[VEI Dude]

Thanks, but not actually the direction I'm looking for. In previous years, the previous mentor addressed this with the school, and for 2009, I addressed it with the school. We found a great workaround, which is that the students would go on Friday (which is a make up day), and any students who need a make up will not go. But after taking it to the heads of the school district, they said that only seniors could go (and it was a battle to do even this). We recruited more seniors, but they didn't come to most meetings, didn't know the rules well, etc. And because non-seniors came up for the competition on Friday (they're parents just called them in sick), the school was unhappy and has really laid down the law now. It does not matter if it does not affect the FCAT scores, etc -- they've laid down the law now, citing the official definition of FCAT blackout, and that's that. I know 179 just goes anyway, but we can't do that, and it's not a good message for the students.

Really, I was hoping for some answers with different competitions, etc. Right now, I'm planning to meet with the team & parents to see if going to another regional out of state would be a good option, but ad money is an issue, adding expenses for an out-of-state trip is a bummer.

Cheers,
-Neil.