District Administration articles from November 2007

District Administration archives from November 2007

American idle: reducing bus idling saves money and spares the air.(Editor's Letter)(Editorial)
November 1, 2007... AS ANY K12 EDUCATOR ASSIGNED TO BUS DUTY CAN CONFIRM, choking exhaust fumes can be overwhelming for students and everyone in the area. I remember it well. Unnecessary school bus idling pollutes the air, wastes fuel and causes excess engine...

Out with the old, in with the "new".(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The New Literacies" cover story highlights the disconnect between the real-world environment that students live in and what occurs in schools. Instead of embracing new technologies and using them to improve...

Web site spotlight.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)(Website overview)
November 1, 2007... I enjoyed your review of the Madison Metropolitan (Wis.) School District Web site (How Well Does This Web Site Work, September). While it's always a little scary putting a product or service "out there" for a very public evaluation, I also...

All sides of ELLs.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Special Report in October, "ELL Testing: A State of Flux", was a wonderful and well-written feature. It presented all sides of the issue and covered all areas of the country. The article was very good. Betty...

Evolution or revolution.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... In response to your Roosevelt vs. Reagan column (Understanding the Times, July), our focus should be on the individual school systems. All successful educators know they must work within the culture of the community of the school system, even...

New York City schools receives prestigious Broad Prize.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
November 1, 2007... SOME MIGHT CONSIDER MAKING marked reforms to a school district of 1,450 schools and over a million students an unachievable task, but the Broad Foundation believes New York City is doing just that. New York City has received the Broad...

Fast fact.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
November 1, 2007... More than $310 billion would be added to the national economy by 2020 if students of color graduated at the same rate as white students. Source: The Alliance for Excellent Education

Going strictly multiple choice to speed grading.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Maryland's school system's educational tests)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... IN AN EFFORT TO ADDRESS LONGSTANDING complaints over how slowly test results are processed, Maryland school system officials recently decided to eliminate written-response questions from the state's high school exit exams. Ronald A. Peiffer,...

High variation in graduation rates.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
November 1, 2007... GRADUATION RATES ARE A FUNDAMENTAL indicator of whether the nation's schools are doing what they are intended to do: enroll, engage and educate youth to be productive members of society, says a new publication from the Alliance for Excellent...

Backpacks brimming with ... religious fliers?(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
November 1, 2007... AT MADISON METROPOLITAN (Wis.) School District, the second-largest district in Wisconsin, students in six elementary schools were recently sent home with Sunday school fliers from the local Grace Lutheran Church, according to district...

New report illuminates the superintendency.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
November 1, 2007... A NEW STUDY RELEASED BY THE American Association of Superintendents' Center for System Leadership, "The State of the American School Superintendency," says that today's superintendents are very happy in their job, and 90 percent of those...

Stat blast.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(statistics of elementary and high school students in public schools)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... There are an estimated 50 million students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools for the 2007-2008 school year, with about 3.2 million teachers employed in schools. It is estimated that 6 million students are enrolled in private...

Kozol leaves food behind to protest NCLB.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(Jonathan Kozol's fasting to protest No Child Left Behind Act)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... EDUCATION AUTHOR AND activist Jonathan Kozol began a partial fast early this past summer as what he describes as a "personal act of protest at the vicious damage being done to inner-city children by the federal education law No Child Left...

NAEP results are in, but interpretations vary.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)(National Assessment of Educational Progress)
November 1, 2007... THE NATION'S FOURTH- AND EIGHTH-graders continue to improve in reading and math, albeit modestly, and in some cases more steadily than others, according to recently released scores from the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress,...

Operation: Monster Storms.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum Update)(science program for forecasting storms )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... THE JASON PROJECT HAS A NEW weather unit for fifth- through eighth-graders who want to improve the science of forecasting violent storms to help communities avoid their destructive potential. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Operation: Monster...

Think TAH 2008.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum Update)(Teaching American History's educational grants)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY FOR the 2008 federal Teaching American History (TAH) grants offered by the U.S. Department of Education. Awards are to be announced between March and June 2008, says Alex Stein, team leader...

NBC makes K12 history.(BRIEFINGS: Curriculum Update)(National Broadcasting Company Inc.'s media archives)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... OVER 60 YEARS OF NBC'S MEDIA ARCHIVES ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO K12 classrooms through a partnership with HotChalk's subscription-based online learning management system. Over 5,000 radio, television and film resources have already been...

New law limits out-of-school suspensions.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)(Connecticut's new school discipline law)
November 1, 2007... IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP MORE OF the most troubled students in school, the Connecticut General Assembly recently approved a law that would limit the ability of administrators to suspend students from school for infractions. The law, which goes...

Bush signs sweeping math, science and technology bill.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)(George W. Bush signs America Creating Opportunities To Meaningfully Promote Excellence In Technology, Education and Science Act )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... PRESIDENT BUSH HAS SIGNED INTO law the America Competes Act, otherwise known as the "America Creating Opportunities To Meaningfully Promote Excellence In Technology, Education and Science" act (COMPETES). The bill is designed to enhance...

Judge allows Hitler youth buttons in school.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
November 1, 2007... A FEDERAL JUDGE RECENTLY ruled that two fifth-grade students at Bayonne (N.J.) Public Schools are allowed to wear buttons featuring a photograph of Hitler Youth to protest the district-wide uniform policy. Siding with the parents of the...

Teacher demands to carry gun in school.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
November 1, 2007... A TEACHER FROM SOUTH MEDFORD High School in Oregon is suing her district for the right to carry a concealed semiautomatic pistol on school grounds, saying that without it her life is in danger from a violent ex-husband. Jackson County...

Fast fact.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
November 1, 2007... More than 80 percent of states have problems complying with the highly qualified teaching requirements for special education teachers under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Source: Center on Education Policy

District provides choice facilities.(District Profile: SYOSSET (N.Y.) CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT)
November 1, 2007... LOCATED ON THE RIM OF New York City, Syosset is a favorite suburb of Manhattan's workforce. The district's long-term goal, of "giving every child the ability to do the best they can do," works. It offers more than 300 unique classes, such as...

Richmond's jewel of a leader.(Administrator Profile: SUPERINTENDENT DEBORAH JEWELL-SHERMAN)(Interview)
November 1, 2007... DEBORAH JEWELL-SHERMAN'S 17th-floor office in downtown Richmond, Va., overlooks the state capitol. The high-rise is a fitting emblem for the steady performance increase of the city's 25,000 public school students--90 percent of whom are black...

Green light on energy use: environmentally friendly schools are here to stay.(FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION)(Cover story)
November 1, 2007... JUST A DECADE AGO, SAVING THE environment and global warming were issues that few Americans worried about. But now, talk of using less energy and recycling everything from plastic to laptops is commonplace. And the idea of a "carbon...

College prep: keeping college-bound students on track requires vision and an early start.(ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THERE WAS A TIME WHEN GUIDANCE counselors helped students choose and apply to four or five colleges, after which they could count on at least two acceptances, ideally from a first-choice school and a backup. Now...

Picture this: the flood of digital cameras and camera phones into districts presents opportunities and challenges.(TECHNOLOGY)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LIKE MANY TECHNOLOGY COORDINATORS AROUND THE COUNTRY, Craig Nansen of the Minot (N.D.) Public Schools doesn't need to be convinced about the place of digital cameras in school districts. "I promote their use in...

District Buying Power 2007: curriculum spending: third of a series: curriculum is a top purchasing priority for 69 percent of K12 districts.(PURCHASING)
November 1, 2007... AS THE MAGAZINE OF EDUCATION leadership for top-level decision makers in K12 education, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION reaches key executives in virtually every school district in the United States, including superintendents, business officers,...

Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Public Schools: www.mnps.org.(How Well Does This Web Site Work? READ WHAT OUR WEB ANALYST SAYS IS RIGHT AND WRONG WITH THIS DISTRICT SITE)
November 1, 2007... METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE (TENN.) Public Schools is one of the largest urban districts in the country, covering 525 square miles of Davidson County and including 75,000 students and more than 9,000 staff members. The district has maintained...

Hop! Study/Hop! Writing: Cyberlude.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(children's educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] www.cyberlude.com Software, $79.95-$625.00/Hop! Writing; $44.95-$625.00/Hop! Study Students can use Hop! Study to develop efficient work methods. It includes a planner to distribute projects throughout the school...

R3000: 8E6 Technologies.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.8e6.com/education Internet, $2,500-$15,000 The R3000 Internet filter, which uses Intelligent Footprint Technology allows school districts to identify anonymous proxies and block access to inappropriate and unauthorized sites while at...

Visual Communicator 3: Adobe Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... labs.adobe.com/technologies/visualcommunicator3 Software, $399/new, $149/upgrade Visual Communicator 3 provides students with everything they need to create a television-quality news broadcast. This latest version includes simplified...

LabQuest: Vernier Software & Technology.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.vernier.com/labquest, Hardware, $329 Science students use LabQuest when they're in the field. They plug it into sensors to acquire real-time graphing and analysis via the device's color screen for subjects such as physics, chemistry,...

I Can Play Guitar: Allegro Multimedia/Mattel.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.icanplayguitar.net, Software, $14.99 The Guitar Wizard method teaches students how to play music through a simple, interactive video game, which makes it different from other music-teaching approaches. Almost anyone playing the game can...

Remark Quick Stats: Gravic.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.gravic.com Software, $895/single user, $6,700/10-user pack With the click of a button, the software not only grades tests but can specify an answer key, grade scale, learning objectives or benchmark scores, then produce statistics and...

Resource Scheduler: Peoplecube.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(resource software )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.peoplecube.com Software, Starting at $2,400/on premise The new Resource Scheduler update is available on demand or on premise, and it includes several enhancements to improve reservation workflow and the overall end-user experience....

eGuardian: Foundationcare/eGuardian.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.foundationcare.org Software, $20 per student $5,000 per school for 400 registrations Schools sign up for this program, which works with partner sites to guarantee safe online content for minors and protect them from online predators....

Medley DVD/CD publisher: Disc Makers.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] discmakers.com/medley Hardware, $1,590 The automated Medley system is designed for a wide range of uses and applications requiring DVD or CD duplication, on-disc printing and even automated ripping of audio CDs....

EL-S25BBL: Sharp.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.sharpusa.com, Hardware, $6.99 This Quiz Calculator helps elementary school students learn basic math concepts with an easy-to-use flash card function and multiplication table featuring 25, 50 or 100 questions. The built-in drill...

Building Connect: Siemens Building Technologies.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies Internet, Pricing based on district needs Building Connect by Siemens connects fire, communication, security and building control systems. In emergencies, a school's fire control panel communicates...

Choices Planner: Bridges.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.bridges.com, Internet, Prices start at $400 Choices Planner helps high school students compare, connect and choose work and education options. It features more than 8,000 colleges, technical schools and graduate schools, along with over...

OnCourse: OnCourse Systems For Education.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.oncoursesystems.com Internet, $34.99 annually per teacher or administrator OnCourse, a provider of Web-based tools that automate educational processes for school districts, integrates educational standards from every state in its...

Professional Development: Curriculum Advantage.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.curriculumadvantage.com Internet, $1,800 for two credits/each credit covers tuition for 20 people These professional development tools help districts effectively integrate technology into their schools. They are based on a yearlong...

InterSchola: InterSchola.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.interschola.com Internet, Pricing is on a sliding scale InterSchola has designed an effective way for school districts to sell their surplus or no longer needed items to the public for cash, while being in full compliance with state and...

Discover Intensive Phonics: HEC Reading Horizons.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.readinghorizons.com, Software, $40-$95/online, $239-$599/network Designed as a supplemental K3 phonics program for struggling readers, it teaches an explicit, solid and sequential framework of phonics. Through direct instruction,...

Classroom Jeopardy! Educational Insights.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.classroomjeopardy.com Software, $499.99 The new version of Classroom Jeopardy! includes Classroom Jeopardy! Editor game creation software, three wireless player remotes, one wireless host remote, an electronic scoreboard with three...

Parent Notification System: Teleparent Educational Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.teleparent.net Software, $1.85-$3.75 per student per year TeleParent's automated parent notification system uses professional translators to convert and record over 700 prerecorded messages in 22 languages--from Spanish, French and...

Stopper II: Safety Technology International.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(alarm device)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.sti-usa.com, Hardware, $93 Stopper II is a pull station cover that mounts directly to the wall over an existing pull station. When the cover is lifted, a self-contained alarm sounds that draws immediate attention to the area. The alarm...

Claim It! Creating Inclusion: Race Bridges.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(lesson plans available in www.racebridges.net)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.racebridges.net/schools?mw1 Internet, Free Claim It! Creating a Climate of Inclusion is one of four lesson plans designed for high school teachers and youth leaders in nonschool settings. The lessons promote greater understanding of...

Language Arts Review 3a Advanced Level--with Sports: Help Me 2 Learn Company.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.helpme2learn.com Software, $32.95/student edition $699.95/unlimited site license Designed as a review for remedial and at-risk students, it features young adult characters and sports to engage students in fundamental language arts...

Planet Earth: Discovery Education.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(educational software)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.discoveryeducation.com Software, $49 each, $650 for complete set of 14 Educators who use Discovery Education streaming and Science Connection can now access video from the Planet Earth TV series, including clips on the rainforests of...

The Essential PLC Collection Site License: Solution Tree.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... www.solution-tree.com Software, $23,450/7-seat license Users can bring the Professional Learning Communities at Work model to their school or district. They have access to all the PLC video resources on four DVDs available in MPEG-1 or...

DVR and 4 Cameras Combo Kits: Swann Communications.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.swann.com.au Hardware, $999/DVR4-Pro-Net $529/DVR4-Alert These kits come in two versions. The DVR4-Pro-Net Combo Kit includes the DVR4-Pro-Net with remote viewing, 8.4-inch LCD monitor and 4 Maxi Day/Night cameras. Features include...

Travels with Music, Series One: Passport M.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
November 1, 2007... www.travelswithmusic.org Internet, $80 Travels with Music is an online interactive exploration of 15 world cultures using story-tellers and master musicians as guides. Students watch almost 300 videos by playing interactive computer games...

Lessons you can't learn in a book: Boeing makes my favorite educational technology.(SPEAKING OUT)
November 1, 2007... I CONTINUE TO MEET COLLEAGUES who apologize for not having found time to read Thomas Friedman's book The World Is Flat. They long to read what they've been led to believe is the instruction manual for 21st-century living. I await the book's...

Social tools in schools taking root: an NSBA study suggests fears about the Web may be overblown.(ONLINE EDGE)(National School Boards Association's study on the usage of social networking tools among students)
November 1, 2007... SO HERE IS THE LATEST NEWS about the Web for school leaders: it's not as scary for kids as it has been made out to be, your students are already using social networking tools extensively to discuss schoolwork, and, believe it or not, your...

Is your gifted and talented program giving you headaches? These programs can be explained and defended if they are grounded in research.(SUPERVISOR'S OPINION)
November 1, 2007... IN FEBRUARY 2005, THE NEW YORK City Department of Education announced a new citywide approach to gifted and talented education in elementary schools. City schools now screen students for the program by using a weighted combination of the...

Educator's Podcast Guide: International Society For Technology In Education.(Computer Literature: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
November 1, 2007... www.iste.org, $28.75/member $31.95/nonmember Author Bard Williams explains what podcasts are and what technology is needed to view and create them in a classroom. He also provides examples of professional, educational, school and classroom...

Creating a Web Site with Flash CS3 Professional: Visual QuickProject Guide: Peachpit Press.(Computer Literature: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Website overview)
November 1, 2007... www.peachpit.com, $16.99 David Morris shares the essentials for quickly learning how to develop a Web site using Adobe Flash. Topics covered include using the Flash authoring tool, creating and animating graphics, tweening, loading dynamic...

Differentiating Instruction with Technology: International Society For Technology In Education.(Computer Literature: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
November 1, 2007... www.iste.org, $34.15/member $37.95/nonmember Authors Grace E. Smith and Stephanie Throne acquaint readers with four strategies to help differentiate instruction in classrooms by using technology: I-Search, jigsaw groups, R.A.F.T., and...

Flash CS3 Professional: Peachpit Press.(Computer Literature: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2007... www.peachpit.com, $29.99 Author Robert Reinhardt focuses on beginners and intermediate-level Flash designers. chapters cover the basics of creating graphic elements by using Flash's set of drawing tools. Readers will learn how to turn...

Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning and Creativity: Corwin Press.(Computer Literature: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
November 1, 2007... www.corwinpress.com, $32.95/softcover $71.95/hardcover Author Jason Ohler provides a way for educators to begin digital storytelling at their own level and with limited technology. The book is separated into three parts: Storytelling,...

San Ysidro's gateway to technology.(Problem Solution: SUCCESS STORIES FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE NATION)
November 1, 2007... PROBLEM THE NEW OCEAN VIEW HILLS Elementary School was the only school in the San Ysidro School District (SYSD) to be equipped with new technology in 2006. In the six other schools, teachers needed to share student computers and use...

Calendar of events.(educational organizations' conferences)(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2007... NOVEMBER 2007 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) November 15-18 New York, N.Y. www.ncte.org * Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA) November 28-December 1 Tampa, Fla. www.aesa.us ...

Small schools, big benefits: a big focus for school district leaders should be smaller schools.(UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES)
November 1, 2007... OFTENTIMES RESEARCH confirms common sense. And sometimes it inspires commonsense action. That seems to be the case in the Chicago Public Schools, where a special section of the district's Web site makes the case for small schools. In part it...