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March 16, 2006
NJ Ed. Constuction Derailed
A committee led by the governor has recommmended replacing the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation with a new agency in light of mismanagement, spending without budgeting, and a financial short fall of $300 million. The end of the article includes a puzzling quote:
"I'm also concerned that requiring municipalities to donate land for school construction purposes will put local officials, especially in our cities, where open space is nearly exhausted, in the position of imposing eminent domain without the state's backing," Mr. Rice said in a statement.
Panel Urges Replacing New Jersey School Building Unit
March 09, 2006
Greenbuilding and Schools
Clackamas High School, Oregon
Oregon is actively seeking to support green designed school buildings.
District building managers report energy savings of as much as 50 percent in the new buildings. Ross Cain, facilities manager for The Dalles School District, said the energy-efficient middle school built two years ago is saving the district about $50,000 a year in energy costs.
Green Buildings Start to Sprout Cash for Classrooms
BOORA, the school's architects
Another trend bites the dust...
A recent study looks at combining elementary and middle schools into k-8 complexes and finds little difference between the two strategies...
he period of the middle grades has seen numerous reforms to improve education for students in early adolescence. However, although several current reforms seek to overhaul middle schools, only a handful of studies have directly compared the effects of different configurations of grades. Our analysis uses district and student data from one of the few American urban districts that contain both middle schools and K8 schools. We compare student outcomes in eighth grade, finding few differences by school type. Only self-esteem and perceived threat differ by type of eighth-grade school. We also show that students' self-esteem benefits academic outcomes, a benefit that primarily accrues to students in middle schools.
Article: K-8 Structure Gives No Academic Boost, Analysis Finds Abstract: Reexamining Middle School Effects: A Comparison of Middle Grades Students in Middle Schools and K-8 Schools
Link Roundup
A study in London looked at pollution by taxis, buses, motorcycles and cars...turns out taxis are the greatest polluters. Pedestrians Inhale Less Pollution than Passengers
Teachers, parents, and activists protest mislabeling of Latino and African American students in San Francisco as special ed students. Separate and Unequal
An interview with Marty Black of the Coalition for Community Schools. Coalition for Community Schools Advocates Neighborhood-Centered Schools Across the Country
A look at the plac of schools in smart growth... Schools vital part of Smart Growth strategy
Somewhat naive opinion piece on school choice and suburbia. School choice could be an answer to sprawl
The Planning Center is an ed facility planning/development firm working mostly in Southern California. The Planning Center Instucts Schools on How and Where to Build
What should be the relationship/level of coordination between school boards and city government? Akron Mayor Don Plusquelle Endorses Mayors Being More Responsible for Public Schools
From information aesthetics, a mapping tool for Seattle that shows real estate pricing. Seattle Washington Real Estate at Redfin
The Bush Administration appears to be awarding grants to education organizations affiliated with it by bending the rules. Education Grant Rules were Broken
In a review released by a top House Democrat, the Government Accountability Office detailed three cases in which the department made exceptions to benefit certain applicants. In at least two of those cases, the groups getting money had ties to the Bush administration.