The 411 - News You Can Use About Broward Schools

Ask the Superintendent

Q: I recently received an invitation to attend a Superintendent's Brown Bag Lunch. Why is it being held and why was I invited?

A:TWith nearly 30,000 employees, it is very difficult for me to meet and talk to everyone, even though I know many employees have questions, suggestions or ideas that I would like to hear. For that reason a series of "Chats with the Superintendent" and "Superintendent's Brown Bag Luncheons" are scheduled each school year.

Chats are held in various locations in the District and are open to all employees. The location and time of each chat is announced in the News and Views online newsletter and in flyers distributed to every employee who works in the Innovation Zone where the chat will be held.

In addition, four Brown Bag Luncheons are scheduled during the school year -- one in each of the four areas of the District. Employees who receive invitations to Brown Bag Luncheons have been randomly selected by ETS from pools of non-instructional employees. I've asked that only a small number of employees be invited to each luncheon, so that we can talk informally.

I believe that the chats and brown bag lunches with employees, as well as forums held with students throughout the school year are all very valuable. Effective communication is key in reaching our shared goal of increasing academic achievement.

BECON Collecting Toys for Tots

Broward Education Communications Network (BECON) is again a collection site for the holiday season's Toys for Tots toy drive. "This is the second year BECON has been a collection site and we're hoping we can collect at least 300 toys for needy children this year," says Tom Ford, BECON-TV Traffic Specialist and Toys for Tots project coordinator. "This toy drive is one of the many ways we give back to the community and it's a great way to get people in the holiday spirit," he said.

BECON is an official drop-off site for the toy drive through December 17th. Employees, their family and friends are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to the BECON offices (6600 S.W. Nova Drive, Fort Lauderdale) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Teachers may wish to consider making the toy drive a class project. If you or your class would like more information, please contact Tom Ford, TV Traffic Specialist for BECON, at 754-321-1021.

AWARDS PRESENTED
AT CTACE EVENT

The Career, Technical and Adult/Community Education Department (CTACE) held a "Meet and Mingle" event in October at Fort Lauderdale's ArtServe facility. Students enrolled in the Culinary Arts Department of McFatter Technical Center prepared hors d'oeuvres for the festive event.

Superintendent Frank Till joined the over 150 people in attendance as they networked and shared information about the department's programs and initiatives that benefit Broward's students. One highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards to staff; community members and business partners who have made noteworthy contributions to the District's secondary, adult/community and technical programs.

Congratulations to the following recipients: Adult and Community Teacher of the Year, Ruth Francois, Hallandale Adult Community Center; Career and Technical Teacher of the Year, Robert (Mel) Downey, Flanagan High School; Business/Community Partner of the Year, State Farm Insurance Company/Jane Freilich; Volunteer of the Year, Christopher Chin, Sheridan Technical Center; Administrator of the Year, Arlene Schwartz, Fort Lauderdale High Community School; and Lifetime Achievement Award, and Sue Yach, Fort Lauderdale High Community School.

Coconut Creek Teacher Welcomed Back From Iraq

Sgt. Robert Carradine, a Social Studies teacher at Coconut Creek High, recently returned from an 18-month tour of duty with the Army Reserve. He served in Iraq for the majority of that time. In honor of his return, the school held a welcome back ceremony complete with dignitaries, war veterans and a proclamation designating that day as "Sgt. Robert Carradine Day in the State of Florida."

The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the school's band playing the National Anthem. State Representative Ron Greenstein of Coral Springs presented Sgt. Carradine with a proclamation and a unit of the school's JROTC performed the official flag folding ceremony. The flag used once flew over Fallujah and was presented to the school earlier this year by a former graduate who had served in Iraq. The flag was presented to Sgt. Carradine, who then spoke about his experiences and described photographs displayed on a projection screen.

Bit of History
In mid-1925 Superintendent James S. Rickards released a report to the community documenting the amazing growth of Broward County Public Schools. From 1899 to 1925, two, one-room schools had grown into a school system that consisted of 11 modern schools valued at $380,000 serving 3,000 students. Although it may have sounded amazing at the time, it was only the beginning.

Learn more about the history of Broward County Public Schools by visiting www.browardschools.com/history.

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