Monday, January 28, 2013

NEWS RELEASE: JANUARY 26-28, 2013

January 26 - 28, 2013

Broward encourages solar energy with easier permits
Making energy from the sun seems a no-brainer for the Sunshine State, but cost has proven to be a hurdle. [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/ ]Broward County has taken a big step to cut costs for solar-panel systems on rooftops and homeowners, businesses and other counties are taking notice, a Go Solar conference showed Friday. With help from a $673,000 federal grant, Broward has simplified the process to apply for permits for roof-top solar-panel systems, saving time and money — perhaps thousands of dollars per system….The Go Solar Fest continues today from 9 a.m. to noon at the [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/ ]Broward County Convention Center, featuring exhibits from companies such as FP&L, The Energy Store of [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/hollywood-%28broward-florida%29-PLGEO100100403100000.topic ]Hollywood and solar-powered vehicles, including a solar race car made by students at South Plantation High School.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-go-solar-conference-20130123,0,5216556.story

Grant helps 'landlocked' school add play spaces
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/tamarac-PLGEO100100403280000.topic Tamarac Elementary School recently added play spaces for students thanks to the efforts of school officials, parents and a grant from a local health insurance company. The challenge: since being built in 1974, the school added five buildings and a large number of trees, which limited free space for playtime activity, Principal Roberta Ray said. The school already has a playground for kindergarten and pre-K but not enough room for a playground for students in grades 1-5. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/tamarac/fl-cn-playspace-0127-20130125,0,4580539.story

In newspaper only:

Weston school wins $25,000 with your help
If you helped vote for a Weston elementary school to win a new playground in the Clorox Power A Bright Future contest, congratulations.  Your vote counted and they won!  Country Isles Elementary will receive $25,000 to build a new playground.  “The district is expecting the check any day,” said PTA President Carolyn McDonald. “The community’s support was incredible,” she said.  The playground might be ready for the next school year.

Hundreds Stand Up Against Bullying at South Florida Anti-Bullying Summit
What came about from conversations during 2012 HRC Lobby Day with http://www.hrc.org/steering-committees/south-florida South Florida Congressman Hastings (D-F), Wilson, (D-F) and Wasserman-Schultz (D-Florida), as well as Capitol Hill staffers regarding anti-bullying legislation came into bright focus and reality Wednesday night in South Florida.  Over 400 students, administrators, parents and community activist took part in HRC South Florida’s 1st Annual Anti-Bullying Summit hosted by Sunrise Middle School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 23. http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hundreds-stand-up-against-bullying-at-south-florida-anti-bullying-summit/

Education Dept. Rules Schools Must Include Disabled In Sports
The U.S. Education Department has announced a new directive sure to be a real game-changer. They are telling schools they must include students with disabilities in sports programs or provide equal alternative options. The move is being hailed by parents in South Florida.
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/01/25/education-dept-says-schools-must-include-disabled-in-sports

Pines charters want share of Broward dollars
The Pembroke Pines Charter school system has a stellar reputation, top-notch students and well-maintained buildings. But it needs more money to keep going, school officials say.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/26/3202724/pines-charters-want-share-of-broward.html

Broward legislators to tackle topic of school cops and how to pay for them
Public meeting planned Tuesday at 2 p.m. in downtown Fort Lauderdale
The hot topic of how to pay for school cops will be the primary focus of a public meeting Tuesday at 2 p.m. The Broward Legislative Delegation meeting, scheduled to end at 4:30 p.m., will take place in commission chambers at the Governmental Center in downtown http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/fort-lauderdale-PLGEO100100403070000.topic

BSO gives tips on how parents can protect their child from bullying at school
If your child is afraid to go to school, something more sinister than algebra might be behind the unexplained anxiety. The [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/crime-law-justice/police/broward-county-sheriffs-office-ORGOV000075.topic ]Broward Sheriff's Office gives a list of tips on how to identify whether your child is being bullied, and what you can do to stop it. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-stop-bullying-tips-20130127,0,7519416.story

KINDERGARTEN ROUND UP REMINDER

Do you have a Kindergartener that will be starting in the Fall? Tamarac Elementary will be hosting a Kindergarten round up on Tuesday, January 29th at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM in the cafeteria. Come see what Tamarac has been doing and come register your student. Staff will be here to answer any questions that you may have.

ESE WORKSHOPS FOR SPRING 2013



Please click on the link below to get a full list of all the ESE Workshops available this Spring.
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/html/WORKSHOP_SECOND.htm

ESE WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS


Sunday, January 27, 2013

NEW RELEASE: January 19-23, 2013

January 19-22, 2013

Broward County Public Schools Announces New BCPS Calendar of Public Meetings & Events
The District is excited to announce the launch of a new BCPS Calendar of Public Meetings and Events on the District’s website http://www.browardschools.com/bcpscalendar/index.asp

Broward School Board questions district's class reduction strategy
The Broward School Board is expected to finalize its plan to reduce class size on Tuesday, with hopes of lessening a $5.6 million fine for not meeting the state mandate. If the district submits the plan by Feb. 1, the state will reduce the fine to $1.3 million. But some school board members are concerned the district is pushing too many students into already over-enrolled advanced placement classes in an attempt to avoid fines for crowded classrooms.

Broward school workers going elsewhere for health insurance
Broward County third-grade teachers Kimberly and David Plaksin are stuck. Expecting twins next month, the Plaksins can't get around having to pay Broward County Schools' high health insurance rates for dependents – rates so high the majority of those who work at the sixth-largest school district in the nation refuse to pay, going elsewhere if they can. From the lowest-cost option to the highest, Broward County's largest employer offers its 26,500 employees health care premiums to cover spouses and children that far outpace rates paid by employees in other South Florida school districts.

Broward district changes school-naming guidelines
With hundreds of schools,stadiums and athletic fields under its care, Broward’s school district has no shortage of facilities that are named after people, living and dead. But getting your name onto a Broward school campus will be tougher from now on, after School Board members recently gave final approval to stricter naming guidelines. Entire schools can now only be named after deceased individuals, and portions of a school campus can only be named after elected officials or district employees if that person has been out of office, or off the district’s payroll, for at least two years.

After Sandy Hook, teachers prepare for classroom battle
There was a time when classrooms were not potential "kill zones," when teachers had no call for martial arts, when staplers, chairs and books were tools, not weapons. But that was before horror of the Sandy Hook school shootings.

Miami-Dade, Broward grapple with how to put more police officers in schools
South Florida’s police and elected officials say they want a cop assigned to every public school, but turning that dream into reality is proving complicated. Politicians and police in South Florida grappled Friday with how to man every public school with a police officer, but a consensus solution still seems a long way away.
 
January 23, 2013

Broward to hold re-engagement fair for dropout students
It's not too late to graduate, according to officials at the Broward school district. They will be hosting a re-engagement fair Feb. 2 for students that left high school before earning their diplomas. The fair will help individuals who attend learn what the requirements are to obtain their diplomas and offer education options and training opportunities.

A generation of growth: Broward Education Foundation launches 'Garden Delights – Team Up for Healthy Choices'
Students in Broward Schools consume 2 million servings of chicken nuggets, 3.4 million servings of pizza and 10 million pouches of juice each year, which is considered by some to be contributing to the epidemic of U.S. obesity. In an effort to help curb that trend and encourage kids to eat more fresh vegetables, the Broward Education Foundation has launched "Garden Delights - Team Up for Healthy Choices" with more than $50,000 in donations from the Health Foundation of South Florida, Wells Fargo and Flamingo Road Gardens Nursery.

Runcie earns top marks from Broward School Board
The transportation blunder that left thousands of students stranded at the start of the school year has overshadowed many of Superintendent Robert Runcie's accomplishments to date, the Broward School Board said Tuesday. In an interim evaluation Tuesday, the board praised Runcie's visionary leadership and ability to foster a culture of collaboration and teamwork. He was given an overall rating of "highly effective" for securing a teacher pay raise, winning a $48 million grant for teacher evaluation reforms, and having more than 80 percent of schools receive a state-issued A or B grade.

Broward schools superintendent earns high marks
The Broward schools chief is lauded for restoring art and music into the classrooms, and seeing to it that teachers got raises. But he’s also chided for his handling of late and no-show buses. The honeymoon may be long over, but Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie still boasts the solid support of the majority of the Broward School Board — with six board members rating Runcie “highly effective” during his latest semi-annual performance review.
 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

NO NAME CALLING WEEK


NEWS RELEASE: JANUARY 18, 2013

January 18, 2013

Students prepare for inauguration trip
10 Dillard High School students traveling to Washington DC
Ten Dillard High School students are preparing for their trip to Washington, D.C, for Inauguration Day. "Everybody wants to go but nobody's ever willing to work to get there," said Stephanie Davis. "So I feel like we're taking the extra mile to go."

Plan to boost schools unveiled
Broward County Schools officials have unveiled an ambitious plan for the district’s worst-performing schools. The proposals were unveiled to Fort Lauderdale residents Monday night in the first of two meetings with residents.  The schools, all in District 5, each have a 10-year history of low academic achievement.

Palm Beach County schools to spend about $400,000 on school police aides this year; bigger expenses loom next year
The Palm Beach County School District will spend about $400,000 to add about 30 school police aides to increase security at schools, a top administrator said Thursday…. Other districts also are reviewing safety. Broward County schools are looking into adding resource officers, as well as making structural changes to schools that have more than one point of entry. But “that all takes dollars,” Broward Schools Police Chief David Golt said. Golt said he’s been in school safety meetings nonstop since Sandy Hook. “This is really at the forefront,” he said.

NEWS RELEASE: JANUARY 15, 2013

January 15, 2013

Nova Middle collects 500 loaves of bread for food pantry
Students turned in more than 500 loaves of freshly baked bread Monday morning after learning the science of baking last week. The Nova Middle School students in Davie were asked to bake over the weekend and bring back a loaf to donate to the local food pantry.They learned how to make bread during a free program by King Arthur Flour.

Stoneman Douglas High hosts third annual hopscotch tournament
Three years ago a group of high school juniors created the first ever Hopscotch Club at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. That same afternoon it became more than a club, it became a tournament. Douglas High hosts the third annual Hopping for a Multiple Sclerosis Cure event on Thursday Jan. 17 at 12:00 pm. The event will take place at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High track and field (5901 Pine Island Road in Parkland, FL 33076).

League of Cities, Broward School Board key in on top issues
The Broward League of Cities and the school district set their legislative funding priorities Monday, including money for special programs, class size reduction requirements and capital improvement projects. However, they made no mention of asking for additional revenue to pay for more school resource officers.

Whole Foods to donate profits to Habitat for Humanity in one-day event
Your dollar will go a long way if you shop at the Whole Foods in Pembroke Pines on Wednesday. The store has agreed to donate 5 percent of its sales to the Habitat for Humanity chapter at Cypress Bay High School.

Pines parents voice concern over charter schools' finances
PembrokePines charter school parents showed up in full force Monday night to voice their concerns about the financial instability of the city-run charter system. City commissioners, Broward County School Board members and Superintendent of BrowardCounty Schools Robert Runcie addressed nearly 1,000 people in a town hall meeting at the Pembroke Pines Charter High School.

Building public trust
OUR OPINION: Updating Hallandale High School and Fort Lauderdale’s Stranahan High should be a priority for Broward schools The eye-opening evidence that some Broward County schools need critical repairs came from a grassroots group during a recent school board meeting. Citizens Concerned about our Children showed board members slide after slide of leaky roofs, unusable playing fields and a sewage leak in a boys’ locker room, all at two schools serving students in predominantly black neighborhoods.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

NEWS RELEASE: JANUARY 10, 2013

January 10, 2013

New Holocaust film's story comes to life for students
Some call Sir Nicholas Winton a hero, others say he was their savior. The man who rescued 669 Jewish children from the Nazis is also called Britain's Schindler. But for Nick Winton, he's simply Pa. "My dad didn't consider himself a hero, because a hero does something brave in times of danger," Winton told students at Deerfield Beach Middle School on Wednesday. "He was just a regular guy that happened to be in a position to help."

Broward Magnet Schools host open houses and live webchats
Thinking about a magnet program, but not sure which one to choose? During the month of January, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) will hold its annual magnet schools open houses and live web chats to offer interested students and parents an opportunity to learn more about the program themes, specialized curriculums and activities available at magnet schools.

Report On Broward Schools Details Leaky Gyms, Decay
Broward County’s schools are in dire need of repair, according to a new report presented to the Broward School Board on Tuesday.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

NEWS RELEASE: JANUARY 9, 2013

January 9, 2013

Deteriorating schools not 'just pure history'
It looked like a bad case of deja vu — sewage leaking from school ceilings, crumbling walkways and no air conditioning in classrooms.  On Tuesday, advocates of a group that sued the Broward School Board in 1995 for discriminating against black children showed today's board members slide after slide of deteriorating conditions that still exist at StranahanHigh School in FortLauderdale.

Broward schools report highlights decaying buildings
The report, presented Tuesday to the Broward School Board, delved into Broward’s checkered past when it comes to achieving equality, and highlighted recent problems at Hallandale High School and Fort Lauderdale’s Stranahan High.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

NEW RELEASE: January 1-8, 2013

JANUARY 1-8, 2013

Garden lessons come alive
Parents can stilll earn a thing or two from students. And during a student cooking demonstration Monday, they learned cooking healthy doesn't have to be expensive. "I've never made oatmeal from scratch, but my son seems to like it and it's cheap,"said Stephan Brown, a parent at [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/elementary-schools/dillard-elementary-school-ORGOV0000208.topic ]Dillard Elementary School, as he and his son tasted various home-cooked dishes.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-healthy-eating-parent-class-20130107,0,7067665.story

Broward schools get vegetable gardens
Students at five Broward schools are getting a hands-on lesson in healthy eating with a new in-school vegetable garden program created by the Broward Education Foundation.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/03/3166234/broward-schools-get-vegetable.html

School counselor goes to Connecticut to offer helping hand
Though the bullets that killed 20 children and six teachers rang out more than 1,300 miles away, for Jennifer Shepard, a special needs therapist in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/fort-lauderdale-PLGEO100100403070000.topic ]Fort Lauderdale, it hit very close to home. "When I heard about it, it was instant, I knew I had to go," said Shepard, 39, who immediately booked a flight to Newtown, Conn., after the massacre at [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/elementary-schools/sandy-hook-elementary-school-OREDU000812.topic ]Sandy Hook Elementary. "It could be your co-worker; those could be your kids."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-local-counselor-goes-to-conn-20130104,0,1050887.story

After 20 years, teacher gets a thank you to remember
Kevin Dorival, 32,sat before his fifth grade teacher on Friday and handed her one final writing assignment – his first published book – and the biggest thank you a teacher could ask for. It was the first time in more than 20 years that Sonji Wyche saw her student since he graduated from Park Ridge Elementary School in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/deerfield-beach-PLGEO100100403060000.topic ]Deerfield Beach in 1992. But he said her lessons still inspire him, and he thanks her for that in his autobiography, "The Courage to Believe." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-former-student-thanks-teacher-20130104,0,7272236.story

Band students play their way to state recognition
It's like the Olympics for middle school band students — but instead of javelins and soccer balls, they perform with tubas and bassoons. "It's a pretty big deal," said seventh grader AnnaLee Bossory of [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/middle-schools/falcon-cove-middle-school-OREDU0000394.topic ]Falcon Cove Middle in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/weston-%28broward-florida%29-PLGEO100100403290000.topic ]Weston, whose school had an unprecedented six students qualify for Florida's All-State Band this year.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-all-state-band-students-20130101,0,1006155.story

Class collects items to help wildlife center
Rachel Supnick's love of animals has motivated her to help the furry and feathered inhabitants of the Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital. The 9-year-old has recruited her third-grade class at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston to help the [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/coral-springs-PLGEO100100403030000.topic ]Coral Springs facility.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/weston/fl-cn-rachel-0106-20130104,0,1700371.story

Mark of excellence
OUR OPINION: New international scores put Florida students ahead; South Florida schools lead state, too
It can be easy to lose track of Florida’s accomplishments after a decade-plus of education reform. True, money for public education has plummeted over the past five years as the state experienced a severe economic downturn. And, yes, there’s still too much teaching to the FCAT, though that test will be changing to common score standards for year-end exams on key subjects, a better gauge of student learning..
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/02/3165245/mark-of-excellence.html

Not all police officers to remain as kids return to school
In the immediate aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., massacre, police patrols were boosted at South Florida's elementary schools. But three weeks later, as students get ready to return from holiday break, cities are weighing whether these measures should continue. Some, like [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/fort-lauderdale-PLGEO100100403070000.topic ]FortLauderdale and [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/boyntonbeach?track=tax-boyntonbeach ]Boynton Beach, are going back to business as usual. But others, such as Plantation, [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/pompano-beach-PLGEO100100403240000.topic ]PompanoBeach and Weston,will continue providing additional police presence.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-broward-school-sros-after-break-20130105,0,5103741.story

Sunrise commissioner: Use retired cops to patrol schools, save money
Full-time police officers patrol every school in Sunrise, but Commissioner Larry Sofield says retired cops can do the same job for much less. Hiring retired officers to patrol the city's schools would save taxpayers at least $870,000 a year — or $79,000 per job, Sofield estimates.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/sunrise/fl-sros-sunrise-cheaper-20130102,0,4366835.story

Broward bans naming schools after living people
If you want a [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/ ]Broward County public school named in your honor, you'll now have to meet some strict criteria — and you won't be around to see it happen. A School Board policy passed in December says schools can still be named after civic or education leaders of "local, state, national or international prominence," but the honoree must be dead for at least two years. The policy affects district-run schools, not charter schools.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/highered/fl-broward-school-building-names-20121231,0,5562307.story

School bus-battery thefts delay student pickups
Battery thefts from15 [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/ ]Broward County school buses delayed student pickups on the first day back to school after the holiday break. "There were some delayed routes,"said Nadine Drew, a Broward School District spokeswoman. "There were several late arrivals at school this morning." Drew did not immediately know how many routes were affected or how many students were temporarily stranded Monday morning.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/fl-broward-school-bus-break-ins-20130107,0,5411683.story

Batteries Stolen From Several School Buses in Broward
Batteries stolen from 16 buses at lot in Pompano Beach.
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/Batteries-Stolen-From-Several-School-Buses-in-Broward-185879162.html

Scott's goal of tax cuts a mixed result
Gov. [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/politics/government/rick-scott-PEPLT00007609.topic ]Rick Scott was following a well-read playbook when he campaigned in 2010 to kick-start the economy in part with deep property tax cuts. It just didn't come off as scripted…. Schools statewide responded by cutting back on arts, physical education and athletics, and by reducing staffs. Though the base level of per-pupil funding provided to classrooms had been eroding since it peaked at $7,263 in 2007, it shrank in 2011 to $6,224. Parents took notice. "His impact was felt last year where [per-pupil funding] went down," said Linda Nestor, president of the [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/ ]Broward County Council of PTA/PTSA. "It still is not up to the level it was the year before he took office, even though costs have gone up."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/os-scott-jobs-property-taxes-20130102-27,0,3402158.story

Crash victims mourned
More than 150 gather to remember 3 who died in I-95 crash in Deerfield
More than 150 people lit candles, held hands in prayer and sang Amazing Grace on Sunday night to mourn the death of a mother, her daughter and her nephew. Friends and family gathered at Pompano Community Park to remember Nadege Theodore, 37, her daughter, Lyn, 15, and nephew Guivens Daverman, 16, who died when the SUV they were traveling in Wednesday was involved in a three-car collision and careened into a lake south of Hillsboro Boulevard off Interstate 95. Both teenagers were sophomores at [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/high-schools/blanche-ely-high-school-OREDU0000431.topic ]Blanche Ely High School.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/fl-victims-memorial-service-20130106,0,623231.story