Posted by Jason Morrella.
Coach on team #254, Cheesy Poofs, from Bellarmine/Broadway and NASA Ames/Cypress Semiconductor.
Posted on 10/28/2000 1:53 AM MST
In Reply to: Credits for FIRST program. posted by nick237 on 10/26/2000 7:52 PM MST:
Nick,
At the Nationals last year, the superintendent of the San Jose Unified School district announced that her district was becoming the first in the nation to adopt first on a 'district & administrative' level - pledging that FIRST & FIRST Lego League teams would be written into the district budget for EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL in the district.
The SJUSD provides every high school with $5,000 (with the condition they also raise a minimum of $5,000 from other sources). Also, each middle school gets $1500 for three FLL teams - and each Elementary school gets $500 for one FLL team.
The SJUSD also allows each high school to start a robotics class - one school counts it as 'applied physics', another as 'technology', another as 'advanced science' and so on - it's up to each school to create their own program & class. ALSO, and a big step forward for FIRST, the SJUSD acknowledges the time & committment by the teachers as 'coaches' equal to the sports - giving them 'coaching stipends'.
Hopefully, these are examples which you can use or can present to your board of education and say 'look at the support other districts are giving their students and teachers - shouldn't we get the same opportunities?' -- a little well placed guilt never hurt
Best of luck,
Jason