MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS
Federal money coming to boost Dade schools
The Miami-Dade School Board said hello to millions in federal funds -- and goodbye to three outgoing board members.
BY KATHLEEN MCGRORY
KMCGRORY@MIAMIHERALD.COM
The Miami-Dade school district will soon be able to receive about $70 million in education funding from the federal government.
On Wednesday, the teachers' union and the School Board promised to carry out the reforms detailed in Florida's winning application for Race to the Top, a national competition for education dollars.
Those reforms could include creating a merit pay program for teachers.
``If done right, this will usher in a new era of education reform,'' Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.
United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz said she signed off ``in recognition of the professionalism of our teachers.''
Aronowitz has said she is willing to consider performance pay programs that take into account more than just student test scores.
Florida was recently named a winner in the second round of the Race to the Top competition. Overall, the Sunshine State stands to receive more than $700 million for school reform.
The money is crucial to the cash-strapped Miami-Dade district.
``The most important thing is that we will not leave [more than] $60 million on the table,'' Carvalho said. ``These dollars will translate into education reform, which will translate into student achievement and increased graduation rates.''
In other business, the board bid farewell to three members: Chairman Solomon Stinson, AgustÃn Barrera and Ana Rivas Logan.
Stinson retired after a 50-year career in the school system. He had served on the board since 1996.
``It certainly is the end of an era,'' board member Renier Diaz de la Portilla said of Stinson's retirement.
Logan worked as a teacher and assistant principal before becoming a board member in 2004. She is stepping down from the post to run for the state House of Representatives.
Barrera, an architect who brought business acumen to the board, decided to return to his private life after serving two terms on the board.
The seats held by Stinson and Logan will be filled in the November election.
Attorney Raquel Regalado was elected to replace Barrera in the Aug. 24 primary.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/14/1872562/federal-money-coming-to-boost.html#ixzz14BpLq0Pj
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