ew Board Member and Re-elected Members Sworn-in
Ann Murray, who was recently elected as the School Board member for District 1, was sworn-in this week at a ceremony held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Murray assumes the seat vacated by Eleanor Sobel, who was elected to the Florida Legislature. She joins re-elected Board members Beverly A. Gallagher, Maureen S. Dinnen, Benjamin J. Williams and Robin Bartleman who were also sworn-in at the event.

School Board Elects New Chair and Vice Chair
At its Organizational Meeting, following the swearing-in ceremony, Board members elected Maureen S. Dinnen, Chair and Jennifer Leonard Gottlieb, Vice Chair. Dinnen, who joined the School Board in November 2004, most recently served as the Board Vice Chair for the 2007/08 school year. Gottlieb was elected to the Board as a Countywide/At-Large member in September of 2006. Following are the 2008/09 School Board members:

Maureen S. Dinnen, Chair, District 3
Jennifer Leonard Gottlieb, Vice Chair, Countywide/At-Large
Robin Bartleman, Countywide/At-Large
Beverly A. Gallagher, District 2
Phyllis C. Hope, District 6
Stephanie Arma Kraft, Esq., District 4
Ann Murray, District 1
Robert D. Parks, Ed.D., District 7
Benjamin J. Williams, District 5

Russian Delegation Meets with Superintendent
Members of a delegation team from Russia recently met with Superintendent James F. Notter as part of a weeklong visit to South Florida to explore how government works in the United States. Hosted by the Broward League of Women Voters, the two women, three men Russian team met with local government leaders to see firsthand the national election process. Sponsored by the U.S. Congress, the delegates stayed with local residents for a more personal experience of American life. Delegation members represented various governments in Russia. The meeting with Superintendent Notter focused on public school funding and the governance of a large U.S. public schools district. The delegation expressed an interest in building a relationship with the District and selected schools to be able to communicate via the Internet.

Consulate General Of Brazil Sponsors Poster And Essay Contests
Students will have an opportunity to learn about Broward County’s Brazilian community by entering poster and essay contests sponsored by the Consulate General of Brazil, in cooperation with the Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department. This is the third year the Consulate General of Brazil has sponsored the poster contest for elementary school students and essay contest for middle and high school students. The theme of both contests is, “How Have Brazilians Added to the Quality of Life in Broward County?” Cash prizes for the poster contest are $100, $300 and $500. Cash prizes for the essay contest are $500, $1,000 and $1,500. Participation deadline is January 30. The school each student attends must submit student’s entry. Contest rules and entry forms may be downloaded from the Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department’s Web site (www.broward.k12.fl.us/diversity) or from the Consulate General of Brazil’s Web site (www.brazilmiami.org). For additional information, call Nancy Weintraub, Community Liaison, Diversity & Cultural Outreach Department, 754-321-2090.

Five Ways You Can Protect Privacy
From billing specialists in the Benefits Department to family counselors in Psychological Services, many District employees work with Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is created, maintained or transmitted by a health plan (such as the School Board’s group health plan) or a health care provider. It includes specific identifiers (name, Social Security number) and information about an individual’s physical or mental health. PHI is distinguished from other types of confidential information such as employment records (for example, a physician’s note given by an employee to his or her supervisor) or student educational records. If your position entails working with PHI, it is imperative that you take the necessary steps to safeguard it. Following are five privacy measures, which should always be followed:

1. Get a signed release before disclosing PHI when the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not cover the disclosure.
2. Only release the minimum amount necessary.
3. Password-protect computer documents containing PHI.
4. Shred paper documents containing PHI, adhering to retention dates.
5. Keep private conversations private.

These are just some of the many ways to protect privacy rights. If you would like more information, contact Todd Sussman, Privacy Officer, Risk Management Department, 754-321-3220.

New Parent Involvement Web Site Launched
A new Parent Involvement Web site has been launched with a dedicated electronic link to it from the District Web site (www.browardschools.com). The new site is parent-friendly, easy to navigate and has essentially everything parents need to get involved and stay involved in their child’s education. To access the new site, click on the Parents tab on the home page of the District Web site. Highlights of the new site include Virtual Counselor and Pinnacle, along with information about graduation and service hours requirements, School Board policies, student services, FCAT testing schedules and ways that parents can become active in their child’s school.

“Experience Broward” Winter Teacher Recruitment Fair
The Instructional Staffing Department will host its annual winter teacher recruitment fair, “Experience Broward,” from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, December 6 at Nova High School. The recruitment fair is for candidates who are eligible for certification in a needed subject area. Due to the large number of responses received and the guidelines established by No Child Left Behind federal legislation, candidates are limited to those who are eligible for a Florida educator’s certificate in the following areas: Elementary, English, Exceptional Student Education, Visually Impaired, Mathematics, Reading, Sciences, and Speech/Language Impaired. Candidates must register and receive an acceptance letter to attend the event. The Attendance Request Form for the recruitment fair and additional information are available online at (www.browardschools.com/teacher).

Teachers Now Have Personal Tech Support Team
The Teacher Technology Support Center (TTSC) is a new service created exclusively for Broward County Public Schools teachers. The goal is to provide teachers with immediate access to computer support over the telephone and in person. The TTSC is comprised of experts in both the operating systems and the applications that teachers use on a day-to-day basis. Support is provided by telephone, E-mail, CAB chat, and on-site visits. Specialists are able to work with individuals, small groups, or in large group sessions. Whether you would like to learn how to create your own iMovie, are interested in designing colorful class newsletters, need assistance connecting to the Internet, or troubleshooting a computer problem, the TTSC is available to assist.

The Teacher Technology Support Center, located in the TSSC Building, 7720 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise, is open Monday through Friday (including employee planning days) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The TTSC can be reached from school or home via CAB and TTSC E-mail, CAB and TTSC Conference and CAB chat at (http://web/ttsc) or (www.broward.k12.fl.us/ttsc).

Deerfield Beach High Student Named Environmental Student of the Year
Deerfield Beach High School sophomore Aliza Karim was named Broward County Environmental Student of the Year at a ceremony recently held at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Dania. The Environmental Education Council sponsored the event. Principal Jon Marlow nominated Karim for the award based on her work on environmental projects around the school. Karim started an Environmental Club that strives to make the school more environmentally friendly. With help from ESE students and teacher Darin Johnston, she created a recycling program at the school for paper, plastics, cans and glass. Karim and other Tree Huggers Club students are also working to clean up and restore the school’s horticulture garden so it can be used for a class in the spring.

Stoneman Douglas Marching Band Captures Grand Championship Title - Again
The Eagle Regiment Marching Band of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was named overall Grand Champion of the Santaluces Invitational held in early November, making this their third grand championship title for the year. Under the direction of John Rusnak, the Eagle Regiment was graded as best percussion, music, visual performance, general effect and color guard in its class. Stoneman Douglas, the defending Class 3A state champion, will compete in the state championship later in November at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Students Participate in Anti-Bullying March
Hundreds of students, kindergarten through 12th grade, recently participated in a march against bullies in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The Thousand Youth March for Humanity, led by the Humanity Project based in Dania Beach, included a rally with bands, balloons and remarks by Superintendent James F. Notter. Students and their parents were encouraged to participate in the grass-roots effort, endorsed by the District’s Anti-Bully Task Force. The District enacted the state’s first anti-bullying policy that is aligned with the new state law. The policy is currently being used as a model for other school districts, which are now in the process of formulating their own anti-bulling policies.

Students Present Bills as Part of Democracy in Action Initiative
For the second year in a row, Florida State Representative Ari Porth sponsored the Democracy in Action Initiative, a program that allows high school students to create a bill that could be introduced to the state during the next legislative session. This year, 17 schools submitted their top bill proposals. Five were selected to be part of the final round and ultimately a committee, which included Representative Porth, selected two schools – Monarch High and J.P. Taravella High – for their bill proposals. Both schools created bills relating to teens and driving. Monarch’s bill was titled The Drivers of Tomorrow Act, while Taravella’s bill focused on Driving Restrictions for Florida Teenagers Under the Age of 18. The two schools will work together to consolidate the two bills, which will be introduced as one in the next legislative session. Monarch’s winning team was lead by teacher Sarah Smetzer and students Michelle George and Erin Brioso. Taravella’s winning team was lead by teacher Barbara Manwell and students Kenny Fusco, Ryan Geary, Douglas Armentrout and Lisa Ruderman.

Kids Voting Broward Holds Annual Events
Kids Voting Broward recognized community leaders, local government, business and corporation leaders, along with Kids Voting Broward Teacher of the Year Nadeige Paulk of Pinewood Elementary School during the 7th Annual Community Recognition Luncheon. The following schools were also recognized for having the highest percentage of online student votes for the 2008 Presidential Preference Primary: Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School, Silver Trail Middle School, and J.P. Taravella High School. Kids Voting Broward in partnership with the District held a mock election for the 2008 General Election, with approximately 67,000 students voting online.

2008 Social Studies Teachers of Year Announced
The Social Studies Curriculum Department recently announced the District’s 2008 Social Studies Teachers of the Year:

Amanda Hicks - Hollywood Central Elementary School
Mary Ellen Falvey - Indian Ridge Middle School
Brian O'Donnell - J.P. Taravella High School School

Broward County Commissioners Honor Sawgrass Springs ESE Teacher
Sawgrass Springs Middle School ESE teacher Karen Baker, was recently honored with the Teacher of the Year Award for Developmental Disabilities of Broward County. The award is presented by Broward County Commissioners to commend people in various occupations for their outstanding work on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The occasion also marked the 18th Anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act. Baker, who has been a dedicated ESE teacher for over 27 years, instructs the Specialized Varying Exceptionality class at Sawgrass Springs. She teaches self-respect, and respect for others and consistently serves her students by fostering their independence and self-esteem.

Benefits Open Enrollment: November 24 – December 5, 2008
Open enrollment materials have been delivered to employee work locations. In preparation for Benefits Open Enrollment, make sure you can log into Employee Self-Service (ESS). Prior to logging in, make sure that your computer has the correct system requirements to access BRITE (ESS). This information is located on the BRITE web site at (www.broward.k12.fl.us/erp/brite/support/updates/). For instructions and additional information, see attached flyer.

Broward County's Character Trait for November is Citizenship:
CITIZENSHIP: Knowing, understanding, and displaying a high regard for rules, laws, government, heritage and for those who have served and sacrificed for community and country.

The 411 Newsletter and News & Views Available Online
For environmental and budgetary reasons, The 411 is no longer printed. The quarterly newsletter is now published only online at (www.browardschools.com). Just click on “Employees” and click on “The 411” banner to read current and back issues. News & Views is also available online. Just click on the News & Views banner next to The 411 banner. Both newsletters are in CAB’s District Announcements. If you have any questions or suggestions concerning these publications, contact Communications & Media Relations, 754-321-2300 or (news@browardschools.com).

Submissions for News & Views
Send articles and suggestions for News & Views to (news@browardschools.com) or contact the Communications & Media Relations Department, 754-321-2300.