Archive for May, 2011
This is our 3-year-old’s favorite video
May 3rd, 2011
I like it, too. Watch.
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Cash-strapped districts considering switch to four-day school week
May 3rd, 2011
Is the 180-day school year going the way of slate chalkboards?
As California lawmakers are considering cutting back the school year about 150 days, two Pennsylvania school districts are looking at changing to four-day weeks to save money.
The Associated Press reports that Coatesville Area School District in Chester County and the Warren County School District are considering becoming the first in the state adopt shorter weeks to deal with shrinking budgets.
A four-day week would save Coatesville about $1.7 million a year because of lower operations and transportation costs, as the district faces a $12 million budget gap, superintendent Richard Como told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
He’d rather trim the days than cut 53 jobs, and could consider offering daycare if there was a demand for it.
Last month, Matthew Jones, coordinator of grants and foundation development for the Warren County School District, told a budget team the short week has worked well for districts elsewhere, which reported better attendance and student morale while lengthening the time spent in class each day, The AP reported.
Administrators there don’t think student achievement would suffer. It doesn’t seem like something that is going to impact it negatively,” Jones told the panel, according to the Warren Times Observer.
Districts are considering taking Mondays off, and Coatesville would extend the length of the school days.
Last week CaliforniaWatch.com reported that the state’s districts are facing a cut of $800 to $825 per student in addition to a $1,000-per-student reduction already in place.
Keep in mind that Michigan, like Oklahoma and some other states, shifted its attendance mandates to hours instead of days to give districts more scheduling flexibility. The 1,098-hour target works out to 165 days, though districts plan more.
And, consider that And Gov. Snyder announced his Any Time, Any Place, Any Way, Any Pace approach on Wednesday that opens the door for changing the way we think of school in terms of attendance and the way students are taught.
State Superintendent Mike Flanagan called blended learning, where students take part of their classes online and away from school, the future at the recent Governor’s Education Summit, so student might still be learning on those days when school isn’t scheduled.
And, when you make the switch from slate to wipe boards, remember to use dry-erase makers. I speak from experience.
Tags: Fourday School, School
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A PLUS Youth Program’s ‘Changing the Game’ breakfast
May 2nd, 2011
I wanted to share this information, provided to me this week via press release about the A PLUS Youth Program’s “Changing the Game” breakfast, which will take place May 11 at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club at 8 a.m.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard-forward Martell Webster, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Microsoft HR director Lisa Brummel will be the keynote speakers.
Webster and Brummel are scheduled to discuss issues facing children and how those issues impact their.
Webster will also talk about the impact athletics has on develop a stable foundation. Brummel will explain the initiative to have better academic and athletic services available for young girls in the community.
Ballmer is schedules to speak about the need for more awareness around programs that engage youth in a combination of sports and athletics.
The mission of the A PLUS Youth program is to provide academic preparation, specialized athletic training and civic engagement workshops in an effort to develop the skills necessary for youth to become successful leaders.
The A PLUS mentor program held an event on Sunday May 1, taking the students in the program to Seattle Fire Station 28. Those in attendance were given a tour the facility and learned about the history of Seattle’s fire and emergency medic programs. They also competed in a relay-race, wound a 100-foot water hose, observed the components of the rigorous firefighter training program and learned about the leadership, professional and educational skills and requirements it takes to become an eligible candidate for the job.
Tags: Breakfast
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