Top Principal and Assistant Principal 2009 Finalists Announced
The District has announced finalists for the 2009 ACCLAIM Awards. The awards will be presented Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 5:30 p.m., at the Signature Grand, 6400 State Road 84 in Davie. The ACCLAIM Awards were created to honor an outstanding principal and assistant principal each year for their hard work and dedication. The awards seek to recognize school leaders who excel in the following areas: Achievement, Communication, Compassion, Leadership, Accountability, Innovation and Motivation. The finalists for the 2009 ACCLAIM Award are:

Principals
Sonja Braziel, Pompano Beach Middle
Kim Flynn, Olsen Middle
Ricardo Garcia, Nova Middle
Charles McCanna, Nova Blanche Forman Elementary

Assistant Principals
Cindy Dean, Virginia Shuman Young Elementary
Priscillia Ribeiro, Cypress Bay High
John Vetter, Pompano Beach Middle
Latosha Williams, Broward Estates Elementary

For information and tickets, contact Janet Del Pinal, The Office of Parents, Business and Community Partnerships at 754-321-1970.

Broward Named Finalist for $2 Million Broad Prize for Second Year
Broward County Public Schools is one of five urban school districts selected as a finalist for the 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation recently announced. The Broad (rhymes with “road”) Prize for Urban Education is an annual $2 million award that honors the urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among ethnic groups and between low- and other income category students. This is the second consecutive year Broward County Public Schools has been a finalist for the country’s largest education prize. Broward was named a finalist again because new data analysis shows the District has continued to make student gains.~ Other finalists this year are:

Aldine Independent School District, Houston
Gwinnett County Public Schools outside Atlanta
Long Beach Unified School District, California
Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Texas

The winner of The Broad Prize, to be announced on Wednesday, September 16 in Washington, D.C., will receive $1 million in scholarships for high school seniors who will graduate in 2010. The four finalist districts will each receive $250,000 in scholarships.

Town Hall Meetings on District Budget and State Public Education Funding
School Board members and the Superintendent will host concurrent Town Hall Meetings at locations throughout the District on Monday, April 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. Parents, students and the general public are invited to attend and participate in an informative and frank discussion of how the continuing economic downturn and state education funding cuts are impacting public education on South Florida and throughout the state. The meetings will be carried live on BECON TV channel 19 and streamed live on the District’s Web site (www.browardschools.com). BECON and Web site viewers will be informed how they can E-mail and text questions and comments into the meeting. The meeting will originate from the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Building, 600 SE 3rd Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with live videoconference at six school sites:

Boyd Anderson High School, 3050 NW 41st Street, Lauderdale Lakes
Coral Springs High School, 7201 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs
Everglades High School, 7100 SW 48th Court, Miramar
Piper High School, 8000 NW 44th Street, Sunrise
Pompano Beach High School, 600 NE 13th Avenue, Pompano Beach
South Broward High School, 1901 N. Federal Highway, Hollywood

Annual African Heritage Forum
The Annual African Heritage Forum: Understanding the Legacy will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at Omni Auditorium, Broward College North Campus. Each public and charter middle school will send eighth grade students representing the school’s diverse population as participants. This activity will include the history of African Americans, the African Diaspora, and the contributions of people of African descent to society. The event will give students the opportunity to see how African culture has impacted Broward County and the world. Students will explore African and African American contributions through a series of presentations and dramatic interpretation of the local history of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.

Summer VPK Program Begins June 10
Broward County Public Schools Summer Voluntary Pre-kindergarten program (VPK) begins June 10. This exciting program gives children a "jumpstart" on their education. The summer 2009 VPK program is available to all children who live in Florida and were born September 2, 2003 through September 1, 2004 and did not participate in the 2008/09 school year VPK program. The program is free of charge and is available at a number of schools throughout Broward County. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. For the VPK calendar of registration locations in the community and times, visit online (www.elcbroward.org) or (www.familycentral.org) or call 954-724-7577.

Community Schools Launch Redesigned Web Site
The Broward Community Schools Web site (www.mycommunityschool.com) has a fresh new look and additional features. The newly designed site recently launched includes an interactive map displaying all 21 community schools and adult centers, expanded search capabilities for classes, and an easy online registration process. Each year, Community Schools offer more than 3,500 lifelong learning classes and adult academic programs such as GED and ESOL. Mycommunityschool.com is the best source for up-to-date news and information on the District’s community schools and centers. The user-friendly site has something for everyone, from after school and Saturday enrichment activities for children and teens, to an array of career skills, technology, art, dance, languages, and sports classes. Visitors to the Web site will be able to sign up to receive an E-newsletter with news and information on new classes and activities. If you have questions, or for additional information, call 754-321-7600 or 1-800 New Goal.

Plantation High School’s Aerospace Technology and Design Program Receives $10,000 Boost
Plantation High School has received a $10,000 Teach Award from Best Buy Co. Inc. for integrating interactive technology into its classroom curriculum. This was the largest award given by Best Buy in Florida. The Aerospace Technology and Design Program at Plantation High is a course of study that combines high-level math and science courses with practical experience in engineering and aerospace activities. Flight dynamics, Aerospace design principles, computer simulation, CAD, 3D modeling, electronic design, communication technologies, and programming are some of the skills learned in the program. “The Aerospace program at Plantation High is a great way to get students informed and excited about careers in the aerospace, engineering, and other related technological fields.” said Joe Vallone, program instructor. “This award will get state-of-the-art technology and equipment directly into the students’ hands.” This year, Best Buy Teach Awards, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, have been given to more than 460 schools to sustain or enhance existing educational programs. Building on its connection with @15, Best Buy’s platform to connect with teens, 15 ninth grade programs were awarded $10,000 for technology-based programs they’ve successfully implemented.

Griffin Elementary School Celebrates 30 Years
Griffin Elementary School is celebrating 30 years of educating, nurturing and guiding students into the 21st Century. The all day celebration begins at 8 a.m. with the Griffin Olympics Opening Ceremony and field day events. Lunch for visitors and guests will take place in the media center at 11:30 a.m. The celebration will conclude with a meet and greet happy hour at 3:15 p.m. For information or to RVSP, call Theresa at 754-323-5900.

FPL to Equip Deerfield Beach Middle School with Solar Education Stations
Deerfield Beach Middle School is one of six Florida schools selected by Florida Power & Light Company to install cutting-edge solar power arrays in its service territory to help teach future generations about the benefits of renewable energy. Each school receiving a ‘Next Generation Solar Education Station’ will be able to generate emissions-free electricity and provide students with a hands-on tool to learn how solar power works. When FPL’s Next Generation Solar Education Station is complete, it will provide five kilowatts of solar electricity. The solar installation will save the school about $800 each year in electricity costs while giving teachers a way to focus science education on essential energy technologies of the future. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which will help power the school’s lighting and air-conditioning systems, particularly on hot days when demand for electricity is at its highest. Any excess power will be fed into the electrical grid to offset electric costs. Unlike most small-scale photovoltaic solar arrays, which are mounted on rooftops, FPL’s Next Generation Solar Education Stations will be mounted on the ground to maximize their effectiveness as a teaching tool.

Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble Takes Second Place
For the second consecutive year, the 28-member Dillard Center for the Arts Jazz Ensemble finished in the top three at the prestigious Swing Central Competition presented by the Savannah Music Festival. The three-day event, held recently at the Savannah (GA) International Trade & Convention Center, featured jazz bands from seven states competing for $8,500 in honorariums. For the second consecutive year, Dillard’s ensemble took second place and received $2,500, which Band Director Christopher Dorsey says will be used to advance the jazz program through additional clinics and workshops, and to purchase music and materials. The goal of the Swing Central Competition & Workshop is to enhance the study of the jazz tradition in the South. It fuses an established high quality mentorship program with a youth jazz band competition of national scope. The DCA Jazz Ensemble will present a concert, “An Afternoon of Jazz – Swinging Part II,” on Saturday, April 25, 4 p.m. at the Dillard Center for the Arts.

Cresthaven Elementary School Turns 50
Cresthaven Elementary School will celebrate 50 years of academic excellence on Wednesday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m. To RVSP by Wednesday, April 22, call 754-322-6000.

Multicultural Resource Teacher Receives Holocaust Public Education Award
Jacqueline Hirschman, resource teacher for the Multicultural, ESOL and Program Services Department, will receive The Pola and Ludwik Brodzki Family Holocaust Public Education Award at the Community-wide Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance) Commemoration on Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m. The Commemoration will be held at the Sunrise Jewish Center/Temple Sha’aray Tzedek, 4099 North Pine Island Road in Sunrise. The award, endowed by Pola and Ludwik Brodzki is presented to an educator in the public school system that has shown outstanding effort and commitment in teaching Holocaust Studies.

BECON Distance Learning Teacher Receives Excellence Award
BECON Distance Learning teacher Gary Walton has been honored with the Platinum 2009 Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching Award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Walton, also known to his students as Mr. G, will receive his award on April 28. The USDLA Distance Learning Awards are the premier form of recognition for the distance learning industry. This honor is the latest of many for Mr. G, who was named the Broward County Mathematics Teacher of the Year in 2004. His responsibilities include designing, implementing, and delivering innovative mathematics instruction through videoconferencing to elementary school students. His current courses are “FCAT Math with Mr. G” and “Mr. G’s Math Marvels.” Mr. G’s dynamic and energetic approach makes the videoconference experience both engaging and exciting for his students. He is able to reach over 3,500 students and 170 teachers each week through this cutting edge interactive technology.

Collins Elementary School Science Teacher Wins Target Field Trip Grant
Collins Elementary School Science teacher Ebony Harvey was named the recipient of the Target Field Trip Grant. The grant money will be used for a physics and science educational workshop to be held at Boomers. The Boomers’ Educational Workshop was created to help students with hands-on learning. Students will see an educational demonstration on and underneath the roller coaster. They will learn physics in motion, using measurements taken during the demonstration, and then reinforce and apply the concept in the classroom. The trip will be used to improve the students’ understanding of physical concepts through a hands-on approach, with emphasis on FCAT performance.

Employee Golf Tournament to Benefit Broward Education Foundation
The Broward County Public Schools Employee Golf Tournament will take place on Sunday, May 31 at 8 a.m. (shotgun start). The four-person team scramble event will be held at the Woodmont Country Club, 7801 NW 80th Avenue in Tamarac. Registration is $75 per person and includes 10 holes of golf, range balls, lunch and awards. Prizes will be awarded for Closest to the Pin, Long Drive and Low Team Scores. A portion of the registration fee will be donated to the Broward Education Foundation. Participation is limited to the first 80 registrations and is open to the public. For registration form or additional information, contact Robert Becker, Embassy Creek Elementary via CAB E-mail or call 754-323-5550.

2009 Summer 4-Day Work Week
During the Tuesday, March 31 School Board Workshop, Board members reached consensus for implementation of a mandatory 2009 Summer 4-Day Work Week schedule as a way to save money during the current economic downturn and continued state education funding cuts. The summer work schedule will tentatively begin the week of June 8, 2009 and continue through the week of August 10, 2009. Except for specific limited cases, District schools and offices will be closed on Friday throughout this period. Provisions are being made for those District facilities that are used for summer programs during this period. This means that employees who are scheduled to work through the summer will compress their normal five-day work schedules into four days. Proposed 4-day work schedule hours, including beginning and end times and lunch periods, will be disseminated over the next several weeks.

United Way Campaign Extended to April 30
Each year, we are asked to consider supporting those organizations that are dedicated to enriching our community. One of the ways to accomplish this objective is by making a charitable donation to these organizations through the United Way of Broward County. This year, the District continues efforts to raise funds in an environmentally responsible way, using E-Way, an online donation system. If you have not had the opportunity to make your pledge, visit (https://donor.unitedeway.org).  See attached flyer for log in instructions. For additional information, contact Merrie Meyers-Kershaw at 754-321-1970.

Please Don’t Hang Up!
The School Board has authorized Morpace International, Inc. to conduct a telephone survey to determine member satisfaction with our health, dental and vision programs.  Telephone calls will be made to District employees in the evening beginning April 20 through May 2, 2009.  Members will be selected at random.  You may be one of those called.  If you are, please don’t hang up! Survey results will be part of the data utilized to make future decisions about employee benefits. It is critical that we have excellent participation of members. Please don’t hang up!

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.