Posts Tagged "March"
Broward schools to consider cuts to arts, music, physical education classes
What a bunch of bullshit! our kids are forced into a freaking FCAT box, we take away gym, music and art, and we wonder why our kids are fat, lazy and have no imagination? Idiots.
Read MoreBroward schools to consider cuts to arts, music, physical education classes
Elementary programs face big changes next yearFacing huge cuts in state money, Broward’s public elementary schools next year could see major changes to their art, music, physical education and library programs.
Under a proposal the Broward School Board will discuss Tuesday, the district’s 140 elementary schools will have four options for how it handles those non-core classes.
The choices: Four schools in the same zone would share a media specialist along with an art, music and physical education teacher; electives would be incorporated into classroom teachers’ daily lessons; teachers of electives would be required to teach two classes at once, with the help of an aide; or specialty teachers would serve as consultants to their colleagues on how to incorporate electives into the curriculum.
School Board members were told last month the district could lose $80 million to $100 million in state money and have to make up for $60 million in one-time money spent in last year’s budget. Board members are supposed to see proposals for cuts in the coming weeks.
Other changes being discussed Tuesday include using a school’s size to revise staffing numbers for administrators and guidance counselors; and again eliminating extensions under the Deferred Retirement Option Program. The state retirement program allows teachers to extend their retirement date three years. Broward stopped granting them last year, affecting 233 teachers and school support staff. It prompted a lawsuit from the Broward Teachers Union that the union eventually lost.
Tuesday’s debate on elementary electives will include a proposal that schools supplement arts and music education with virtual field trips, video conferences, the Student Enrichment in the Arts partnership with the Broward Center for Performing Arts and other options.
That portion of the discussion is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the school district’s Fort Lauderdale headquarters, 600 SE Third Ave.
Laurie Firestone, of Coral Springs, has a son in the second grade at Maplewood Elementary School, which has already scaled back library time to once a week, art to once a week, and music and physical education to every other week.
She said teachers won’t have time to build electives into their regular lesson plans, so students likely would go without. “All they’re doing is studying for the FCAT,” she said.
Blame budget cuts and the state Legislature, said School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Gottlieb.
“They are scraping us to the bare bone. It’s been that way for the past few years,” she said. “Until the state starts to adequately fund public education, these are the conversations we unfortunately have to have.”
But other board members wonder whether there are other areas to consider cutting.
Board member Robin Bartleman suggested scaling back work calendars of new administrators, or looking at district contracts to see whether there are programs that aren’t worth renewing.
“Those music classes, those art classes … you can’t take that stuff away from kids,” Bartleman said. “Sometimes that’s the only thing that’s sparking the interest of the kid.”
Kathy Bushouse can be reached at kbushouse@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4556.
Copyright © 2010, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Good day today
I freecycled two printers this morning (our old laser & the old all-in-one). I also swept (I’ll mop tomorrow) and magic eraser’d (totally a verb) the front door and part of a couple of walls.
I am uploading some new stuff for Punky Moms. I am pouring over the “special needs” Disney guide book we picked up the other night. I bought our tickets last week, and we’re headed up next month. This year I am going to pre-plan our trips. Why? There is so very much we have never seen, or at the least, my husband and kids have not seen. There is so much we miss just because we didn’t plan well, or at all. So this year, I will have an itinerary. I was joking I might get a yellow flag on a pole to go with it. The kids know what rides they must go on, the guide book has a comprehensive list of autism-friendly things (like listing quiet, out of the way areas to relax in the middle of the parks) and I am going to plan for major meltdowns and hope for none at all. I’ve requested a letter from our doctor explaining that Mal can’t cope with extra long line waits, extra stimulation, large crowds, etc.. so we can get the GAC. You would think we’d steer clear of Disney! He does really well though, and I am hoping to not need the GAC. I just want to have it just in case. Preparation. I want a happy, healthy mini-vacay. I think planning the fuck out of it will accomplish that.
The kids keep watching YouTube vid’s of the rides. Too cute.
Read MoreI won a contest!
All I had to do was send in my email, but I won a hank of yarn from Midnightsky Fibers. We’ve done a giveaway with them before, she has all natural yarns dyed with all natural dyes.
Well, I won a 55 yard hank of cream coloured wool yarn.
New Camera
For those that care, I did wind up getting the Lumix, mainly because the camera I gave Michael was a Lumix and I know I like the camera.
It arrived this morning! I got the camera, a battery (and a little plastic case the battery was in), a/v cord, transfer cord, battery charger, software, and a few books. The camera comes with a 90 day warranty (it is a factory refurb, not new).
There are no visible marks on the camera, in fact, it looks brand new. The battery did not arrived charged, and took about two hours to fully charge (from plug-in to charging light off). The camera is incredibly light. I wasn’t expecting that. It feels kind of plasticy in my hands (you know what I mean, right?) and I’m not sure if it’s cheaply made or if I am just used to my bulkier Lumix and my dslr. The thing is tiny. Seriously. It’s about the same weight as my iPhone, about twice as thick, but about 3/4″ – 1″ shorter than it. It will fit nicely in my back pocket :-)
It has fewer options than my other Lumix (I can’t find any presets other than power ISO and macro – I think it auto detects them, if I read correctly) and appears to be idiot proof. It has a “mode” button, that pops up a menu, but the only options are intelligent auto, normal picture, scene mode 1, scene mode 2 and motion picture. It’ll be great for on the go quick shots, you know? It has a much smaller screen on the back than my other Lumix as well.
All in all, I am not (yet) complaining. If I had wanted the *same* camera, I’d have ordered it. I took a few photos with it today and they seem just fine. I didn’t find any *bad* reviews of this camera, so I don’t expect to be complaining about it any time soon.
RefurbDepot.com shipped fast, next day I think. I ordered UPS ground (10$) and it took less than seven days to arrive (I was expecting it next week b/c of the ground shipping).
Read MoreEshiva
Since I posted about the other two…
Shivie is doing great! She is loving dance class. We signed her up for school for next year. VPK covers 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, and an extra 50$ a week gets us the full day (7:30 – 3). She gets breakfast, lunch and a snack at 3. She’ll get once a week swimming lessons, they have a large outdoor play area, a huge indoor gym and they follow the High Reach curriculem. I need to do some reasearch into that, but it’s more than just “day care.” She is excited, and honestly, I am too! I already have plans to repaint the downstairs next August or September. It’s a good thing :-)
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