Wednesday, July 10, 2013

NEWS RELEASE: JULY 2, 2013


June 28 - July 2, 2013

Students enjoy hands-on learning with animals
When you sign up for the veterinary assisting program at West Broward High School, your class partners aren't just fellow students, but also dogs and horses. The program has been part of West Broward High's offerings since the school opened in 2008 on the western edge of Pembroke Pines. The three-year program mixes traditional classroom learning with hands-on work on animals, said program director Tara Terribile.

Student and her mom collect shoes for charity
One hundred and seventy-four pairs of worn and smelly shoes. That's what is sitting in large, black garbage bags in Tiernan Ramer's garage. But the 12-year-old Plantation resident has special plans for those shoes – she's donating them. Tiernan, with help from her mother – Colleen Ramer – started a shoe drive last month called Soles for Souls. Once they have a good collection of shoes, the pair will bring them to a Broward County-based charity, where they will be cleaned, repaired, and given to Broward students who need them for the new school year.

Broward Schools’ Robert Runcie’s 7-period high school schedule ruled violation
Broward’s school district has made great strides in complying with state class-size requirements, but one of the techniques it used — forcing high schools to adopt a uniform, seven-period class schedule — violated its teachers union contract, an arbitrator has found.

UPDATED: Arbitrator overrules Broward high school schedule change
Many Broward County high schools could return to block scheduling this fall, after an arbitrator ruled that a switch to seven-period days violated a contract with the teacher’s union. Arbitrator David Weitzner has instructed high schools to revert back to their 2011-12 schedules, in response to a grievance from the Broward Teachers Union. While the union said the rule is binding, the district says no changes are being made yet.

Funding cuts hit special-needs staff at Broward schools
Kari Vaughn’s daughter, Sarah, who has Down syndrome, has attended Broward County Schools for close to 10 years. And along the way, Mom amassed quite a few battle scars.