Stats bear out suspicions about Bright Futures skew

from the Palm Beach Post:
Of 12,686 students statewide who were eligible last year for a Florida Academic Scholars Award- the highest granted – about 380, or 3 percent, were black. About 1,500, or 12 percent, were Hispanic.

School board begins to face up to inevitable shuttle hiatus impact

from floridatoday.com:
As many as 6,400 space workers could lose their jobs within the next four years, and some people worry the fallout from those layoffs could mean students transferred from schools, whole facilities left empty and dozens of teachers sent to the unemployment line.

Pink Team repeats as World Division Champion

The CBHS/RHS Robotics team, aka, the Pink Team, won their division at the FIRST robotics world championships, held Friday and Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. That accomplishment placed them into one of the “Final Four” alliances for the second year in a row. They were also awarded the General Motors Industrial Design Award. George Bush (41st president) and the current governors of Georgia and Hawaii (already familiar with the Pink Team) were among the dignitaries that addressed the participants at the championship this weekend. Upon their return Sunday, the team bus was met by a police escort and many fans lining the streets of Rockledge. A well-deserved welcome home for the most accomplished team in either school’s history. Congratulations, Team 233!

FIRST Press Release

Admission restrictions to Florida unis sadden seniors

from the Tallahassee Democrat:
Many of Florida’s public universities are reducing the number of students they are admitting this fall. They say it’s because budget cuts have resulted in less money being available to pay for faculty to accommodate more students.

Watch the Pink Team live

The CBHS/RHS Robotics team is in Atlanta seeking to repeat their success at the world championships in the Georgia Dome. The event is broadcast live both on NASA-TV (check your cable or satellite listings) and on the web. They are in the Newton division through Saturday morning. Just 12 talented and lucky teams out of the 340 that enter will advance to the Einstein field for the semifinals on Saturday afternoon. Can the Pink Team repeat their finals appearance of last year? Can they bring home the gold this time? Tune in to find out.

FIRST Robotics Championship webcast page

Former CBHS AP Carmichael settles with state

from floridatoday.com:
Carolyn Carmichael, who was Cocoa High assistant principal during the scandal, agreed to a settlement with the state on Feb. 27.

Carmichael knew about the principals plan and failed to report it to the district, according to an administrative complaint filed by Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg.

Nancy McMillen-Hudak, who was another Cocoa High assistant principal during the 2005-06 school year, also knew of the plan and did not report it, according to the complaint.

When some irregularities were found, McMillen-Hudak accessed student records from another high school and gave them to investigators in an attempt to blame someone else for the problem, according to Blombergs complaint.

She resigned on June 30, 2006, but was rehired by the district and demoted to a teaching position at Lockmar Elementary in Melbourne.

She also reached a settlement Feb. 27.

In both cases, the educators were placed on a year-long probation, ordered to take a college-level course in ethics and received a letter of reprimand that will be placed in their permanent personnel files.

Carmichael is now principal of Roy Allen Elementary in Melbourne.

“Having never taken this matter lightly, I am delighted that my work with students, teachers and families can continue at Roy Allen and Brevard Public Schools,” she said in an e-mail.

Results from state FPS competition are in

Congratulations to the winners from CBHS!

results from floridatoday.com

Brevard places 3rd in Commissioners Academic Challenge

CBHS students made up half of the state’s 3rd best Division 1 academic team in Saturday’s state tournament held at Disney. Kyla Horn, Tim Barker and Derek Hall joined all star teammates from Eau Gallie, Merritt Island and West Shore high schools to compete against teams from the largest school districts in Florida. Congratulations, Kyla, Tim and Derek!

2008 Commissioners Academic Challenge Results

UF to cut transfers

from the GainesvilleSun:
The University of Florida will cut the number of transfer students to be admitted starting this summer by about 30 percent to shave costs, UF administrators announced Friday.
Continue to 2nd paragraph

Typically, UF admits about 3,000 students who are transferring from another college or university. About 2,000 will be admitted for summer, fall and spring, UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said.

DiPatri issues policy on “Day of Silence”

The national Gay Day of Silence will be held April 25th at schools across Brevard county including Cocoa Beach High. Dr. Dipatri has directed principals to inform parents that the event is not school sponsored, but is student led, and that students can not be deprived of their constitutional right to protest in this manner.

Brevard Watchlist Blog coverage