Support Operations Scoop

Keep up with Capital Project Status on the go!

Project Controls has recently added the P.R.I.S.M. Project Status mobile application. The application is designed for mobile phone use and is designed to fit the Blackberry and the IPhone.  Users can view the most recent project status updates for the Districts Capital Project Program. The information comes straight from the the full scale system is date stamped and is broadcast to the users cell phone or mobile device.

Using a mobile phone, users can bookmark the mobile application by going to http://pbcschoolconstruction.com/mobile

The new application has also been added to the District’s new Mobile App Village. Mobile App Village is currently in development but is planned to contain a collection of useful administrative and informative applications for staff and parents, all accessible from mobile devices.

Users may access the Districts Mobile website at http://m.palmbeachschools.org

P.R.I.S.M. stands for Program Reporting Information Systems Manager

Did you know…

During the month of May, our School District has teamed up with South Florida Commuter Services (SFCS), a program of the Florida Department of Transportation, and is asking all of our employees to reduce their use by participating in the 2012 Clean Air Challenge. The Challenge invites commuters to pledge to use an alternative to driving alone during their commute to and from work at least once during the month of May. This could include carpooling, vanpooling, taking the bus or train, biking or even walking.

For doing their part to reduce our impact, commuters that use an alternative will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of four $100 American Express cards. In addition, if our District returns the highest number of pledges, we will receive $1,000 to put towards transportation improvements.

To join the effort, make your pledge at: http://www.1800234ride.com/cleanairchallenge/.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s SchoolPool Program has been working with schools throughout Palm Beach County to develop carpool, biking, and walking programs.

Check out some of the SchoolPool activities happening around the district:

A Walk to School Day event boasting more than 400 student, parent, and teacher participants was held at Berkshire Elementary to promote safely biking and walking to school.

Jerry Thomas Elementary is in the process of developing a designated carpool-only lane to incentivize families to share a ride and to reduce overall traffic congestion.

Schools from Boca Raton to Jupiter participated in the SchoolPool Classroom Challenge, which encouraged families to share a ride through a school competition that incentivized the class with the largest participation with books from Barnes and Noble.

To learn more about how the SchoolPool program can work at your school, please visit www.GoSchoolPool.com or call 1-800-234-RIDE (7433).

Director Dale Fambrough, Pete DiDonato, George Pratt, Carl Boucard, Rawad Rhayem, and Shane Searchwell from  Transportation Services, along with Christina Crespo, the district’s Environmental Sustainability Coordinator, participated in the Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition “Propane Event” held at the Indian River County School District.  The event gave local stakeholders the opportunity to view equipment that runs on propane gas.

The Indian River County School District was the first Florida district to purchase propane buses.  The propane bus is a true “green” vehicle with zero emissions, but only gets 3.6 miles per gallon of propane.  The buses only come in a V10 gasoline Conventional Engine (CE) configuration and must be refilled daily due to the limited range.

George Pratt had a chance to test drive a propane lawn mower during the event.

Boca Raton Middle School – Safe Routes To School Grant

On March 17, 2011 Angela Usher, Manager, Facilities Planning & Coordination, received a Non-Infrastructure grant for $129,200 to keep our students safe as they walk and ride their bicycles to school. This is the second grant Mrs. Usher has received from the Florida Department of Transportation for this purpose.

This grant is being used to assist students at 12 schools in Palm Beach County; 9 Elementary Schools and Boca Raton, Okeeheelee and Roosevelt Middle Schools. The objective is to prepare a comprehensive plan for each school which identifies the obstacles for walking or bicycling to school and solutions for improvements. The program encompasses the five E’s: Engineering, Education Encouragement, Enforcement and Evaluation.

In order to effectively provide Safe Routes to School for all students, the Palm Beach County Safe Routes to School Coalition was formed to implement the grant. Please click on the above link for more detailed information.

Yexsy Schomberg, the Safe Routes to School Project Coordinator, has been working with the 12 schools along with Elly Zanin, Co-Founder of Commit2BFit, an organization that provides a solution for childhood obesity by delivering programs that effect positive and healthy behavioral change in children and their families. It is being implemented in the After School Program. Ms. Zanin is also a Coalition member.

Elly Zanin, left, and next to her, Yexsy Schomberg

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Boca Raton Middle School had their Commit2BFit End of the Program Award Event.  Angela Usher attended and commented: “Yesterday I attended a presentation to the students of Boca Raton Middle School who participated in the Commit 2BFit program.  The students, under Mr. Alexandre’s, After School Director, direction did an exemplary job implementing the program.  There were a few testimonials from the students on how the program has changed their lives, allowing them to lead healthier lives by walking or bicycling to school, drinking more water instead of soda.  Some of students mentioned how they have lost weight and have become more active.  The representatives from Commit2BFit were also there.  The Principal, Peter Slack, and his two Assistant Principals were present to hand out the certificates.  I am particularly thankful to Yexsy Schomberg, who is our Safe Routes to School Project Coordinator under the Safe Routes to Schools grant.  She has done an outstanding job in implementing the Safe Routes to School Program at the schools included in the grant.”

Boca Raton Middle School has taken the lead in our program and was selected to be a model for our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) video production this year. They will produce 2 videos to showcase the program. Afterwards, their After School Program will get to keep a brand new top-of-the-line video camera!

The School Board recognizes the following drivers for outstanding services.

Mr. Gordon Bears is a driver at our Royal Palm Transportation Facility and has been a dedicated safe driver since August 2002.  Mr. Bears has previously competed in the School Bus Safety Competition placing first at the local and state levels.  Mr. Bears also placed 16th at the National School Bus Safety Competition.  Mr. Bears is currently a Radio Driver for the facility and services all routes providing superior student transport and management.  Mr. Bears has a passion for old cars and attending car shows.

Ms. Amanda Jackman is a driver at our East Transportation Facility and has been a dedicated safe driver since October 2002.  Ms. Jackman is a third generation bus driver and provides superior services for our special need students.  She is also represents Transportation Services on the District’s Vehicle Accident Review Committee.  Ms. Jackman enjoys photography and fishing with her husband and two young sons.

Dr. Donna Goldstein Receives Florida Atlantic University’s Outstanding Professional Educator Award
 
Dr. Donna Goldstein, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator in the School District’s Planning and Real Estate Services Department, has received Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Outstanding Professional Educator Award.  Dr. Goldstein uses GIS to integrate hardware, software, and data systems to capture, manage, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information for students. In collaboration with other administrators, she has applied GIS technology to Social Studies, Science Education, Business and Marketing Education, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Health and Physical Education.  This integration of using technological tools across disciplines has a major impact in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas.
 
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