[Gdeaver]

Stop the marketing tease. Give us some details. Team 104 most likely will not be able to do First next year. Not enough mentors, money, and resources. We have been looking at other robotics programs and competitions. Lego bots and Boe bots don't inspire high school students and some others are so difficult only the fast track kids would be able to participate and master. Our team spent about $9000 this year because of travel expenses and the school district does not like the expenditure per student. We're very interested in Vex because of the kit price and the First affiliation. We could get funding for a couple of kits. Maybe 2 or 3 teams per high school. The students could work with them after school when there are plenty of teachers there already. Mentors can then meet 1 or 2 times a week to help with the complex issues. This would help with the mentor and teacher burn out problem. We could have small half day inter school, intra school district and local competitions. With some fund raising send the best teams to a regional or national competition.
We have support for a robotics program. Just not at the cost and intensity of the current First program. WE'RE INTERESTED IN VEX. Give us some info NOW. We need to start working on proposals NOW to present to the power that be in the school district before the end of school in June. You must understand that it takes allot of time to work a new program thru the district bureaucracy. Also, has the date and time been fixed for the Atlanta demo? I want to make sure the team See's it.