http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/schoolboard/ en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:29:11 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414372/posts There are three kinds of faith: faith in God, faith in oneself, and faith in life. Think of these as building blocks. When the United States was founded, the big block on the bottom of the pile was faith in God. However, something happened through the course of American history: The blocks got restacked, and faith in self, or egocentrism, settled into the first position. Faith in self is very important, but it makes a poor foundation because it is not a perception of perfection. And the ego is shifty, so the other blocks tend to become unstable or fall... American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414372/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:29:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414468/posts Resident asks school board to remove Pledge of Allegiance from meetings December 22, 2009 By Chantelle Lusebrink The Issaquah School Board may consider eliminating the Pledge of Allegiance at its regular business meetings. At their Dec. 9 meeting, school board members were asked to eliminate the pledge from their meetings by parent Matthew Barry. “The words ‘under God’ in the pledge are offensive to your atheist residents in this school district,” Barry said at the meeting. “A study from last year, The American Religious Identification Survey, indicates that 15 percent of Americans aren’t religious. In Washington, which is one of... Issaquah Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414468/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:08:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404421/posts ALAMEDA, Calif. – The school board blinked. Under the duress of a lawsuit and threats of recall, the Alameda Board of Education has voted to phase out an elementary school curriculum it adopted in May to prevent anti-gay bullying. The so-called Lesson 9, which had become an opposition centerpiece in a national anti-gay marriage campaign, will be replaced by a more generic anti-bullying message. But the board's action Tuesday night did little to ease the tension between gay parents, who want their children protected, and parents who who think elementary school is too early to talk to students about gay... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404421/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:39:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387417/posts A body tentatively identified as Michael Scott, president of the Chicago Board of Education, was found in the Chicago River near the Merchandise Mart this morning, police sources said. A blue Cadillac registered to Scott, 60, was found parked next to a trash bin yards away from the river. A police spokesman said the identification was preliminary. The Cook County medical examiner's office has not yet positively identified the body. Scott's family, concerned about his whereabouts, had contacted police Sunday night, reporting he was missing. WGN http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387417/posts#comment Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387628/posts The Chicago police would say only that authorities had found the body of an adult male about 3:15 a.m. in the area of 350 N. Orleans St., a road near a waterway in Chicago. CNN affiliate WGN-TV, citing unnamed police sources, said Scott's family had reported him missing Sunday evening. WLS-TV also reported that it was Scott's body that emergency crews recovered from the water. A report on the station's Web site did not cite a source but noted that Scott's wife, Diana Palomar, is the station's vice president of community affairs. Scott had been appointed to the Chicago Board... CNN.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387628/posts#comment Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:25:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2362643/posts Despite a large public outcry over its decision to censor Bible verse banners held by high school football cheerleaders on the playing field, a Georgia school board is refusing to change its mind. However, the controversial policy has compelled many students to passionately defend their free-speech rights and proclaim their Christian beliefs. OneHourNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2362643/posts#comment Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:35:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2312654/posts An eye-opening book titled The Language Police lists about 500 words that are banned from school textbooks. Some are amusing, some stupid (probably a banned word), and some are chilling. Here is a very partial list of banned words: Founding Fathers—Banned as sexist. Replace with Founders or Framers. (Because we would not want to note that the men who wrote the documents were men) Caveman—Banned as sexist, replace with cave dweller. (Wonder if that makes the Geico Cave . . . uhhh . . . dweller feel a little better?) Disadvantaged—Banned, replace with reference to the resources or rights that... WORLD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2312654/posts#comment Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:31:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2311427/posts A member of the Charlottesville School Board is proposing that a framed picture of President Barack Obama be placed in all of the city’s public schools, as well as the division’s central office. None of Juandiego Wade’s colleagues was quick to jump on board with his proposal at Thursday’s meeting, nor did any members dismiss it. Wade insisted that if the proposal were approved, he’d raise the money for the pictures and frames — which he believes can be obtained for free or very little money — through a private fundraising campaign. “It would be no cost to the school... The Daily Progress http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2311427/posts#comment Sat, 8 Aug 2009 17:02:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286187/posts An elementary school under construction in Upper Marlboro will be named for President Barack Obama. The Prince George's County school board approved the name by a unanimous vote Thursday night. The 792-student school being built next to Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School is expected to open in August 2010. Board member Pat J. Fletcher (Dist. 3) spoke of civil rights leaders such as Malcolm X and Shirley Chisholm who gave generations hope for the future. "For my grandchildren, it is no longer a hope but a reality, and for many of our children, it's a reality now," Fletcher... Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286187/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 00:39:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271475/posts After listening to the debate at last week's Los Angeles school board meeting, business leader Carol Schatz said she was appalled. She had attended to support a resolution to speed the firing of teachers accused of serious crimes. But even this proposal -- tiptoeing on the margins of improving teacher quality -- generated heated objections from the teachers union and its supporters. With some last-minute amendments and sniping among board members, the resolution passed by a single vote. "I came away depressed," said Schatz, who heads the 500-member Central City Assn. of Los Angeles. "If they can barely pass something... Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271475/posts#comment Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:28:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2270630/posts CUMBERLAND, Md. — A dispute has erupted in Cumberland over the distribution of a brochure that purports to explain the history of the Confederate battle flag in Allegany County public schools. AP/FoxNews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2270630/posts#comment Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:25:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2266600/posts When the San Francisco school board voted last month to restore the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, it seemed that sanity had prevailed -- three years after the board voted to kill the popular program. Finally, the board had put students' welfare ahead of its ruthless political correctness. Wrong. Unless the school board votes to recognize that JROTC fulfills students' high school physical education requirements at Tuesday's board meeting, the board's vote to keep JROTC could be viewed as a conniving stunt and a cruel hoax. If students cannot get PE credit -- as they could before the board... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2266600/posts#comment Sun, 7 Jun 2009 13:53:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2265253/posts Embarrassing audit prompts school board to discuss changes June 4th, 2009 @ 10:20pm By Mary Richards SALT LAKE CITY -- State education officials recently had an embarrassing audit, so they fired the auditors. Friday they will talk about new changes. The legislative audit revealed school employees with criminal backgrounds working around children. State Board Member David Thomas says they now want internal auditors instead, to catch those things before they are made public. "It provides a process by which the internal auditors are hired by the superintendent, but with the consent of the audit committee," he said. He also said,... KSL.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2265253/posts#comment Fri, 5 Jun 2009 05:54:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2264867/posts Santa Rosa County, FL - Nearly 400 graduating seniors at Pace High School stood up in protest against the ACLU and recited the Lord’s Prayer during their graduation ceremony on Saturday. Many of the students also painted crosses on their graduation caps to make a statement of faith. This event follows a lawsuit the ACLU filed against the Santa Rosa County School District, claiming some of the teachers and administration endorsed religion. Liberty Counsel represents Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and school teacher Michelle Winkler. The graduation prayer protest by the students was preceded by a lawsuit filed six... Liberty Counsol http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2264867/posts#comment Thu, 4 Jun 2009 19:52:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2260156/posts The Unified School District in Alameda California has passed a curriculum by a 3-2 vote that includes includes a compulsory 45-minute Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) lesson for kindergarten through fifth grade. The kindergarten lesson will study sexual orientation stereotypes with childrens books like "And Tango Makes Three" a story about two gay male penguins. School Officials say they will not allow parents to opt their kids out of the program because it falls under "anti-discrimination provisions of California law.Here is a video of the School Board Meeting. 3:03 Same Sex Lessons for Kindergartners! Gay penguins?Here are the Members... http://www.rpvnetwork.org/profiles/blogs/same-sex-lessons-for http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2260156/posts#comment Thu, 28 May 2009 23:26:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2253518/posts The father said he overreacted. And who can blame him when the son is 28 years old. But that's not the best part. The son is also a school board member and a budding Democrat politician who lives in his parent's basement. It's odd enough that a Bedford father would actually call police after arguing with his son about cleaning his room. Stranger still, the sloppy son is 28 years old and serves on the Bedford School Board. "I know this looks bad," said School Board member Andrew Mizsak, who lives with his parents and also works as an independent... jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2253518/posts#comment Mon, 18 May 2009 22:57:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2243326/posts Sacramento School Board member, Jerry Houseman, has a hissy-fit because people attended the area Tea Party protesting higher taxes. Californians spend 204 days out of the year just paying for the cost of their government. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2243326/posts#comment Sun, 3 May 2009 20:17:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2230189/posts LA school board votes to lay off 5,400 employees1 day ago LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Board of Education has voted to lay off as many as 5,400 teachers and support personnel for the upcoming school year. The vote came Tuesday as employees protested raucously outside the meeting. The board had voted hours earlier to save the jobs of 1,996 elementary school teachers using federal stimulus funds. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest school system, faces a $596 million budget shortfall for the 2009-10 school year. The final number of layoffs remains to be... Google http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2230189/posts#comment Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:12:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2225325/posts SAN DIEGO — Hope is the political message of the moment, courtesy of President Barack Obama. Tell that to Lincoln High School students Jennifer Astudillo, Sakeenah Shabazz and Alex Velarde, a trio of increasingly polished political activists. Sakeenah, 16, said hope isn't part of her political equation. “Always go in prepared for the worst, not with your hopes up,” she said. What they've displayed instead is persistence, as they've led a group of high school students in persuading the San Diego Unified School District board to shelve campus air-rifle marksmanship programs. The board confirmed the decision Tuesday, although members eased... The San Diego Union-Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2225325/posts#comment Thu, 9 Apr 2009 02:31:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2204430/posts Alaska school district adds ‘gender identity’ to official policy By Joel Davidson Anchorage, Alaska, Mar 11, 2009 / 02:01 pm (CNA).- The third largest school district in Alaska approved a new policy last month that will allow students to choose their own "gender identity." Gender identity — meaning the gender a person believes he or she has internally, regardless of their given biology — has been added to the nondiscrimination policy of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.As no other district in the state recognizes gender identity in official policies, it was unclear how the Fairbanks decision would affect... CatholicNewsAgency http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2204430/posts#comment Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:11:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193620/posts Add four-day school weeks for high school students to the list of options the Broward County School Board is weighing to save money. During a Tuesday workshop, board members directed Schools Superintendent James Notter to study the idea to prepare for up to $160 million in possible budget cuts from the state for the 2009-2010 school year. Sun Sentienl http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193620/posts#comment Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:09:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2188753/posts For example, Dr Eugenie Scott of the staunchly anticreationist National Center for Science Education (NCSE) revealed their agenda when she said: “ … I would describe myself as a humanist or a nontheist. I have found that the most effective allies for evolution are people of the faith community. One clergyman with a backward collar is worth two biologists at a school board meeting any day! … What we [such clergy and atheists] have in common is that we want to see evolution taught in the public schools … .”4 CMI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2188753/posts#comment Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:20:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185293/posts A Colorado school district does away with grade levels To overcome low test scores and a high dropout rate, the district is implementing radical reforms. Westminster, Colo. - School districts across the US are trying to improve student performance and low test scores. But few have taken as radical an approach as Adams 50. For starters, when the elementary and middle-school students come back next fall, there won't be any grade levels – or traditional grades, for that matter. And those are only the most visible changes in a district that, striving to reverse dismal test scores and a soaring... The Christian Science Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185293/posts#comment Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:37:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2181426/posts A mother and father in New York were subjected by their school district's attorney to a faith "sincerity test," which ultimately ruled their beliefs were too questionable to qualify for a religious exemption to mandatory student immunization. Ron and Rita Palma filed the exemption with their son's school district in 2006 after coming to the conclusion the year before that the required vaccinations violated their conscience and sense of God's leading for their family. Rather than accept the standard exemption form, however, the Bayport-Blue Point Union Free School District demanded the couple meet with school attorney David Cohen. The Palmas... WorldNetDaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2181426/posts#comment Mon, 9 Feb 2009 12:18:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2167358/posts Mason school officials said they are taking a proactive educational approach in advance of next week's planned Inauguration Day activities. "Inappropriate comments that may make other students, staff or families feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in school or on the bus will not be tolerated," Superintendent Kevin Bright said in an e-mail sent to parents Monday, Jan. 12. The district, he said, expects students and staff to show respect for President-elect Obama and the incoming administration, as well as President Bush and the outgoing administration, and recognize that "while the election is a competitive process, our nation's greatness is displayed when... Dayton Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2167358/posts#comment Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:20:39 GMT