A Message from the Superintendent

Another school year has begun. Students and teachers are getting to know one another. New administrators are learning the ins and outs of their buildings or departments. And, support staff members are incorporating new procedures into the tasks that always come with a new school year.

The District has realigned all available resources, both internal and external, so they may be used in the best possible and most productive way to benefit students. Some choices were difficult, but necessary to make. These cooperative, innovative efforts in Broward County have resulted in $15 million in formula grant funds being reallocated from the central office to classrooms.

Our efforts to reduce class size across the board are continuing; this year the number of class size reduction teachers is being increased from 107 to 140 District-wide. We are providing first year principals with experienced former principals and practicing principals, at accomplished levels, as mentors. Our Virtual Education program continues to expand. Thirty additional courses, including nine new Advanced Placement courses, are being offered via the Internet.

Although a new school year always brings changes, you will probably see fewer than in past years. The progress we made during the last school year tells us that we need to keep doing what we are already doing.

We’ve got the right programs in place to improve student achievement. With enhanced teacher training, continuous curriculum review and the realigning of resources, the District has seen its test scores rise surpassing state averages in reading, math and writing. Broward is one of only four districts in the Council of the Great City Schools’ Beating the Odds II report to have its test scores exceed the state average.

We owe much of our success to leadership. It’s clear our schools have tremendous leaders. Principals set the course for success and teachers lead their students through the learning process, never losing site of the individual needs and learning styles of students.

Support staff members demonstrate their initiative and use their skills to better the District and our schools. District administrators lead with professionalism using the Sterling Process and the District’s Strategic Plan as a guide.

All of you are leaders. Broward County Public Schools and all of Broward County benefit from your leadership, knowledge and compassion.

I am proud to have each and every one of you as a member of the Broward team and I look forward to working with you throughout this school year. We share an important task – to provide the education on which Broward’s children will build their futures.

Teaming Up to Help Children

Teaming up with other organizations to implement the district strategic plan is just one of the functions of the Executive Steering Committee. This summer, new partnerships developed through the committee paid off in a big way.

When the Broward County School Board decided to institute the Jump Start Program instead of traditional summer school, many people wondered how it would work. Among them were teachers and administrators who were concerned about losing the learning gains made during the year - especially those involved in the 9th grade Intensive Reading Program.

The situation was discussed at the end-of-the-year Broward County Public Schools Strategic Plan Executive Steering Committee meeting. Committee member Cindy Arenberg, who serves as president of the Children’s Services Council, thought she could help.

A request for proposals for summer programs with an academic component was developed and sent out to community service agencies throughout the county. With an allocation of just over $4 million, the Council approved funding for 28 agencies serving more than 9,000 of Broward’s youth for summer activities. Approximately $2.3 million was awarded to 15 agencies serving low-income youth and $1.7 million funded nine agencies serving the special needs population. An additional $720,000 was also approved for five agencies that served 260 children with diagnosed behavioral health conditions. The programs were monitored by certified Broward County teachers.

For more information on the Strategic Plan, please contact Judy Zinn, Director of Strategic Planning, at 954-712-1547.