School Board Problems
 

This is our first year trying to go to 2 competitions. We just found out that we have been denied permission to go to the second competitions. How do the other school systems justify the two competitions to the school board. We are still trying to get this reversed so any info would be greatly helpful.

Thanks

Re: School Board Problems
 

You're asking the wrong question. Instead try thinking about "How do school systems justify the cost of FIRST?"

If you can't come up with enough, let us know and we'll put up a few links to all those "What does FIRST mean to you" threads and you can just slam that on their desk.

EDIT: I just remembered that I think some other team had this exact problem last year so they posted the school board's phone number in a thread here and all CDers were invited to call and tell them why this particular team should be allowed to go. I don't remember if it worked or not. Seems like a risky proposition. (If I was remembering something else and subconciously made up this story, please let me know. That's what I remember but my mind could be playing tricks on me.)

Also, Readhead Jokes on these boards may be able to help you out. Not to be volunteering other people but I know she is good with this kind of stuff.

Re: School Board Problems
 

Or, you could show them a nice little piece of work like this:

One event that shaped my life was the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Regional Competition that I attended in March of 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. I had already been to one regional competition in Los Angeles in 2002 and it was a huge thrill and a truly exhilarating experience. However, this Phoenix competition was different. Teams signed up from all over the country coming from as far away as Indiana and Michigan. Since the competition was in its first year, the regional coordinators did everything possible to make it the best event that it could be. The Phoenix competition really meant something special to me and my team. We had never competed outside of LA before. I personally spent several days obtaining the financial support of local businesses, and numerous other days planning for the event. In addition, the number of hours that I put into building the robot was just truly astounding. When the FedEx truck arrived to pick up our crated robot at the end of the six and a half week build period, I knew the dream was becoming a reality. Forty-six days of my life were stowed in that crate, and my team and I would see our efforts come to life in the middle of the desert of Phoenix, Arizona.

When I arrived at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in March an awkward feeling came upon me. I had usually only been in such a place as a spectator, not a participant. Hundreds of high school students met in the middle of the desert to hold one of the grandest celebrations of science and technology of all time! I was one of them. All the faces around me seemed so familiar, though I had never met them before. I rejoined my team and we opened the crate. Our robot was there and ready to go; all we had to do was flip the power switch and get ready for some tough competition. Walking through the pits was incredible. I was able to interact with members of other teams and talk to them about things I thought was a language of my own. We discussed drivetrains and power curves and pulse-width-modulation signals; things about which I didn’t expect to hold a conversation. At the end of the competition we placed higher than we ever had before, seeding third and reaching the semifinals. Although we didn’t win, I was overjoyed at what we had accomplished. A group of 14 high school kids and a few dedicated mentors had raised over $15,000, spent six weeks building this marvel of a machine, and traveled hundreds of miles to meet up with other people who had done the exact same thing. Winning the event was not the most important part of the competition to me; it was the experience. From fabricating parts for the robot to developing strategy plans to making friends from many states away, the experience of FIRST Robotics has truly shaped my life.

Re: School Board Problems
 

The problem that they are having is the time out of school.

Re: School Board Problems
 

oh come on....you can learn 1000x the amount at a roboticcs comp then in HS


maybe you should write something up that explains the physics/ calc behind your robot...the busness stuff about getting sponsorships. the leadership in the team, the social networking and the free advertisements that the school gets for being at the comp

Re: School Board Problems
 

Sorry for the multiple posts but things like this make me so mad that I can't gather all my ideas at once. This problem you are having reminds me of a spotlight that every day I find so true: But, I suppose that should be left to discuss another time.

EDIT:
People in my neighborhood didn't even know there was a "Clark Magnet High School" I used tell them where it is and they'd swear they drive up and down that street everyday and there is no school there. Other people think it is a junior high, which it was 30 years ago!. Anyway, my point is that robotics is the only exposure my school has period.

Re: School Board Problems
 

School board stuff is mysterious to me. We have an administrator who handles that for RUHS. MCHS now claims we're not school sponsored at all (they're going thru major funding problems) altho MCHS captain had all school required meetings on campus and submitted all paperwork.

Re: School Board Problems
 

Perhaps you are asking for too much time out of school. Both of our regionals are "in-state" so require only "overnight field trip" status approval. We usually leave early Thursday morning for West Michigan regional, and return Saturday evening. The other regional reqires no approval because it is in our home town, so students are only required to obtain "Planned absence" forms which must be signed by each of their teachers beforee they are allowed to miss school. Nationals happens to fall over spring break, so again only requires overnight fieldtrip approval. Our team does, however, go and present (usually) to the school board concerning FIRST and how it affects us. This is a good approach, when an entire team shows up at a meeeting, is respectful, and delivers a heartfelt presentation it is hard for them to say no. Perhaps mention to them that you eill require all travelling team members to obtain permission and homeowrk from their teachers BEFORE leaving.

Re: School Board Problems
 

Matthew:

Like most things involving schools, proof is important. You can talk to people until you are blue in the face and not change their minds. The best method of gaining school board support is to have as many members as possible attend regionals. Plan ahead: schedule a regional that is during your spring break, do not take the entire team to the Thursday practice session, remind the school board that you are a team.

Ken Loyd
Team 64

Re: School Board Problems
 

We are going to the closest regionals that are around us. Except for the Atlanta regional where we are going to the South Carolina regional. The time out of school will be six days for the two trips where we leave on Wed. I wish we could have two groups traveling but the regionals are at such a distance that that is impossible with the limited funds we are working with. Thank you for the help.

Also does anyone have a list of how FIRST matches up to subject areas in the school. This might help if we can show that while they are actually out of school the are not out of the learning experience.

Matthew

Re: School Board Problems
 

Well, if they continue to drag their feet in the ground, make them re-imburse (sp?) you all the funds needed to go and stay at the second regional. I think that might make them re-think their decision.

Re: School Board Problems
 

And thus, this brings me to....the ever lovely Impact area on the FIRST site ;)

http://www.usfirst.org/about/impact.htm

Hopefully there's something there for you to use.

I would go into more about dealing with school boards (because I had to deal with a rather difficult one myself), but a lot of it has already been said. But...I'd like to see you write something in your local paper, play it up that you're not allowed to go. Maybe that will help :)

Re: School Board Problems
 

Ahh.. I just accidentally erased everything that I have posted.


We had the same problem here. For an out of county or out of state trip, it has to be approved by the "Area Learning community". What our team did was give several presentations to the Princiapl as well as the rest of the administration. Once we got the Principal to understand why we wanted to attend two regionals, he did our "fighting" for us.

We also threw around the fact that band was just approved for a week long trip to Colorado for a competition. They are gong to be missing a week of school, and we are on a four by four schedules. That means it is equivalent to missing two weeks of regular school.

Let me know if there is any way that I can help.

Re: School Board Problems
 

Have you thought of splitting the team, 1/2 to one event, 1/2 to the other? This would be hard on our team as we have one teacher full time but there is another that could travel if we had to reduce our numbers.

Re: School Board Problems
 

If worst comes to worst, I heard that "robotics flu" has been going around recently, and I wouldn't be surprised if some team somewhere were to get it, especially if burdened with the stress of having to deal with an uncooperative school board.