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Controversial School Fundraising: Needham, MA

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As some schools consider soliciting private individuals and companies to purchase naming rights, others would rather make do without. Needham Public Schools in Needham, MA do not allow sizeable grants or gifts unless there are no strings attached. This means that Needham will not permit large private donations in exchange for naming rights. In addition Needham Public Schools has a policy to not allow private donations that in their opinion would differently advantage a particular school or group within the schools. They will not accept private funds if the money is to be for a “pet project” of the donor because they believe that can lead to inequity among the schools and student population.

Another reason why Needham Public Schools do not involve themselves with receiving donations in exchange for naming rights is that they want sustainable funding. Needham believes that even though a corporation may support the school system with donations for a period of time, this money would not be available forever. If the Needham Public Schools becomes dependent on private money to fund particular programs or teachers, these programs would face rapid elimination if the private money were removed.

What do you think about school systems like Needham, MA that refuse large sums of money in exchange for naming rights? Send us an email and let us know.

Controversial School Fundraising: Newton, MA

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Schools desperate for funding during a sluggish economy have started to turn to private companies and individuals for financial support. For example Newton, MA’s aldermen are deciding on a controversial proposal by the Newton Schools Foundation. The plan is to raise as much as $6 million for educational technology for the Newton Public Schools by selling naming rights to high school spaces.

The district wants to expand the wireless capacity at schools, test out iPads, and offer teachers additional training. This however would cost them approximately $5.6 million over three years. That is far more than the current $1 million annual technology infrastructure budget. If the plan is approved, they should be able to fund all of this technology but at what cost?

The controversy with the naming rights issue comes down to the philosophical question of how much private commercial branding should be brought into the public schools. Is it morally acceptable to allow a private company into a public building and promote their product? Another issue is if Newton, MA were to allow naming rights, what names or types of businesses would be allowed and what may be deemed inappropriate? This easy corporate money may come at the cost of promoting items that for one reason or another some may find offensive. A part of the building could be named after a soft drink, candy bar, sneaker company that runs a foreign sweatshop, or a magazine or newspaper that has a slanted point of view.

The Newburyport Education Foundation has been selling naming rights for a few years. They have been using some of the money raised to update technology throughout the Newburyport Public Schools. They maintain that this money is used for underfunded items such as technology and not for funding basic school needs. Their approach is to sell naming rights as a tool to motivate large donors to donate money and recognize them for their contribution. They have raised as much as $1 million in three years.

Playground Injuries: Slides

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Problem: Children may be injured on playground slides by crashing into each other. This happens when a child comes down the slide too soon after the child in front of them.

Solution: Make sure that your child becomes aware of the child sliding in front of them. Tell them not to go down until the previous child is off the slide completely.

Playground Injuries: Leg Fractures/Breaks on Slides

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Playgrounds are often associated with accidental injuries. Unfortunately, children are prone to a variety of injuries, whether on the playground, jumping on trampolines or playing sports, such as football or gymnastics.  The next several posts will address some of the more common playground injuries and how to prevent them.

Problem: Kids can receive leg fractures on slides. When a parent goes down a slide with a child, sometimes a child’s foot can get stuck on the slide while the parent continues to slide down behind the child with a downward force that can break the small leg. According to a study, 14% of leg fractures among kids at a Long Island hospital in an 11-month period occurred from kids riding down slides with their parents.

Solution: Parents should never ride down slides with their kids at the same time.

Birthday Parties and Play Dates

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Most parents of children with special needs would love the opportunity to make the decision of what parts of a birthday party or play date their child can participate in. When organizing a party or play date, don’t forget the special ed friend who may only be in the class for part of the day.

Make a Difference

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There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a frail old man. As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water. He asked, “Old man, why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?” The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. “But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish!” exclaimed the young man. “How can you make any difference?”

The old man looked at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to the safety of the sea he said, “It makes a difference to this one! I make a difference!”

Y3K Tutor In Your Home makes a difference one child at a time. Live your life by the same philosophy too. Make a difference.

Tourette’s Syndrome & Special Education Eligibility

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Students with Tourette’s syndrome are not automatically entitled to special education services. Eligibility depends on several factors. Simply having Tourette’s is not the only qualification. For example the child’s educational performance must be affected as a result of the Tourette’s syndrome. If Tourette’s is directly causing your student low grades and difficulty in school, you the parent will need to advocate for them. If you do not speak up, then the school may not help your child.

Controversial GPA Change in Wellesley, MA?

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Wellesley High School in Wellesley, MA is considering revamping its grade point average system (GPA) in controversial fashion. They would go from a weighted GPA system where GPA is adjusted based on the difficulty of classes to an unweighted system where an “A” in an honors class is worth the same as an “A” in a lower level class.

There are no state or federal regulations as to how GPA is calculated and is left up to each school system. Currently Lexington High School in Lexington, MA already switched to the new unweighted system while Belmont, MA is in the process of doing the same. For the communities of Newton, MA and Arlington, MA, both weighted and unweighted GPAs are calculated.

Dyslexia, ADD and ADHD Options

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What are your options when it comes to dyslexia and ADD/ADHD? All options discussed in a five-page report on the treatment of dyslexia and ADD/ADHD without medication.

www.Y3KTutorInYourHome.com/add-a-adhd.html

Bake Sale Ban Controversy in Massachusetts

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations for schools were set to take effect on August 1, 2012 that would prevent the sales of several foods and drinks including cupcakes, cookies and brownies within 30 minutes of the start and end of school. The reason for these regulations is to fight childhood obesity. This would ban bake sales in schools. Many parent-teacher organizations and school clubs use bake sales as fundraisers to support various school causes. Is this a case of a big government “nanny state” telling you what is best for your family or a valid way to fight childhood obesity?

Since the announcement, this controversial issue has been discussed on radio, TV, and newspapers throughout Massachusetts and the United States. The uproar has been such that a Republican state representative sponsored an amendment in the Massachusetts House to lift the bake sale ban. The legislation would give individual school districts the choice to allow or ignore the bake sale ban regulations. The Massachusetts House and Senate adopted the amendment striking down the prohibition. The Public Health Commissioner later said that the department would reverse the bake sale ban before it is set to take effect. The ban will however, stay in effect for sweets sold at school cafeterias during the school day.

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