District Administration articles from July 2008

District Administration archives from July 2008

From my district to yours: it acts as a barometer for what may appear on these pages.(Editor's Letter)
July 1, 2008... THE KATONAH-LEWISBORO (N.Y.) SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MY HOME DISTRICT. IT'S ABOUT 45 miles north of New York City, and it's where my daughter will be starting high school this September. Since I joined the staff of DA, it has also become a case...

Notification system needs recognition.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I read the Problem/Solution story ("Calling Home in Any Language," June 2008) and am extremely dismayed that the story did not mention the country's foremost school-to-parent communications system, Connect-ED (Blackboard/NTI), which is used by...

Supporting small schools.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Dan Kinnaman's editorials in DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ("500,000 Schools," May 2008, and "Small Schools, Big Benefits," November 2007) have been right on track and very helpful to the cause of small schools in South Dakota. I have been waging...

Tech skills still lag.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... In response to Zach Miners' blog on www.DistrictAdministration.com ("How Do You Define 21st Century Skills?" May 15, 2008), I have to say that, sadly, many schools are a couple of centuries behind. I just entered a school system that just got...

Math lessons.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I am writing to comment on a recent article by Carl Vogel ("Algebra: Changing the Equation," May 2008). I thoroughly enjoyed the article and totally agree with the author. I would like to make one recommendation about resources. The HOSTS...

Report slams reading first, but others defend it.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
July 1, 2008... PRESIDENT BUSH'S $1 BILLION a year initiative to teach critical reading skills to low-income children has not improved their reading comprehension one iota, according to a new study from the program's own champion, the U.S. Department of...

Did you know?(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... HALF OF PRINCIPALS VIEW BULLYING as a serious problem at their schools, but they appear to underestimate the extent of harassment that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students experience, according to a new study released by the...

Effective board meetings.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2008... WANTING TO HAVE effective school board meetings is one thing; actually having them is another. And knowing what makes board meetings "effective" is something else entirely. So says the new edition of Becoming a Better Board Member: A Guide to...

Making the case for green schools.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FACED WITH EVER-INCREASING DIRE ASSESSMENTS OF GLOBAL climate change, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently testified before Congress about the importance of green buildings as a solution for "one of the...

Microsoft joins the 1-to-1 Laptop project.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
July 1, 2008... MICROSOFT, A LONGTIME HOLDOUT IN PARTNERING WITH THE computing and education project One Laptop per Child (OLPC), recently announced plans to offer Windows on the nonprofit group's laptops. OLPC's $200 machines previously ran exclusively on the...

157,000.(STAT BLAST)
July 1, 2008... The number of teachers who leave the profession every year, not including retirement. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Source: Alliance for Excellent Education

Physical safety rises, cybersafety goes down.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
July 1, 2008... SCHOOL DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE have improved their physical safety by nearly 40 percent since 2007, but scores on cybersafety have dropped by 25 percent in the same time period, according to the second annual School Safety Index from CDW...

Taking lessons from NASCAR.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum)
July 1, 2008... THE SCIENCE TEACHERS ZIPPED through the speedway course with trepidation, taking hairpin turns around cones as they pulled out of skids along the water-slicked surface. Sitting beside each of them in the passenger seat was an instructor, giving...

Students sink teeth into a different kind of lunch box.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN FEBRUARY, SECOND-GRADE CLASSES FROM JOHN RUHRAH ELEMENTARY School in Baltimore, Md., received a slew of bright orange lunch boxes during a special event at the National Dental Museum in Baltimore, and inside them...

Collaborative teaching helps small district gain big.(Administrator Profile: SUPERINTENDENT MARY RUBADEAU)
July 1, 2008... CERTAIN THINGS ARE EASIER TO accomplish in a district comprised of only 700 students. "Here I know most of the kids quite well," says Mary Rubadeau, the nine-year superintendent of the Telluride (Colo.) School District. Known for attending...

Turning bullying on its head.(Conversations: Israel "Izzy" Kalman)(Interview)
July 1, 2008... If cruel behavior among students is on the rise, it may be because too many kids see themselves as victims and not enough are learning to respect their antagonistic peers. At least that's the message advocated by Bullies to Buddies, a company...

Getting mobile: handheld computers bring K12 classrooms into the 21st century.(TECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOW CAN CHILDREN LEAD PRODUCTIVE and satisfying lives in the 21st century if in school we are having them use technology from the 20th century? The hallmark of the 21st century global workplace is the computer....

School supplies on a budget: buying school supplies has gotten expensive for parents, teachers and school districts.(BACK TO SCHOOL)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AT THE VERONA AREA (Wis.) School District, administrators, teachers and parents have recently faced an increasingly common challenge: continuing to provide essential school supplies to their 4,500 students despite...

The silent issue: with education getting short shrift this election season, where do Sens. McCain and Obama really stand on improving schools, and how might their plans impact your district?(ADMINISTRATION & SUPERVISION)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FORMER 2008 PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) proudly declared during a Democratic debate in late 2007, "I want to be the education president." You would be hard-pressed to find similar claims in the...

Rush-Henrietta (N.Y.) Central School District: www.rhnet.org.(How Well Does This Web Site Work? LEARN WHAT OUR WEB Analyst Says Is Right And Wrong With The District Site)
July 1, 2008... THE RUSH-HENRIETTA (N.Y.) CENTRAL School District serves nearly 6,000 students in nine schools outside the city of Rochester, just south of Lake Ontario. Design The home page is appealing and well designed, with clearly defined...

Sanford back to school supplies: Sanford.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Books and Materials, Pricing varies Sanford's new back-to-school supplies include the Sharpie Accent Jumbo Highlighter, its longest writing highlighter, with chisel tip and bold colors such as fluorescent pink,...

Portege M700-S7002, convertible tablet: Toshiba.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $1,799 Toshiba's Portege M700-$7002 convertible tablet has all the attributes Toshiba has become known for, including an integrated SuperMulti drive media reader, a fingerprint reader, integrated Webcam, Bluetooth, and a very...

Keys to curriculum mapping: a multimedia kit for professional development: Corwin Press.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Books and Materials, $299 The Keys to Curriculum Mapping kit is designed around Susan Udelhofen's bestselling book of the same name. This multimedia presentation is a complete resource for staff developers, offering practical strategies...

3M SCP712 projector: 3M Projection Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $2,645 The 3M SCP712 can stand alone as a tabletop projector, or it can be ceiling mounted if a wall mount is not practical. The projector's dimensions are 13.5 x 6.1 x 12.7 inches, and it weighs 9.9 pounds. Features include 3M's...

Teachermate, student handheld computer: Innovation for Learning.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $50 The Teachermate handheld computer is a compact mobile learning tool designed specifically for early elementary students. It resembles a handheld game, and it only takes a few buttons to control the interface. It is light, has...

Maps101: maps and geography curriculum resources: MAPS0101.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Books and Materials, $579/annual subscription K12 teachers, students and librarians can access the Web-based Maps101 for more than 4,000 easy-to-print maps and geography learning resources. The Web site also includes more than 200 lesson...

500 series, projectors: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, Starting at $995 Mitsubishi's new series of XGA projectors includes the XD500U at 2,200 lumens, the XD510U at 2,600 lumens, the XD520U at 3,000 lumens and an SVGA (800x600) model, the SD 510U, at 2,200 lumens. All include Texas...

Study buddy, student learning and study solution: Hamilton Electronics.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Books and Materials, $69.75 The Study Buddy allows educators and students to record and play practice lessons with the ease of one-touch operation. Using the battery-operated interactive Study Buddy, educators...

Power LogOn: security and identity solution: Access Smart.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Software, $129.99/starter kit Using Power LogOn, schools can now customize individual smart cards for identity management, cashless transactions, and secure building and network access, providing a wide array of...

Own These Words! Professional development: Authorhouse.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Books and Materials, $15.99 Own These Words! by author Noah Bhody presents 5,000 words that can help educators become skillful communicators. Twenty words are presented on each of the book's 250 pages. Each page covers a different topic,...

DC260, Visual Presenter: Lumens.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Lumens Integration, Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $1,299 Lumens' new and lighter (5 pounds) DC260 Visual Presenter, at 17 x 8.3 x 22 inches, is HD capable with features including a 1080p HDM1 output for large-screen, flat-panel, high-definition display, audio and video processor...

The Character Chronicles, character building videos: Live Wire Media.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Software, $69.95 each, $359.50/series The Character Chronicles are intended for students in grades 4-8. This VHS or DVD series explores the six pillars of character through the eyes of a middle school video...

ThinkCentre M57/M57 Eco: energy-efficient computer: Lenovo.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hardware, $844 At 10.8 x 9.5 x 3.2 inches, the M57 ThinkCentre and the M57 Eco ThinkCentre are Lenovo's latest ultrasmall desktop computers. They use Intel's energy-efficient 45W processor. These EPEAT...

The Forte CD/DVD duplicator: automated disc duplicator: Disc Makers.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $499 The new Forte automated CD/DVD duplicator is an easy-to-use standalone that burns all brands. Its 20x DVD [+ or -] R/40x CD-R drive features a 25 amp input/output capacity, sturdy fan, and 160GB hard drive that stores up to...

Teens, Sex and Health: EduCouch educational DVD: Revodition.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Software, $24.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This EduCouch two-disc DVD series features seven experts in all fields related to sexual education. It covers everything from protection to sexual pharmacology. The DVD offers vital facts that...

TechYES Science Starter Kit: technology literacy certification program: Generation Yes.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Books and Materials, $595 TechYES Science is a new technology literacy certification program based on science projects in grades 6-9. Students complete projects aligned to their existing science curriculum that meet the ISTE NETS...

PJ513DB DLP projector: ViewSonic.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $499 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ViewSonic's PJ513DB DLP projector's price is perfect for K12 front-projection needs and budgets. It is lightweight at 5.7 pounds, offers 2,200 lumens, has 800x600 native resolution, and has a...

Dyknow 5.1, interactive education: Dyknow.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Software, Pricing dependent upon number of licenses purchased DyKnow Vision and DyKnow Monitor 5.1 are sporting a newly designed Microsoft Office Fluent-based ribbon bar for better usability, easier file transfer and digital document...

Vovici Community Builder Module, online survey solution: Vovici.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Internet, Educational pricing available upon request The Community Builder Module is a secure, hosted software service that makes it easy to build, manage and engage educators and students by using custom-built online communities to respond...

VPL-E Series Projectors: Sony.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, Prices range from $910 to $1,410 Sony has expanded its entry-level line of education-suitable, LCD front projectors with four VPL-E series models, one of which is widescreen compact. The VPL-EX50 model offers 2,500 lumens, and the...

Scholastic books: books on presidents and elections: Scholastic.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Books and Materials, Prices range from $4.99 to $16.99 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scholastic is providing an assortment of election-related books to supplement classroom reading in this presidential election year. These picture books are...

PT-F200 series projectors: Panasonic.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, $3,999 for the PT-F200U, and $4,499 for the PT-F200NTU Panasonic has just released two LCD PT-F200 series projectors--the PT-F200U and the PT-F200NTU, which is equipped with WLAN (wireless local area network) capabilities. The wide...

VTS00 projector: NEC.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... VTS00 Projector, Hardware, $999 Besides the VT800 projector's 2,700 lumens, its features include XGA native resolution of 1024x768, a contrast ratio of 500:1, up to 3,000 hours of lamp life, and a 5-watt speaker. Users will really like 3D...

Ekho heart monitors: Ekho Brand Americas.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
July 1, 2008... Hardware, Starting at $49.95, quantity pricing available The Ekho heart monitors are designed for K12 health and physical education programs. The company recommends the E10 for grades 3-5, and the E15 or WM-25 for grades 9-12. The differences...

Real Classroom Management: Whose Job Is It? Rowman & Littlefield Education.(Management Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
July 1, 2008... www.rowmaneducation.com, $65 hardcover, $22.95 paperback [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Authors Mark Jacobs and Nancy Langley ask readers to consider more than behavior in creating a solid classroom management plan. They believe successful...

Responsibility at Work: How Leading Professionals Act (or Don't Act) at Work: Jossey-Bass.(Management Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2008... www.josseybass.com.$27.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The authors of this collection, edited by Howard Gardner, interviewed 1,200 people over a 12-year time span from nine different professions, including law, medicine, K12 education, and...

Data-Driven School Improvement: Linking Data and Learning: Teachers College Press.(Management Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
July 1, 2008... www.teacherscollegepress.com, $51.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In Data-Driven School Improvement Ellen Mandinach and Margaret Honey bring together stakeholders representing a variety of perspectives to explore how educators use data and...

The Politically Intelligent Leader: Dealing with the Dilemmas of a High-Stakes Educational Environment: Rowman & Littlefield Education.(Management Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
July 1, 2008... www.rowmaneducation.com, $65 hardcover, $26.95 paperback [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Politically Intelligent Leader will help today's education leaders manage political pressures in a world of rising expectations and diminishing...

The Administration and Supervision of Reading Programs, 4th edition: Teachers College Press.(Management Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
July 1, 2008... www.teacherscollegepress.com, $28,95 Sheltey Wepner and Dorothy Strickland have written a relevant, research-based reference book on organizing school reading programs. This fourth edition is the most comprehensive resource on the oversight...

What's a computer for? Part II: computer science is the new basic skill.(SPEAKING OUT)
July 1, 2008... IN AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING, granting agency to the learner represents the wisest allocation of resources with the greatest potential return on investment. When used as material, the computer can help a student learn what we have always valued...

Calendar of events.(Brief article)(Calendar)
July 1, 2008... JULY 2008 NEA, National Education Association July 1-6 Washington, D.C. www.nea.org SENG, Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted July 18-20 Salt Lake City, Utah www.sengifted.org AUGUST 2008 ...

Using time effectively.(Research Center: ESSENTIAL ON EDUCATION DATA AND RESEARCH ANALYSIS)
July 1, 2008... EDUCATORS MAY SOMETIMES feel they are in a race against several clocks--the class period, the school day, the semester, the academic year, high school exit exams and so forth--as they prepare students for academic success. What can district...