NSBA and a number of state school boards associations are taking part in the “Let’s Move” campaign created by First Lady Michelle Obama to educate children and parents about how to choose healthy foods and end childhood obesity.
The new project consists of public and private partnerships and aims to get students eating healthier food at [...]
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Welcome
to School Board News Today, NSBA’s new weblog that captures the most interesting news each weekday for school board members. Saturday through Tuesday, we will be reporting from the Leadership and Federal Relations Network conferences in Washington, D.C.
School Boards Support First Lady’s Nutrition Initiative
New Report Links Recess to Learning
Recess is often brushed off as just playing tag and kickball on the playground, but a Gallup poll released Feb. 4 shows it can be valuable to learning.
The poll, conducted in October 2009, took an online survey of almost 2,000 elementary school principals, asking questions about how they see recess affecting students’ ability to perform [...]
NSBA’s Nominating Committee Chooses Candidates
NSBA’s National Nominating Committee recommended C. Ed Massey of Kentucky to be the next Secretary/Treasurer at its Jan. 29 meeting. Massey, a 14-year member of the Boone County Board of Education and the immediate past president of the Kentucky School Boards Association, would be the first Kentuckian nominated to the post.
Rep. Fattah Speaks with CUBE Members on Budget
Meeting with urban school leaders from NSBA’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE), U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah said that President Obama’s willingness to invest in education during economic hard times was a bold but necessary decision.
Va. Delegation Shares Concerns with Sen. Warner
When a delegation of Virginia school board members visited Capitol Hill this morning to meet with federal lawmakers, its first stop was the office of Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)—who cheerfully expressed his readiness to hear its opinions. But, he added quickly, he had a pretty good idea of what they’d come to say.
Photos on Flickr
More than 200 photos from NSBA’s Leadership and Federal Relations Network conferences are available for download on our Flickr site. Go to www.flickr.com/photos/nsbaimages.
FRN Audience Reacts to Duncan’s Remarks
Many school board members said they liked what U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan had to say in his remarks Monday to attendees of NSBA’s Federal Relations Network annual conference. Quite a few attendees also questioned whether good intentions would translate into good policy that supports local school governance.
Duncan Discusses Budgets, Reform at FRN
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reaffirmed the Obama administration’s commitment to public education Monday as he addressed the Federal Relations Network, saying it wants to increase federal funding for education even as it challenges states and school districts to “raise the bar” on student achievement.
Federal Money for Infrastructure Is Available
Congress through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided new funding mechanisms for capital improvement programs in school districts across the country. Nearly $25 billion has been allocated through bonds that schools can use to acquire land, build new schools, repair and renovate existing schools, and even pay for software and staff training. But it’s not easy money, as some school districts have discovered, which is why an afternoon breakout session at the FRN Conference was devoted to helping educators understand, and more importantly, get their hands on these federal monies.
Proposed Budget Has Increases, Potential Pitfalls
The Obama administration today proposed a $49.7 billion budget for education, an increase of $3.5 billion in discretionary funds, which shifts much of those increases into competitive grant programs. The proposed budget includes a total $3 billion increase for Elementary and Secondary Education Act programs. However, the plan would not increase Title I grants, the flagship program, but would increase the competitive programs, including $1.35 billion to continue Race to the Top grants, $500 million for the Investing in Innovation (3i) fund, increases to programs that focus on revamping failing schools, charters, school safety; and programs to prepare, retain, and reward good teachers and school leaders.
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