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Unread 01-03-2004, 18:18
Tuba4 Tuba4 is offline
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AKA: Tom Albert
FRC #0063 (The Red Barons)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Erie, Pa
Posts: 138
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Re: School Board Problems

Being a FIRST mentor for 2 years now and a former school board member, I can speak to all sides of this issue. A couple of questions before I jump in. Does Alabama have curriculum requirements established by the state board of education? How much, if any, funding does your district provide to your team? Do you have a rival school that participates in FIRST? Do your athletic teams get extra time off to travel to state or regional championships?

After I was elected to the board, the teacher who organizes our FIRST team invited me to attend a FIRST regional in Toronto Canada of all places. As soon as I set foot in the Hershey Center in Mississauga, I was hooked. I knew I had to be involved in FIRST. (Key #1 - Invite a current or former school board member or perhaps your school district superintendent to attend a regional. If they see it, they too will love it!!!)

It didn't take long for me to figure out that the FIRST process hit on many key points of our district curriculum. In PA our state dept of education has established curriculum regulations. FIRST robotics hit on a number of areas of science and math curriculum. (Key #2 - If Alabama has similar regs, show how FIRST can help meet some of those regs.)

We (Millcreek Twp School District) are a suburban school district. We compete in all things with the city district (Erie, PA) we surround. They have a FIRST team, so you better bet we will have a FIRST team. (Key #3 - Do any of your local rivals have a FIRST team? Does your district want to be left behind?)

How much funding does your team receive from your district? In this era of tight budgets (from local to federal), your team may be viewed as an unnecessary expense. If you are or can become financially self sufficient, that is a very big plus.

If I can be of any help, please contact me and we will make your school board see the error of their ways!!!!
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