{"id":8719,"date":"2017-08-21T11:50:15","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T15:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bfp.makingitsimple.net\/?p=8719"},"modified":"2017-08-21T11:50:15","modified_gmt":"2017-08-21T15:50:15","slug":"three-things-to-watch-for-in-our-a-rated-school-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/three-things-to-watch-for-in-our-a-rated-school-district\/","title":{"rendered":"Three things to watch for in our \u2018A\u2019-rated school district"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Three things to watch for in our \u2018A\u2019-rated school district
\n<\/strong>By Dr. Desmond Blackburn<\/p>\n

Welcome back, teachers, students and families. You are what makes Brevard Public Schools so special \u2013 and why our district earned an \u2018A\u2019 grade from the state this year.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m glad you\u2019re here.<\/p>\n

In addition to new lessons and standards in the classroom, I hope you notice three changes that your school board and I have implemented for the coming year.<\/p>\n

Discipline plan
\n<\/strong>First, all schools will have a new discipline plan.\u00a0 It was carefully researched and designed to make sure that school leaders administer discipline consistently and fairly across the district for misbehavior, regardless of the student\u2019s background.<\/p>\n

It is not<\/em> a relaxing of standards.\u00a0 Nor is it a zero-tolerance policy. Instead, it gives principals a range of clearly defined options for nearly every situation.<\/p>\n

School improvements
\n<\/strong>Second, we have begun working to make schools everywhere safer and more comfortable places to learn and work.<\/p>\n

Over the summer, BPS spent more than $40 million dollars from a half-cent sales surtax approved by voters to replace roofs, air conditioning, pipes and equipment at 17 schools across Brevard.<\/p>\n

We also have accelerated the installation of security fencing and visitor-access controls at all Brevard schools by spring break 2018.<\/p>\n

The surtax for facilities has raised nearly $100 million dollars so far, and all but a handful of schools have received renewal or repairs with the money.\u00a0 Please join me in thanking voters.<\/p>\n

More time for learning
\n<\/strong>Third, we have made even more time available for real learning.<\/p>\n

We have eliminated dozens of district assessments even as our Florida lawmakers study how to reduce state tests.<\/p>\n

And we have slashed the amount of time teachers and principals must spend on staff evaluations in order to devote more attention to our students.<\/p>\n

We had already eliminated 192 district assessments. And we\u2019re glad the Legislature ordered a study of how to further reduce standardized tests mandated by the state.<\/p>\n

Making progress
\n<\/strong>We know it\u2019s going to be another challenging academic year. But things are looking up.<\/p>\n