Access 5/25/07

	Access
	Edition #137, May 25, 2007
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" Dr. Robert Schuller           Next School Board Meeting is at 5:30 on June 12th.	CivMil is offering $1,000 scholarships for Brevard County students enrolled in a secondary, college or trade school. Deadline is June 15th. To apply, visit www.CivMil.com .   Kyla Davis Horn, a junior at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School, is the only student from Florida and one of 80 students from 24 countries selected to participate in the Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this summer. This highly selective six-week institute is considered among the world's most prestigious science programs for high school students. Selected students receive free tuition, housing, meals and have other expenses paid. Students will attend lectures by prominent scientists, including Nobel Laureates. They will also be paired with expert mentors and permitted to perform research in some of the world's most advanced laboratories. (BPS)   "Due to legislation passed in Tallahassee, Brevard Public Schools (BPS) will see a later start date to the 2007-08 school year. The Florida Legislature mandates that Florida public school districts will not start school any earlier than 14 days prior to Labor Day.  The BPS school calendar for the 2007-08 year was changed to reflect this mandate. Students will report to school on Aug. 20. The last day of school prior to Winter Break is Dec. 21, with students reporting back to school on Jan. 7. Mid-term exams will be given on Jan. 9, 10, and 11. Spring vacation begins on April 7 and ends April 11. The last day of school for students will be June 2, 2008. For more calendar information, visit the BPS Web site at www.brevard.k12.fl.us." (BPS)   The later school start date means that the end of the first semester, and the final exams, will be after the December holidays. There is no basis for the rumor that the Legislature may postpone Christmas until late January to address the problems they created.   Good partners step up! The Community Educators Credit Union (CECU) and the Space Coast Credit Union (SCCU) are offering limited interest free loans to teachers to minimize the impact of the missed paycheck resulting from the legislated later school start date. Thanks Dave and Doug for stepping up!   Speaking of good partners, special thanks to Mayor Shirley Bradshaw and the City of West Melbourne for their $2,500 donation to the West Melbourne Elementary School for Science. Their support to the Future Problem Solving Teams trip to the Nationals in Colorado illustrates the City's commitment to the community and to the students they serve.   "Brevard Public Schools has been informed by the Florida Department of Education that the next round of Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores (reading and math, grades 4-10 and science, grades 5, 8, 11) will not be available until after May 23, the last day of school. This precludes the District's ability to send scores home with students. Parents will be able to access scores on the FCAT Web site at www.fcatparentnetwork.com in the days after May 23, or, pick them up at their child's school after June 1. Parents are invited to call their child's school if they have questions regarding the release of FCAT data. You may also call the BPS Customer Service Center at (321) 633-1000, extension 500." (BPS)   The MAP performance pay for teachers remains a bonus and, as such, does not enter into the retirement calculation.   After January 1, a minimum of 20% of diesel used for transporting students must be biodiesel by statute. Brevard is ahead of the curve, using biodiesel for several years.   As the Florida Legislature grapples with changing property taxes, the impact is already being felt. Lenders are reluctant to give credit ratings given the revenue uncertainty. The Legislature is planning to amend the Constitution to implement any tax changes, making it nearly impossible to 'tweak' the result to correct unintended consequences.   Speaking of unintended consequences, "After Oct. 1, Florida drivers will no longer be required to carry auto insurance. That's the unintended consequence of inaction during the regular legislative session that ended two weeks ago." (Miami Herald, 5/18/2007)   Commencement means a beginning.   I had the privilege of attending 5 graduations over the last few days. I congratulated more than 2,200 graduates preparing to enter the world. In the stands were their proud families, dressed in their finest and looking forward to a well earned party. But my mind kept drifting to the fact that after 10 years, 63% of these fine young graduates will not have earned any advanced credential, degree or a technical certificate. That worries me. And it should worry you, too. Earning the diploma is a beginning, not an end.   On a positive note, 46 graduating seniors also earned their Associate degrees from BCC. Although one of the smaller classes, Cocoa High had the distinction of having the most Associates degrees awarded – ten!   You may have noticed that in each issue of Access, I end with a short joke. Each of the last ten issues ended with a pun to make you laugh. I regret to report that I failed because no pun in ten did.   Larry E. Hughes Parent, Citizen LarryHughes@ourflorida.info (321) 724-4203   No public resources were used in the creation or transmission of this email.   Please distribute to friends or neighbors who are interested in Public Schools. If they would like to subscribe, please send an email to LarryHughes@OurFlorida.info with the word "subscribe" in the Subject line. If you do not wish to receive this information, please reply with the word "unsubscribe" in the Subject line. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you.