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BCS News & Notes

A newsletter for parents, students, staff and community

June 15, 2012
 
In This Issue
Scholarship offers increase
Board approves agenda items
Seniors win laptops
Quick Links
Alabama State Department of Education, www.alsde.edu

P.O. Box 10007
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
(205) 231-4610

We listen to parents
 

One of the responsibilities of Birmingham City School System administrators -- from assistant principals to the superintendent -- is to listen to what parents say about various issues. We have been hearing what parents are saying and are taking action.

 

Parents have told us about issues with the district uniform policy. They have said it is difficult to at times to manage only the required white and light blue shirts and hard to find shoes that met the restrictions in the policy.

 

We know that parents purchase cell phones for their children because they want the security of being able to contact them after school. Even though possession of cell phones during the school day has been against the rules, many students have had them.

 

The Birmingham Board of Education has approved changes to the code of student conduct that expand colors that students may wear, remove most restrictions on footwear and allow students to possess cell phones during the school day, with restrictions, of course.

 

Click here to read more.

 

We are still listening. Many parents find the annual registration process frustrating. They ask why, if they have not moved, they have to fill out the same forms every year and question the number of documents they must complete.

 

We are working on simplifying registration and are in the process of creating a registration form that parents will be able to fill out and submit it on line. An online application for free and reduced-price meals also will be available for the new school year.

 

We do appreciate the support our parents give our schools, and we want to do our best to meet their changing needs.

 

Sincerely,
Craig Witherspoon

Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools

Class of 2012's scholarship total increases
$19.93 million is most ever
 

Members of the Birmingham City Schools class of 2012 have earned nearly $1 million worth of additional scholarship offers since amounts were announced in mid May. The grand total, as of June 12, is $19,932,578.

 

That is the most scholarship offers ever received by a graduating class in the district.

 

Jackson-Olin High School maintained its position as the school with the most offers -- $6,487,368.

 

Ramsay High School is second, with $4,707,842.

 

Parker High School seniors received offers worth $2,201,660.

 

Huffman High School's total is $1,955,324.

 

Wenonah High School seniors have been offered $1,811,284 in scholarships.

 

Offers to Carver High School's graduates have reached $1,689,850.

 

Woodlawn High School's total is $1,079,250.

 

 

Board approves items on June 12 agenda 

New Hayes K-8 School named

The Birmingham Board of Education approved all items on the agenda for its June 12 meeting and several items that were added.

 

The added items included naming the new K-8 school that will be open on the site of the old Hayes High School. The new school, which will house students from Whatley K-8 School and Gibson Elementary School, will be named Hayes K-8 School.

 

Click here to read more.

 

 

Four seniors win laptops
Bright House Networks makes awards
 
Four 2012 graduates of Birmingham City Schools are among five students who have won Bright Futures Student Laptop Scholarships.

 

Started in 2009, the scholarship program is designed to provide college-bound students with a laptop as a reward for their hard work. Students had to fill out an application and write an essay about the importance of leadership both in school and in the communities where they live.

 

The winners include Danielle Winston, Jackson-Olin High School; Lonnitra Keenon, Ramsay High School; Rikki Williams, Ramsay High School, and Calvin Wilson,Woodlawn High School.

 

Coming events 

 

The District Growth and Student Population Stabilization Subcommittee of the Birmingham Board of Education will meet at 3 p.m. Monday, June 18, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.

 

The Finance Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 18, in the board room of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.

 

 

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