Students Share Rewarding Robotics Experience
Students from the Wood Oaks VEX Robotics program presented to the Board of Education during its regular meeting on March 16. They brought their competition robots to share, as well as a Design Award from the state tournament and their team notebook with engineering plans. The students talked about their various experiences in Robo Rovers II and how rewarding it can be to strategize, work as a team, and persevere through the many challenges of fine-tuning a competition robot. Robo Rovers II is part of the Wood Oaks STEAM electives program.
Report on March 6 Institute Day
Dr. Katharine Olson, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, provided the Board with a report on the District’s Institute Day held on March 6. The day was broken down into three two-hour sessions based on staff needs and the District’s strategic plan initiatives. Staff engaged in a diversity, equity and inclusion session, as well as sessions focused on curriculum analysis and refinement, technology work, and communications strategies. Instructional assistants continued their year-long professional development sessions with the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative.
“As always, we say ‘thank you’ to our parent community as well as our Board of Education for this day of professional learning,” Dr. Olson said.
Board Approves Transportation Contract Extension
The Board of Education approved a two-year contract extension with the district’s bus transportation provider, North Shore Transit, Inc., through fiscal year 2024-2025.
The total cost for fiscal year 2023-2024 represents an 18% increase as compared to the current year expenses. This increase is reflective of the current state of the national transportation industry (i.e. driver and mechanic shortages, increased costs of vehicles and supplies, etc). The contract then calls for a 10% increase for the second year of the contract.
“We cannot express enough the level of excellence in service provided by the North Shore Transit management team and drivers,” said Dr. Kimberly Rio, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. “They have a deep understanding of our transportation needs and neighborhoods.”