Based on increased bond revenues, the Board of Education recently approved schedule changes for the Proposition S program that accelerated 39 construction projects, 37 design projects and all high school projects, which will begin construction by 2015.
In addition, the board approved seven new Prop. S/College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE) facilities at six high schools.
A new CCTE Academy of Business and Technology facility was approved for Clairemont High, while Henry High will be home to a new CCTE production studio and a new performing arts center.
SCPA, along with Hoover, Mira Mesa and San Diego high schools, will have existing facilities remodeled into state-of-the-art CCTE training centers for programs such as screen printing, computerized graphic design, broadcast journalism and biomedical sciences.
The complete schedule of Prop. S projects or to see what projects are scheduled at your school is available online.
For more district news, subscribe to the Superintendent's Friday Notes.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Kearny Science-Connections-Technology Students on White House Mission
 |
The students at SCT are armed only with computers and a mission to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity. And yet they have made some impressive progress by using a sophisticated computer mapping program called GIS (Geographical Information Systems) in Corri-Anne Burgess’ ROP class.
Burgess’ students learned quickly what a powerful tool computers can be. They applied the GIS mapping program to show the high rate of fast-food outlets in the pockets of San Diego with high poverty rates – what demographers call food deserts. They then overlaid that map with mapping that showed low rate of car ownership in those same areas. The result is they created an easy-to-track clash of bad circumstance – low mobility trapping low-income residents into a lifestyle of unhealthy food. San Diego’s urban areas are full of food deserts, and SCT students have tracked them.
They were inspired to use their new-found knowledge by First Lady Michelle Obama, who has made combating the epidemic of childhood obesity one of the top priorities of the White House. Mrs. Obama has launched the Let’s Move Campaign to eradicate childhood obesity, a subject she spoke about on her recent visit to San Diego. The SCT students plan is to take their food desert mapping discoveries to policy makers, legislators and health care officials to help spur them to action about bringing some relief to the food deserts in our city.
For more district news, subscribe to the Superintendent's Friday Notes.
IN THE NEWS: Chef is passionate about childhood nutrition
A local chef believes that the process by which food travels from farm to fork plays an important role in the solution to childhood obesity. Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune»
Monday, November 29, 2010
San Diego Unified Receives $1 Million Tech Grant
A million dollars in federal stimulus funds is on its way to San Diego Unified to help improve educational technology and college-career readiness.
The award is from the Enhancing Education Through Technology competitive grant program and is limited to uses that "improve high school graduation rates and promote student readiness for college and careers," according to the California Department of Education.
"This is wonderful help that will promote the top priorities of this district, raising our graduation rate and cutting the achievement gap," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. “Our ability to gather data on our students helps our teachers and staff members better keep up with today’s kids. In addition, our students’ ability to be career- and college-ready is what high school is all about.”
Darryl Lagace, San Diego Unified’s Chief Information and Technology Officer, said the grant funds will be focused on technology in grade 6-7 math.
“By targeting improvement in 6th and 7th grade math, we can better prepare our students for successful completion of Algebra in grade 8 which is the gateway to become college or career ready,” he said, “and is a strong predictor of passing the California High School Exit Exam in grade 10 and of high school graduation.”
California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, said the funding was based on the number of students in grades 7-12 at eligible school districts.
“These grants will help schools use data effectively to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap,” said O’Connell. “With the state budget crisis continuing, our cash-strapped schools desperately need these funds as soon as possible so they can use education data and technology to better prepare students for college or careers.”
Funding was provided through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in February 2009. Because of legislative program changes and the delay in the passage of the state budget, EETT funds will be used by schools to acquire and maintain the use of data to improve high school graduation rates and promote student readiness for college and careers.
The California Department of Education had just 45 days to complete an application process that normally takes months. Department staff cut the application process from a number of months to 11 days because prior applicants that did not receive funding in 2009 were allowed to use the same application for funding in this cycle. Therefore, a streamlined application process was implemented to meet the strict time line.
The award is from the Enhancing Education Through Technology competitive grant program and is limited to uses that "improve high school graduation rates and promote student readiness for college and careers," according to the California Department of Education.
"This is wonderful help that will promote the top priorities of this district, raising our graduation rate and cutting the achievement gap," said Superintendent Bill Kowba. “Our ability to gather data on our students helps our teachers and staff members better keep up with today’s kids. In addition, our students’ ability to be career- and college-ready is what high school is all about.”
Darryl Lagace, San Diego Unified’s Chief Information and Technology Officer, said the grant funds will be focused on technology in grade 6-7 math.
“By targeting improvement in 6th and 7th grade math, we can better prepare our students for successful completion of Algebra in grade 8 which is the gateway to become college or career ready,” he said, “and is a strong predictor of passing the California High School Exit Exam in grade 10 and of high school graduation.”
California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell, said the funding was based on the number of students in grades 7-12 at eligible school districts.
“These grants will help schools use data effectively to improve student achievement and close the achievement gap,” said O’Connell. “With the state budget crisis continuing, our cash-strapped schools desperately need these funds as soon as possible so they can use education data and technology to better prepare students for college or careers.”
Funding was provided through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in February 2009. Because of legislative program changes and the delay in the passage of the state budget, EETT funds will be used by schools to acquire and maintain the use of data to improve high school graduation rates and promote student readiness for college and careers.
The California Department of Education had just 45 days to complete an application process that normally takes months. Department staff cut the application process from a number of months to 11 days because prior applicants that did not receive funding in 2009 were allowed to use the same application for funding in this cycle. Therefore, a streamlined application process was implemented to meet the strict time line.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
IN THE NEWS: Superintendent Discusses Test Scores
Although San Diego Unified is among the top large districts in California, "we can always do better," says Kowba. Watch video»
Jones Elementary Robotics Team Off to Impressive Start
Jones Elementary School has a formed a LEGO Robotics team called the Dolphinbots. The team participates in FIRST LEGO League, a worldwide organization whose mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded by Dean Kamen, who has a vision to transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders.
The Dolphinbots team started meeting last May and learned to build and program LEGO robots using the LEGO Mindstorms kits. At the beginning of September, FIRST released its worldwide challenge with the theme of ‘Body Forward’, in which students learn about real life challenges facing bioengineers today. The Dolphinbots decided to research ways to help those who suffer with Lupus.
They built and programmed their LEGO robot to complete multiple missions on a thematic playing surface. The Dolphinbots had about eight weeks to prepare to compete in a tournament in Escondido, where they qualified to compete at Dolphinbots.
For more district news, subscribe to the Superintendent's Friday Notes.
IN THE NEWS: Strength, empathy listed as teacher’s qualities
A couple of things Jennifer Merlo’s students have taught her in her 14 years of teaching are about strength and compassion. Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune»
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
