TAMPA - Some parents got fired up Tuesday night at a school board meeting in Hillsborough County over the handling of recent incidents that lead to the deaths of two students with special needs.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- A Bay area family has filed a federal lawsuit against the Hillsborough County School District in the death of their 7-year-old special needs daughter.

Isabella Herrera died in January of 2012 at a Bay area hospital. Her death came a day after she was found choking and unconscious aboard a Hillsborough County school bus.

According to the lawsuit, the bus driver and bus aide failed to give Herrera the help she needed before and after she started choking on the school bus.

Herrera's lawyer showed video taken from the bus ride in January.

TAMPA — Dozens of elementary and middle schools in Hillsborough County got D's on Wednesday under the state's tougher grading system.

"We're not where we need to be, but this is sort of a weird transition year," said Stephen Hegarty, spokesman for Hillsborough County Schools.

Jose Colindres, chief operating officer of the nonprofit Brink Foundation, said his organization will contribute $25,000 to the scholarship effort. He invited students affected to contact his organization. And he criticized Elia for her statements about HCC and USF. "Honestly, the board and the superintendent do not have a lot of credibility with the community when it comes to this particular topic," he said.

TAMPA — Mekka Mason and her parents were thrilled when they learned a Hillsborough County magnet program would help pay for Mekka, the youngest of six children, to go to college and become a teacher.

Launched four years ago, the Urban Teaching Academy promised scholarships and the cost of books to students who completed the program successfully. In return, they agreed to come back to Hillsborough and teach for three years in urban schools.

TAMPA — In a move that responds to complaints about an Islamic organization, the Hillsborough County School District took a first step Tuesday toward regulating outside speakers in the classroom.

A brief set of guidelines offered by superintendent MaryEllen Elia asks teachers to look for speakers recommended by the district, consult with their principals and refrain from invitations to advocacy organizations.

TAMPA — Should your kid get a C on his Algebra 2 Honors midterm exam with more than half the answers wrong?

Sure, says the Hillsborough County School District.

That's ridiculous, says a math teacher at Wharton High School.

"We all are doing these kids a gross disservice," said Maxine Stark, a veteran teacher who's convinced that some of the grades on the report cards issued Friday were too generous.