pic: Chief Delphi - The Last Journey - CDXIV B

[Mike Martus]

The status of Team 47 Chief Delphi is a very complex issue. Pontiac Central is closing.... that is certain. All students will attend a single High School ( Pontiac Northern) re-named Pontiac High School. In conversation with the administration (superintendent) There will be a single unified team from the new school.

Several frustrating issues:
1. ALL staff, every employee has been "Pinked Slipped". The school District has not yet decided who or what the new school will be like, or even who will staff it. Even Me with 36.5 years as an educator is at this moment unemployed at the end of the school year. Yes I can retire.........

2. The new school....if I am rehired has yet to designate a space for me to teach or have a team. I am packing 14 years of robotics ... to where???? The New school (Old Pontiac Northern) will not have what I am closing.... 5 large rooms, storage areas, display areas for trophies, Office, display areas for 14 robots. The new school (Old Pontiac Northern) will be crowded above max capacity. There is at this moment no designated space for a team or a class for me.......

3. It appears that the district is eliminating ALL Vocational Education classes - except business, because they can cram 40 + students in a class.
Their philosphy is if a student is failing math, give them 2 math classes, double dose them in all core subjects.... IMHO a very poor path.

As the future unfolds there are many questions that will be answered....

Rest assured that Chiefdelphi.com will survive. The great people at Innovation First have been funding the site for the past few years. Their great support deserves a THANK YOU from all of us. Brandon is still committed to demanding quality in all aspects of this site. Thanks Brandon. you are great!!!!!

BTW..... side note.....

I am extremely proud of my team.... after a long hard season and all the stress, they decided that they wanted to continue the learning experience. Lead by College Mentors... Josh Murphy and James Keifer this additional robot is a work of art built by the STUDENTS>>>>> The entire team embraced my saying" you get out of this program what you put into it". Day after day long afternoons and evenings, very dedicated team members made it happen..... ON THEIR OWN!

True inspriation is the backbone of FIRST and is on display here!

I will make sure the Community of FIRST is kept aprised of events as they unfold to me in the coming days or weeks....... Yes we are in turmoil with a uncertain future.... but so are many other FIRST teams. We need to support and encourage each other the best we can....

More later........