K-12 Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations influencing the debate on education policy.
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Kansas City Public Schools: Data Mining Uncovers Eviction Solutions and Earns National Award
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 25 -- Kansas City Public Schools issued the following news, dated June 21:
Kansas City Public Schools is receiving national recognition for its efforts to unearth the impact of evictions on students and to refine data into a cutting-edge program that helps families stay in their homes.
The Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) has announced that it is giving the 2019 Research and Assessment Leadership Award to the KCPS Division of Research and Accountability. The decision was prompted by a unique data-mining research and solution development collaboration forged by
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KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 25 -- Kansas City Public Schools issued the following news, dated June 21:
Kansas City Public Schools is receiving national recognition for its efforts to unearth the impact of evictions on students and to refine data into a cutting-edge program that helps families stay in their homes.
The Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) has announced that it is giving the 2019 Research and Assessment Leadership Award to the KCPS Division of Research and Accountability. The decision was prompted by a unique data-mining research and solution development collaboration forged byKCPS with the Kansas City Eviction Project, Legal Aid of Western Missouri and the Local Investment Commission (LINC).
"The partnership you have created...struck us as an example of research that is innovative and proactive in supporting students and school staff," CGCS Legislative and Research Manager Moses Palacios wrote in an email informing the school system of the award.
The collaborative effort was driven initially by a need to address the issue of student mobility and the impact mobility has on schools, according to Chief Research and Accountability Officer Michael Reynolds.
KCPS currently has a 48 percent student mobility rate, according to the calculation used by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This statistic functions as an index of the rate at which students change schools during the academic year. The state average is 23 percent.
Multiple studies have concluded that high student mobility can have a negative impact on academic achievement, attendance, discipline, graduation rates and parent engagement. The KCPS Strategic Plan includes a focus on increasing student achievement by supporting families who face challenges like eviction, which is a major factor in the high mobility rate.
The Kansas City Eviction Project was launched in 2013 as a collaboration between researchers, community leaders, attorneys and policymakers to use data and public advocacy to increase housing stability for residents. Mr. Reynolds and his team recognized that there was an opportunity to work with project leaders, including Tara Raghuveer, to help meet the needs of both the school system and the community.
Eviction project participants and LINC staff downloaded a decade's worth of eviction data from the court system; KCPS IT staff and attorneys and Reynolds' team then overlaid that eviction data with student data. This research produced a quantifiable conclusion that evictions have a significant negative impact on KCPS families, according to Reynolds. They found that some schools had up to 30 families a year being evicted, which disrupts teaching and learning.
"We were able to identify clearly that eviction is a problem for our students and for our schools," Reynolds said. "Now we can begin to apply creative and innovative solutions to address these challenges that are truly out of the control of our students."
The eviction research led to the development of an automated, cloud-based process that alerts KCPS staff when a student's family appears to be in danger of being evicted through the court system. These families are referred to the recently launched Justice In the Schools program, a new partnership with Legal Aid of Western Missouri that provides free legal assistance for KCPS families. More information about the program is available at http://www.kcpublicschools.org/justice.
Households can decrease the likelihood of being evicted by 50 percent if they have any degree of legal representation, according to the Kansas City Eviction Project. Preventing evictions helps both schools and neighborhoods increase stability, safety, and social, emotional and economic wellbeing.
CGCS is a coalition of 74 urban public school systems from across the U.S. The award for KCPS will be presented during the council's 2019 Curriculum and Research Directors Meeting on June 25 in San Diego. A member of Reynolds' team will also be given the opportunity to lead a presentation about the eviction research and solutions during the meeting.
"It's nice to get this recognition for our team, but we really see this as a chance to share this model for other urban school systems," Reynolds said. "It's important that we shine a spotlight on the issue of evictions and the impact that it has on our children. We're trying to educate the public about the consequences of housing policy."
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: Superintendent Search Continues With More Special-Called Board of Education Meetings
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 24 -- The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following news, dated June 20:
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education is continuing the search for the district's next superintendent. A first round of interviews wrapped up earlier this week and a second round is expected to begin later this month. The original pool of 44 candidates from 16 different states was first narrowed to less than 20 for round one interviews.
The second round of interviews will include up to 6 finalists. Board Chair, Malishai Woodbury says they hope to have a final
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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 24 -- The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following news, dated June 20:
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education is continuing the search for the district's next superintendent. A first round of interviews wrapped up earlier this week and a second round is expected to begin later this month. The original pool of 44 candidates from 16 different states was first narrowed to less than 20 for round one interviews.
The second round of interviews will include up to 6 finalists. Board Chair, Malishai Woodbury says they hope to have a finalcandidate selected by early August. The final, formal vote will be held in a public meeting likely in late July or early August.
As a part of the process the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education will meet in specially called meetings beginning at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, and beginning at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, July 22, 2019.
The meetings will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Winston-Salem University, located at 5790 University Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC.
The only item on the agenda for each meeting will be a closed session to discuss confidential personnel matters pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(1), (a)(6), and G.S. 115C-321.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: 'The Perfect Match'
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 24 -- The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following news, dated June 20:
By Kim Underwood
At Piney Grove Elementary, staff members are delighted that Assistant Principal Brendan Elkins will become the new principal after Principal Bob Vorbroker retires at the end of the month.
As Vickie True, the school's Data Manager, put it:
"Piney Grove Elementary is blessed to be able to have Mr. Elkins step up into the position of principal. We are all sad to see Mr. Vorbroker leave us, but, at the same time, very excited to see him enjoy a much-deserved
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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 24 -- The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following news, dated June 20:
By Kim Underwood
At Piney Grove Elementary, staff members are delighted that Assistant Principal Brendan Elkins will become the new principal after Principal Bob Vorbroker retires at the end of the month.
As Vickie True, the school's Data Manager, put it:
"Piney Grove Elementary is blessed to be able to have Mr. Elkins step up into the position of principal. We are all sad to see Mr. Vorbroker leave us, but, at the same time, very excited to see him enjoy a much-deservedretirement. He has been a wonderful leader for the school, as well as the perfect mentor for Mr. Elkins."
"The two men are very similar in personal characteristics. Both are kind, consistent, considerate and caring men who very obviously love their jobs, the kids, the school, and the community."
"Mr. Elkins is a good 'people-reader.' His ability to meet students, staff, and parents at whatever level (sad, discouraged, ecstatic, hysterical), and de-escalate or build up the situation as needed, is a great characteristic to already have coming in to the job."
"Mr. Elkins has a wonderful sense of humor, and can be found at any given time giving high fives to students in the hallway, playing basketball with students outside, having lunch with students in the cafeteria, and sometimes even sharing a dance move with students who have stopped to chat with him."
"We are fortunate that he is already familiar with all the dynamics of our students' families and the staff. So he is ready to hit the ground running July 1st."
"We consider ourselves very blessed to have him as our next leader."
Elkins has served as the assistant principal at Piney Grove since 2016.
The Kernersville community became his home long before he came to Piney Grove. Elkins grew up in Winston-Salem and graduated from Mount Tabor High. His wife, Donnay, grew up in Kernersville and graduated from East Forsyth High.
They met when both were students at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
"We got married right out of college," he said.
After they married, they found a house in Kernersville.
And, as it worked out, Elkins has spent his entire career in education in the Kernersville area. Before coming to Piney Grove, he taught at Southeast Middle School from 2008 to 2014 before heading to Caleb's Creek Elementary to serve as a principal intern.
"I am homegrown," he said. "It's the only place I have taught and worked."
Elkins grew up in a family dense with educators. His great-grandfather served both as a teacher and as the principal of a small school. His grandparents Omer and Athaleta Hendrix were both educators. His grandfather taught at Forsyth Technical Community College, and his grandmother taught at Parkland High.
His aunt Amy Tilley was an educator. These days, she is the Instructional Facilitator at Southwest Elementary. His sister began her career as a teacher and returned to the field after taking a break to raise her children.
"Maybe it's just in my blood," Elkins said.
Although, in retrospect, becoming an educator might seem like a natural choice, Elkins didn't know what career he wanted to pursue while he was going to Speas Elementary, Paisley Middle and Mount Tabor, where he graduated in 2004.
He was definitely a good student, though.
"That was my job - to go to school and make good grades," Elkins said. "I loved every aspect of it."
Along with learning, he enjoyed spending time with friends and playing sports. At Paisley, he played basketball. His coach was Stephawn Kee, who is now an assistant principal at Mount Tabor. When Elkins went to Mount Tabor, he played golf.
After he went off to UNC Wilmington, he got into coaching through working with intramural sports and helping out at parks & recreation department programs. An instructor who knew he enjoyed working with young people thought that he might enjoy coaching as an educator.
That sounded good to him. In 2008, he earned his teaching certification with a focus on the middle grades. After he graduated, Debbie Warren, who was the principal at Southeast Middle at the time, hired him, and he was on his way.
These days, the Elkinses go to Goodwill Baptist Church in Kernersville.
Donnay Elkins started her career as a nurse. She is now a nurse practitioner, which means she can diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medications.
The Elkinses enjoy traveling and try to take an adventure trip every other year. They have been to Alaska and Paris. Now that they have a daughter - Adelyn - they're shifting their focus to kid adventures and Disneyworld is on their list.
"We like to travel but we like coming back home," Elkins said.
Elkins still enjoys playing golf. Whenever he heads out onto the golf course, his goal is to break 80. Twice, he has shot par. He has yet to shoot a hole-in-one, though, and he hopes to do that one day.
He enjoys being outside in general and finds other ways to spend time outside, such as going hiking with his wife.
"We like to be active," he said.
They are also big Carolina Panthers fans, and Elkins' office has several Panthers posters.
When he's reading for fun, Elkins enjoys such books as the Harry Potter series and biographies of sports figures.
Elkins became interested in becoming a principal while teaching at Southeast Middle.
At Southeast, he coached basketball, and, when Stephanie Gentry became the principal after Warren retired, she encouraged him to take on other leadership roles, such as serving as chair of the school's School Improvement Team (SIT).
"I loved doing the leadership opportunities," he said.
He applied for and was accepted into N.C. Principal Fellows Program and began working on a master's degree in School Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
As Principal Fellows, participants serve for a year as an intern in a school. As much as he enjoyed teaching in a middle school, when he served as a principal intern at Caleb's Creek Elementary with Judy Jones, who was principal there before she retired, he discovered that he enjoyed working at the elementary school even more.
"I fell in love with elementary school," he said. "In an elementary school, the growth you see with kids is amazing. It's an amazing transformation."
Plus, he enjoyed interacting with students at recess and having students wanting to give him a hug.
He also discovered that his experiences in middle school enabled him to help students and parents prepare for the transition.
Elkins believes in giving people credit for supporting him, and, when talking about his experiences along the way, he made a point to talk about how much the support of all of the principals and others he has worked with has meant to him.
When Elkins came to Piney Grove, Vorbroker saw that Elkins had gifts that made Vorbroker think he would make a strong principal for the school. At the top of the list was how well Elkins listened to what each person had to say and how readily he connected with people.
"Right away, I knew there was something special there," Vorbroker said. "It's hard to build those relationships. Right then, I thought he potentially could take over the school and do great things with it."
Vorbroker began tutoring him in such administrative responsibilities as the school's budget and the logistical aspects of administration.
At Piney Grove, staff members also soon came to appreciate who Elkins is.
"Mr. Elkins is very hands-on and personable," said Catherine Gant, who teaches third grade.
"He knows all of our students. He cares about his staff and takes time to get to know staff, students, and families. It is not uncommon for him to ask about staff member's families or hobbies."
"Friendly doesn't begin to describe his personality. He is also very open and approachable. Mr. Elkins is very supportive. He encourages staff members to be creative and try new ideas while also offering advice or suggestions he thinks would be beneficial. He finds a way to connect with everyone and make them feel appreciated. "
Sara Finley teaches first grade at Piney Grove.
"Mr. Elkins has many gifts and talents that make him a joy to work alongside," Finley said.
"His qualities that shine to me are his personable nature, trustworthiness, and his ability to find the positives in all people and situations. He is able to provide insightful, positive feedback from his experiences, lend an ear to a work or personal struggle or conflict, and make connections with staff and students that are meaningful and genuine. He is the true definition of a people-person!"
"As an administrator, Mr. Elkins balances his responsibilities seamlessly. His duties do not limit, nor hinder, his positive presence in and around the school and community. Often, you can find him visiting and eating with students in the cafeteria to build relationships over lunch, or out on the playground engaging in games with students."
"His focus on building a positive, family-style school culture and strong relationships with staff and students is unparalleled. This helps foster a positive working and learning environment for all, and sets the precedent for staff and students to follow."
"He also works diligently to create positive relationships with parents and has been a wonderful resource for parent communication. He has encouraged us, as a staff, to continue to build these relationships with our parents through consistent positive communication regarding students. I am so thankful and excited to follow our new leader and grow as an educator and a school!"
Piney Grove has about 615 students. Its Performance Grade on the N.C. School Report Card increased five points from 2016 to 2018, and the school has met or exceeded growth in the past two years.
At the moment, it has what Elkins calls a "solid B." One of his goals for the coming years is to increase that grade to an A.
"I know we have everything in this building to be an A school," he said. "Knowing the people here and how much they love the kids made this career move an easy decision."
Asked whether he can imagine another career path he might have taken if he had not become an educator, Elkins said he had no idea.
"I don't see any other path," he said. "I feel like this is what God called me to do, and this is what I am supposed to do."
"Things work out a certain way, and I couldn't be happier. I feel beyond blessed."
The Elkinses live about three minutes away from Piney Grove.
"This is my community school," he said. "This is where my daughter will go. So it's a perfect match."
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: 'I Will Miss the Kids'
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 24 -- The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following news, dated June 20:
By Kim Underwood
At the end of the month, Bob Vorbroker will retire as the principal at Piney Grove Elementary.
"I will really miss the kids," Vorbroker said.
No matter what stresses a day might bring, he said, walking into any classroom in the building would immediately cheer him up.
He will miss his colleagues as well.
"They are quite a crew," he said. "We are just like a family."
What he won't miss is waking up at 5 a.m. every school day with his mind already grappling
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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina, June 24 -- The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools issued the following news, dated June 20:
By Kim Underwood
At the end of the month, Bob Vorbroker will retire as the principal at Piney Grove Elementary.
"I will really miss the kids," Vorbroker said.
No matter what stresses a day might bring, he said, walking into any classroom in the building would immediately cheer him up.
He will miss his colleagues as well.
"They are quite a crew," he said. "We are just like a family."
What he won't miss is waking up at 5 a.m. every school day with his mind already grapplingwith the challenges that await him at school. He's looking forward to waking up when he wants to and thinking about nothing in particular.
Vorbroker has spent all 23 years of his life as an educator with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
"I will be forever grateful to the school district," Vorbroker said.
Vorbroker, who will turn 66 in August, had long wanted to become an educator. Earlier on, though, he pursued other paths.
Vorbroker grew up in Detroit. He always enjoyed school, and he went off to college wanting to become a teacher. Unfortunately, teaching jobs were scarce in those days. So, instead, he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Detroit.
After four years of working as an accountant, Vorbroker, who was raised Catholic, decided to go to a seminary that would train him to become a member of the Order of St. Augustine.
"This was a teaching order," he said.
After studying at Villanova University and in St. Louis, he was sent to Catholic Theological Union in Chicago to work on his master of divinity degree. He studied, lived in a house off campus and learned more about the order.
"I loved it," he said.
Four years into the five-year program, though, he came to see "this is just not the path for me."
He liked Chicago so decided to stay and look for a job. He found one with Continental Bank. It was 1983. At the time, it was the sixth-largest bank in the country. The bank trained him how to put in computer systems and began sending him all over to install them.
"I went around the world putting in communications networks for this bank," Vorbroker said.
He traveled to Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Although he might spend a month somewhere, he was lucky if he saw anything more of the country than the road between the office and the hotel.
He also traveled extensively throughout the United States - Florida, New York, Texas, Oregon.
"I did that for about six years," he said.
He went on to work in technology for a couple of other companies as well. When he was home in Chicago, his circle of friends had come to include a number of teachers.
"And they loved their jobs," he said.
His early desire to be a teacher came back to the surface.
"The bug was still there," Vorbroker said.
He also began thinking it might be time to live somewhere else. When he visited friends in Winston-Salem, he liked the area a lot and started thinking this would be an excellent place to be.
When he did a little research, he found that he could earn a master's degree at Salem College that would give him the teaching credentials he needed. In a leap of faith, he bought a house in Winston-Salem, moved here in 1996 and enrolled in the program at Salem. Shortly after moving here, he saw a job posting on Cable 2, the school system's cable station, for a part-time computer lab assistant at Vienna Elementary School. He applied and got it.
"Things are falling into place," he thought.
It made him feel as if it was all meant to be. "I felt great."
At first, Vienna teachers would stay with their students when they brought them to the computer lab. Soon, Vorbroker was saying, "You don't need to stay. Just drop them off and go."
Vorbroker eventually became a fifth-grade teacher at the school. At Vienna, he worked with Lisa Davis, the assistant principal at Vienna. When they met, she was a teacher.
Davis spoke about Vorbroker for a 2015 story about him becoming the principal at Piney Grove.
"I taught with Bob for 10 years at Vienna," Davis said. "He was the second colleague I met there, when he came in my classroom to work on my computer. I was nervous about starting my second year teaching and was new to Vienna, but he eased me instantly. He had a calm sense about him and was just a really kind person from the moment I met him. I remember thinking that I hoped we would be friends. Luckily that worked out. We have been friends ever since...As a teaching colleague he taught me to not take myself too seriously - that things would always work out as they should."
During their time together at Vienna, they also participated for six years in a National Science Foundation grant program called Teaching Excellence and Mathematics. The project required traveling around the country attending conferences and presenting workshops for teachers.
"We worked long, long hours, but it was fun because we laughed a lot and he had a way of bringing down the stress level," Davis said. "Bob is a diligent worker and is brilliant - I was always glad he was my partner."
"Piney Grove is lucky to have him. I know they have already figured that out. Bob is fair, kind-hearted and funny. He has a love for children and always puts their interests first. He's from Detroit, but don't let him fool you - he's got a Southerner's heart!"
For much of his time at Vienna, Vorbroker wasn't really thinking of going into administration. When he decided to go to Appalachian State University to earn a master's in school administration, his thinking was more along the lines of "This is so I will have something in my back pocket."
He came to realize, though, that he might enjoy being an administrator, and, after 13 years at Vienna, he left in 2009 to become the assistant principal at Mocksville Elementary, a job that included such responsibilities as hiring bus drivers and serving as testing coordinator.
"I loved being an assistant principal," he said.
Wanting to return to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, he applied to become assistant principal at Clemmons Elementary when the position opened there in 2012. From there, he headed to Piney Grove in 2015 as principal.
After Vorbroker retires, Brendan Elkins, who has been the assistant principal there, will become the principal. Elkins speaks highly of Vorbroker as a person and appreciates all that he has done to prepare him for the job.
Vorbroker still lives near Vienna and has found that the drive to Piney Grove, which is on the other side of the country, gave him time to get his thoughts in order for the day.
Vorbroker has a playful side, and photos of him at Piney Grove show him sporting a toupee, covered with silly string, and dressed as Superman.
As much as he has enjoyed his time at Piney Grove, he is ready for a break.
"I have been basically working for 50 years of my life," he said.
He has no particular plans at the moment, other than rereading some of the classics that he read in school, in part to see whether his perspective on them is different today than it was then.
"I have always wanted to reread the books they made us read in school," he said.
Once he feels rested, he will think about what comes next.
Asked whether there anything he knows now that he wishes he had known earlier, he said, "I wish I had appreciated 20 years ago how fast it all goes."
Three Fairfax County Public Schools Earn 2019 Board of Education Highest Achievement Award
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, June 20 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news release:
* * *
- 16 FCPS Schools Earn Continuous Improvement Award
* * *
The state Board of Education today recognized 19 FCPS schools for high student achievement or continuous improvement under the board's new exemplar performance school recognition program.
The exemplar performance school recognition program is aligned with the Board of Education's revised accreditation standards and replaces the Virginia Index of Performance recognition program.
Forestville Elementary, Thomas Jefferson High School
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FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, June 20 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news release:
* * *
- 16 FCPS Schools Earn Continuous Improvement Award
* * *
The state Board of Education today recognized 19 FCPS schools for high student achievement or continuous improvement under the board's new exemplar performance school recognition program.
The exemplar performance school recognition program is aligned with the Board of Education's revised accreditation standards and replaces the Virginia Index of Performance recognition program.
Forestville Elementary, Thomas Jefferson High Schoolfor Science and Technology, and Wolftrap Elementary were recognized for earning the 2019 Board of Education Highest Achievement Award. They were among 52 schools statewide to earn the award.
To earn the Board of Education Highest Achievement Award, a school must earn a state accreditation rating of Accredited, and meet the following benchmarks:
* 70 percent pass rate on state assessments in science and mathematics.
* 75 percent pass rate on state assessment in English reading and writing.
* No more than a five percent gap (for schools with two student groups) or a 10 percent gap (for schools with three or more student groups) in English reading and writing between the lowest-performing group and all other students in the school.
* No more than a five percent gap (for schools with two student groups) or a 10-percent gap (for schools with three or more student groups) in mathematics between the lowest-performing group and all other students in the school.
The Board also recognized 16 FCPS schools with the Board of Education Continuous Improvement Award, which recognizes a school that has earned a state accreditation rating of Accredited or Accredited with Conditions and meets at least one of the following benchmarks for improved performance on accreditation-related school quality indicators:
* A cumulative 10-point increase over three years in the combined rates for reading and mathematics and in the pass rate for science, with improvement each year on each indicator.
* A cumulative 10-point increase over three years in the combined rates for reading and mathematics for two or more student groups, with improvement each year for each group on both indicators.
* A cumulative 15 percent decrease in the chronic absenteeism rate over three years, with a decrease each year.
* For schools with a graduating class, a cumulative four-point increase in the Graduation and Completion Index over three years, with an increase each year, and a cumulative 15 percent decrease in the dropout rate, with a decrease each year.
Schools earning the Board of Education Continuous Improvement Award include: Bailey's Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, Bryant High, Centreville High, Edison High, Fairfax County Adult High, Frost Middle, Herndon High, Hutchison Elementary, Justice High, Kilmer Center, Kings Park Elementary, Lake Braddock Secondary, London Towne Elementary, Madison High, Mountain View High and Stenwood Elementary.
"I congratulate all the students, teachers, support staff, and administrators at these Fairfax County Public Schools for earning state recognition for academic achievement and improvement," said Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand. "These awards highlight the outstanding work being done in schools across the county in achieving our goals of providing an excellent and equitable education for every FCPS student. I am also pleased that the Board of Education is recognizing schools that have not been recognized previously but have made consistent gains in academic achievement and also have succeeded in reducing absenteeism and dropout rates."
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board Approves Contracts for Three General Obligation Bond Projects Valued at $35.9 Million, Small Business Enterprise Goals Met or Exceeded
MIAMI, Florida, June 20 -- Miami-Dade County Public Schools issued the following news release:
The Miami-Dade School Board approved the commissioning of architects and a construction award related to three General Obligation Bond (GOB) projects valued at approximately $35.9 million, during their regular monthly meeting yesterday.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the GOB in 2012 to renovate, remodel and replace schools; expand student capacity; enhance safety; and provide technology upgrades. The following are details of the projects:
Palm Springs North Elementary School - The scope of work for
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MIAMI, Florida, June 20 -- Miami-Dade County Public Schools issued the following news release:
The Miami-Dade School Board approved the commissioning of architects and a construction award related to three General Obligation Bond (GOB) projects valued at approximately $35.9 million, during their regular monthly meeting yesterday.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the GOB in 2012 to renovate, remodel and replace schools; expand student capacity; enhance safety; and provide technology upgrades. The following are details of the projects:
Palm Springs North Elementary School - The scope of work forthis project includes: a new two-story classroom building to house 466 student stations (approximately 32,288 square feet), which is a reuse of Madie Ives K-8 Center Classroom Building 04, including new entry courtyard, 16 new parking spaces, and all required covered walkways; a new Mechanical Equipment Building (approximately 1,853 square feet) to house existing chillers, flammable storage space and equipment storage; new fire alarm, security systems, public announcement (PA) system, clock, data, and telecommunications systems; and demolition of existing Building 01 (pending State of Florida approval), including related site restoration and landscaping.
Total project allocation - $13.3 million, Completion - August 2021
Total Sub-Consultant S/MBE Participation: 32 percent
Lenora B. Smith Elementary School - The scope of work for this project includes: selective heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) replacement/enhancement; selective plumbing replacement/repair; selective electrical system replacement; renovation of selected restrooms to ADA compliance; replacement of acoustical ceiling and light fixtures with new acoustical ceiling and LED light fixtures; enhancements to fire alarm system; repair to PA system; new emergency exit signs in classrooms; new built-in counters and cabinets in selected classrooms; renovation of stairway structure; improvements to security system; new high/low water coolers with bottle filler to comply with ADA; upgrades to existing security camera system; and exterior painting throughout the entire campus, as well as selective interior painting.
Total project allocation - $3.7 million, Completion - June 2021
Total Sub-Consultant S/MBE Participation: 34 percent
Coral Gables Senior High School - The scope of work for this project includes: construction of a new, 357 student-station, two-story addition comprised of two art labs, kiln room, group restrooms, two staff restrooms, two social studies classrooms, gymnastics/dance room, dining and serving area, covered dining area, four computer labs, resource room, drafting and design lab, two JROTC rooms, science classroom, collaboration room and other associated spaces; construction of a new one-story addition comprised of a multi-purpose room, physical education room and a new central chiller plant for the entire campus; complete demolition of Building 6; partial demolition of Building 7; resurfacing of the existing parking lot; new sidewalks; miscellaneous sodding; drainage improvements to existing grounds and other miscellaneous upgrades throughout.
Total project allocation - $18.9 million, Completion - May 2021
Total Sub-Consultant S/MBE Participation: 18.64 percent
Total Sub-Consultant M/WBE Participation: 20.46 percent
To learn more about School Board referendum project progress, visit http://gobprogress.com.
For the most up-to-date information, please download the Dadeschools mobile app to your iPhone or Android device. Follow us on Twitter @mdcpscapital @mdcps and @miamisup and on Facebook at MiamiSchools and AlbertoCarvalho.
Illinois Network of Charter Schools: Hundreds of Charter Public School Students Advocate for Peace in Chicago
CHICAGO, Illinois, June 20 -- The Illinois Network of Charter Schools issued the following news release:
At a time when many high school students focus on summer activities, Teyonna Lofton, a rising senior at Perspectives Leadership Academy, a charter public school in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, stood before hundreds of her peers to speak out against gun violence on Chicago's South Side.
"There is so much pain we carry as young people and we just shouldn't have to," Lofton said. "We cannot become desensitized and accept what is going on around us. We have to stand up together for the fundamental
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CHICAGO, Illinois, June 20 -- The Illinois Network of Charter Schools issued the following news release:
At a time when many high school students focus on summer activities, Teyonna Lofton, a rising senior at Perspectives Leadership Academy, a charter public school in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, stood before hundreds of her peers to speak out against gun violence on Chicago's South Side.
"There is so much pain we carry as young people and we just shouldn't have to," Lofton said. "We cannot become desensitized and accept what is going on around us. We have to stand up together for the fundamentalright to be safe in our neighborhoods."
Hundreds of students, parents and community members attended Perspectives Charter Schools' sixth annual student-led peace rally and march Friday, June 7. The event included prayer, music, speeches and a march filled with student voices demanding peace in the neighborhoods they call home.
The march was personal for many attendees. Diana Shulla-Cose, co-founder of Perspectives, said more than ten students and alumni have been shot and killed in the past two years.
State Representative Kam Buckner (D-26) recalled losing friends to gun violence.
"I would say goodbye to them in June when school ended and not have an opportunity to ever see them again," Buckner said. "We need peace this summer throughout the entire city of Chicago."
Most students, including Lofton, reported knowing someone who was shot and killed. As a co-organizer of the event, Lofton appreciated the opportunity to advocate for her community in a supportive environment.
"The peace march meant everything to me," Lofton said. "Seeing my friends and kids around my age who look just like me come together as one and stand strong."
Perspectives' students will continue their advocacy for peace with a basketball tournament and community planning session on reducing gun violence. To join the conversation, visit https://eventnoire.com/chitown-shutdown/.
