A SYNOPSIS OF BCPS IN THE NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF 10/7
Tell Broward schools what you
Have something to say to the Broward school district? Here's your chance: the district is hosting its second annual Ed Talk at the Broward Convention Center Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-tophat-broward-ed-talk-20131007,0,15039.story
School club hopes to prevent teen suicides
Officials at Marjory [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/high-schools/stoneman-douglas-high-school--OREDU0000447.topic ]Stoneman Douglas High School hope that the recently established HOPE (Helping Overcome Problems Effectively) Club will provide students with the support and information needed to prevent suicides.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/parkland/fl-cn-yoga-1006-20131004,0,2832869.story
Teacher preserves the art of woodshop
He's one of the last teachers in Broward to still hear loud buzzing from large industrial saws in his classroom. John Tunon breathes in sawdust as he works. It's constantly in the air. That's because Tunon runs one of the few woodshops left in the school district, housed at Taravella High in Coral Springs.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-broward-home-ec-class-change-2-20130927,0,7887204.story
$11.9M grant sprouts magnets
The Broward County Public School District (BCPS) is being awarded an $11.9 million federal grant to create and expand six elementary magnet schools that will specialize in STEM –science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14475&itemid=144
Sheriff’s program gives youth a second chance
A campaign promise by Sheriff Scott Israel has resulted in the Broward Sheriff’s Office invoking a little-known state law that gives a second chance to juveniles with otherwise clean records who get into minor scrapes with the law.
http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14490&Itemid=331
Sunshine Connections:"Brooklyn Castle" inspiration for Florida chess-in-school programs
The award-winning documentary film “[ http://www.brooklyncastle.com/ ]Brooklyn Castle” continues to inspire city government officials in Florida, who are trying to incorporate academic chess programs into the lower grades. http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/sunshine-connections-brooklyn-castle-inspiration-florida-chess-school-programs-2013-10-04
School districts want tighter rein on charters
Charter schools are designed to be free to innovate, but district officials — and many charter school leaders — say that freedom from regulation has gone too far. It is time to put in stricter standards, they say. I
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-charter-school-accountability-20131005,0,1202692.story
Under fire from Hollywood neighbors, school trims size of planned campus
After hearing concerns from Hollywood residents who say traffic is already infuriatingly snarled, officials from Ben Gamla Charter School on Thursday said they plan on reducing the size of a proposed high school to hold 600 students instead of 1,050.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/04/3668174/under-fire-from-hollywood-neighbors.html
Broward County holds largest high school marching band festival
Thirty of Broward County's best high school marching bands will be competing in the Florida Bandmasters Association Performance Assessment on Oct. 26. The Marching Band Festival will take place at Coral Springs High School, 7201 West Sample Road.
http://www.local10.com/news/broward-county-holds-largest-high-school-marching-band-festival/-/1717324/22331174/-/p9td5mz/-/index.html
Alumni to be inducted into Broward Education Foundation Hall of Fame
The Broward Education Foundation (BEF), a nonprofit organization that supports public schools in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/ ]Broward County,will be honoring seven "Hall of Fame Distinguished" alumni inductees at a breakfast Oct. 23, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the Global Grille and Event Center, 301 E Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. This inaugural event is part of the Foundation's 30th anniversary, and an opportunity to showcase many of the outstanding leaders educated in the community's public schools.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/custom/society/broward/societyse-ots4-bef-1009-20131009,0,4459491.story
Broward plan overhauls pay for principals
A new plan for paying Broward's principals will factor in a school's size and its number of low-income or special needs students. The school district proposal, set to kick in next year, would overhaul the current salary structure, which is based on years of experience and school level (elementary, middle, high school or alternative center). http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-broward-principal-evaluations-20131008,0,5868436.story
Students take charge in hurricane simulation
On Thursday, the fate of [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/new-river-%28broward-florida%29-PLGEOREG000012.topic ]South Florida lay in the hands of a group of seventh-graders. Hurricane Barbara, a Category 3 storm, had just struck, leaving an overcrowded hospital without enough food or water. Senior citizens were stranded on an island after an ocean tanker smashed the connecting bridge. Water-logged communities needed to be evacuated. About 50 students from [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/middle-schools/new-river-middle-school-ORGOV0000224.topic ]New River Middle in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/fort-lauderdale-PLGEO100100403070000.topic ]Fort Lauderdale huddled in groups at Broward's Emergency Operations Center in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/plantation-PLGEO100100403230000.topic ]Plantation, trying to determine how to relay help and save lives. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-student-hurricane-simulation-20131010,0,1169395.story
Runcie Virtual School Superintendent of Year
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Robert Runcie is being recognized by Florida Virtual School as Superintendent of the Year. Runcie shares the honor with Mark Rains, superintendent of the Dixie County School District. http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14518&Itemid=144
6 Broward cities to add police at elementaries
Elementary schools in six Broward cities will soon be getting something new on campus — police officers. The Broward school district agreed to spend $555,000 for 12 officers to patrol schools in [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/hollywood-%28broward-florida%29-PLGEO100100403100000.topic ]Hollywood, [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/coconut-creek-PLGEO100100403010000.topic ]Coconut Creek, [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/pembroke-pines-PLGEO100100403220000.topic ]Pembroke Pines, [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/wilton-manors-PLGEO100100403300000.topic ]Wilton Manors, [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/us/florida/broward-county/lauderhill-PLGEO100100403130000.topic ]Lauderhill and Davie.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/fl-broward-new-school-police-20131009,0,6927396.story
Parkland Residents Speak Out To School Board Members Regarding Boundary Changes
On Wednesday night, parents had the chance to ask their school board members questions in their “Conversation with the District” event at Coral Springs High School. On many parent’s minds were the recent proposals involving boundary changes affecting Parkland schools which threatened to divide one community, and as well as send many on busses far away from their homes. http://coralspringstalk.com/parkland-residents-speak-out-to-school-board-members-boundary-6036
U.S. 27 to vary speed limit near school
For the first time, speed limits will vary along a stretch of U.S. 27, based on what's going at [ http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/education/schools/high-schools/west-broward-high-school-OREDU0000261.topic ]West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-us-27-speed-zone-20131010,0,5699348.story