Get Schooled: Are We Exhaling Yet?

By Amber Lester Friday, February 19, 2010

Whew.

That’s about all I can say after two days of reading, talking and thinking about Governor Bob McDonnell’s proposed cut of $731 million from K-12 schools across the state. From the moment the press release popped into our inboxes on Wednesday until the moment I started this blog entry, I’ve been sorting through proposed budgets, rereading sentences and looking at numbers until my eyes crossed.

The news is that the money is gone and just about everything we consider “the norm” for schools is out the window. I’d estimate it takes a decade or two for “the norm” to change. In recent decades, we have come to expect schools will pay for students to take AP courses and provide assistants for kindergarten teachers. We might have to adjust to a new “norm” that might not look like what any of us envisioned for schools in 2010; in fact, it might slow our progress enough to set us back a few years. It’s hard to imagine.

So with that, let’s set aside the doom-and-gloom, at least for the few minutes it takes your eyes to peruse this entry. Here are some educational tidbits worth celebrating:

Cinderella at Bruton High
I’ve heard amazing things (gushing, even) about Bruton High School’s musicals. One little bird told me their performance of “Nunsense” last year blew her away, so she went ahead and reserved her tickets to see “Cinderella” this weekend.

The students at the magnet art school will present the musical fairy tale at 7 tonight and Saturday at the Claudine Carew Studio Theater on Bruton’s campus. A matinee show will be presented at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $10. To reserve a ticket, call 220-4095 or e-mail mswanson@ycsd.york.va.us.

York County Literary Competition
The York County Public Library is accepting entries for its juried competition for poetry and short stories. Entries will be accepted at the Tabb Library until 5 p.m. Feb. 28.

To enter the high school poetry division, students must be in grades 9-12 and attend a school located in York County. Competition rules are available here.

To enter the adult short story and/or poetry divisions, entrants must be at least 18 years old and residents of York County or a neighboring jurisdiction.

Winners in the adult contests receive cash prizes: $150 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place. High school winners receive $75 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place.

Winners will be announced on March 25 and receive prizes at a reception and public reading at 7 p.m. on April 15 at the Tabb Library. In addition to the cash prizes, winners will have their work published on the library’s Web site and in a booklet.

Teach Special Education
If you’ve ever been interested in pursuing special education as a career, now is a great time to do it.

William and Mary received a $500,000 grant last summer to create Preparing Inclusive Educator (PIE), a program focusing on the recruitment of special education teachers. PIE hopes to graduate 80 special education teachers in five years.

PIE is specifically focused on recruiting minority teachers to focus on special education. WM has three special education masters’ degree programs.

The official application deadline to apply was Jan. 15, but Recruitment Specialist Lisa Ownby says the program is still accepting applications.

For more information, click here.