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BCS News & Notes
A newsletter for parents, students, staff and community |
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P.O. Box 10007
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
(205) 231-4610
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Hard decisions lie ahead
After several weeks of examining the Birmingham City Schools' finances, an Alabama State Department of Education team has made a report to the Board of Education that recommends spending cuts.
Hard decisions lie ahead as we consider the recommendations and move forward. The goal of the cuts is to increase the district's financial reserves to $17 million, or one month's operating expenses as required by state law.
While these are difficult and trying times, I want to assure our parents and other stakeholders that we remain focused on our core mission - teaching and learning - and will not let the situation distract us. We must continue to provide our students with quality instruction and opportunities to learn and prepare for their futures. They deserve nothing less from those who are charged with that responsibility.
We are determined to minimize the cuts' impact on the classroom. In fact, the majority of the positions that the state is recommending be eliminated are at the central administrative and other non-instructional levels. I want to reassure parents that, even if reductions are made in areas where services to students could be directly affected, we will continue to provide those services. More to the point, compared to some other districts similar to us, we could make certain reductions or cuts and still be in a position to provide more resources that in other districts.
The decisions the board and I must make will be very difficult because we know that the majority of positions that are recommended for elimination or reorganization are filled by employees. But we know that the reductions are necessary in order to ensure the health of the school district and, therefore, the future of our children.
If we right-size the administration, we will be leaner and more efficient in the way we do business. We will learn to do more with less and to focus more strongly on the needs of our students.
We thank you for your understanding and support of the Birmingham City Schools.
Sincerely,
Craig Witherspoon
Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools
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Wenonah coach in national competition
Cedric Lane is finalist in 10th annual Hoodie Awards
By any measure, Cedric Lane has had a couple of really good years. The Wenonah High School boys' basketball team that he coaches has won back-to-back state championships in the 5A division. Many of the seniors on this year's team just signed basketball scholarships at colleges across the state.
Things could be about to get even better. Lane is one of four finalists in the 10th annual Hoodie Awards competition for the Best High School Coach. The awards are sponsored by radio and television personality Steve Harvey.
The voting will be held from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT Monday, June 4. To vote, go to www.steveharvey.com. |
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Gifted students visit Atlanta
CNN Center, World of Coke and King Center included
Middle school students in the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program got a chance to see
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GATE students visited the CNN Center on a trip to Atlanta |
things they normally wouldn't experience on a school day when they made a trip to Atlanta recently.
GATE teachers Denise Lucius, Veronica Rhodes-Simmons and Lannette Lackey, along with parent chaperones, arranged for the gifted students from several schools to be part of an educational and fun trip to the historic Martin Luther King Center, the World of Coke bottling plant and the CNN Center.
Before making the trip, the teachers had prepared the students by engaging them in activities related to the three sites.
Of course, kids have to eat, so the group stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe before heading back home.
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Holy cow! Dairy classroom visits Hemphill
Milking parlor includes live bovine
 | | Hemphill students pet the cow that was part of a mobile dairy classroom |
Parents with children who attend Hemphill Elementary School got an unexpected answer recently if they asked their offspring what they did at school that day. The children would have talked excitedly about seeing a demonstration of a cow being milked and even getting to pet the cow.
That is because the Mobile Dairy Classroom sponsored by the Southwest Dairy Museum came to Hemphill Elementary School. The 32- foot-long classroom featured a fully operational milking parlor that included a live cow.
Students prepared for the visit by discussing dairy and commercial products manufactured from a cow. The students also colored an array of dairy products which were displayed for the presenter. All grades -- pre-kindergarten through fifth grade -- visited the mobile dairy.
The students were amazed by the milking demonstration. Information presented crossed multiple academic areas such as history, science, math and nutrition. Students participated in follow-up classroom activities by making homemade ice cream and having discussions on the visit.
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Board to have public hearing, called meeting June 5
State financial recommendations will be discussed
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a public hearing at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place,on the financial recommendations made by a team from the Alabama State Department of Education. A special called board meeting will follow at 4:30 p.m.
Click here to read the report made to the board May 31.
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DVDs of graduation ceremonies available
Separate disc available for each school, Dropout Recovery
The Birmingham City School System is selling DVDs of graduation ceremonies held recently for all seven high schools and the Dropout Recovery Program. A separate DVD is available for each school and the Dropout Recovery Program.
The charge is $25 per DVD. Click here for the order form.
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Coming events
The Birmingham Board of Education Ad Hoc Committee on Extracurricular Activities will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, in a conference room on the third floor of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 12 in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place. |
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