A reduction of up to $125 million is now anticipated for the 2010-11 school year, following two years of record reductions. It is not possible to have this loss of revenue each year without impacting our students.

As a school district, we must be fiscally responsible and have a balanced budget. Unfortunately we cannot absorb this amount in our current budget, and are in the process of compiling a prioritized list of potential cuts. This information will be distributed to our schools, staff and School Board, as well as the community.

I will be hosting a series of community meetings to discuss our current and upcoming financial situation, available revenue and the district’s plans to meet its mission of providing all students with high quality educational opportunities.

Your feedback is important. Please join me at one of the following meetings, at 6 p.m.:

• Thurs., March 11 – Sandalwood High School, 2750 John Prom Blvd, 32246
  
• Tues., March 16 – Peterson Academies of Technology, 7450 Wilson Blvd., 32210
  
• Thurs., March 18 – Jean Ribault High School, 3701 Winton Dr., 32208
  
• Tues., March 23 – Mandarin High School, 4831 Greenland Rd., 32258

Student achievement remains our highest priority, and we will continue to do everything we can to save revenue, while keeping our focus on the classroom. Difficult decisions will have to be made, but by working together, we can see our school district through these difficult economic times.

We need your help to engage our governor and legislature to minimize the cuts to public education as much as possible. We appreciate and thank you for your continued service on behalf Duval County Public Schools’ students.

We are encouraging you, the student, to write an essay about how someone who took the time to “be there” for you. Write 300 words or less describing a time when an adult (parent, family member, teacher, older friend, etc.) helped, inspired, or motivated you, whether they took the time to be there for you just once or many times. We want to know how they made a difference in your life just by stopping what they were doing, avoiding distractions and focusing on you; taking the time to “be there” for you.

Turn in only one final copy. Essays may be typed on a computer or handwritten, front side of the paper only, please. Make sure to include your name, grade, school and teacher’s name on the bottom of the last page. Staple all pages together at top left corner.

Essays will be judged based on content and relation to the topic and will not be penalized for grammar or spelling errors. Each school Principal will be responsible for submitting one or two essays representing their school.

Final deadline to submit essays to the DCC PTA Board for judging is Monday March 8th @ 5pm.

Check out the Reflections page to see who submitted these award winning projects!

(Click on Programs > Reflections)

Looking for award forms only? Again – no worries. All of the forms in the awards section of the handbook can be found on the PROGRAMS – AWARDS page.

The forms are in PDF format so you’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to pull them up.

Or contact your area coordinator and she’ll help you get what you need.

All PTA and PTSA local unit members are invited for

“Tips for Success in 2010”

Dates / Topics / Presenters

January 19, 2010 / Nominations & Elections / Betty Marty
February 16, 2010 / History Books & Awards / Mary Ann Sebolt & Amanda Welch
March 16, 2010 / Procedure Books & Audits / Victoria Richmond-Davies & Shelley Gill-Cain

All programs will be held during the DCC General Meetings
There is NO pre-registration required.

For more information, please contact
Samantha Lowery
samlowery@att.blackberry.net

Many food pantries run low on supplies after the holidays. The SouperBowl of Giving is a program that makes it easy for groups to keep the spirit of compassion going after the holidays. All you have to do is register your food drive, collect the food, count and report what was collected to the Souperbowl site, then donate the food to your local pantry. 100% collected stays in your community.

Go to http://www.souperbowl.org
Register your PTA
Download FREE marketing materials at Souperbowl.org
Start collecting the non-perishable food January 17
Report your food collection results the Monday after Superbowl Sunday (Feb 8th)
Donate your non-perishables.

Be sure to:

1. Set a collection goal.
2. Select your charity.
3. Report your results!
4. Submit your DCCPTA Humanitarian Award application

Last year’s rally was an overwhelming success. You made a huge impact in Tallahassee. We need you to join us again on March 25, 2010, on the steps of the Capitol as we continue to advocate for children and education.

Your voices are needed now more than ever, as the budget battle continues. The federal stimulus dollars that are currently funding Florida’s education will run out next year. The Legislature needs to take action in 2010 to secure a stable and adequate source of funding for education.

Florida PTA is offering an orientation/advocacy training session on March 24, 2010 from 3:30-6:30 PM. A link to hotels is provided on the FLPTA.org website. We will update as more information is available, so please keep checking the web site.

Your DCCPTA will be offering an advocacy tip session at the March General Meeting and are once again arranging bus transportation to Tallahassee for the day. Our Legislative Chair is also arranging face time with our area represenatives so that we can express our concerns about the public school system.

West Riverside Elementary School was selected after much debate for its historical significance and architectural integrity. Not to mention, its form lent well to gingerbread construction! The structure is not entirely edible. Everything you can see it edible; however, the school is taking a tour of Duval County and needed to be Styrofoam backed to ensure it didn’t collapse. It has also been sprayed with a preservative to guarantee it won’t get soft and fall apart.

The sweet creation was unveiled at the annual DCC PTA Board of Managers holiday luncheon, which was held at the Wright Place located in F.H. Peterson Academy. The students who created the gingerbread house shared their favorite part and/or something they learned from participating in this project.

>From Frank Peterson, the gingerbread school is moving to the DCPS Admin Building for the next week. It will then join the School Board for their holiday dinner, it will attend the Principal’s Holiday Party at the Jags Stadium and finally rest at West Riverside for the students to see before the holidays.

As of Nov 30,2009