Private Education Center

Hot off the decline-of-American civilization presses: Some school districts are now attempting to remediate their deplorable budget problems with a less-is-more equation.

It’s called a four-day school week and it’s not simply a distinct possibility (as in Marion County, Florida) but in some 120 very small school districts in 17 states, it’s already the solution. (The longest running program, Cimarron School district in New Mexico has been doing the four-day song and dance since 1973!) Back in the 1970s and 2008s high gas prices often drove the decision in rural school districts – now it’s more the high price of, well, education.

If you’re like me – who assumes that no matter how many lame furlough days a district might use to bandage a temporary financial crisis, that we should still manage to offer students five days of substantial in-class schooling – this may need a little translation. The idea is tha

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Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News State Rep. Susan King, right, meets with area school district superintendents at the Region 14 Education Service Center on Friday.

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News State Rep. Susan King, right, talks to area superintendents at the Region 14 Education Service Center on Friday

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News State Rep. Susan King answers questions from area school administrators at the Region 14 Education Service Center on Friday.

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Mock Trial and Moot Court Event in Sacramento Beginning February 28

If you are a practicing attorney or a law school student who wants to help hard working and aspiring young lawyers realize their goals, then the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) needs you!

SCOE is coordinating the Gordon D. Schaber Mock Trial and Moot Court Competition for the 2010–11 school year. Organizers need volunteers to serve as presiding judges and scoring judges.

The Mock Trial simulates a trial level proceeding in which students portray the roles of pre-trial counsel, prosecuting and defense attorneys, witnesses, court clerks, and bailiffs before a single presiding judge and 2-3 scoring attorneys. Volunteers are needed for approximately 3-12 hours during the week of February 28-March 5, 2011. T

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When you visit her blog you are entering a delightful world of arts, crafts and home school knowledge. Her blog is easy to navigate with many interesting posts and sections. I love her Toddler Time because she shows you how to engage toddlers and keep up with their fast paced imagination. The ideas are fantastic and she explains thoroughly and provides pictures of all the activities. The activities are so much fun that you will rush to teach your toddler his colors and shapes.

If you want your jaw to drop and your heart to go pitter patter with the excitement of FREE quality printables, click on over to her Free Printables tab. I guarantee you will be visiting her daily as you load up on quality fun printables for your little student.

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Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Demolition work continues on Franklin Middle School Friday, Jan. 28, 2011.

Demolition of Franklin Middle School should wrap up in the next two weeks, making room for a new elementary school at the site. However, flattening the old structure has not come without a few surprises.

“Try as hard as you can and you still come across delays,” said Joe Humphrey, Abilene Independent School District construction coordinator.

Asbestos had to be removed from the building before demolition could begin and that took longer than expected, Humphrey said. Demolition started at the beginning of December on the structure built nearly 70 years ago.

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ISHPEMING — When the Christmas break begins for the Ishpeming schools, it’ll mark the end of Phelps Middle School since the building is closing.

Monday, orientation sessions were held to get the students familiar with their new home and the set-up.

Starting Monday January 3, the 240 students from the Phelps Middle School will be moved to the High School-Central Elementary School complex for their classes.

“We are in the process of emptying classrooms, emptying storage areas, clearing them, and then over break, we will be moving everything that needs to come from the Phelps building into this building,” says Vicki Lempinen, principal for grades 5-12.

Space isn’t a problem–at one time Ishpeming High School housed a thousand students.  With the addition of the Phelps students to Central Elementary and the high school, the building still won’t be at capacity.

The district is spending about $110,000 in renovations.

Although a millage to approve an $11 million bond proposal failed back in May, a renewed millage from last November is providing the necessary funds to make these capital improvements.  The money being used is not coming from general operating funds.

Closing Phelps Middle School is projected to save the district about $300,000 a year.

As far as scheduling, class periods will be a little longer since the Phelps students will operate on the high school bell schedule.

Even though they’ll be in the same building, Lempinen says the administration’s goal is to keep the students separate.

“We’ve been very cognizant of trying to keep the middle school and high school separate as much as possible, so we’ve established certain days for the library to be used.”

As for district food services, operations will remain in the Phelps building at least until the end of the year.