee County.

Meetings & Agendas
• Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Budget/Constitutional Officers Presentation — 9 a.m. May 31, at 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.