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Cram Session, the education blog

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Live news and analysis of Brevard County schools and beyond.


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12/17/2008 08:00 AM | Click to Comment

West Shore receives Gold Medal


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West Shore Jr./Sr. High received a gold medal from a recent U.S. News & World Report that ranked the nation’s top high schools.

The Melbourne school of choice, which serves about 960 students in grades seventh through 12th was named the 58th best school in the country, according to the magazine.

Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High and Edgewood Jr./Sr. also were among 504 schools in the nation to receive a silver medal from the publication.

To create the rankings, U.S. News and World Report analyzed 21,069 public high schools in 48 states using data from the 2006-07 school year.

The report determines how well schools serve all their students, based on state assessment tests. It also examines how well the schools prepare students for college level work, using the pass rates of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams.

Only four schools in Florida ranked better than West Shore. Nine out of the top 100 schools were in the rankings were in Florida.

Click here to see the full report, where you can read further details about individual schools around the country.

--Megan Downs

About the photo:Students at West Shore congratulate last year\'s teacher of the year science eduator Delilah Narvaez. FLORIDA TODAY file.



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12/17/2008 08:00 AM West Shore receives Gold Medal
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12/16/2008 01:27 PM | Click to Comment

Obama selects education secretary

CHICAGO — President-elect Barack Obama announced Arne Duncan, the head of the Chicago school system, as education secretary Tuesday and said failing to improve classroom instruction is “morally unacceptable for our children.”


“When it comes to school reform, Arne is the most hands-on of hands-on practitioners,” Obama said at a news conference in a school that he said has made remarkable progress under Duncan’s leadership.
“He’s not beholden to any one ideology, and he’s worked tirelessly to improve teacher quality,” Obama said.
Duncan stood nearby, the latest member to be named to the Cabinet of the president-elect. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

The American Association of School Administrators also gave Duncan praise.

\"President-elect Obama made an excellent choice in selecting Arne Duncan, an accomplished education leader and member of AASA, to serve as secretary of education,\" said Randall Collins, superintendent of schools in Waterford, Conn., who is president of the national group. \"Duncan\'s successes in Chicago, the nation\'s third- largest school district, and his background as an advocate for high-quality public education will be invaluable during this critical period in our nation\'s history. As school districts nationwide struggle to respond to shrinking budgets and Congress and the new administration work to craft new education policy, Duncan will be a tremendous asset.\"

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, also weighed in on the appointment.

\"As Chicago schools’ chief executive officer, Duncan has shown a genuine commitment to what we see as the essential priorities for an incoming education secretary,\" she said in a release. There may be times when we will differ, but we believe we will agree fully that America’s students and teachers need an education secretary committed to focusing on real solutions for closing the achievement gap and providing every child with a rigorous, well-rounded education that prepares him or her for college, work and life.

\" Duncan has collaborated with the Chicago Teachers Union and other community partners on various reform programs to help students with the greatest needs. One of Chicago’s stand-out programs is a form of community schooling that brings a variety of wraparound services under the school roof, including tutoring, recreational and social service programs that extend through the evening hours.\"

 

--Associated Press, Education Team



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12/16/2008 01:27 PM Obama selects education secretary
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12/16/2008 09:23 AM | Click to Comment

Finals this week. Good luck!

Tens of thousands of middle and high school students in Brevard County will take final exams this week.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are the days set aside for exams. For most students, those will be half days.

Here\'s some final study tips and students cram in a few more nights of review from, study habit help site Oxford learning.

  • Give yourself plenty of time
  • Read over your notes every night
  • Paraphrase the text book and the teacher’s notes
  • Read something, cover it up, and recite it back until you know it.
  • Don’t memorize it. Understand it.

Have any more tips to share with readers? You can start a conversation with other readers on our blog or e-mail us at education@floridatoday.com

--Megan Downs



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12/16/2008 09:23 AM Finals this week. Good luck!
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12/16/2008 06:39 AM | Click to Comment

Holiday break


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Are you or someone you know doing something unique over the holiday break?

If so, tell us about it. Send an e-mail to education@floridatoday.com.

Happy holidays!

--Education Team



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12/16/2008 06:39 AM Holiday break
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12/15/2008 09:31 AM | Click to Comment

Edline gaining traction


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Edline, Brevard Public Schools\' online grading system is gaining popularity among parents and teachers, the district said.

It\'s so popular, in fact, that if every parent with an activated account traveled to the Amway Area, more than 7,500 people would be left outside, according to Superintendent Richard DiPatri\'s weekly memo to board members.

The Amway Arena in Orlando seats 17,282 people at a full Magic game.

The district said about 24,559 parents have accounts. And about 18,000 of 74,000 students in the district also have access to personal Edline accounts.

Edgewood Jr./Sr. High in Merritt Island has had the most participation, with 92 percent of students with activated accounts. Students use the system to monitor their grades and homework assignments.

Eight schools have 80 percent or more of their parents signed onto the system. Those include: Stevenson and Tropical elementary schools; DeLaura, Hoover, Jefferson and Kennedy middle schools; and West Shore and Edgewood Jr./Sr. high schools.

--Megan Downs

About the photo: Orlando Magic fans cheer during an April playoff game at the Amway Arena. Craig Rubadoux/FLORIDA TODAY



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12/15/2008 09:31 AM Edline gaining traction
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12/13/2008 08:00 AM | Click to Comment

Lightsey named employee of the year

Ira Lightsey, a special education assistant at Mims Elementary School, was selected Friday as Brevard Public Schools\' employee of the year.

Lightsey was selected from a pool of 92 nominees. He is an eight-year employee.

Lightsey, who helps students in third through sixth grade, created an All Pro Dad\'s program at Mims. The program unites dads and their children at a breakfast once a month as a way to boost parental involvement.

 “Mr. Lightsey is a crucial member of the Mims staff and community,” Mims Principal Debra Crannell said.  \"He relates well to all students and is a great role model.”

Employee of the Year nominees are chosen by their school or department and their applications are sent to a selection committee who narrows the field to six finalists. This committee reviews the written nominations and chooses those they believe contribute most significantly to improvements at their school sites or within the district.

Other finalists included: Cindy Bradley, media assistant at Riveria Elementary; Debra Christian, cafeteria manager at Jupiter Elementary; Amber Forschino, childcare coordinator at Croton Elementary; Linda Kelly, instructional assistant and childcare group leader at Suntree and Denise Mineer instructional assistant at Lockmar.

--Megan Downs



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12/13/2008 08:00 AM Lightsey named employee of the year
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12/12/2008 07:37 PM | Click to Comment

Palm Bay Community Charter School is saved!

The financial restructuring of Palm Bay Community Charter School\'s Patriot Campus includes:

- a new series of tax-exempt bonds will be sold for $15 million and have a 30-year maturity rate at 7.5 percent.  An additional $6 million generated from this will be paid at the end of the bond\'s maturity. 

- The previous $21 million bond will be paid off at an accelerated rate, and at a reduced amount of 70 cents on the dollar.

- The City of Palm Bay will provide a maximum of $2.55 million into an operating reserve, which will be restricted in use to pay senior obligations of the school - that incudes senior management fees and debt service.

- The city\'s contribution would be paid under the following schedule:

      - 10-1-2010 - $875,000

      - 10-1-2011 - $925,000

      - 10-1-2012 - $600,000

      - 10-1-2013 - $ 75,000

      - 10-1-2014 - $ 75,000

- Conditions:

     - Improved FCAT scores in reading math and writing in 2009

     - The school maintains at least a B grade

Enrollment needs to meet the following schedule:

- 2010 - 825 students

- 2011 - 902 students

- 2012 - 975 students

- 2013 - 1,048 students

- 2014 - 1,121 students

If enrollment isn\'t met, the city is not obligated to put in any money to the school.

The operating reserve maintains a $50,000 balance.

Operating and maintainance expenses will be paid prior to debt payments.

Charter Schools USA will be entitled to receive an incentive management fee of 25 percent of net income.

Excess cash flow will be applied as follows:

- CSUSA - $447,715

- the city - $2.55 million

- the bondholders and CSUSA $5.8 million

 



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12/12/2008 07:37 PM Palm Bay Community Charter School is saved!
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12/12/2008 07:27 PM | Click to Comment

Palm Bay Community Charter School is saved!

The city council unanimously passed a financial restructuring proposal to save Palm Bay Community Charter School\'s Patriot Campus. 

Palm Bay Mayor John Mazziotti said the city proposal includes: continued long-term operation of the school, increased student enrollment, improvement in school grades and a continued relationship between the bond-holders, Charter Schools USA (the school\'s management company) and the city.

The new proposal was sent to Palm Bay Community Charter School’s Patriot- Campus bondholders Wednesday, one that city officials said focuses on accountability and school performance.

The proposal requires the finance companies that hold the bond to agree to a 30-cent cut on every dollar.

The plan also asks management company Charter Schools USA to take a reduced management fee and a later reimbursement.

The plan projects that the school will lose 1 percent of its 750 students in fiscal year 2008 and 4 percent in 2009. Starting in 2010, school enrollment would rise 3 percent every year until 2048, according to the tentative deal. ¶

The new plan means Charter Schools USA  would agree to waive payment or obligation of $887,825 in accrued and unpaid management fees. Between fiscal years 2009 and 2019, the management company\'s fees would be reduced by $1.9 million, but by 2048 the company would be paid $34.96 million.

The plan also would include a stipulation that Charters Schools USA be paid before the city is repaid.



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12/12/2008 07:27 PM Palm Bay Community Charter School is saved!
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12/12/2008 07:05 PM | Click to Comment

Patriot Charter School Meeting has Begun

Palm Bay Mayor John Mazziotti has begun a special meeting that could decide the fate of Palm Bay Community Charter School\'s Patriot Campus.

Mazziotti said a city proposal includes: continued long-term operation of the school, increased student enrollment, improvement in school grades and a continued relationship between the bond-holders, Charter Schools USA (the school\'s management company) and the city.

The new proposal was sent to Palm Bay Community Charter School’s Patriot- Campus bondholders today, one that city officials said focuses on accountability and school performance.

The proposal requires the finance companies that hold the bond to agree to a 30-cent cut on every dollar.

The plan also asks management company Charter Schools USA to take a reduced management fee and a later reimbursement.

The plan projects that the school will lose 1 percent of its 750 students in fiscal year 2008 and 4 percent in 2009. Starting in 2010, school enrollment would rise 3 percent every year until 2048, according to the tentative deal. ¶

The new plan means Charter Schools USA  would agree to waive payment or obligation of $887,825 in accrued and unpaid management fees. Between fiscal years 2009 and 2019, the management company\'s fees would be reduced by $1.9 million, but by 2048 the company would be paid $34.96 million.

The plan also would include a stipulation that Charters Schools USA be paid before the city is repaid.



Earlier Posts

12/12/2008 07:05 PM Patriot Charter School Meeting has Begun
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12/12/2008 06:42 PM | Click to Comment

Palm Bay Community Charter School Meeting

Hundreds of parents, students, teachers and administrators from Palm Bay Community Charter School\'s Patriot Campus are crammed into the Palm Bay City Council chambers, waiting for a meeting to begin that could decide the fate of the school.

Students are now chanting, \"SAVE OUR SCHOOL!\"

The school is mired in financial problems after student enrollment dropped over the last two years.

The city could restructure a $21 million bond.  One proposal has Charter Schools USA taking a cut in its management fee.

The meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. 

 



Earlier Posts

12/12/2008 06:42 PM Palm Bay Community Charter School Meeting
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