Page 2 - BPS News 2107

Three Things To Watch for in Our ‘A’-rated School District
By Dr. Desmond Blackburn
Welcome back, teachers, students and families. You are what makes Brevard Public Schools so special – and why
our district earned an ‘A’ grade from the state this year. I’m glad you’re here.
In addi on to new lessons and standards in the classroom, I hope you no ce three changes that your school board and I have implemented for the coming year.
Discipline plan
First, all schools will have a new discipline plan. 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’s background. It is not a relaxing of standards. Nor is it a zero-tolerance policy. Instead, it gives principals a range of clearly de ned op ons for nearly every situa on.
School improvements
Second, we have begun working to make schools everywhere safer and more comfortable places to learn and work. Over the summer, BPS spent more than $40 million dollars from a half- cent sales surtax approved by voters to replace roofs, air condi oning, pipes and equipment at 17 schools across Brevard. We also have
accelerated the installa on of security fencing and visitor-access controls at all Brevard schools by spring break 2018. The surtax for facili es has raised nearly $100 million dollars so far,
and all but a handful of schools have received renewal or repairs with the money. Please join me in thanking voters.
More me for learning
Third, we have made even more me available for real learning. We have eliminated dozens of district assessments even as our Florida lawmakers study how to reduce state tests.
And we have slashed the amount of me teachers and principals must spend on sta evalua ons in order to devote more a en on
to our students. We had already eliminated
192 district assessments. And we’re glad the Legislature ordered a study of how to further reduce standardized tests mandated by the state.
Making progress
We know it’s going to be another challenging academic year, but things are looking up.
• Our gradua on rate is up 1.3 percent.
• Reading pro ciency for third graders – a crucial measure of future success – is up 5 percentage points a er several years of stagna on.
• More secondary students are passing Algebra 1 – a “gatekeeper” to advanced courses and college.
• We have new and expanded career programs to give more students a head start on success in life.
• And last year, 351 students earned associate degrees at the same me they graduated from Brevard high schools. That number has grown 32 percent over three years.
I’m excited for school to be ge ng underway. On behalf of all of us at BPS: Have a great year. Dr. Desmond Blackburn is superintendent of Brevard Public Schools.
BPS was proud to introduce both its Principal of the Year and its Assistant Principal of the Year during its 2017 Leadership Summit last month, hosted by Harris Corpora on. West Shore Jr/Sr High’s Rick Fleming took the principal honors while Hans Chris an Andersen Elementary’s Candace Jones won the AP tle.
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BPS NEWS is a publica on of Brevard Public Schools.
Superintendent
Desmond K. Blackburn, Ph.D.
School Board Members
Chairperson: Misty Belford, District 1 Vice Chairman: John Craig, District 2 Tina Descovich, District 3
Ma hew Susin, District 4
Andy Ziegler, District 5
Published by the Division of Government and Community Rela ons Assistant Superintendent:
Ma Reed
Content Coordinator: Jennifer Wol nger Graphic Designer: Daniel Jankowski
Brevard Public Schools
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2 www.brevardschools.org
Volume I, Issue I