Idaho Student Places Third at National Geographic Bee

An Idaho student won 3rd place at the National Geographic Bee, competing against millions of students nationwide to win a $10,000 scholarship.

Karthik Mouli is a 12-year-old 6th grader at Hillside Junior High School in Boise. He represented Idaho at the 2009 National Geographic Bee. According to the National Geographic Bee website, Mouli likes to dissect computer hardware discs and see how electronic components work. He hopes to use geography in the future to track bird migrations and eclipses.

Each year, thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge.

Moulie made it to the top 10 finalists round along with students from Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Aadith Moorthy, 13, of Florida won the National Geographic Bee, which includes a $25,000 college scholarship, free trip to the Gálapagos Islands and lifetime membership to the National Geographic Society.

Oliver Lucier, 13, of Rhode Island, took second place and won a $15,000 college scholarship, and Moulie came in third and won a $10,000 scholarship.

Listen to Boise State Radio's interview with Karthik Mouli.

~ Melissa M.

Join us for the College Access Summit this July

You’re invited to attend the Idaho College Access Summit on July 7-8 at Boise State University.

The Idaho State Department of Education and Idaho State Board of Education are teaming up to offer this free summit in an effort to improve the number of Idaho students who go on and complete post-secondary education.  The College Access Summit will be offered through the GEAR UP Idaho and the Idaho College Access Challenge Grant programs.

The Summit will focus on professional development, networking, sharing of best practices and working together towards common goals as we strive to best serve the students of Idaho. Educators, policy makers, and members of the local business and non-profit communities are encouraged to attend.

• Educators: You can earn in-service credit while helping to shape the futures of students!
• Policy makers: This is the perfect venue to collaborate to ensure we have the most solid approach to education in Idaho!
• Private business, industry, non-profit organizations: Here’s a way strengthen our local economy through the betterment of our future workforce!

Increased collaboration between all stakeholders will result in the best, most sustainable approach to the future of education policy and practice in Idaho. Idaho is a great place to live, work and learn, but we can do more! Come participate in this first annual College Access Summit and help improve post-secondary completion in Idaho.

Learn more about the College Access Summit. Space is limited, so register soon!

~ Melissa M.

Board Appoints Interim President of LCSC

The Idaho State Board of Education today appointed Dr. Tony Fernandez Interim President of Lewis-Clark State College - calling him the right man at the right time.

“We have the upmost confidence in Tony,” said Board President Richard Westerberg. “He has an impeccable record in his position as VP/Provost and we fully expect that to continue as interim president.”

The Board made the announcement naming Fernandez after a teleconference meeting that resulted in a unanimous vote. Under the agreement with the Board, Fernandez will earn $162,654 annually. The Board also set forward general parameters for a search for the permanent replacement for Dr. Dene K. Thomas, whose resignation becomes effective June 30, 2010. Thomas has accepted the position of President of Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

“A search will go forward, run, managed and staff by the State Board of Education. This will allow us to minimize costs but still help us accomplish the necessary transparency and due diligence we must and want to exercise in hiring a president of a public institution of higher education,” said Westerberg. “Mr. Fernandez is our interim president and, should he desire, he will be considered for the permanent position.”

The appointment is of undetermined length as the Board has strongly indicated they will take whatever time necessary to ensure the best person is identified, interviewed and properly vetted.

“Searches are expensive, especially when a national search firm is involved,” said Board Secretary Don Soltman. “We will run this search as efficiently as possible while saving the cost of firm, which in this case could run as high as 60 thousand dollars.” 

Soltman will chair the search committee which is charged with delivering a list of five finalists to the Board. The Board will determine how many of the five will be interviewed and brought in for campus visits. No time frame nor deadline for hiring a permanent president has been established at this time. Parties interested in serving on the search committee should contact Mark Browning, Chief Communications & Legislative Officer for the Idaho State Board of Education via email: mark.browning@osbe.idaho.gov or phone by dialing 208.332.1591.

The Board will meet in Idaho Falls on the campus of Eastern Idaho Technical College, June 16-17, 2010.

Learn more about the Idaho State Board of Education online or via Twitter @IdSBOE.

~ Melissa M.

Taft Elementary Unveils Outdoor Learning Center

The students, staff, parents, and community at W.H. Taft Elementary School in Boise celebrated the opening of the W. H. Taft Outdoor Learning Center and Community Garden today.

In Spring 2009, W. H. Taft students, staff, and parents embarked on a partnership with the Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS) to transform a quadrant of the playground into a school-based garden and outdoor learning center.  This center will be an outside classroom for hands-on learning that embraces the state curriculum standards and offers opportunities for students to intimately explore the connection between food and health.  The garden will provide fresh organic food to the Taft school community and promote connections to the natural world that will foster both personal responsibility and stewardship.

Three years ago, Taft had two raised-bed plots and a small composting area, both of which were started and maintained by the after school Eco-Club. Beginning in the fall of 2009, with strong support and involvement by the BUGS consultants, Taft began the process of developing a permanent garden site and garden design. The school obtained private donations to cover the costs of irrigation and fencing, solicited volunteers to build twenty-four 4X4 square foot boxes, fenced the 7,000 plus square foot area, appointed a community advisory board, and provided students and teachers with classroom-based lessons.  The classroom-based lessons included topics such as compost and soil, beneficial insects, pest management, seeds and plants, and companion planting. 

Community participation has been the key to bringing this garden and learning center to life. Community partners include: Franz Witte, Action for Healthy Kids of the Ada County Health Department, Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation, Eagle Scouts, Sunrise Rotary Club, and Noel Weber of Classic Signs.

Taft Elementary was also one of 78 Idaho schools to be awarded with a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant from the Idaho State Department of Education this week.  Taft Elementary has had a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in place for at least a year.

~ Melissa M.

Idaho Teacher Honored at Milken Awards Ceremony

Aaron McKinnon, a teacher at South Junior High School in Boise, was in Santa Monica, California, where he was honored as Idaho’s Milken Educator of the Year at what Teacher Magazine has hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher Magazine.  McKinnon received a $25,000 award.

Every year, the Milken Family Foundation hosts the Milken Educators of the Year at the Milken Educator Forum, one of America’s premier education events, inviting top teachers to celebrate with education reform leaders.

First presented in 1987, the Milken Educator Awards represent the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program in the U.S., having bestowed more than 2,400 outstanding educators with $60 million in unrestricted cash awards.

Here’s a photo of Aaron McKinnon receiving his award with Milken Family Foundation Co-Founders Lowell and Michael Milken:

~ Melissa M. 

Department Awards 78 Schools with Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grants

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna announced today that 78 Idaho elementary schools have received Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants to fund healthy and nutritious snacks throughout the school day.

“The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is a great way for Idaho schools to promote healthy eating habits among students by providing nutritious snacks throughout the day, instead of just during breakfast and lunch,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is part of an initiative by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to offer schools a wider variety of fresh produce than would be available through normal USDA programs, such as the National School Lunch Program.  The goal is to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and making a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future health.

The 78 Idaho schools awarded grants this year will use the funding to provide students with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options.  Schools receive reimbursement for providing the fresh fruits and vegetables to students throughout the school day, but the fresh fruits and vegetables must be provided at a different time than the school lunch or breakfast programs.

Through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, many schools offer mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks to students.  The healthy snacks are delivered to the classroom, passed out in the cafeteria or distributed in hallways.  Students may be given the opportunity to try exotic fruits and vegetables such as kiwi, jicama, rambutan and dragon fruit.  Students may also get to try fruits and vegetables that they may recognize, but in a different form.  For example, many children have not eaten fresh peaches or fresh green beans. Teachers often use these opportunities to incorporate lessons about healthy eating, geography and writing about their experiences into the curriculum.

Schools were awarded the grants through a competitive application process.  The grant funding for these schools will begin July 1, 2010 and last until June 30, 2011.  See below for a complete list of schools that received grants.

Learn more about Child Nutrition Programs at the Idaho State Department of Education.

The following is a list of schools that were awarded the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program grant:

The Intermediate School 4-5    American Falls S.D.       $10,893.40      
Hillcrest Elementary School    American Falls S.D.       $21,987.60      
Woodside Elementary School     Blaine Co. S.D.     $18,624.20      
Whittier Elementary School    Boise S. D.       $18,724.60      
Whitney Elementary School    Boise S. D.       $21,736.60      
William Howard Taft Elementary School    Boise S. D.       $18,825.00      
Jefferson Elementary School    Boise S. D.       $15,612.20      
Koelsch Elementary School    Boise S. D.       $17,570.00      
Morley Nelson Elementary School    Boise S. D.       $26,455.40      
Bridgewater Elementary School    Bonneville Jt. S.D.       $23,443.40      
Cloverdale Elementary School    Bonneville Jt. S.D.       $28,965.40      
Valley View Elementary School    Boundary County S.D.       $24,045.80      
Mount Hall Elementary School    Boundary County S.D.       $4,919.60      
Bruneau Elementary School    Bruneau-Grand View Jt SD     $3,162.60      
Grand View Elementary School    Bruneau-Grand View Jt SD     $7,981.80      
Sacajawea Elementary School    Caldwell S.D.       $25,300.80      
Van Buren Elementary School    Caldwell S.D.       $31,174.20      
Washington Elementary School    Caldwell S.D.       $28,513.60      
Lincoln Elementary School    Caldwell S.D.       $20,933.40      
Cambridge Elementary School    Cambridge S.D.    $3,313.20      
Almo Elementary School    Cassia County Jt. S.D.       $451.80      
Mountain View Elementary School    Cassia County Jt. S.D.       $25,351.00      
Dworshak Elementary School    Cassia County Jt. S.D.       $30,069.80      
Raft River Elementary School    Cassia County Jt. S.D.       $10,893.40      
Albion Elementary School    Cassia County Jt. S.D.       $1,455.80      
Borah Elementary School    Coeur D'Alene S.D.       $18,674.40      
Bryan Elementary School    Coeur D'Alene S.D.       $20,682.40      
Coeur D'Alene Tribal School    Coeur D'Alene Tribal School     $4,016.00      
Council Elementary School    Council S.D.     $5,622.40      
Butte View Elementary School    Emmett S.D.       $27,108.00      
A W Johnson Elementary School    Firth S.D.       $14,859.20      
Glenns Ferry Elementary School    Glenns Ferry S.D.       $10,090.20      
Gooding Elementary School    Gooding Joint S.D.     $30,170.20      
Hagerman Elementary School    Hagerman S.D.       $10,291.00      
Dora Erickson Elementary School    Idaho Falls S.D.       $23,493.60      
A H Bush Elementary School    Idaho Falls S.D.       $24,146.20      
Hawthorne Elementary School    Idaho Falls S.D.       $18,674.40      
Roberts Elementary School    Jefferson Jt. S.D.       $8,132.40      
Harwood Elementary School    Jefferson Jt. S.D.       $19,778.80      
Horizon Elementary School    Jerome S.D.       $34,035.60      
Summit Elementary School    Jerome S.D.       $27,810.80      
Jefferson Elementary School    Jerome S.D.       $26,154.20      
Kamiah Elementary School    Kamiah Jt. S.D.       $10,542.00      
Sunnyside Elementary School    Kellogg Joint S.D.     $12,801.00      
Hope Elementary School    Lake Pend Oreille S.D.    $5,271.00      
Northside Elementary School    Lake Pend Oreille S.D.    $5,873.40      
John Brown Elementary School    Lakeland S.D.       $22,841.00      
Lapwai Elementary School     Lapwai S.D.       $16,867.20      
McGhee Elementary School    Lewiston S.D.    $15,662.40      
Downey Elementary School    Marsh Valley S.D.     $5,170.60      
Marsing Elementary School    Marsing Jt. S.D.       $21,736.60      
Meridian Elementary School    Meridian S.D.    $25,652.20      
Rupert Elementary School    Minidoka County S.D.       $28,212.40      
West Minico M.S.    Minidoka County S.D.       $6,676.60      
West Park Elementary School    Moscow S.D.     $9,889.40      
Central Elementary School    Nampa S.D.       $18,674.40      
Endeavor Elementary School    Nampa S.D.       $26,756.60      
Centennial Elementary School    Nampa S.D.       $26,505.60      
Notus Elementary School    Notus S.D.     $9,889.40      
Timberline Elementary School    Orofino Jt. S.D.       $5,572.20      
Maxine Johnson Elementary School    Parma S.D.       $21,234.60      
Parma M.S. - West Wing    Parma S.D.       $8,333.20      
Westside Elementary School    Payette S.D.       $12,349.20      
Payette Primary School    Payette S.D.       $27,610.00      
Lakeside Elementary School    Plummer-Worley Jt. S.D.       $12,198.60      
Seltice Elementary School    Post Falls S.D.     $18,825.00      
Mullan Trail Elementary School    Post Falls S.D.     $18,724.60      
Riggins Elementary School    Salmon River S.D.     $4,016.00      
Salmon Pioneer Elementary School    Salmon S.D.     $14,608.20      
Shoshone Elementary School    Shoshone S.D.    $15,662.40      
Leadore School    South Lemhi S.D.       $2,610.40      
Harrison Elementary School    Twin Falls S.D.       $25,351.00      
Oregon Trail Elementary School    Twin Falls S.D.       $28,112.00      
Lincoln Elementary School    Twin Falls S.D.       $22,841.00      
Pioneer Elementary School    Weiser S.D.     $24,497.60      
Idaho Hill Elementary School    West Bonner County S.D.     $8,082.20      
Terreton Elementary School    West Jefferson S.D.     $15,612.20      
Holmes Elementary School    Wilder S.D.       $10,592.20   

~ Melissa M.

Idaho Will Not Reapply for Race to the Top Funds

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna announced today that Idaho will not reapply for the second round of the federal Race to the Top grant program. 

“I believe the Race to the Top grant program does provide opportunities for states to be innovative and forward-thinking,” said Superintendent Luna. “However, throughout my administration, I have been consistent in my belief that the victory is not in asking; it is in delivering.  I will not ask Idaho schools and districts to spend their precious time and resources competing for an unrealistic goal that has been set by the federal government, not by the state of Idaho. Therefore, I will continue my work as State Superintendent to implement the vision, mission and goals created by Idahoans to raise student achievement and improve our public education system.”

Race to the Top is a competitive $4.35 billion federal grant that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan created with discretionary dollars he received through the federal stimulus package. Idaho applied for $120 million in grant funding in the first round of Race to the Top. Idaho’s application in the first round was aligned to the state’s strategic plan for education. More than half of Idaho school districts and public charter schools chose to sign up to participate in Race to the Top in the first round.

In April, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced only two states – Delaware and Tennessee – were awarded Race to the Top grants in the first round.

Since the peer reviewers’ comments on Idaho’s first grant were released in April, Superintendent Luna has worked with educational stakeholders and staff at the State Department of Education to evaluate the application and gather feedback from educators, parents, and community members across Idaho. Based on this feedback, it was decided Idaho would not to reapply for Race to the Top in the second round for several reasons.

Specifically, the short application timeline would place an undue burden on Idaho school districts as they work to set budgets during a tough economic year. Second round applications are due June 1. Since the U.S. Department of Education released the new guidance for the second round in April, states and local school districts were only given a matter of weeks to fully evaluate peer reviewers’ comments, meet with stakeholder groups, revise applications and decide whether or not to sign up.

The U.S. Department of Education also imposed funding caps based on the size of each state for the second round. Under these new guidelines, Idaho could only apply for up to $75 million, significantly less than the state’s initial application of $120 million. These funding limitations make it unlikely the state will be able to improve its application while reducing its projected budget.

Idaho also faces challenges in gaining points in the areas of longitudinal data and educator evaluations. The Race to the Top grant program does not recognize the significant progress Idaho has made toward implementing a longitudinal data system over the past two years. While Idaho scored high on our plans for fully implementing the statewide longitudinal data system and learning management system, Idaho earned few points for what the state currently has in place.

In addition, to be competitive under Race to the Top, Idaho must tie at least a portion of teacher and principal evaluations to student academic growth and achievement. While Superintendent Luna is not opposed to this concept, he does not believe this a change Idaho can or should make overnight. This change will require all educational stakeholders working together to come up with a plan that best meets the needs of Idaho students.

To view Idaho's first application for Race to the Top, visit our Race to the Top website. 

~ Melissa M.