Association of Alaska School Boards

E-NEWS

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A weekly digest of education news for Alaska's School Board Members.

Association of Alaska School Boards, 1111 West 9^th St., Juneau, AK 99801. Tel.

907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995. Carl Rose, Executive Director,

crose@aasb.org: John Greely, Editor, jgreely@aasb.org. Review past issues of

the E-News on the AASB Website at <http://www.aasb.org>. To unsubscribe send an email stating the same to jgreely@aasb.org.

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Sponsored by Alaska Public Entity Insurance Co. <http://www.akpei.com>

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AASB E-News

February 8, 2007

--STATE SEEKS SPONSORS FOR SUMMER FOOD PROGRAMS

--NENANA BOARDING SCHOOL IN JEOPARDY OF CLOSING

--KENNEDY VOWS TO SOFTEN NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND DEADLINES

--PAYDAY AT UA

--BILL CLINTON, F.W. DEKLERK TO ADDRESS NSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

STATE SEEKS SPONSORS FOR SUMMER FOOD PROGRAMS

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Child Nutrition Services is looking for community sponsors to run summer food programs to prevent children in low-income areas from going hungry when school lunchrooms close for the summer.
For many of these children, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program could fill the summer hunger gap if enough sponsors are signed up to run the food program. Last year sponsors served an average of 1,408 low-income Alaska children each day and served a total of 105,890 free meals or snacks through the Alaska Summer Food Service Program. These numbers can be increased significantly with more meal sites in unserved areas of the state.

Child Nutrition Services is asking school districts, parks and recreation departments, non-profit organizations, tribal organizations, and churches to consider operating a Summer Food Service Program for children and youth.  

The Summer Food Service Program is targeted to children up to age 18 living in low-income areas. The program operates in schools, public housing centers, playgrounds, camps, parks, churches, and even rural town cafes. Sponsors can be public or nonprofit private schools or school districts, public or private nonprofit organizations, day or residential summer camps, local government agencies or tribal organizations.  

Federal payments are based on the number of meals served by a sponsor and are paid to the sponsor after paperwork is submitted to the state agency. All sponsors receive training and technical assistance from Alaska Child Nutrition Services prior to starting their Summer Food Service Program and throughout the duration of their program.  

To sponsor the program this summer, organizations must contact the Child Nutrition Services SFSP specialist at (907) 465-4788. Applications and sponsor information will be sent to potential sponsors upon inquiry.  

The Summer Food Service Program is available to children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

More information: Project Assistant Ann-Marie Martin, 465-4788; or Information Officer Eric Fry, 465-2851.

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NENANA BOARDING SCHOOL IN JEOPARDY OF CLOSING

Once again, the fate of Nenana’s boarding school is in jeopardy, and city and school leaders are turning to the state Legislature to bolster the operation’s floundering finances. Without immediate help from the Legislature in the realm of an additional $500,000 a year, officials say, the boarding facility will have to close. See full story here:

http://newsminer.com/2007/02/08/5053/

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KENNEDY VOWS TO SOFTEN NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND DEADLINES

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., promised hundreds of school board members last week that he’d attempt to soften the federal No Child Left Behind Act’s deadlines and discipline while providing a new surge of money and encouragement. See full story here:

http://www.thetranscript.com/localnews/ci_5118388

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PAYDAY AT UA

Gov. Sarah Palin may be the top executive of Alaska, but here salary is nothing compared to what some University of Alaska employees earn. Figures obtain through a state Public Records Act request show 79 administrators and professors earned more than Palin’s $125,000 salary in 2006. See full story here:

http://www.uaf.edu/sunstar/archives/20070206/payday.htm

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BILL CLINTON, F.W. DEKLERK TO ADDRESS NSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Former President Bill Clinton will deliver a keynote address to more than 10,000 school board members and education leaders at the National School Boards Association’s Annual Conference in San Francisco, April 14-17. The conference is the largest gathering of public officials in the nation and showcases world and national leaders who offer inspiration and insight to school leaders.

President Clinton will be joined in making keynote remarks by Erin Gruwell and Maria Reyes, a teacher and student who worked together to over obstacles to publish Freedom Writers; F.W. deKlerk, the former South African President who fought to dismantle apartheid; and Jamie Lee Curtis, the actress who has written several critically acclaimed children’s books.

Whether you are new to the Conference or a veteran attendee, 2007 promises fresh perspectives with practical, applicable sessions and workshops. Not to mention the opportunity to network and share solutions with colleagues from school districts across the nation.

Here’s what’s waiting for you in San Francisco:

http://www.nsba.org/conference/

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Association of Alaska School Boards

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Association of Alaska School Boards

1111 West 9^th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1510 Tel. 907-586-1083

Fax 907-586-2995 Email: aasb@aasb.org

Website: http://www.aasb.org