Superintendent's Report
February 20, 2001

Mr. Chairman and members of the Board, my report this evening is devoted to several noteworthy accomplishments of both students and staff, as well as, a few recent events.

I am pleased to inform you that on January 25, the school division, in cooperation with the VBEA, hosted a dialogue for teachers to discuss topics important to them. Sixty teachers participated in this two-hour exchange of dialogue and the format was similar to those held with Teacher Forum. The teachers raised important issues relative to the entire school division.

On February 8, 2001, our school division hosted the fourth annual Realtor's Breakfast. Over 200 area real estate agents attended this event at the Clarion Hotel. Following a continental breakfast, they received information about our "Academy" concept, the Advanced Technology Center, and proposed redistricting plans. The "school locater" feature on our website was received with great enthusiasm from this group. The agents also received several copies of our school guides and literature about our schools to assist them in providing information to their clients.

For the second consecutive year, the Department of Technology has been awarded a Technology Literacy Challenge (TLC) Grant. This year the grant brings $53,300 to the division. Our division's winning grant proposal has two primary objectives: to develop a curriculum document that focuses on the integration of technology into the teaching and learning process in grades six through eight and to use that document as a basis for training teachers of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies at the middle school level. The proposal was patterned after the training model developed and implemented for teachers in grades K-8 during the 1997-98 school year. An added benefit is that the grant provides funding for laptops for middle school computer resource teachers to assist in training efforts.

As usual, several congratulations are in order this evening. . .

Kudos to Plaza Middle School volunteer Clifford Shore for being honored by the Virginia Beach Rotary Club for his service to our schools. Mr. Shore was one of three city volunteers recognized on February 1st for his volunteerism. Two to three days a week, he assists teachers and special education students at Plaza Middle School where he serves as a model of self-determination and courage to students with disabilities.

Hats off to Pembroke Meadows Elementary teacher, Maria Poranski, who recently competed in the Honolulu Marathon as a member of the Arthritis Foundation's Joints in Motion Team. She raised just over $4,000 for the Arthritis Foundation on behalf of a first grader at Red Mill Elementary who suffers from Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Salem Middle School's PTA has received recognition from the Virginia PTA/PTSA as an Outstanding Unit For Parent Involvement for 2000. Salem Middle is one of two PTAs selected statewide to receive this honor and proceed on to the National PTA competition. The national winner receives one expense-paid trip to the National PTA Convention and $1,000 to promote a PTA project. Congratulations to the Salem Middle PTA!

Accolades are in order for students at Larkspur Middle School who have recently received recognition from the Kempsville Branch 99 Fleet Reserve Association for their entries in the organization's Patriotism Essay Contest. Ebony S., Jesse A., and Courtney M. were awarded savings bonds for their first, second and third place essays on the topic "What does the American Flag stand for?"

Ocean Lakes High School is one of nine schools from across the state chosen by the Department of Education to serve as a demonstration site for online SOL testing. Nine such testing sites have been identified across the state. Each demonstration site will host a different solution. Once the test period has elapsed and all solutions have been evaluated, the state will select one for statewide implementation. We are pleased to have a Virginia Beach School selected as a site!

Congratulations to Judy Doyle, Advertising Design Teacher at our Technical and Career Education Center, who has been named the 2001 Silver Medal Award winner by the Advertising Federation of Greater Hampton Roads for her outstanding contributions to advertising. Ms. Doyle is the 38th recipient and only the fourth woman to receive this honor. The Silver Medal selection committee noted that Ms. Doyle has more than merited this award by exemplifying the best in advertising and serving as a role model to many advertising graphic designers in Hampton Roads. By instilling in her students her philosophy of developing professionalism coupled with creative adeptness, many of Judy's graduates have become known as the best in the local advertising industry.
Ms. Doyle was presented the award during the annual ADDY(Awards at the Waterside Convention Center at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott on February 17th.

Recently, 16 students in Ms. Doyle's Advertising Design class at the Technical and Career Education Center presented their designs for a logo for the Virginia Opera's Education & Outreach Department. Fifteen designs were presented by the juniors and seniors and after much deliberation and consultation, the Virginia Operation Education Staff selected a logo designed by senior, Parker W. The logo will make its debut on Virginia Opera Education Marketing materials this spring. Hats off to Parker and his classmates for sharing their talents with our community.

Finally, CEL teacher, Nancy Habit is scheduled to be featured on the February 28th, 2:30 PM program produced by WHRO called Netfiles. The program highlights teachers who use the Internet as a part of classroom activities. February's theme for the program will be a focus on Art and Music, entitled "The Many Moods of Color". Students have researched artists, color theory, and the relationship of color to mood. They have taken digital pictures of students' faces and enhanced them to represent the style of abstract art. The program is broadcast nationally at 30 other affiliate Public Television stations.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my remarks for this evening.