February 16 - 20, 2013
Miami Dolphins teach NFL skills to Glades Middle School students
Dancing program part of anti-bullying effort
Three fifth-grade classes from Harbordale Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale
recently took part in a Dancing Classrooms Southeast Florida program
designed to promote
social development and combat bullying. The program involved teaching
about 50 students several ballroom dances — the waltz, merengue, fox
trot, tango, rumba and swing — twice a week at recess time during the
fall semester. At the conclusion, the students gave a recital at the
school.
Music to their ears: Students seek $30,000 grant for instruments
When
McArthur High's students learned that as many as three classmates had
to share a single band instrument, it struck a sour note. So five
freshmen put their lessons to work and applied for a $30,000 grant to
replace some of the school's beat up and out-of-tune instruments. They
recently learned they're finalists for the money.
Parents fight to keep 2 special needs schools open
Parents at two special needs centers in Browardcounty
are determined to convince the district to keep their schools open.
Earlier this month, the district announced Sunset School and Wingate
Oaks in FortLauderdale
will shutter at the end of the school year due to low enrollment
numbers. Parents at Sunset have started an online petiiton to "Save
Sunset School." So far, the petition has garnered slightly under 500
signatures.
Parents decry closing of two Broward schools for special-needs kids
A
growing chorus of parents with special-needs children are complaining
about how the Broward school district treats them. If you ask parents
why they value Broward’s Wingate Oaks Educational Center — and why
they’re so furious about its imminent closure —the answer often boils
down to trust.
School Districts across the country join Broward at invitation-only symposium on LGBTQ issues in Fort Lauderdale
School
district representatives from across the country are convening in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, taking part in a first-ever symposium hosted by the
Broward Stonewall Education Project (BSEP). Participants will examine
LGBTQ-inclusive support systems and resources necessary for the wellness
and safety of LGBTQ students in schools. In addition, participants will
work together to create a national network for the future. BSEP is an
unprecedented partnership between a private museum, the Fort
Lauderdale-based Stonewall National Museum & Archives, and a public
school district, Broward CountyPublic Schools (the nation’s sixth
largest).
Hillsborough schools consider ads on websites
In
Broward County, the web site for Coral Springs High School has an
advertisement for a movie theater complex. The web site for Fort
Lauderdale High carries an ad for a local dance studio.
Broward schools overpaid security firm by $129,000, audit finds
The
Broward school district overpaid a security firm by $129,000, according
an internal audit that found the district grossly mismanaged the
contract, paid unnecessary overtime and late fees, and even paid guards
after the contract expired. U.S. Security Associates, Inc. was
contracted in 2009 to provide security guards to various bus facilities
and the district's administration building. The district's school police
department handled payments and verified work hours. An audit into the
contract paymentswas requested by Superintendent Robert Runcie.
Davie considers tax to raise money to pay for police at every school
After
the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, Davie
decided to put police officers in all of the town’s public schools. But
after six weeks, saying it was too much of a strain, the police
department pulled the officers out. Unhappy parents and teachers
complained, and on Wednesday, the Town Council held a meeting to discuss
a solution. They decided to put it to the voters….The Broward School
District has no unified policy on the placement of police officers in
schools, said spokeswoman Tracy Clark. It’s up to each municipality to
decide whether or not to place officers in elementary schools.
Teacher faces firing over anger issues
A Wilton Manors Elementary
teacher could lose her job for a variety of issues, including a heated
dispute over flowers. Superintendent Robert Runcie is recommending the
Broward School Board take steps Tuesday to fire Ann Morgan, 60, who
teaches autistic students. If it agrees, she would be placed on unpaid leave while she is allowed to appeal.
