[bigbeezy]

Our County has been very good with accepting FIRST. We, as well as a number of other teams in the county, have shown what FIRST is all about to our Superintendant of Schools and he has fallen in Love with FIRST. By 2010, I believe, EVERY high school in the county will have its own team. And, I’m not sure about a timeline, EVERY middle and elementary school will have a Lego League Team (most already do).

When school administration doesn’t understand FIRST then lots of barriers get put up. They tend to just see the huge price tag. Also there needs to be a willing teacher or someone who is able to spend countless hours running the team. It’s not like a small sport where they meet for just one little part of the year. It’s a year round commitment. Not to mention some areas just don’t have the companies that are able, especially in these times, to put up $10,000+ a year.

Maybe what Michigan is doing is a step in the right direction. Some smaller low cost competitions where more teams can afford to compete.