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Re: School problems
JIN-I know there have been other posts about these issues, which are common for many schools. FIRST is a hard sell. I think many of the problems arise from miscommunication. WE all realize how great this program is because we are in the middle of it. But we need to make it easier for others to understand. Changing the culture is hard work. It seems like the school is “against” the team, but really it’s they are overwhelmed with running a school and juggling everything that goes along with that.
RE: teacher support. It is vital to have at least one teacher “in charge” if you are a school based program. Is there one teacher who was more involved than the others? Who is your main team contact on the TIMS for all the information?
We have one teacher/advisor. The team can’t work unless a teacher is present. We would love to have more, but every teacher is stretched so thin already. You have to realize that FIRST has a high burnout for teachers. It is an enormous commitment that lasts all year. BUT the team wrote a plea letter and does a presentation at a faculty meeting before the build, asking for teachers to sign up for ONE evening (4-8p) or weekend shift. They can do their own work. They just need to be there and we get teachers from every department. This year we asked the teachers to write their impressions in a logbook. They were amazed at what was happening. Some signed up for another night. They all wrote wonderful things. These testimonials can be used in your chairman’s entry. I know that it will be easier this year to get more to sign up. And then more will help out in other ways. It’s baby steps but that is how change happens.
RE: money. Our major donations were moved to a 501©3 at the school board to allow for oversight. We wanted that! But we have the same issue in that there is week’s turnaround time. So for the major things, we have to plan ahead. But we also have a business checking account with 2 adults as signers. We went through the frustration of having to submit receipts AFTER we bought stuff. So I met with the comptroller and based on previous documented receipts, laid out in a spreadsheet, we asked for advances for the build period and competitions, to be able to buy stuff in short time. I made it easy for them to see that was the best system and they agreed. The money was still being monitored (which is their concern) but in a timely manner (our concern.) Forming a "booster club" is another method and then they could monitor the checking account.
RE: your school board. Our school board (160 schools in our system) is a huge supporter of the team. This has taken hard work. The team just got an award from them and we were honored last week in a ceremony. They feel part of the team. They get an emailed newsletter each month on what the team is doing. They were invited to our local competition (Chesapeake) and the superintendent surprised us and came to the Chesapeake last year. They have to deal with so many problems that they are DELIGHTED to hear about a team of students that are doing so many great things.
We try to make it easy for them to understand. The head of all the school boards in Maryland wrote us a testimonial that I would be glad to mail to you. He talks about the team but also about FIRST. PM me with your address. I did this with another team.
RE: your school administration. Again, they want to hear that you are organized and on the right track. My suggestion would be to request a meeting with the principal or assistant principal. Make an agenda. Do a presentation on all the wonderful things you are doing (raising money, developing a plan and building, CAD,) Don’t forget the $4 million in scholarship money. That always interests administrations. Don’t complain, but do lay out what you want help with, how you can be better partners.
I’m interested to hear about other teams that have jumped these hurdles.
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