School Board Problems

[Matthew_H]

This is our first year trying to go to 2 competitions. We just found out that we have been denied permission to go to the second competitions. How do the other school systems justify the two competitions to the school board. We are still trying to get this reversed so any info would be greatly helpful.

Thanks

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

How do the other school systems justify the two competitions to the school board.

You're asking the wrong question. Instead try thinking about "How do school systems justify the cost of FIRST?"

If you can't come up with enough, let us know and we'll put up a few links to all those "What does FIRST mean to you" threads and you can just slam that on their desk.

EDIT: I just remembered that I think some other team had this exact problem last year so they posted the school board's phone number in a thread here and all CDers were invited to call and tell them why this particular team should be allowed to go. I don't remember if it worked or not. Seems like a risky proposition. (If I was remembering something else and subconciously made up this story, please let me know. That's what I remember but my mind could be playing tricks on me.)

Also, Readhead Jokes on these boards may be able to help you out. Not to be volunteering other people but I know she is good with this kind of stuff.

[sanddrag]

Or, you could show them a nice little piece of work like this:

One event that shaped my life was the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Regional Competition that I attended in March of 2003 in Phoenix, Arizona. I had already been to one regional competition in Los Angeles in 2002 and it was a huge thrill and a truly exhilarating experience. However, this Phoenix competition was different. Teams signed up from all over the country coming from as far away as Indiana and Michigan. Since the competition was in its first year, the regional coordinators did everything possible to make it the best event that it could be. The Phoenix competition really meant something special to me and my team. We had never competed outside of LA before. I personally spent several days obtaining the financial support of local businesses, and numerous other days planning for the event. In addition, the number of hours that I put into building the robot was just truly astounding. When the FedEx truck arrived to pick up our crated robot at the end of the six and a half week build period, I knew the dream was becoming a reality. Forty-six days of my life were stowed in that crate, and my team and I would see our efforts come to life in the middle of the desert of Phoenix, Arizona.

When I arrived at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in March an awkward feeling came upon me. I had usually only been in such a place as a spectator, not a participant. Hundreds of high school students met in the middle of the desert to hold one of the grandest celebrations of science and technology of all time! I was one of them. All the faces around me seemed so familiar, though I had never met them before. I rejoined my team and we opened the crate. Our robot was there and ready to go; all we had to do was flip the power switch and get ready for some tough competition. Walking through the pits was incredible. I was able to interact with members of other teams and talk to them about things I thought was a language of my own. We discussed drivetrains and power curves and pulse-width-modulation signals; things about which I didn’t expect to hold a conversation. At the end of the competition we placed higher than we ever had before, seeding third and reaching the semifinals. Although we didn’t win, I was overjoyed at what we had accomplished. A group of 14 high school kids and a few dedicated mentors had raised over $15,000, spent six weeks building this marvel of a machine, and traveled hundreds of miles to meet up with other people who had done the exact same thing. Winning the event was not the most important part of the competition to me; it was the experience. From fabricating parts for the robot to developing strategy plans to making friends from many states away, the experience of FIRST Robotics has truly shaped my life.

[Matthew_H]

The problem that they are having is the time out of school.

[Greg Needel]

oh come on....you can learn 1000x the amount at a roboticcs comp then in HS


maybe you should write something up that explains the physics/ calc behind your robot...the busness stuff about getting sponsorships. the leadership in the team, the social networking and the free advertisements that the school gets for being at the comp

[sanddrag]

Sorry for the multiple posts but things like this make me so mad that I can't gather all my ideas at once. This problem you are having reminds me of a spotlight that every day I find so true:

Originally Posted by Caleb Fulton

Once again, my schooling is interfering with my education.

But, I suppose that should be left to discuss another time.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

and the free advertisements that the school gets for being at the comp

People in my neighborhood didn't even know there was a "Clark Magnet High School" I used tell them where it is and they'd swear they drive up and down that street everyday and there is no school there. Other people think it is a junior high, which it was 30 years ago!. Anyway, my point is that robotics is the only exposure my school has period.

[David66]

Perhaps you are asking for too much time out of school. Both of our regionals are "in-state" so require only "overnight field trip" status approval. We usually leave early Thursday morning for West Michigan regional, and return Saturday evening. The other regional reqires no approval because it is in our home town, so students are only required to obtain "Planned absence" forms which must be signed by each of their teachers beforee they are allowed to miss school. Nationals happens to fall over spring break, so again only requires overnight fieldtrip approval. Our team does, however, go and present (usually) to the school board concerning FIRST and how it affects us. This is a good approach, when an entire team shows up at a meeeting, is respectful, and delivers a heartfelt presentation it is hard for them to say no. Perhaps mention to them that you eill require all travelling team members to obtain permission and homeowrk from their teachers BEFORE leaving.

[Frank L.]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

The problem that they are having is the time out of school.

Matthew....what is the position of the HS principal regarding the second regional? I am not familiar with your school size and participation in outside activities, but I would bet that other clubs, teams, etc....will miss more than six days devoted to their respective activity. As the school administrator, this issue is my responsibility for Team 343...not the teachers. I would discuss this with the principal, teachers, and parents...then request to appear before the school board to make a request for them to reconsider their position. One thing for sure....as a high school principal, I have to link the Robotics program to the curriculum...we have implemented a Pre-engineering curriculum (Project Lead the Way) in conjunction with the University of South Carolina. This curriculum is linked to the State standards...Thus, competition is part of it. Generally speaking, parents tend to exert the right pressure...to bring about change. By the way...we certainly want you to attend the Palmetto Regional...it is going to be great...brand new facility, lots of energy and a great make-up of teams competing...most from out-of-state.

[Matthew_H]

To answer some of the questions we are not funded by our school system. We have had to raise all of our funds by ourselves. I do not get a supplement for doing robotics but I do it out of having fun and knowing what the students can get out of it. I do have a supportive prinicpal that is helping.

We are a technical high school that pulls from the other five high schools in our county system. We struggle with the fact we do not have the high school community to help support our program. We have been working on communication of our program and it looks like we have a ways to go. I am compiling information on how much the sponsors have given and how much money our kids have raised to pay for these two competitions. We are fighting to go to this second regional and at the same time trying to find the final funding for the bus travel which as right now we are short. I am hoping that the school board will notice how much work has been put into this robotics team and how many buisnesses have supported our endeavor. I wish there was a closer regional that I could take our school board members so they can see that it is not small robots moving in a high school gym but a professional competiton where over 800 high school students and engineers come together to but theory into practice.

[Frank L.]

Is it a requirement that the students attend your technical high school to be a member of Team 1028? Our technical center coordinates Team 343 that is composed of students from four high schools, but they do not have to attend the center to be a member of the team. Many students are involved in many things and subjects that prohibit them from attending...not they they don't want to, but just that they do not have the time. Point is...Team 343 represents the four high schools and not just the technical center. Therefore, I have the support and encouragement of an additional four principals...lots of say in what goes on. What is the price that you are struggling to raise for the bus fare to go to the second regional?

[Matthew_H]

Originally Posted by Frank L.

Is it a requirement that the students attend your technical high school to be a member of Team 1028? Our technical center coordinates Team 343 that is composed of students from four high schools, but they do not have to attend the center to be a member of the team. Many students are involved in many things and subjects that prohibit them from attending...not they they don't want to, but just that they do not have the time. Point is...Team 343 represents the four high schools and not just the technical center. Therefore, I have the support and encouragement of an additional four principals...lots of say in what goes on. What is the price that you are struggling to raise for the bus fare to go to the second regional?

We also represent the entire Madison County school system. most of our students are from our tech center but we do have others from the high schools that do not take any classes at our school. It is open to any student in Madison County.

Currently we are short around $3000 for the bus fare from our school to South Carolina. We have raised all the other funds needed to attend.

[Matthew_H]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

We also represent the entire Madison County school system. most of our students are from our tech center but we do have others from the high schools that do not take any classes at our school. It is open to any student in Madison County.

Currently we are short around $3000 for the bus fare from our school to South Carolina. We have raised all the other funds needed to attend.

Good news. It looks like that after further review our school board is going to allow us to go to South Carolina. It is not offical yet but we have talked with most of them. They did not understand how much money that sponsors have put into the Ubergeeks. Thank you all for you ideas they really did help. We are going to try and make sure this communication problem will not happen again.

[Redhead Jokes]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

They did not understand how much money that sponsors have put into the Ubergeeks.

Huh. We had an upset recently, and both high schools got a wake up call about how much time, money, effort mentors give, and the dedication of students and parents from both schools.

Then I learned that the RUHS school board was motivated on their own to ask that our robotics' summercamp banner on the school fence be given prominence over the recreation dept banners, so it was moved at their request.

[Jay H 237]

I'm glad to see this thread and now knowing our team isn't alone with similar issues. I was asked by our teams main advisor to post this on here. What we what to know is if team 237 can unify and work with other teams so we're (we meaning all teams with similar issues) aren't stepped on. As Jessica mentioned in post # 12 in this thread " we are dealing with a difficult one". Jess and I are talking about the same school board.
I have a few questions for other teams but first I'll give some background on my team.
Team 237 Sie-H2O-Bots was formed in 1998 and is based out of the Watertown Connecticut high school. We currently have roughly 30 students and 14 mentors. Two of the mentors are teachers at this school, one of them is the teams main contact. Our team is 100% self funded, no money from the board of ed or town for that matter supports our team. Our team is also a 501c3 organization (tax exempt) and has been since it's creation. The problem is the board of ed does not and has never reconized our team. We pay for the schools use, meaning custodial coverage, from our own team budget. Our team relies strictly on donations and when you're handed a $2000.00 bill at the end of the six weeks it hurts. Sports and any other organizations get to use the building for free. Our team also has had over $100,000 in equipment and services donated to the school because of our team. This includes machinery for the tech ed department, computers, 10 stations of Solid Works for the cad room, and countless other stuff. We got all this stuff for the school to use also, it is not strictly for our team. We also have had problems where they almost weren't going to allow our team to travel. Students have to keep passing grades to be on our team. We have countless other problems and could go on here forever but I won't.
What I also want to ask is:

Does your team build your robot at your school?

Do you have restrictions on building use?

What procedures do you have to go through to use this building?

Also if you do use the school,

Do you have to pay to use school facilities?

What amount of monetary support is your school providing your team?

How do you handle donations made to the school on behalf of the robot team?

Any insight, help, and/or answers are greatly appreciated. Our team feels we have more than our share of red tape. We also feel we have jumped through more hoops than Barnum and Baily.

[Redhead Jokes]

Originally Posted by Matthew_H

We just found out that we have been denied permission to go to the second competitions. How do the other school systems justify the two competitions to the school board.

School board stuff is mysterious to me. We have an administrator who handles that for RUHS. MCHS now claims we're not school sponsored at all (they're going thru major funding problems) altho MCHS captain had all school required meetings on campus and submitted all paperwork.