To: Superintendent Crawford Lewis



Fernbank Science Center Blue Ribbon Task Force

This final report contains strong recommendations. The two dozen people who sat down to this job almost exactly a year ago share many of Fernbank’s admirable characteristics. They are thorough, committed, bright and questioning. Yet the job of defining the future of this wonderful place was complex. We did not succeed in creating a blueprint for its future. It frustrated many of us. We found:

 

1) The Science Center critically needs attention, oversight and support from school administrators and the

public.

2)  We struggle to find basic documents about the Science Center’s finances, lease agreements and

teaching arrangements.  The methods of record keeping and the records themselves seem opaque.

3)   The talent and dedication of the faculty is dimmed by conflicting missions and leadership.

We support several ideas better to align the Science Center with your goal of improving science education throughout Premier DeKalb County Schools.  The immediate changes to polish the gem that is Fernbank include:

• A dramatic increase in the number of students offered the premiere class, Scientific Tools and Techniques, for school year 2006-2007, to demonstrate commitment to greater access and revamping middle school science teaching.

• Use technology in sharing terrific teaching through the system

• Require mastery of science before promoting students

The Subcommittee working on programming and instruction finds many nagging problems at Fernbank Science Center consistent with lack of funding, conflicting missions and oversight.  Maintenance, the future of the forest, bus schedules, and poor follow-through from classroom teachers figure in the problems we found. But perhaps most discouraging was our difficulty clarifying and evaluating what Fernbank Science Center actually does, and who its target populations are. (See page 14 of attached report.)

The remaining three subcommittees struggled with similar issues. They did not choose to create reports.

We have great admiration for the staff and faculty at Fernbank, and offer particular thanks to Ann Johnson for her friendly diligence in recording, transcribing and making sense of long meetings. She was careful and successful in her work. Your staff made our job easier. Thank you for meeting with us twice, and sending us so many highly placed administration leaders to help us.

Sincerely,

Sally Sears, Chair

Executive Committee

Blue Ribbon Future of Fernbank Committee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

• Overview letter to Superintendent Crawford Lewis

 

• History of Committee and procedure

 

• Subcommittee members, assignments and addresses

 

• Final Report, Subcommittee One

 

• Notes from Subcommittee Two

 

• Serious Issues from Subcommittee Three

 

• Subcommittee Four: from Committee minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I. HISTORY

Members of the Study Group were appointed by the DeKalb County School Board, school administrators and Fernbank Science Center Director Mac Sudduth. The first meeting was April 27, 2005.

The charge to the group was first made by Superintendent Crawford Lewis in a memorandum to the Board of Education January 21, 2005. He asked then assistant Superintendent Abbe Boring to convene this committee with Director Mac Sudduth to “…review Fernbank’s programs, services and facilities along with the needs of all the stakeholders in our community…”.  Later, the Superintendent met with the Task Force. As recorded by the minutes and several members present, here is what the Superintendent asked the group to do:

“study the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM Science Program, including Fernbank Science Center’s programs, activities and facilities, with the goal of making recommendations to improve science education throughout the entire school system, P-12, over the next 10 years.

 Early meetings, in April, June and July, 2005 were led by Director Mac Sudduth, who encouraged conversation by staff members about the work of the Science Center. In August, 2005, a small number of committee members assembled and divided their task into four sub-committees. Sally Sears was also chosen to be the chairman of the executive committee, subject to a vote by the full committee at the September meeting. 

 

II. PROCEDURE

The subcommittees and their leadership are:

• Instruction and Programming, led by Fannie Tartt and Page Olsen

• Buildings and Facilities, chaired by Bruce McDonald and Tim Carssow

• Institutional Advancement, chaired by Sandra Spruill and Laraine Tomassi

• Access and Outreach, led by Sharon Riviere and Gustavia Evans

The chairmanships were subsequently unanimously endorsed at the September meeting, as was the selection of Ms. Sears as executive committee chair.

The subcommittee chairs agreed at the September meeting to establish their own regular meetings, and report to the whole committee at monthly intervals. During the fall and winter, 2005-2006, the groups met in various parts of the county, including at Arabia Mountain with Superintendent Crawford Lewis and at another meeting of the committee chairs at Arabia Mountain with DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones. Several members of the Board of Education, and several members of the DeKalb County Commission joined various meetings.

In February Subcommittee One began firming its recommendations. Several meetings for writing and analysis followed, and their conclusions are attached.

Subcommittee Two met in the fall several times. They report being hampered in their work by budgeting complexities at the county level. Ultimately they agreed the School Board and the Administration need to resolve questions about the relationship between the Science Center and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Some early minutes are attached.

Subcommittee Three’s chairwomen held several meetings.  They chose not to plan any further meetings because of serious problems which they identified as legal issues. Their conclusions are attached.

Subcommittee Four met regularly in late summer and fall. They found an urgent need to expand the Science Center’s offerings to many more students, and have extensive plans for how to alert parents and school administrators of the programs at the Science Center. As of Monday, April 17, 2006, at close of business, Subcommittee Four has no report in writing. In lieu of a written report, some minutes from Task Force fall meetings are attached.

 

Subcommittee 1. Programming & Instruction Chairs: Dr. Fannie Tartt, Page Olson.

  Members: Ralph Buice

Ralph Cordell

                        Rachel Fiore

                        Joyce Gamble

                        Doug Hrabe

Marlene MacLeish

Pat Marsteller

Aneli Nugteren

Ken Townsel

Larry Wilson 

Subcommittee 2. Facilities & Equipment, or Building & Land, or Money, Budget:  What do we have, what do we need? Chairs:  Bruce MacGregor, Tim Carssow.

Members: Ralph Cordell

            David Dundee

                        Nikki Hayes

                        Debbie Schneider

                        Larry Wilson 

Subcommittee 3. Institutional Advancement: How do we expand the programs and reach more students? What grants are out there? What are in the pipeline? Self-study?   Chairs: Laraine Tomassi, Sandy Spruill

Members:     Jenice Brinkley

Joyce Gamble

                        Marlene MacLeish

                        Pat Marsteller

                        Susan Neugent

                        Mac Platt

                        Philippi Snow

 

Subcommittee 4.   Access and Outreach: How do we make sure that everyone knows about the opportunities Fernbank offers? Chairs: Gustavia Evans, Sharon Riviere.  

Members: Brandi Berry

                        Jenice Brinkley

                        Rev. Willie Heard

                        Aneli Nugteren

                        Philippi Snow

 

Members and leaders self-chosen & approved Sept. 28, 2005

 

Members of the Committee

Chair: William Mac Sudduth

Director, Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Park Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

678-874-7119

mail to:mac.sudduth@fernbank.edu ]mac.sudduth@fernbank.edu

 District 1- Chip Franzoni

Ms. Page Olson

1148 Redfield Ridge

Dunwoody GA  30338

770-395-6025

Cell: 404-909-9857

mail to:gardengirlpage@ ]gardengirlpage@

 District 2-Lynn Cherry Grant

R. Bruce MacGregor

432 Burlington Road

Atlanta, GA 30307

404-378-6040 (home)

404-308-1322

Home email: brucemac@

 District 3-Sarah Copelin Wood

Brenda G. Lundy

3349 Lawrence Street

Scottdale, GA  30079

(404) 292-5915

District 4-Bebe Joyner

Ms. Laraine Tomassi

 2109 Black Box Drive

Atlanta, GA 30345

404-325-5441

mail to:bltnk@ ]bltnk@.

 District 5-Frances Edwards

Ms. Jenice Brinkley

4315 Riverview Lane

Lithonia, GA  30038

Home:  770-981-4584

Cell:  404-597-9178

jeniceb@

 District 6-Simone Manning Moon

Ms. Sharon Riviere

6877 Stone Breeze Drive

Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Home:  770-482-1413

Cell:  678-643-8699

mailto:rivshr@

Also CB Miller, 

770-484-4900

 District 7-Zepora W. Roberts

Dr. Fannie Tartt

3917 Evans Mill Road

Lithonia, GA  30038

770-482-4508

mail to:tartt.fan@

District 8- Cassandra M. Anderson

District 9 –Elizabeth Andrews

Sandra Hill Spruill

Grants Administrator

Georgia Public Broadcasting

260 14th Street NW

Atlanta, GA  30318-5360

Home Mailing Address:

3964 Preston Court, NE

Atlanta, GA  30319-1676

sspruill@ or mailto:sandyspruill@

Home:  404-255-2328

Office:  404-685-2582

Fax:  404-685-2599

Cell: 404-964-4696

 

At Large Members:

Dr. Ralph L. Cordell

Director, Office of Science Education

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MS K-29

4770 Buford Highway Atlanta, GA 30341

mail to:rzc4@ ]rzc4@

770-488-6109

Fax 770-488-6191

 

Gustavia Evans

CEISMC

760 Spring Street

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA 30332-0282

404-894-3342

Fax: 404-894-9675

mail to:gustavia.evans@ceismc.gatech.edu

  Mrs. Nikki S. Hayes

Public Health Advisor

CDC

7203 Glenn Cove Lane

Stone Mountain, GA 30087

770-488-4879 (work)

mail to:nhh1@

  Reverend Willie Heard

4333 Abram Lane

Conley, GA 30288

404-243-0409

Commissioner Larry L. Johnson

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Manuel Maloof Administration Building

1300 Commerce Drive

Decatur, GA 30030

Office:  404-371-2425

Fax:  404-687-3595

mail to:mabritto@co.dekalb.ga.us

  Dr. Marlene Y. MacLeish

National Space Biomedical Research Institute Morehouse School of Medicine

720 Westview Drive S.W.

Atlanta, GA 30310-1496

404-756-5706

Fax 404-752-1043

mail to:macleim@msm.edu

  Sally Sears

WSB Television

1420 Harvard Road, NE

Atlanta, GA 30306-2415

Office:  404-897-7814

Home:  404-378-0818

Cell:  404-213-0127

mail to:willsb@

  J. McDowell (Mac) Platt

929 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30307-1225

Home:  404-373-1169

Cell:  404-307-6694

mail to:bopworld@

Pat Marsteller, Ph.D.

Director, Emory College Center for Science Education Director, Hughes Science Initiative

1399 Oxford Road

Atlanta, GA  30322

404-727-9696

Fax:  404-727-9702

mail to:pmars@learnlink.emory.edu

  Fernbank Science Center

Dr. Larry Wilson

Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

mail to:larry.wilson@fernbank.edu

  Philippi Snow

Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Park Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

678-874-7134

mail to:Philipi.snow@fernbank.edu

 Alternate-

Joyce Gamble

Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Park Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

678-874-7126

mail to:joyce.gamble@fernbank.edu

 Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium

Mr. David Dundee

Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Park Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

678-874-7128

mail to:david.dundee@fernbank.edu

 Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Ms. Susan Neugent

President and CEO

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

767 Clifton Road

Atlanta, GA 30307

404-929-6310

susan.neugent@fernbank.edu

  Mr. Tim Carssow

Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

Suite 2800

1100 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, GA  30308-4530

Office:  404-815-6610

Fax:  404-541-3147

tcarssow@

Ms. Aneli Nugteren-alternate

Chief Operating Officer

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

767 Clifton Road, NE

Atlanta, GA  30307

404-929-6358

mail to:Aneli.nugteren@fernbank.edu

 Committee Staff

Dr. Ralph Buice

Fernbank Science Center

 156 Heaton Park Drive, NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

678-874-7126

mail to:ralph.buice@fernbank.edu

  Ann Johnson

Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Park Drive, NE

Atlanta, GA 30307

678-874-7104

mail to:ann.johnson@fernbank.edu

 also noted:

Middle School Science Coordinator Ken Townsel

cell: 770-639-3940,  office: 678-676-0136

email: Kenneth_A_Townsel@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us

 

 

 

 

Blue Ribbon Committee on Fernbank Science Center

and P-12 Science Curriculum

 

Programming and Instruction Team

Working Recommendation

March 19, 2006

Dr. Lewis’ Charge to the Committee

Superintendent Crawford Lewis’ plan for a premier DeKalb County School System calls for leadership, data analysis, accountability, customer service, access/equity and training as the keys to achieving the goals of a premier school system. The achievement gap between Caucasian and Asian students and Hispanic and African American students in CRCT scores and other indicators is the most serious challenge.

Dr. Lewis’ overall charge to the committee studying Fernbank Science Center’s future was to study the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM Science Program, including Fernbank Science Center’s programs, activities and facilities, with the goal of making recommendations to improve science education throughout the entire school system, P-12, over the next 10 years.

Dr. Lewis further charged the committee to identify or determine:

• What DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM does well and should continue or expand

• What DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM could improve, particularly through better utilization of expertise at Fernbank Science Center

• Best practices DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM ought to be doing

• The role Fernbank Science Center shall play in helping to make DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM a Premier System

Executive Summary and Primary Recommendations

1.   DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM will increase science achievement for all P-12 students by:

• Enhancing teacher quality

• Raising expectations for all stakeholders

• Demonstrating progress in closing achievement gaps

The Committee recommends ensuring that all students are exposed to challenging courses in science steeped in the excitement of inquiry.

2.  To increase student achievement, changes are needed in:

• Science teacher preparation

• Professional development

• P-12 science courses and curricula

Extra support should be provided for students who need it to reach the higher expectations.

3.  To change practices and policies to increase student achievement, the following are needed:

 • Better teaching quality

• Appropriate resources, materials and curriculum units for all schools

• More rigorous science courses that are successfully completed by P-12 students

• Easily available extra assistance for students who do not meet  science standards

4. There are several key challenges and issues with respect to Science Education.  The most important

of these is the achievement gap in standardized testing scores between Caucasian and Asian students,

and Hispanic and African American students. A summary of this situation follows.

The county’s public school enrollment is 77% African American, 7% Hispanic, 10% Caucasian, 3% Asian American and 2% multiracial or other. Even in the first grade, only 19% of Hispanic students and 32% of African American students exceed the standards compared to 72% of Caucasians. In third grade science 25% of African American students and 42 % of Hispanic students do not meet standards while only 6% of Caucasian students do not meet CRCT (Criterion Referenced Competency Tests, a Georgia test).   The students’ performances worsen the longer they are in the school system.    By 7th grade 34% of African American, 47% of Hispanics and 11% of Caucasian students do not meet science standards.  End of course tests in biology and physical sciences and first time pass rates on the GHSGT (Georgia High School Graduation Test) show even more severe performance differences. Closer study of disaggregated data suggests that part of these differences may be due to socioeconomic factors and, for some, limited English proficiency.  

The pace of change in knowledge and our growing understanding of how people learn demand that those entering the science teaching professions constantly renew their skills in content and pedagogy. The National Science Board (NSB, 1999) called for national standards for quality materials and instruction for mathematics and science. Students who regularly attend museums and science centers are vastly more prepared for mathematics and science understanding.  The NSB report suggests that real-world inter-disciplinary problems must serve as the foundation for challenging courses that prepare students for life and for a college education.

The National Research Council’s Committee on Science and Mathematics Teacher Preparation 2001 report calls for new kinds of partnerships to achieve the vision of improving teacher education and the teaching profession. True partnerships are required, where teachers and scientists work together to create significant changes in the modes of instruction, recruitment and lifelong education for the teaching profession.  For students to succeed and be well-prepared for careers in science and science teaching, colleges and universities must partner with administrators, teachers and school districts to align science content P-12 and to share responsibility for creating a continuum of teacher professional development from teacher preparation, induction and continued renewal. The report recognizes the benefits and the challenges to forming successful long-term partnerships between scientists and classroom teachers. Fortunately, for DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM students there currently exists a strong relationship between the Fernbank scientists and science educators and many of the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM classroom teachers.

5. Fernbank Science Center is essential to making DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM a premier

school system.  It provides opportunities that cannot be duplicated in the schools, some of which

include the planetarium, electron microscopes, the Scientific Tools and Techniques Program (STT),

access to a large old-growth forest, students’ exhibits, community partnerships, Family Life Room,

and offerings at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. 

6. Fernbank Science Center also provides exceptional leadership in teaching and designing curricula for

science courses.

 

The Primary Mission of Fernbank Science Center

To achieve the greatest impact, the Blue Ribbon Committee believes that the primary mission of Fernbank Science Center should be to:

Assist DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM educators in raising student achievement as measured by the Criterion Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), End of Course Tests (EOCT) and the Georgia High School Graduation Test.  In addition, Fernbank Science Center teachers should demonstrate excellence in the programs and the outreach services and by teaching students and teachers through exceptionally well-developed and content-rich “hands-on” classes.

The revised mission to consider:  These thoughts are based on the discussion Wednesday

Fernbank Science Center will cultivate, through current ideas, methods, and technologies, an understanding and wonder of science, first to the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM students and teachers, and then to the extended community.  Fernbank Science Center will assist DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM educators in raising student achievement, as measured in national and state tests, by demonstrating excellence in the programs and outreach services through teaching exceptionally well-developed, content-rich “hands-on” classes.

{I have tried to incorporate all of the thoughts from yesterday.  If we cannot agree to a stated mission then my suggestion is that we recommend that the County create a new mission incorporating each of these thoughts into it.  I’ll just list each one separately and then follow, as already written, the existing mission for reference.}

As a matter of reference the current mission statement of Fernbank Science Center is as follows:

“The mission of Fernbank Science Center, a unique science resource of the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM and our extended community, is to cultivate an understanding of science and foster a sense of wonder about the natural world by creating a learning environment that incorporates current ideas, methods and technologies.”

Issues Currently Facing DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

• Perception and/or reality that some schools do not receive an equitable distribution of resources or their fair share of science support.

• Lack of emphasis on science by schools, with a preferential focus on reading, math, etc.

• Schools are not adequately funded for science instruction. Schools often lack key science instruction resources.

• Science is not taught daily in all elementary schools: in some schools, science rotates with Social

Studies, to the detriment of both subjects.

• The quality of science education varies depending on the teacher and his/her skills and ability to

secure resources.

• Many teachers, particularly at the elementary level, lack concentrated, specialized education in

science.

• Most middle school science programs do not adequately prepare most students to qualify for the

premier Scientific Tools and Techniques program.

• The science curriculum varies considerably from school to school.  This presents a challenge for the many students who move from one school to another mid-term and from one year to the next.

(Another task force has noted that most student movement in DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL

SYSTEM occurs between schools, rather than from outside to inside DeKalb county).

• Some elementary schools lack a dedicated location for science instruction.

• Schools can benefit from more outreach programs.

transportation problems limit access to Fernbank Science Center.

• A lack of enough Advanced Placement science courses stifles high-level inquiry.

• DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM should improve its utilization of existing higher education and non-profit resources for science education.

• Classroom technology still lags behind other comparable school systems 

• Vertical teaming is not embraced county-wide

• Language barriers continue to have profound effects on science comprehension and test performance

The Blue Ribbon Committee’s Vision for DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

Rapid, accelerating advances in science and the increasing demands of our knowledge-based society demand that all students know and understand science deeply to be able to make decisions and excel in the 21st Century workplace.  A scientifically prepared workforce is a critical goal for DeKalb County. To engage, challenge and prepare this diverse workforce, DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM must ensure that:

• All students have access to educational opportunities

• Special efforts are made to identify performance gaps

• Remedies such as extra assistance, tutoring, etc. are provided

 

We believe that the most important advantage points for changing practices and policies to increase student achievement are:

• Improving teaching quality (Darling-Hammond, 1997)

• Providing resources, materials and curriculum units for all schools

• Increasing the number of challenging science courses P-12 students successfully complete ()

• Providing extra assistance for all students who are not meeting standards

 

To achieve these goals, we recommend the following:

 

1. The District must raise expectations and achievement in science in P- 12 schools, while closing achievement gaps among demographic groups by requiring demonstrated mastery of science concepts before passing into higher grades. This should accompany traditional steps for testing for English and Math, at grades 3, 5, and 8.

2. The system will provide science remediation for all students who are not meeting standards, as well as summer school programs and other effective teaching methods for students who do not meet or exceed science standards in grades 3, 5 and 8.  

3. Every teacher should be fully aware of the Georgia Performance Standards and should use them to develop lessons for students.

4. The District shall seek every avenue to raise the awareness of students, parents, and the community of the need for all P-12 students to complete challenging courses and curricula in science.

5. The District and each principal shall make sure there are challenging science curricula and materials for all students in each school. Each elementary, middle and high school should be adequately equipped to teach the recommended science.

6. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM administrators will hold principals and teachers accountable for improvement in science education by including science test scores and instruction in each school’s Improvement Plan.

7. Principals and teachers not using Fernbank Science Center’s expertise should document their reasons for non-utilization to County administrators.

8. Elementary school science shall be taught every day through inquiry and hands-on experiences. Science can also be taught through reading about science.  Quantitative skills and mathematics classes use science applications.

9. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM should research and evaluate how science should best be taught in the elementary grades. Schools clearly need help deciding whether departmentalization, lab specialists or other methods of elementary science teaching provide a better vehicle for science instruction than current site-based decisions.  

10. Middle school science teachers shall be certified to teach the science that they are charged with.  Every middle school science teacher has taken classes in the content and in content-based pedagogy.

11. We encourage the county to require half of all eighth grade teachers, with their administrators’ support, to prepare their students for admission into STT.  This would be roughly 3,500 students who are fully prepared for studies at the science center if chosen.

12. Encourage parental involvement in middle school for students seeking admission to Scientific Tools and Techniques, giving parents options on how to be involved.

 

13. All high schools should offer a full complement of Honors and AP science courses and all college preparatory track students should take at least three.  Every school has AP certified teachers.

14. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM should offer summer and academic-year enrichment experiences for high-achieving students, as well as extra assistance for all students who need Advanced Placement programs in Science.

15. Long–term substitute teachers shall also be certified to teach the science that they are charged with teaching.

16. Lab classes are limited to 24 students per lab.

17.  Periodic documented visits to schools should be made to observe science instruction made by various levels of the administration.

18. Over the next 10 years, the District shall study alternative approaches such as learning circles, academies and lesson study that ameliorate the effects of large schools and shall find alternatives to overcrowding in many schools.

19. The District shall provide high-quality mentoring and professional development for in-service teachers through content update courses, research experiences, National Board certification and advanced placement preparation. Individual professional development plans will enable all teachers to continually renew content and pedagogy. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM will provide paid professional development over and above the current standard for science teachers.  

20. Staff development should be designed to support content and Georgia Performance Standard experiences and incentives should be structured to encourage increased participation.

21. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM shall build partnerships with colleges and university faculty to research effective practices in science instruction, prepare teachers and provide professional development opportunities.  College partners should work closely with teachers, administrators and guidance counselors to ensure that all students are aware of and prepared for the high expectations of college level work.

 

 

 

Goals and Strategies for DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

The following goals and strategies are directed to increasing student achievement in Science in Grades P-12 while closing achievement gaps among demographic groups.

Goal 1: STUDENTS:  Require demonstrated mastery of science concepts before promotion. This should accompany traditional steps for testing in English and Math in grades 3, 5 and 8. 

1.  The District and each principal shall ensure that there are challenging science curricula and materials for all students. Each elementary, middle and high school should be adequately equipped to teach the recommended science. The district should ensure that there is equitable distribution of funds for materials, supplies and equipment. The Division of Instruction should prepare and budget for a standard list of equipment for each grade level or subject and a standard minimum budget for each science class for supplies to teach adequately.

 2.  The DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM website should contain exceptional materials and units for each science course, created by teachers and reviewed by pedagogy experts with multiple choices of units for each major concept so teachers can adopt materials to their students and classrooms. These presentations should be interactive and aligned with the Georgia Performance Objectives.

 3. The DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM website should contain information for each science program offered at Fernbank Science Center in a central area so that  parents and teachers can easily find these resources.

 4. Kits, activities, vignettes, mini DVD/CD’s should be developed and available for checkout correlated to objectives on all required tests in science (CRCT; EOCT; GHSGT).

5.  The District and Principals shall implement vertical teams in the elementary, middle, and high school levels with partnered colleges and universities to align content and pedagogy, goals and objectives for courses. A goal of 90% passing rate for students in the science portion of the GHSGT and End of Course Tests in science is what we shall be working towards. 

6.  In fact, by refocusing on P-12 through vertical teaming, science test scores should improve at every level.

7.  The District and each Principal shall provide opportunities for teachers to develop curricula that focus on investigative modules, problem-based learning (PBL) and other inquiry based strategies to strengthen research and process skills.

8.  The District shall raise student achievement by providing summer and academic year enrichment experiences for high-achieving students and remediation opportunities for students deemed at risk in science.

9.  The District should seek every avenue to raise the awareness of students, parents, and the community of the need for all P-12 students to complete challenging courses and curricula in science.

 10.  Parent centers shall be equipped with science books and experiments that parents can have access to when needed.  Parent centers can have Saturday enrichment activities in science.

 

11.  Put a system in place that ensures that every DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM student has the opportunity to experience the FERNBANK SCIENCE CENTER planetarium, the Challenger Learning Center and the human development series at least once during his or her education process.

12.  Study the entire transportation system and consider revamping the three-tier system to restore the number of trips to Fernbank Science Center and Fernbank Museum of Natural History.   Let instruction drive transportation and not transportation drive instruction.

13.  Consider adding dedicated buses for Fernbank Science Center and Fernbank Museum of Natural History along with other activity buses.

 

Goal 2: PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS: Increase and sustain the number, quality, and diversity of teachers teaching science.

 The district shall:

 1. Define highly qualified teachers as those who acquire mastery in content and pedagogy.

 2. Provide high quality professional development to current teachers who teach science, tailored to individual needs, for in-service teachers through content update courses, research experiences, and National Board certification. 

 3. Support beginning and veteran science teachers with strong mentoring and demonstrations of confidence and competence.

 4. Establish an on-going mentoring program in the county that pairs veteran teachers with new teachers so that proven instructional methods can be shared.

 5. Provide leadership development opportunities for in-service teachers through collaborative teaching of content and pedagogy courses.

 6.  Develop a comprehensive induction and mentoring program for newly hired teachers and for teachers who transfer to DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

 7.  Provide time during the school day for teachers to work together on curriculum development and integration. 

 8. Develop an alternative certification program if teacher supply continues to be a challenge or if there is a high teacher turnover. Consider duplicating the model already in use to increase the number of reading specialists in DeKalb County.

 9. Provide incentives for teacher assignment to, and retention in, failing schools to ensure access to highly qualified and experienced science teachers by students who need them most.

10. Pay teachers to attend professional development to update science content and create new curriculum materials. Middle School teachers shall be expected to attend every year and elementary teachers every other year.

 11.  Develop a leadership academy that assists teachers to attain National Board Certification.

 12.  Provide incentives for Advanced Placement Certification and professional development.

 

Goal 3: PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS:  Increase the responsiveness of higher education and other educational resources to the needs of P-12 schools by:

1. Building partnerships with college and university faculty in teacher preparation and professional development.

2. Developing relationships with P-12 schools to engage in research on effective practices in science.

 

Fernbank Commendations

Fernbank Science Center is a critical part of building DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM into a premier school system. Since its inception it has had a positive influence on thousands of DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM students and teachers.  Fernbank Science Center aligns all of its student programs to national guidelines and the Georgia Performance Standards and all P-12 programs are age and performance appropriate. 

Listed below are just a few of the commendations to its credit.  Fernbank Science Center:

• Is a unique science resource for DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM with a staff of over 30 science instructors at the Master’s or PhD level with specific expertise in over a dozen areas of science.

• Has used its experience and expertise to offer a 9th grade science course, Scientific Tools and Techniques (STT), since the 1981-82 school year. Evaluations have shown that STT students excel over control students by 4-20% (depending upon the sub-group) in science GPA and number of science courses taken in DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM Schools.

• Fernbank Science Center has specialized science resources for instruction, including:

• Access to a premier 65-acre old growth forest leased from the Fernbank Museum of Natural History

• A 500-seat planetarium with a Zeiss projector

• A Family Life Center with models and video capabilities

• An observatory with a 36-inch reflecting telescope

• Laboratories for microbiology, meteorology, chemistry, physics, geology and ecology

• An electron microscope

• An Aerospace Education Laboratory

• A butterfly garden

• An exhibit area with an Apollo capsule

• Dioramas depicting animals and habitat

• A wetlands exhibit

• ♣  A composting exhibit

• ♣  Partnered with NASA and Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio to offer a hands-on science experience for students in Grades K-12 called Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA). SEMAA students study science, technology, engineering and mathematics on Saturday mornings (and weekdays during the summer) while their parents attend a “Family Café” with sessions designed to help them help their children be more successful in school.  Fernbank Science Center developed the K-12 summer SEMAA curriculum for NASA and the other SEMAA sites around the country.  Thousands of DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM students and parents have benefited from this program.

 Fernbank Science Center offers:

• Single visit programs to the Center for programs taught by Fernbank Science Center Instructors.

• Programs at the Jim Cherry Planetarium, Stone Mountain, Davidson-Arabia Mountain, and Hidden Acres Park enrich the instruction at DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM Schools. 

• Outreach programs at DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM schools using expertise and materials relocated to the instructional site to supplement science instruction in the school.

• Advanced Placement courses, Advanced Studies (formerly titled Independent Study) programs, teacher development courses and special education programs for special needs students.

• Age-appropriate and curriculum-matched Human Development Sexuality courses for students in grades 5, 6, 7, and 9-12, both at Fernbank Science Center and as outreach programs in the schools. These include a program dedicated to STD Prevention and, for middle and high school students, a newly developed course on HIV/AIDS.

• A Vocational Horticulture program, taught by Fernbank specialists, for special needs students who are offered instruction and engagement in activities that prepare them for employment, self-sufficiency, and the ability to be productive citizens.

Fernbank Science Center’s instructional staff:

• Create curricula for, conduct, and modify as appropriate, all of the above.

• Work with elementary school staff to prepare Essential Questions, Enduring Understandings, and Critical Experiences for each standard/element at the elementary level. These will serve as a great resource for all elementary science teachers.

 

• Provide support (coaching, assisting students, parents and teachers, running practice events, judging events) for competitive science events and other activities that strongly motivate students.  Examples are Science Fairs, Science Olympiad, Academic Bowl, and science research projects.

 

• Writes, edits, and publishes original publications distributed to all elementary schools quarterly.  Primarily for U.S., Just for U.S., and Ready for U.S. provide information and activities that complement the curriculum.  These newsletters supplement classroom instruction in DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM elementary schools.

DESPITE THIS IMPRESSIVE LIST, DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM SCIENCE EDUCATION DOES NOT HAVE THE EMPHASIS, PRIORITY, AND LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE IN OUR CURRICULUM THAT IT NEEDS AND DESERVES.

Issues facing the Fernbank Science Center

Fernbank Science Center is to be commended for its exceptional programming for P-12 students and for the alignment of its program content with National and Georgia State standards. Fernbank Science Center faces increasing demand for its services, including the STT program, single-visit and outreach programs, elementary and middle school science classes. 

Despite this, Fernbank Science Center has received significant cuts in budget and staff in recent years.  Deferred maintenance and expanded missions present challenges that must be resolved if Fernbank Science Center is to optimally contribute to its mission in making  DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM a premier school system, in science education as well as across the board.

Some causes for concern are:

• DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM has many new and enthusiastic administrators who may not fully understand the scope and content of Fernbank Science Center programs. Better communication may be needed to make them aware of all offerings pertinent to their needs.

• The perception and/or reality that some schools do not receive their fair share of resources or science support from Fernbank Science Center. (See Goal 2 (b).)

• The limited number of students that can realistically be served by Fernbank Science Center without significant expansion of staff and facilities.

• The need for expansion of Outreach programs to schools, of student programs, and of teacher support by Fernbank Science Center.

• The exploration and re-evaluation of the future of the Challenger Learning Center is required.  

• If Fernbank Science Center is expanded to accommodate more classes and house the Challenger Learning Center careful study about physical placement will be needed.

 

Current resources of the Fernbank Science Center may not align with its recommended mission.

We also have the following concerns:

• The duplication of programs and services by Fernbank Science Center and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, and the effect on partnerships with other institutions, require study.

• The partnership between Fernbank Science Center and Fernbank Museum of Natural History should be reviewed, clarified and re-established.

In summary, we recommend that Fernbank undergo an evaluation of all programs and their impact on science attainment.

A Vision for Fernbank Science Center

In line with the overall goal of helping DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM become a premier school system by helping increase science achievement for all P-12 students and teachers, we see Fernbank Science Center continuing to serve as a resource through an emphasis on student and teacher programming.

DeKalb taxpayers and community leaders expect Fernbank Science Center to continue exposing all students to challenging courses in science. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM needs to provide adequate money and leadership for Fernbank Science Center to continue its mission.

Therefore, the Blue Ribbon Task Force studying Fernbank Science Center has several recommendations to improve the functioning of  Fernbank Science Center within DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.  This committee sees that the most critical need  is 1) to clarify and evaluate what Fernbank Science Center does, and  2) clarify its target populations.  Aligning the instructional work at Fernbank Science Center with the needs of the county involves some very specific goals.

In the broadest sense, Fernbank Science Center can assist by 1) increasing the number of P-12 students that benefit from Fernbank Science Center programs, 2) assisting in the development of resources, materials and instructional units for all schools (3) improving teaching quality. 

At the core of our recommendations lies the belief that Fernbank Science Center should immediately begin work to prepare an internal strategic 10-year plan that identifies and prioritizes the programs and services that should grow and expand.  The plan should identify the resources (staff, facilities, equipment, and space) that will be needed to accomplish planned growth and expansion. 

The planning document should include an analysis of the current distribution of services to teachers, students and the general public, as well as how current fiscal and human resources are utilized. It should also identify where current resources could be re-distributed to priority programs in the short term. The plan should also set priorities with respect to teaching students, teaching teachers, teaching parents, and general public aspects of programming.

The DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM should seek an outside evaluation of the entire science center. Comparing the outside study with the internal plan and the task force recommendation enough information should be available for the County to proceed with its 10-year plan.

 

The primary focus at Fernbank Science Center is to teach DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM students and teachers and help provide opportunities for quality science instruction to every DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM student. The teachers at the center will continue to provide leadership and model the rigor, excitement and high standards that are needed for science instruction through summer and academic-year single-visit and outreach programs for students and their teachers, more professional development classes, and onsite feedback.

To these ends, we envision the future mission of Fernbank Science Center in these ways. 

1.  Fernbank staff should work with DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM elementary science coordinator(s) and the elementary science team to research and disseminate best instructional practices for science instruction in the elementary grades.

2. Fernbank Science Center, in addition to student instruction, also will provide facilities and resources for science teacher professional development.

3. Fernbank Science Center will host science content classes and workshops on instructional practices for teachers. 

4. Fernbank Science Center and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History constitute a partnership that should communicate, support and collaborate.  The historic partnership with Fernbank, Inc. and DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM  should be expanded so that all DeKalb students and teachers can take advantage of the extensive science-based exhibition, large format film and laboratory facilities available at the Museum of Natural History.

5. Fernbank Science Center, with District supervision and guidance (Department of Research and Evaluation), will conduct a self-study to document the impact of its current programs on students and teachers.

6. Through an expanded partnership with Fernbank, Inc. the Fernbank Forest will continue to be one of the foremost sites for teaching the ecology, biological and environmental sciences to DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM students and teachers.

7. Create a “Fernbank Fellows Association” composed of DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM teachers and administrators, working with Fernbank Science Center staff to meet on a regular basis for discussions concerning science instruction and to brainstorm ideas that will improve science experiences in the classroom.

8.  Fernbank Science Center should form a School Council for Fernbank Science Center: * See appendix

9. Fernbank Science Center should revisit the mission statement and should ensure that the goals are aligned with those set by any revision to the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM mission.

 

Goals and Strategies for Fernbank Science Center

Goal 1: SCHOOLS:  Ensure that all schools fully utilize the opportunities available to them from Fernbank Science Center.

Strategies:

1. Provide information to each administrator, parent, teacher and principal about the programs available from Fernbank Science Center and ensure equitable access.

2. Working with DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, evaluate plans for transporting students to Fernbank Science Center.  Let instruction drive transportation, rather than allowing transportation to drive instruction.  This strategy has three parts:

a. Consider revamping the three-tiered bus system to restore the number of trips to Fernbank

Science Center.

b. Consider adding dedicated buses for Fernbank Science Center trips along with other activity

buses.

3. Increase the number of students utilizing the resources at the Fernbank Science Center.

4. At the very least all students should have the opportunity to experience the planetarium, the Challenger Learning Center, the forest and the Human Development programs at least once during their education.

 

Goal 2: OUTREACH:  Increase the number of outreach visits to the schools from staff at the FERNBANK SCIENCE CENTER.

 Strategies:

 1. Continue to develop and expand onsite demonstration lessons with students as the teacher observes and participates.  This should include a pre-conference and post-conference which can be documented.

 2. Establish an equitable method of ensuring that each student in DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM has certain identified experiences at Fernbank Science Center.

 

Goal 3: ELEMENTS:  Ensure that all schools have the resources, technology, materials and curriculum units for teaching and learning science.

 

Strategies:

1. Fernbank Science Center should assist in the preparation of a standard list of equipment for each grade level or subject.

 2. Fernbank Science Center should assist in developing instructional materials for each science class aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards.

3. Fernbank Science Center should provide summer and academic-year enrichment experiences for high-achieving students, as well as remediation opportunities for students deemed at risk in science.

 

Goal 4:  STRUCTURE:  Establish a school council.

Strategy:

1. Establish a school council for Fernbank Science Center to function with the Director, parents, teachers and business representatives meeting monthly in public, and reporting to the Superintendent of DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Goal 5:  PROGRAMS:  Develop collaborative relationships with other institutions that result in new student programs, used by more students.

Strategies:

1. Create and strengthen partnerships with institutions that can assist Fernbank Science Center in its mission.  Examples:

a.       Fernbank Museum of Natural History

b.      Georgia Aquarium

c.       Zoo Atlanta

d.      Lockheed Martin

e.       Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

f.        NASA

g.       Agnes Scott College

h.       Emory University

i.         Georgia Tech

j.        Morehouse School of Medicine

 2. Expand the already-superior programs that bring students to Fernbank Science Center for classes and experiences that cannot be implemented in the local classrooms.

 3. With appropriate resources, quadruple the enrollment of  STT students. Additionally, ensure that all middle schools are equitably represented in the program. There is no single greater measure of Fernbank Science Center’s success than this 9th-grade class.  Roughly 2% of our 7,000 ninth graders are enrolled in STT.  If we quadruple the number we will still only be servicing 9.7% of the ninth grade students.

 

Additional thoughts:

Scientific Tools and Techniques

Motivated students taught in small groups by highly qualified faculty make dramatic advances in their knowledge of science. And they keep that edge through secondary school and in the rest of their lives. In an evaluation of the program in 1993, researchers from Georgia State University and Fernbank Science Center found that the half-day, one-semester program lifted high school grade point averages for STT alumni by 7% . For African American male students, the gap was higher: 19% versus a control group.

STT graduates take advanced science courses in significantly higher numbers than their classmates who did not take STT. Graduates are three times as likely to be employed full-time in science or a science-related field as students who did not take STT.

In the current school year (2005-2006), the STT program serves a varied slice of motivated students from across the county: The current class is 67% female, 59% African American, 25% Caucasian, 12% Asian and 2% Hispanic. With the current offering of only 180 seats for the 7,000 ninth graders this program is too valuable to be so limited.

Parental Involvement

Achieving the goal of raising DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM student achievement in science will require a significant increase in the quality of scientific education at all levels including in K-8th grade.  We recommend that parents be required to commit to joining their students in active inquiry. Success through parental commitment is demonstrated at DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM theme and charter schools.  Parents should be offered several options to demonstrate their support during middle school. SEMAA, offered by NASA through Fernbank Science Center on Saturday mornings and during the summer, demonstrates how achievement levels rise when parents join students and teachers in inquiry-based education.

 Appendix 1 School Councils

The A+ Education Reform Act of 2000 established school councils in Georgia to "bring communities and schools closer together in a spirit of cooperation to:

• solve difficult education problems,

• improve academic achievement,

• provide support for teachers and administrators, and

• bring parents into the school-based decision-making process."

School councils provide advice, recommendations, and assistance to principals and local boards of education. The law details the composition of the council, its responsibilities, and procedures for conducting business.  The 2004 General Assembly in HB 1190 provided flexibility in membership, chairmanship, meetings, elections and trainings for school councils. The changes also provided clarity that school councils are to focus on student achievement and school improvement.

• School councils are composed of a minimum of seven council members:

• The principal

• At least two certificated teachers elected by the teachers

• At least two parents (or guardians) elected by the parents

• Two businesspersons

• Other members as specified in the council's bylaws

 Council Members serve a term of two years, or for a term specified in the council's bylaws.

Appendix 2. Items pulled from the Programming and Instruction Recommendation and assigned to another team

• Better financial information should be available in order to evaluate how Fernbank Science Center and DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM allocate and distribute resources.  Financial statements prepared and audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards improve the quality of financial information available.  The State of Georgia requires charitable organizations that have net operating income exceeding $200,000 to prepare audited financial statements.  Greater transparency in terms of financial information leads to greater accountability.  

• Fernbank Forest will provide security on all days and hours it is open.

• Find funds for planetarium repairs and improvements.  Put on separate sheet, give to Finance and Building Team

• Challenger Learning Center should be fully staffed and usable

 

Building and Equipment

• Capital funds may be available; however, operating expenses/revenues have not been identified.

• Fernbank Forest needs money to maintain bridges and paths, to provide security and to remove invasive non-native species of plants. The lease between the Museum and the DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM expires in 2012.

• Resources are needed to repair planetarium.

Institutional Advancement

• Brand confusion exists related to the “Fernbank” name.

• Fundraising for a governmental; rather than for a 501©(3), presents issues for some donors.

 

 

 

 

 

SUBCOMMITTEE NUMBER TWO

NOTES FROM OCTOBER 3, 2005 MEETING OF FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT COMMITTEE

 

Following are some notes from the meeting of the Facilities and Equipment Committee on October 3, 2005, which we felt might be of interest to the rest of the Commission:

1. During the school year, the observatory and planetarium are open to the general public on Thursday and Friday evenings, and at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.  During the summer, they are open Monday through Friday.

The forest and the exhibit halls are open to the general public 2:00-5:00 p.m. on school days, and on weekends and school holidays.

Admission to the exhibits, forest, and observatory is free.  Admission to the planetarium is $4 for adults and $3 for students.  Annual admission to the planetarium is around 130,000, with around 85,000 of this total being DeKalb County students and 10,000 non-DeKalb County students.

2. Budgeting for the Science Center is fragmented.  The budget that covers salaries and benefits for Science Center personnel and some related items is approximately $5 million annually.  Most of the costs of maintaining and operating the Science Center are funded from the general Board of Education budget.  These are not broken out by different facilities.  Mac Sudduth estimates, based upon his experience at other institutions, that the total annual cost of operating the Science Center is approximately $8 million.

3. There is a preliminary capital budget for needed renovations for the existing facilities totaling around $7.6 million.  About half of these costs relate to improvements to the planetarium.  A copy of this was distributed to the commission at an earlier meeting.

4. The current facility (excluding the temporary space) has about 45,000 square feet, of which 8,500 is exhibit space.

5. In 2002, the architect for the school board prepared preliminary plans for expansion of the Science Center.  The proposed three-story expansion contained approximately 115,000 square feet, and extended westward from the current building.  The expansion would add approximately 36 new classrooms and approximately 10,000 square feet of exhibit space (for temporary and permanent exhibits).

6. The Science Center obtained the Challenger Center (space exploration) from Scitrek when it closed.  The exhibit is currently in storage.

7. The forest is used as a teaching tool, including the forest platforms, which have been repaired.  Hunteman pond, recently dredged, was originally the water source for the owner’s house.  Much of the upkeep for the forest and pond is funded by the Science Center staff selling their services as consultants.

 

Preliminary Report of Facilities and Equipment Subcommittee

Friday, October 11, 2005

 

The Facilities and Equipment Subcommittee has met and obtained data concerning the current use of the Fernbank Science Center facilities, and as well as information concerning past planning efforts for expanding the facilities.  We have also received limited budget information concerning the operation of the facilities, but have been hampered in this regard as much of the budgeting is done at the County level and not at a facilities level.

Our committee is waiting for the reports of the other committees before proceeding to formulate recommendations regarding the facilities as we believe that needs must be assessed and established before planning for renovation of the current facilities or expansion thereof.

Assessment of the needs of the Science Center by necessity requires addressing the appropriate focus of the Science Center.  Among the questions to be resolved by the Blue Ribbon Commission and the School Board are :

1)   whether the Fernbank Science Center primarily serves to teach students or teach teachers.

2)   whether the Fernbank Science Center remains a one of a kind facility, or one of several regional facilities.

3)   whether the Fernbank Science Center becomes the parent facility of a system of science centers.

4)   The role of Fernbank in developing and administering the science curriculum of the school system.

5)  the extent to which the Fernbank Science Center is to operate as a museum catering to the general public.

 

Subcommittee 3 / Institutional Advancement: Final Report  

 More than 8 months ago, the Institutional Advancement Subcommittee identified two serious issues that must be satisfactorily resolved before it makes sense to proceed with planning in any area, including institutional advancement. These serious issues, which were identified and brought to the attention of the entire taskforce concern:

 (1) the lease for Fernbank Forest, which expires in 2012, and

 (2) the deed to the property upon which Fernbank Science Center is located. (From the Warranty Deed, August 16, 1966, between Fernbank, Inc. selling four acres of land (Land Lot 244) to DeKalb Board of Education: "This Deed is executed upon the condition that in the event the above described property is not used for a science center or cultural center, the above described property shall revert to the Grantor herein, its successors or assigns in as full and complete a manner as if this deed had never been executed." )

 

We (Subcommittee 3 / Institutional Advancement) believe that these issues are the ones upon which everything else must be predicated.

To date, to our knowledge, these issues have not been addressed in any manner. We do not believe it is possible to move forward on institutional advancement without some reasonable legal assurance that Fernbank Science Center will remain in place. We have been unable to obtain this from Premier DeKalb County School System.

Further, there seems to be a lack of protocol for the handling of the Fernbank Science Center legal documents within the Premier DeKalb County School System. As a result there seems to be an across-the-board lack of knowledge about whether or not Fernbank Science Center and Fernbank, Inc. / Fernbank Museum of Natural History are each meeting the terms and conditions of the lease agreement satisfactorily. There also is a lack of agreement between Fernbank, Inc. and Premier DeKalb County School System about the division of roles and responsibilities between Fernbank Science Center and Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Additionally, it has not been possible to obtain clear and complete budget information covering the past several fiscal years, from either the Fernbank Science Center administration or the Premier DeKalb County School System Finance Department. We have also requested a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools self-study and/or evaluation for Fernbank Science Center and have been told that there is not one. All of this information would be required prior to approaching anyone for funding, in-kind support, or partnerships. We believe it should be in hand prior to any discussion of institutional advancement.

As a corollary point, it is notable that valuable time has been wasted and tasks were made impossible to complete due to the strange lack of transparency by Premier DeKalb County School System with members of an official task force created by the DCSS superintendent. Many taskforce members were appointed by DeKalb School Board members, as well. This lack of transparency should be addressed and corrected by the superintendent for future taskforces.

As parents who would like to see the Fernbank Science Center educational opportunity expanded, we also are distressed at the determined and continuing lack of vision in instructional planning by the instructional subcommittee of this taskforce. This kind of vision and innovation, instead of the business-as-usual approach, is required to carry Fernbank Science Center into the 21st century and to the forefront of science instruction. Demonstrating innovation and using technology to the fullest – which will leverage Fernbank Science Center’s outstanding faculty and enable reaching more students – are also necessary when seeking funding, in-kind support, or partnerships.

Therefore, we do not believe it is appropriate to spend time discussing and planning for institutional advancement for Fernbank Science Center until these issues are resolved. Certainly, it would not be possible or ethical to seek financial or in-kind support, or partnerships, for Fernbank Science Center when:

• its existence is tenuous

• its continuing connection with Fernbank Forest is not assured

• its financial information is incomplete

• there is no independent evaluation of Fernbank Science Center’s current operational, financial and

instructional practices

• there is a lack of vision and innovation at administrative levels in delivering the services of Fernbank Science Center

• and there is a lack of agreement about Fernbank Science Center’s role vis-à-vis Fernbank Museum of

Natural History.

Once these issues have been resolved, we will be willing to proceed with planning for institutional advancement for Fernbank Science Center.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra Hill Spruill; Co-chair

Laraine Tomassi; Co-chair

Subcommittee 3 / Institutional Advancement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-Committee 4:  Awareness and Outreach – Final Report

July 28, 2006

 Over the past year, the members of Subcommittee 4 have investigated the issues of awareness of and access to the many services offered by the Fernbank Science Center (FSC).  At the September 28, 2005 Taskforce meeting (see attached minutes), Subcommittee 4 was specifically charged to:

• Determine ways to make sure that everyone knew about, and used the resources at the FSC.

• Establish a goal for the use of the Center in ten years, and identify steps to achieve that goal.

• Analyze current patterns of use at FSC (Which schools use it now? Which teachers use it

most?).

• Determine which teachers and schools need more involvement with FSC.

• Develop strategies to increase the involvement of teachers and schools that have little or no access to the many services offered by FSC.

• Develop tactics to generate maximum parental and community use of and support for the FSC.

 

Subcommittee Actions:

• In October of 2005, conducted a preliminary informal survey of communities, by zip code, to gather information about awareness of and access to FSC services. (See attached survey and results).

• Reported and discussed survey findings at the November 16, 2005 Taskforce Meeting.  Requested additional/related data from the FSC and DCSS.  Received data from the FSC.

• Toured the Arabia Mountain site in December of 2005, to evaluate its potential as a possible satellite location.

• In January of 2006, met with Dr. Lewis and made a preliminary report of findings and recommendations (see attached).  Also requested additional data from DCSS.

• In April of 2006, met with Dr. Lewis, and other DCSS administrators, and Taskforce members in a wrap-up session to present findings and recommendations.

• In May of 2006, received and reviewed data provided by DCSS.

• Developed final report in July 2006.

 

Subcommittee Findings:

• Analysis of survey data gathered by the Committee, as well as data provided by FSC and DCSS, supports the contention that inequities do exist related to awareness of and access to the services offered by the FSC.  Furthermore, our analysis reveals longstanding patterns of underutilization of the services offered by the FSC by teachers and schools in South DeKalb County.

• Observations made during walk throughs of high interest classes, such as meteorology and seismology, at the FSC revealed a limited capacity to effectively deliver such instruction to larger groups of students at this site.  We also noted that the offerings that are available appear to target middle and high school students, with little or no emphasis on science at the elementary level. 

• FSC exhibits rarely change, and few are interactive.

• Better methods of communicating/disseminating information to teachers and schools about events and services that are available at FSC are needed to ensure that all DCSS teachers and students have opportunities to participate in all events.

 

Subcommittee Recommendations:

• Create a system that provides more comprehensive guidelines for participation in   events/classes with limited capacity, as well as general forums.  Such a system must have the ability to monitor patterns of participation and “red flag” indications of inequitable access.

• Create satellite locations at strategically accessible sites, such as Arabia Mountain and/or unused store properties, to maximize student access to the types of services offered by the FSC.  Establishing such satellite centers would concomitantly minimize the transportation conflicts that currently limit field trips to the present Center, positively impact the environment, and increase community awareness.

• Develop a communication network to facilitate the effective dissemination of information about FSC news and events.  Such a network must have at its head a designated staff member, and assistant, at the FSC.  From this nexus, each school and satellite location must also have a science teacher designated to receive and disseminate information received from the FSC in a timely fashion, ensuring proper accountability within the schools.  It is imperative that such a network be continuously monitored to ensure that all schools, teachers, students, and parents have access to information about all happenings at the FSC.  Efforts should be made to utilize resources currently available to DCSS when appropriate.  These may include the telephone broadcast system, district and school web sites, school marquees, staff e-mails, and Television One daily broadcast (science segment

• Increase efforts to utilize the facilities and exhibits available at the Fernbank Museum to augment/complement offerings by the FSC.

• Update and vary programs to stimulate interest and excitement so they better supplement the lesson plans and help kids and teachers learn something new on each visit, which should have carryover value beyond the actual visit to the FSC.

• Create closer ties between the FSC, the satellite sites, and each of the schools by encouraging the schools to set up a “Cool School Case” that features or links to activities at the FSC as well as the Fernbank Museum. 

  

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