Comprehensive Educational Platform

Fernandez Ruled Ineligible

July 5th, 2011

 

Righthander Jose Fernandez has been ruled ineligible to play baseball for his senior season at Alonso High in Tampa, according to Alonso athletic director K.R. Lombardia.

The ruling stems from Florida High School Athletic Association rule 9.5.1, which states, “A student has four consecutive calendar years of eligibility from the date he/she begins ninth grade for the first time.”

Fernandez began ninth grade in 2006, in Cuba. During the beginning of his sophomore year, he tried to flee the country and was caught by the U.S. Coast Guard, 15 miles from Key West. The Coast Guard returned him to Cuba and he spent six days in jail before he was ordered to spend a year under house arrest.

In April of 2008, Fernandez fled the country again and was successful in getting to Mexico before arriving in Tampa, where he joined his father. So, Fernandez did not go to school for the 2007-2008 school year, but picked up where he left off—in 10th grade—when he enrolled at Alonso for the 2008-2009 season.

Fernandez and Alonso appealed the decision to the district, but was denied an extra year of eligibility, so they are taking their appeal to the FHSAA, and the second appeal is slated for Nov. 21.<

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Tags: Ineligible, Ruled Ineligible

Posted in Education Sport Minute | No Comments »

Area schools land $11.5 million from Walmart Foundation

July 3rd, 2011

Sacramento Schools have received $11.5 million from The Walmart Foundation for three-year summer learning program that started Jun. 6.

The foundation provided the funds to the National Summer Learning Association, which then distributed them to local learning programs in 10 cities nationwide. The donation is part of a national effort to improve education for between school years.

The Association selected Santa-Ana-based THINK Together to implement the Smarter Summers program in Elk Grove Unified School District.

Schools receiving the funds include Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School, Harriet G. Eddy Middle School, James Rutter Middle School, Samuel Jackman Middle School, and T.R. Smedberk Middle School.

For more information, visit .

Tags: Foundation, Walmart Foundation

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New Book Tuesday: Environmental Lessons from New York City

July 3rd, 2011

Sustainability Management: Lessons from and for New York City, America, and the Planet Steven Cohen

Zeami: Performance Notes (Now available in paper) Translated by Tom Hare

Jewish Terrorism in Israel (Now available in paper) Ami Pedahzur and Arie Perliger

Tags: City, New York, New York City, York City

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CT may add seats in charter schools

July 3rd, 2011

More than 600 additional children could get to enroll in Connecticut charter schools next fall under a proposal being considered by state education officials.

The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a measure to add 622 seats in charter schools statewide this fall. It would bring their total enrollment to 6,071.

Connecticut’s first charter schools opened in 1997 as nonprofit public schools funded with state and private money.

Students must still take Connecticut’s standardized tests, but teachers have flexibility in presenting material. Enrollments are limited to keep classes small.

The proposal to add more seats is funded in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s new state budget, but the enrollments might need to be changed if his administration doesn’t get the labor concession savings it anticipated.

Tags: Charter Schools, Schools

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West Sac school board chief leads district shake-up

July 2nd, 2011

Dave Westin is shaking things up at the Washington Unified School District.

In his 18 months as school board president, the business executive and the other trustees have put administrative staff on notice meet goals or face the consequences.

Washington Unified, which covers the city of West Sacramento, has a history of low student performance although scores have been rising.

District officials have fired or reassigned six employees who didn’t meet expectations. “We are also closely monitoring 60 employees with performance issues this year,” Westin said.

Even the new superintendent, Dayton Gilleland, is not immune. The school board hired him in the summer of 2010 with the provision that he meet 28 measurable objectives, including dramatically improving academic scores and graduation rates and maintaining a balanced budget.

The board spent about two hours in closed session last month reviewing every management position, Westin said.

“We’re going to run the school district like a business,” Westin said. “Not a mom and pop shop.

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Tags: District, School Board

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Summer ripening in school gardens

July 2nd, 2011

Many school gardens – such a hive of activity just a month ago – look dormant today, their early-season crops long ago harvested and their young gardeners now gone for summer break.

But look a bit below the surface, and you’ll see lots of things are happening. Some things are getting bigger and new things are taking root – and we’re not just talking about fruits and vegetables.

Around Colorado, the school garden movement continues to expand.

In this story

In the metro area, the partnership between Slow Food Denver and Denver Urban Gardens brought gardens and gardening and nutrition education to 45 schools this year.

Two-thirds of the schools are in DPS but others are in Commerce City, Jeffco, Englewood, Cherry Creek, Aurora and a smattering of private schools. Even Graland Country Day School got a garden for its kindergarteners and first-graders.

And more are in the works, said Andy Nowak, director of Slow Food Denver.

Most importantly, Slow Food Denver and DUG recently won a grant from the U.S. Departmen

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Tags: Gardens, School Gardens

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