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[PLUG] OT: Meeting NOW 6-8pm re M$ HSchool on Park Property
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There was so much interest in this on the list before, below are more
in-depth details including a public meeting tonight (yes, tonight, right
now.) in regards to it. -- don't yell at me I just got it and had just
gotten home. I'd love to know where and to whom they put this out
publically. I don't personally have a problem with a M$ funded HS but I
do see some issues with building on park land.
--
The Fairmount Park Commission will hold a public meeting on February 9, 2004
from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, Belmont
Mansion Drive & Montgomery Drive. The purpose of this meeting is a public
discussion of a proposal to build a Microsoft High School of the Future in West
Fairmount Park.
If you would like to testify call the Fairmount Park Commission at
215-685-0003 in advance of the meeting to be included in the schedule.
Testimony will be limited to 2 minutes per person.
For more information call Thomas Doyle, Public Information Officer, Fairmount
Park Commission at 215-685-0001.
Below is a written synopsis of the proposal from the Fairmount Park
Commission.
School District of Philadelphia
Microsoft High School
School of the Future
In September, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and Microsoft
announced a unique partnership to build the school of the future – an
800 student prototype high school, designed to provide a continual,
relevant and adaptive learning environment using technology. The school
will be strategically located in an urban area and must be replicable
throughout the world.
Development of the School of the Future (SOF) has garnered intense
interest. As a result, Microsoft is organizing an International Advisory
Board of leaders in the fields of education, technology integration and
community development. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to give
support and counsel in the development of the project, and ensure that the
school systemically incorporates best of class technology solutions.
Academic Focus
The SOF will have multiple academic tracks: (1) a college preparatory
educational focus with intensive technological support (2) a program focus
for students wanting careers in the field of technology, (3) a program
focus for environmental sciences, and (4) the International Baculatette
Program. Honors and advanced placement courses will be available in each
of the academic areas. Students will experience learning in classrooms
that are physically agile and adaptive. For example, the written text
will be displayed by digital format on video screens and tablet personal
computers accessible during the school day and during the evening hours.
Text books will be digital libraries with written, graphic and virtual
text display applications. Classroom lectures and laboratory experiments
will be video recorded and used for distance learning; or students can
access the classroom lectures and experiments during evening and weekends.
Teachers will have access to State approved curriculum and work plans located
throughout the world. With the click of a mouse, entire lesson plans can be
downloaded from a website or digital tailored for use in a specific classroom.
Teachers will have the ability to access prepared curriculum, create learning
lessons to meet individual student needs; and save those lessons into student
personalized folders for classroom instruction.
Facility Focus
Classrooms will be equipped with wireless internet access points, mounted
overhead with high resolution projection capability, distance
learning/video conferencing capability smart board wall installation,
digital video cameras and screens, electrical cables and receptacles,
telephonic capability, laptops/PC tablets/desktops, smart podium, audio
enhancement, and virtual technology capability.
SDP would like to build the school in a campus environment with grass,
trees, bushes and shrubbery. The building will be designed as a two story
high performance sustainable design facility. SDP will seek leadership in
energy and environmental design certification for the design of the
school. The building will be aesthetically compatible with the
architecture and green space of the surrounding community. The building
will have indoor athletic facilities, auditorium and other community
spaces. SDP will seek to partner with the surrounding community in the
development and utilization of the facility.
Benefits of Building on Park Property
Building on park property in a partnership with Fairmount Park supports
the mission of the project. The partnership will provide opportunities to
programmatically partner with the Please Touch Museum, the Philadelphia
Zoo, and the Parks Commission. The Park site, located across from the
Philadelphia Zoo, adjacent to Girard Avenue and bordered by 34th street
and Parkside Avenue, is an underutilized section of the park just south of
Memorial hall. The school would be built on the rear 2/3rds of the
property away from Memorial Hall, thus not detracting from either Memorial
Hall or the open space that the surrounding community currently enjoys.
Trees and green space will be preserved. SDP would propose that Fairmount
Park ball fields be upgraded and maintained by the School District. The
surrounding community is under going re-development and the SOF, with its
intense international attention, will showcase this surrounding community
and enhance its revitalization.
Building Design
SDP is sensitive to the design concerns of the Fairmount Park Commission.
All SDP projects are a result of open competition among a large number of
pre-qualified architecture firms. The SOF is one that is attractive to
the finest design firms, and we expect creative and well thought proposals
for this project. SDP would welcome the Commission as a review
participant to ensure that the resulting building and site development
adds to the overall appeal of Fairmount Park and the neighborhood.
Craig Melidosian
RealSolutions Network
PO Box 1119
Lansdowne PA 19050-8119
215-724-8148 24hr vocie/fax
215-724-3212 voice
Breakthrough Relationships
Enhancing Value in Community & Government
©Copyright 1998-2004
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