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School Committee Meeting Strong Science Showing
by Heather Kelley June 10, 2010 — Four Hopkinton students presented synopses of their State Science Fair projects at tonight’s School Committee meeting. John Hinkel explained his project of writing a computer program that helps to control an electric wheelchair. Through a headset that he also created, the program controls the wheelchair’s joystick by picking up head movements, allowing the chair to be used without the use of hands. Jessica DiFazio detailed her search for alternatives to corn in the production of ethanol. Instead of using prime farmland to grow crops for fuel, she said, she investigated the use of grasses, which can be grown in poor soil. And Daniel Lukason and Chris Jarvis shared how they created bacteria that can break down herbicides.
Hinkel, Lukason, and
Jarvis also participated in the invitational International Science and
Engineering Fair in Clelland Johnson, the Treasurer for the Hopkinton Education Foundation, presented the results of this year’s grants applications (full coverage by HopNews on June 2) to the School Committee. Both Johnson and Superintendent John Phelan expressed their appreciation of the strengthening relationship that has been growing between the HEF and the School Administration. School Committee Member Troy Mick shared his appreciation of the special care HEF took this year to award grants for projects that were aligned with the Year 1 Initiatives of the School District’s strategic plan. Phelan also noted with gratitude that the grants gave Hopkinton students access to programs and opportunities that otherwise, he said, “would have been impossible to provide” through the general operating budget of the school system. Director of Finance Geoff MacDonald announced that the schools have applied for grants available through the town’s new status as 1 of 35 “Green Communities” in Massachusetts. In conjunction with the Town, said MacDonald, the School Administration has requested $22,100 to partially “fund the school’s portion of the energy efficiency project at Hopkins.” In addition, the Administration is seeking $14,000 for software that allows remote control the 800 PCs throughout the system. MacDonald projects that the savings from the ability to remotely turn off these computers could add up to $25,000 yearly. Phelan presented an update on the District’s Strategic Plan. One major highlight is the new Critical Language program in Mandarin Chinese and Chinese Culture. A grant-funded teacher will be coming to Hopkinton to teach these classes, and in addition, 5 students from China have been accepted as tuition-paying students at the High School next year. The students will all be on F-1 visas, and the School System has already banked the $58,000 in tuition payments. Phelan expressed his hope that this cultural exchange program will eventually be large enough to fund the elementary foreign language program that is a part of the Strategic Plan. MORE... High School Principal Alyson Geary presented her school’s School Improvement Plan. She summarized the new graduation requirements starting with the class of 2014, including higher benchmarks in science and technology as well as foreign languages, and also detailed the growing availability of online courses. For next year’s goals, she listed at the top the launching of the Critical Language program. In addition, Geary wants to increase the participation rate in extracurricular activities from 84% to 90% of all students. For the one-to-one computing program, she said, “the goal is the 9th grade having laptops next fall.” Parent, student, and community education about the one-to-one computing program, its benefits and responsibilities, will be forthcoming, she said. Valerie von Rosenvinge, High School drama teacher, presented her plans to take Drama students on a field trip to Scotland in August of 2011. Twenty-one families, von Rosenvinge said, have already committed to having their students take part in the trip that will cost $5700 per student; all funds will be raised and/or paid for by the families and students themselves. Hopkinton High School is one of only 40 or 50 schools that have been chosen to take part in the drama festival, held in Edinburgh, she said. von Rosenvinge noted that next year’s slated drama production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, to include students as young as elementary-aged, will help with the fundraising. |
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