District Administration - July 2010 - (Page 10)

Br iefings Newsupdate PeoPle Watch ScHool SHootING Hero David Benke, a math teacher who tackled a school shooter at Deer Creek (Colo.) Middle School in February, was honored at the National School Safety Conference on July 26. The school is just blocks from Columbine High School. AutISM reGulAtIoNS On June 8, Gov. M. Jodi rell (R-Conn.) signed a bill requiring schools to hire board-certified behavior analysts to provide therapy for autistic students after a behavior analyst accused of fraud misrepresented herself to get a job at two schools. NctM reMeMBerS Karen longhart, past member of the board of directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and a recipient of a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, passed away June 1 at the age of 49. MIxeD revIeWS At the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) convention on July 10, Bill Gates was greeted with overwhelming applause— and scattered boos—as teachers received the speaker who has invested billions in experimental education-overhaul efforts. NeW Deputy John Deasy, former deputy director of education for the bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is the new deputy superintendent of the Los Angeles (Calif.) Unified School District. Deasy could succeed Ramon Cortines as the district’s superintendent when he retires in 2011. by Marion Herbert Television personality Rachael Ray (left) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- N.Y) visit Payne Elementary School in Washington, D.C., to lobby for increased child nutrition funding. Farm Fresh or Fries: Spending an additional Six cents on lunch may seem like a nominal burden. But multiply six cents by the 31 million children who receive school lunches daily and it’s a lot of extra fries as Washington faces reauthorizing the Child nutrition act this fall. The law, which includes School Breakfast and national School lunch programs, the Summer Food Service program, and the Child and adult Care Food program, is reviewed every five years. The funding reaches 95 percent of american schools, providing 5 billion lunches and 1.8 billion breakfasts per year. Reimbursement rates for schools have not increased and have only been adjusted for inflation since 1973. The reimbursement remains at $2.68 per child per day. despite tight budgets, school nutrition advocates hope for an increase to help districts serve healthy options. to date, two bills have been proposed. in the Senate, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids act of 2010 advocates boosting funding by $4.5 billion over 10 years. The House has passed the improving nutrition for america’s Children act, which includes an increase of $8 billion over 10 years. Both bills request raising the reim- How Much Is Good Nutrition Worth? bursement rate by six cents per child. The bills are inching closer to the $10 billion that president obama carved out as part of his pledge to eradicate childhood hunger by 2015. “Both bills are extending the reach to more students who are at risk for malnutrition and obesity as well as adding support for establishing some additional nutrition standards,” says dora Rivas, president of the School nutrition association (Sna). “The effects on the national School lunch program on education and Health,” a study conducted by georgetown University professor peter Hinrichs and released in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, found that the national School lunch program has great impact on educational attainment. Some fear the proposed funding won’t be enough. The Sna recommended an increase of 35 cents per child. Sen. Kirsten gillibrand (d-n.Y.) is pushing for an additional 70 cents per child. “i do believe that six cents is a good step forward,” says Virginia Stallings, president of dannon institute U.S. “if we spend the old and new money wisely, it will help improve the quality of meals. it’s a little more money to offset the costs.” District Administration 10 July/August 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - July 2010

District Administration - July 2010
Contents
Advertiser Index
Letters
From the Editor
News Update
Sustainability Update
Technology Update
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
The Golden State Loses Its Luster
Seeking Justice in San Francisco
The Push for Public Preschool
Gearing up for the New Assessment
Books
Products
Online Edge
Supervisor’s Insights
Crisis Response
Supervisor’s Opinion
Tech Disruptions
Professional Opinion
Professional Opinion

District Administration - July 2010