January 23, 2017
Delaware News
The News Journal
Sanford class uses 3-D printer to create prosthetic hands
By 3-D-printing prosthetic hands, students in Sanford’s athletic training class are learning about math and anatomy, engineering and critical thinking, problem-solving and life among the underprivileged. Their four prototypes will be sent to a charity that connects people who can’t afford prosthetics to those who can print them.
Concord HS community mourns ‘unexpected and tragic loss’
Hundreds of students, faculty members and friends packed the cafeteria of Concord High School Sunday night to remember teacher Thom LaBarbera, who died over the weekend. Concord High School will be closed Monday following the death of the longtime social studies teacher.
Delaware State News
Smyrna School District’s Wicks to retire
Smyrna School District superintendent Deborah Wicks announced her retirement in December. As of June 30, she’ll be capping off a career that’s been a lifelong endeavor. Ms. Wicks turns 71 years old in March, about 40 of those will have been spent in service to the district. Starting her career back in 1967, she spent a year as an educable mentally handicapped teacher at Clayton Elementary School, 16 years as a special education teacher at Smyrna High School, 4 years as an associate principal for Clayton Elementary School and the last 19 as the district’s superintendent.
Business Wire
School choice in spotlight at 70 events across Delaware
National School Choice Week begins today in Delaware and across the country. There are 70 events planned in the First State to raise awareness about K-12 school choice, and 21,392 events nationwide. The events in Delaware, which are independently planned and independently funded, include everything from information sessions and open houses at schools to rallies, policy discussions, and movie screenings organized by community groups.
Sussex County Post
IRSD teacher recruitment fair Feb. 25 in Ocean City
Indian River School District, in partnership with Academic Partnerships L.L.C., will host a teacher recruitment fair Feb. 25 at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel in Ocean City. The third annual fair will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and attract school district recruiters from all of Delaware and the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia.
Rodel Blog
5 reasons you should attend ECET2 Delaware
Blog post by Robyn Howton, teacher at Mount Pleasant High School
Over the 26 years I have been an educator, I have attended a wide range of professional development workshops, conferences, and seminars. In 2015, I was invited to attend the national Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers (ECET2) convening.
Joe makes me proud to be a Delawarean, and an American
Blog post by Paul Herdman, president and ceo of the Rodel Foundation of Delaware
While we usually reserve these posts for educational issues, today I wanted to give a shout out to Delaware’s Joe Biden and the full slate of leaders in Delaware that spoke at his welcome home celebration.
National News
BBC News
School budgets near breaking point, say head teachers
A survey of more than 1,000 schools by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) shows the number in deficit has doubled since 2015. And 71% of the heads polled were only able to balance their budgets by making cuts or dipping into reserves, said NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby. The government said it had protected the core schools budget in real terms.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
N.J. school districts worry about losing out in latest Trenton funding fight
Advanced Placement courses at Kingsway Regional High School are in short supply, but study halls are plentiful. Superintendent James Lavender depends on them to fill scheduling gaps. In the growing Gloucester County school district, it is not uncommon for a physical education class to have one teacher for 40 students or for middle school class sizes to be at capacity. Beyond the classroom, the high school’s track has been deemed too hazardous for meets.
The Baltimore Sun
Maryland casinos are pumping out billions for education. So why are there school budget deficits?
In the seven years since the first of Maryland’s six casinos opened, they have pumped $1.7 billion into the state’s Education Trust Fund — the financial windfall that advocates for gambling promised would go to the state’s public schools. But over that time, casino funds have not gone to bolster school budgets more than what the state already was required to spend — and some jurisdictions, including Baltimore, have suffered funding cuts.
New York Daily News
Push to boost gifted programs for schools in poor Brooklyn, Bronx neighborhoods
The borough presidents of the Bronx and Brooklyn are teaming up for a fresh effort to boost gifted programs and access to elite schools in underserved neighborhoods. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. will unveil a new task force Monday to tackle unequal access in the city’s gifted programs and specialized high schools. Adams and Diaz said they are fed up with a system that keeps needy kids from their neighborhoods cut out of the city’s best schools.
Chalkbeat
Cuomo’s budget proposal includes perks for New York City charter schools, including lifting the city’s cap
When Gov. Andrew Cuomo released his executive budget proposal last week, New York’s charter school advocates were quick to offer support. The pro-charter group StudentsFirstNY said the plan reaffirms Cuomo’s belief in the “critical role” of charter schools. New York City’s Charter Center said it sets the stage for “continued growth.” Why are they excited? The budget proposal includes a few significant perks for charter schools — particularly those in New York City, where more schools would be allowed to open in the coming years.