Special Election Information

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, a special election will be held in the Tucson Unified School District.  Registered voters will have the opportunity to help decide two important financial matters for the school district:

1) Proposition 401: Maintenance and Operations Budget Override

          This override is being requested to provide the following:

               *Guaranteed full day kindergarten

               *Increased speed and access to technological learning in the classroom

               *Additional resources that school site councils will recommend for use based upon what is needed at schools.  These additional resources, about $150 to $190 per student, may be used to decrease class size, expand music and art instruction, and/or provide improved library or counselor services.

2) Proposition 402: Technology Capital Outlay Budget Override

          The proposed override monies ($9,000,000) are expected to fund the following programs in the first year:

               *Classroom technology:

                    - Replace aging classroom computers - 10,000 units on a 3 year lease

                    - Improve network infrastructure needed for the high speed bandwidth (first year rollout)

                    - Replace school servers & switches supporting the new computer equipment

               *District wide technology:

                    - Replace TUSD's Human Resources and Financial Management System maximizing operational efficiency and dollars to the classroom

                     - Replace operational computers on a 3 year lease basis

                    - Replace servers and switches district wide supporting the new computer equipment and high speed internet capabilities

Another Perspective: September 11, 2001 From 250 Miles Up

I still cannot believe it has already been eight years since our tragedy on 9/11.  The images of that day are seared in our minds forever.  I was sworn in as an American citizen only two days later, and I dedicated this tremendous step in my life to those who perished that day.  This is a small tribute for those who lost their lives, and for those who have been affected in countless other ways when the towers fell.  Our Armed Forces should also be appreciated for their brave efforts on our behalf since those terrible moments.

http://internetpopculture.com/2009/09/10/911-as-seen-from-space/

The pictures taken here were from the International Space Station, hundreds of miles from earth...

Tame Your Brain

Interesting article.  Quick read.  Here are some fun facts: The Brain...

*is about 78% water;
*takes about 3 full soda cans of blood per minute to pass through it;
*can stay alive for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen before the cells begin to die;
*processes information at at least 260 Miles Per Hour;
*is about 2% of our total body weight, but uses 20% of our energy;
*it is estimated, has about 70,000 thoughts per day!

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-09/memory-scientists-say-all-not-forgotten

Brewer restores school cuts, axes tax repeal

Brewer restores school cuts, axes tax repeal

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Ahhh...The First Post!

Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Warning - this is quite hilarious!

So, of course this important and entertaining link is posted first!  It should look familiar to those who attended the inaugural Beaton's Bistro last year.  This video - shot at a Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) conference in California in '06 -coincides with part of our school philosophy, a core belief shared with many of our stakeholders: our future success depends upon the unlimited capacity for innovation of our youth.  Let us exercise this distinctive gift, not squander it!

After viewing the Ken Robinson talk, some may want to contact their state legislators about the stifling effects that poorly funded schools are bound to have on our kids' creativity.  Many applaud Governor Brewer's line-item veto of proposed cuts in K-12 education this past Friday (see next post).  Many ask still - is this current level of funding for education adequate for the high ambitions we have for Arizona's children?  Will it sustain us in an uncertain future?  Here are some helpful resources one should consult after digesting these harsh realities:

http://www.epodunk.com/top10/per_pupil/index.html

http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp

PS - Frank Sent This...