The 411 - News You Can Use About Broward Schools

Board Approves Changes to the 2007/08 Code of Student Conduct
The Board approved several changes to the 2007/08 Code of Student Conduct, which were recommended by a committee of teachers, parents, students and school and District administrators. Each member of the committee was responsible for generating input from groups they represented. A few of the changes included in the current policy will clarify what establishes and/or may establish a pattern of non-attendance to align with the attendance policy; allow students to make up work for any absence; eliminate the possibility that students who are tardy and are excused will be placed in internal suspension or be subject to disciplinary action; permit students to possess personal technology during the school day as long as it is off and out-of-sight; permit students to use personal technology during the school day, if use is at the direction of the teacher; allow middle school students to wear backless shoes; include toy guns in the list of Class B weapons that are not allowed at school; clarify to parents that educational records are released without parent consent for health and safety reasons; and provide a clear explanation of the right to appeal, along with a flowchart for parents and students to visualize the process.

Board Approves Grants Potentially Providing More Than $4.1 Million
The Board approved several grant items that will potentially provide the District with more than $4.1 million in additional grant revenues, as well as allow for the continuation of automotive technician training for hundreds of students at technical centers. The grants, which are all educational in nature, include the City of Lauderhill Educational Improvement Grant, Dollar General Back to School Grants, Teaching American History, Toyota Tapestry, Transition to Teaching grants and the Workforce One Grant program.

Board Approves Agreements for Automotive Training Programs
The Board also approved two continuation agreements for the District’s automotive technician training programs at Atlantic Technical and Sheridan Technical centers. The General Motors program at Sheridan Technical Center provides automotive technician repair and maintenance training to students. The Toyota program is offered at Atlantic Technical Center. Part of the program is an agreement with Broward Community College (BCC), where students who successfully complete the programs earn a technical certificate and a two-year

Tuskeegee Airman Visits
Blanche Ely High School

Pictured with former Tuskeegee Airman Ezra M. Hill, Sr. are (l to r) Dawn Preuss, dance instructor; Suzette Wright, math instructor; and Clarice Griffin-Gates, campus monitor.

Thanks to the efforts of Principal Wade Edmond, students, faculty and staff at Blanche Ely High School had the opportunity to meet Tuskeegee Airman Ezra M. Hill, Sr. The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America’s first black military airmen. Mr. Hill gave an account of his days as an airman in what became one of the country’s most prestigious units and spoke about the Tuskeegee Airmen Foundation, which promotes youth literacy programs. As he autographed copies of his new book about the Tuskeegee Airmen, he shared many personal stories and spoke of his upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. to accept the Congressional Medal of Honor.

See Board Meetings Live
on Browardschools.com
Regular School Board meetings are now being carried live on the District’s Web site, (www. browardschools.com).

Although the meeting schedule may vary, regular Board meetings are normally held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 10:15 a.m. Prior to the start of each regular meeting, a video link appears on the home page of the District Web. An audio link is also available.

Due to server limitations, the live feed of the Board Meetings is not available inside the District through the internal server. Employees are able to view the Board Meetings live on select BECON internal channels and through the District’s Intranet on Video Furnace (where available).

Regular School Board meetings continue to be carried live on the District’s radio station, WKPX (88.5 FM), and televised broadcasts of regular School Board meetings also air on BECON-TV at 4 p.m., on the day following each meeting.

Bit of History
In 1953, what would later become Fort Lauderdale’s second high school, opened. Stranahan Elementary School was built on land donated to the School Board by Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale’s first teacher. The school was named for her husband, Frank Stranahan. It soon grew into one of the largest elementary schools in the state, with just under 1,500 students.

There was no cafeteria, but with a good deal of planning, a large portable served that purpose. The cafeteria was far too small for even half of the school’s students, so students went to lunch by homerooms. A teacher or assistant principal would stand at the door and signal when there was room for another class. There was no covered walkway, so on rainy days an umbrella brigade was formed for the students’ jaunt to the cafeteria.

In 1955, Stranahan became a junior high and in 1957, a senior high. The class of 1959 was the first to graduate from Stranahan. Learn more about the history of Broward County Public Schools at (www.browardschools. com/history).

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