Should bus routes be eliminated?

Mark Stewart, director of administrative services for county schools, said bus drivers will no longer pick up students living within a 1.5-mile radius of the two middle schools and the high school unless they are disabled.
In past years, the district has offered what Stewart described as “courtesy stops” at outlying areas within the radius but those will be eliminated as a way to save $90,000 a year. He said five bus drivers lost their jobs as a result, according to the Times-Union.
Is it worth losing the stops in order to save money? In our opinion if the money goes right back to the education system than maybe, but we all know it probably won’t.
Tell us what you think.

'Lead by influence'

Nelson Mandela How do you inspire your team to do their best.
Francois Pienaar By example. I've always thought to lead by example, sir.
Nelson Mandela Well, that is right. That is exactly right. But how to get them to be better than they think they can be? That is very difficult, I find.

This set of quotes is something to live by or remember once in a while, because every business is trying to make each employee that much more of a hard worker. As teachers go day by day they might not realize students are always watching their movements and should lead by example.
You honestly never know how much you can influence a Child’s life simply because they might have a rough background and are looking for better ways to learn.

New program in Jacksonville

The free program in Jacksonville will offer competitive debate, critical thinking, digital literacy, public speaking and other help to present a winning speech, and is open to middle school and high school students, with debate coaches and parents welcome, according to The Times-Union.
Is this a good thing or a potentially bad thing for students in the future?

Food System in the schools of Jacksonville

Over 450,000 lunches were served last year in Duval County, with several hundred thousand more breakfasts and snacks handed out at participating sites, according to The Times-Union.
It is scary how poorly our kids get fed in the school system and it is well worth it to look into getting a better system up and running, soon.
Though the start of this summer’s program is on par with last year — about 52,000 lunches served in the schools, community and church centers in the first week — officials said a few big camps opened late.
Almost 53 percent of Duval County students now qualify for free or reduced lunches based on their family’s income. That’s a 5 percent increase from 2009, according to The Times-Union.
Last year, there were no sites in Nassau County, but this summer three schools are open for free lunches. Clay County doubled its sites this year from three to six, reflecting a jump in the number of eligible students. All students should e able to have the opportunity to have a healthy lunch and be able to learn easier in the classrooms.
Elizabeth Binninger, director of food and nutrition services in St. Johns County, said the number of participating sites hasn’t increased, but there was a 5 percent rise in families who needed help during the school year, according to The Times-Union.

Teaching more to students

During Pam Baggett's teaching career, she taught something some kids weren't learning at home: which family relationships were normal and which weren't.

While teaching child development, parenting skills and family dynamics, Baggett would sometimes hear stories of students' physical and sexual abuse. Obligated by law to report those stories to guidance counselors and police, Baggett found the process heartbreaking but in the end, it saved students lives.

Here at the Broach Schools, we do just this. Our goal is teach our students more than the ABCs and 123s. Times have gotten a lot harder in the past few years and teaching students things, like what to expect from life, gives them that much more of an advantage.

We want our students to be prepared not only for college but life after they leave our schools walls.

Teachers makie a difference

Newsweek has ranked Camden County High School among the nation's best for encouraging students to take challenging, advanced-placement college-level courses and tests. But what really makes a school one of the nation's best schools, public or private?

There are many things to consider including, the students, school facility, sports and the teachers. The Broach School is proud of everything in this category, but most importantly our teachers.

There are a number of different teachers out there from ones who do enough to just get by or ones who don't put themselves out there and participate in school events, but then there are also teachers who make their students their lives. That is what we strive for here at The Broach Schools. We have teachers who strive for success and care for students both inside and outside the classroom.

Teachers are what make a school top notch. Everything factors in and adds to the equation, but without our great teachers, The Broach School would just be another Jacksonville private school.

Private schools have less students for a reason

As the Legislature debates a proposal that could expand access to a scholarship program for private school vouchers, the voucher program for a budget facing a shortfall of as much as $3 billion isn't often discussed.

People are wondering why private schools have less students, and it's because that is what parents are paying for in the long run. In all honesty, most children going to public schools don't have the financial stability or help to go to a private school and there for have no choice but to learn in larger groups.

It's also because private school enrollment has been falling for almost five years now, according to reports from the Florida Department of Education. A portion of the blame is going toward the nose-diving economy, but is that where it should be going?

A number of private schools are deciding to become charter schools, which receive public funding but aren't bound by all of the rules followed by most public schools. This might change the school system drastically. Only time will tell.

If you are interested in sending your students to The Broach Schools, please don't let the cost keep you from making the right decision for your student. The Broach Schools offer a variety of scholarship opportunities, including but not limited to McKay and Step Up for Students.

Call our main office today at (904) 637-0300 for more information about our schools and these scholarship opportunities.