SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Stuart Andrus, Area Vice President and Margarita Castellon, Education Relations, Bell South presented the Board with a check for $107,980 representing a portion of the savings to the District as a result of converting all phones to the 754 area code.  In the first year, the District saved $1.7 million dollars, and the conversion is expected to save the District $2 million each successive year.

RESOLUTIONS

HISPANIC AND ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH TO BE CELEBRATED
The Board adopted resolutions of support for the celebration of both Hispanic and Italian Heritage Month during October. Broward County is a tapestry of many cultures, each with its own traditions.  The Hispanic community has made numerous contributions to the economy, history and culture of Broward County, the state and the nation. Italian Americans have historically had an important role in our economic, educational, political and cultural life. In the resolutions, the Board, in conjunction with other governmental bodies, agencies, organizations and businesses, extends its support to the concept and the intent of both Hispanic and Italian Heritage Month and urges all schools, departments and centers within its jurisdiction to support the community-wide observances through various projects, programs and celebrations.

DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH SUPPORTED BY BOARD
Persons with disabilities represent the largest segment of workers who are unemployed.  The Board adopted a resolution of support for Disability Employment Awareness Month that will be celebrated during the month of October.  Legislation has been enacted at state and federal levels, making it illegal for employers to discriminate against individuals with disabilities.  The resolution of support points out that a workforce is enhanced by the diversity of its employees with disabilities and emphasizes the need to continue to strive to increase employment opportunities for Floridians with disabilities. Disability Employment Awareness Month will honor outstanding employees with disabilities, employers of persons with disabilities and programs that serve as a bridge between employers and job seekers with disabling conditions.

APPROVED

DUAL ENROLLMENT AND EARLY ADMISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE
Broward’s high school students will continue to have dual enrollment and early admission opportunities at Broward Community College (BCC) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU).  The Board approved continuation articulation agreements with both institutions.  Students enrolled in post-secondary courses may receive credit toward a vocational certificate, an associate or a baccalaureate degree.  The agreement also provides for increased collaboration between the District, BCC and FAU; shared inter-institutional research projects and marketing efforts; and the development of additional acceleration in specialized areas of study.

DELL TECHKNOW PROGRAM INTRODUCED
The Dell TechKnow Program offers selected public school students from various school districts in the United States an opportunity to learn about computers by taking them apart and reassembling them. With the Board’s approval, the program will be offered in Broward schools.  Students in the program also learn how to load software, set-up and run printers, up-grade hardware, diagnose and correct basic hardware problems and use the Internet. Those participating, upon acceptable completion of the TechKnow program, may take home the computer they work on and in some cases receive one year of free Internet access.

BOARD APPROVES CONTINUTATION AGREEMENT WITH DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
With the Board’s approval of a continuation agreement with the Department of Juvenile Justice, educational services will continue to be provided to adjudicated delinquent youth in short term offender programs, residential treatment, intensive probation, halfway houses, detention centers, intervention/prevention programs and Associated Marine Institutes.  Individual programs have direct and purchased service agreements with the District.  Direct service agreements provide the education component through agency hired, state certified teachers.  The programs allow students to continue their education while enrolled in court ordered programs. 

PERSONNEL

The Board approved the following appointments :  Jason Greenberg, Systems Integrator; Jimmy Jean, Systems Integrator; Brian Little, Manager, Materials Logistics; Tracy Gruendel, Interim Assistant Principal, Tradewinds Elementary.

The Board also approved the following reassignments: Daryl Diamond, Project Manager, Technology and Instruction; Judith Zinn, Director, Task Assignment, High School Reform.

SCHOOLS AND STAFF IN ACTION

TEACHERS RECOGNIZED FOR USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Twenty-five Broward elementary, middle and high school teachers will be recognized at a ceremony for their innovative use of technology in the classroom.  The teachers, who submitted winning or honorable mention entries in the District’s Virtual Technology Recognition Project, will be honored on Friday, October 7, 2005, 10:30 A.M. at the K. C. Wright Administration Center, 600 S.E. Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.  A student narrated, multi-media presentation will highlight the winning projects.  School District officials and School Board members are invited to attend.

Seventy-five Broward teachers entered the competition, now in its 5th year, by submitting technology-rich lesson plans, project-based plans or WebQuests (inquiry based activities utilizing technology) that support both the Sunshine State Standards and the National Educational Technology Standards.  All entries were evaluated by a committee comprised of District curriculum and technology integration specialists using the following criteria: creative or innovative integration of technology into the curriculum; clearly written lesson and/or project-based plan that proceeds through a logical sequence of activities; curriculum/technology objective(s) that support Sunshine State and National Educational Technology Standards; evidence that activities fulfill the curriculum and technology objectives; ability to measure its impact on student achievement; ease of replication in other classrooms of same type and level; lesson includes extensions that challenge students to further investigate and/or apply selected standards in new and different ways; addresses accommodations or modifications for special need students (if applicable.) Other teachers in the District are encouraged to view the winning lessons and projects at (http://beep.browardschools.com) and use them as models for their own classrooms.

Winners will be awarded technology-based prizes such as video camcorders, printers or external speakers to be used to further the use of technology in their classrooms.  Honorable mention winners will receive digital still cameras, Inspiration/Kidspiration supplemental materials and Atomic Learning shirts.  All those who entered the competition will receive certificates. Sponsors of the competition are the District’s Instructional Technology and Curriculum and Instruction/Student Support Departments.  Vendor sponsorship and support for the competition was provided by Apple Computers, Epson America, Riverdeep Inc., Dell Computers, Inspiration Inc., Atomic Learning and Kinkos. VTRP 2005 Winners:  Joanna Hayes, Griffin Elementary; Maria Bell, Attucks Middle; Randy Stephen, Nob Hill Elementary; Jill Burdo, Pompano Beach High; Elyse Brunt, New River Middle; Donald Hicks, Hollywood Central Elementary; Miladys Cepero-Perez, Griffin Elementary; Denise Roberts, Westglades Middle; Heather Ryder, Village Elementary; Laura Lee, Village Elementary; Jeff Williams, Pompano Beach High.  VTRP 2005 Honorable Mention Winners:  Mary Anne McAdams, Miramar High; Flo Cancilla, Whiddon Rogers; Su Shy, Attucks Middle; Pauline Dempster, Attucks Middle; Sari Weltman, Nob Hill Elementary; Audrey Funderburk, Indian Ridge Middle; Mary Ellen Falvey, Indian Ridge Middle; Cindy Faerber, Indian Ridge Middle; Maureen Kabana, Broward Estates Elementary; Anna Schneeman, Miramar High; Margie Rohrbach, Atlantic Technical Center; Dr. Margery Marcus, Atlantic Technical Center; Cheryl Zuckerman, Dillard High; Jan Beggs, Miramar High.


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