So sad. My kids enjoyed the high school planetarium. My high school class went through all the construction mess and never had the opportunity to use it.
Used by a couple of astronomy classes, the Spitz A4 projector was listed for sale at $1,000 on the district's list of used equipment. A potential buyer has expressed interest, provided the district can safely get the equipment out of its dome in a state that's still usable.
Contractors will make a plan and try to move the projector in the next month or two, Davis said, though he had no idea what the potential buyer planned to do with it. He declined to identify the buyer beyond saying that it was not another school district.
11 comments:
This is one more symbolic disconnection from the environment in Mt Lebanon. First, it's the grass, then it's the stars...
"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars" - Walk Whitman
http://www.27east.com/mobile/article.cfm//Southampton-Village-Surrounding-Areas/441648/Southampton-High-School-To-Reopen-Upgraded-Planetarium-November-1
"“You can’t teach the students of tomorrow if you don’t have the technology of tomorrow,” he said, smiling."
"“The facility provides an incredible resource to our kids,” said Southampton High School Principal Dr. Brian Zahn. “They can learn not just by depending on a textbook or a lecture, but by working in the planetarium.”
The hope of district officials and teachers is that the multimedia planetarium can be used across subjects. Not limited to the heavens, the Mediaglobe could be used to teach graphic design, and to screen 3D and panoramic movies of all kinds.
“You can be a blood cell floating through the blood stream,” Mr. Munkwitz said of different movies the district is looking at renting. “Some things are so abstract until you can see them. Sometimes you need to taste it, touch it or see it. The planetarium can turn an abstract concept into a concrete one.”"
Hey, here in the MtL school district we've got a brand new weight training room that rivals any LA Fitness or Gold's Gym... what more do you want from our 21st Century high school... academic facilities?!!!
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/23/1148578/planetarium-projector-being-put.html
"Next generation
While the Zeiss projector was used primarily for Earth-based astronomy shows, the digital system, funded in large part by a $1.5 million gift from GlaxoSmithKline, will let the planetarium expand its offerings in other scientific disciplines.
It uses a technology still in the embryonic stage, said Jay Heinz, the planetarium's digital production manager.
"We can go inside a cell, go underwater, go into space," he said. "It's really this wild west era where people are experimenting with things."
The new technology will allow the planetarium to offer shows with eight times the resolution of most high-definition televisions, projected over the entire face of the dome."
And prices have fallen dramatically since the above 2011 article.
I wonder what the people that funded the MTL planetarium think, about what is happening to their investment in education?
Maybe they figure after hitting their heads enough on our "crown jewel" fields, the kids will be seeing stars without the planetarium so it wasn't needed anymore.
2:28 Almost every project that I have seen funded and followed has not emerged... aside from the turf. And um.. that's at a standstill right now.
The funny thing is that people from all over the state are paying for these projects. The state provides funding through grants, etc., and doesn't hold Mt Lebanon accountable for following through on the projects. For example, where ARE those new tennis courts at the municipal park adjacent to Lincoln?
So what happens to that space?
If you are referring to the space occupied by the planetarium, it is in Bldg. C which is scheduled to be torn down.
How? Is there enough money to do that? I'm really getting confused about this High School redo. I also feel that we are being lied to too. But it's just like the moron Piglosi said a couple of years ago... We need to pass the bill to find out what's in the bill. We need to build the new High School to see how much it will cost and what it does and does NOT include. Don't you dare question any of this as you are to stupid to understand. Those of us that went to a State Teachers college know better.
Well 3:22, hate to say it, but 4,000 of your fellow residents and neighbors tried to warn you.
Several good people ran for school board tried to stop it, tried to steer it, but a majority of the people that managed to take the time to vote, rejected them.
So here we are!
The project is very close to being at the end of the bugeted amount, buildings that are suppose to be demolished- aren't. Tennis courts that were to be built- aren't.
A rifle range is still up in the air and the $30 million... no $15 million... no $6 million fundraiser is in disarray.
But, you can bet the administrators and staff will still get their annual raises and perhaps another round of bonuses... oh and their Act 1 exclusions for another hefty tax hike.
In The Wall Street Journal today: "The stronger dollar is slicing sales and profits at big American companies, prompting them to put renewed emphasis on cost cutting and cramping the broader U.S. economy."
"
Worse, the results were accompanied by fresh data Tuesday that suggests the fall in oil prices and the soaring dollar are rippling through the economy in unpredictable ways. U.S. businesses broadly cut capital spendingin the final months of 2014, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, raising red flags about the economy’s ability to sustain momentum amid troubles around the globe."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/strong-dollar-hangs-over-more-companies-rattling-investors-1422386620
Meanwhile back at the MTLSD ranch, they're preserving their options to utilize exemptions and exclusions under Act 1 to raise taxes beyond the cap and increase capital spending.
On topic—
http://freebeacon.com/issues/growing-number-of-americans-demand-school-choice-thousands-of-rallies-planned/
"January 26, 2015 3:50 pm
More than 11,000 rallies and events focusing on school choice are planned this week across the country, and Democrats have been encouraged to embrace this growing demand or face backlash from constituents in upcoming elections."
"A new poll released ahead of SCW shows a majority of Americans— 69 percent—favors the concept of school choice. The poll, released by the American Federation for Children another partner of NSCW, also showed 63 percent support private school choice, 76 percent support public charter schools, and 65 percent believe choice and competition among schools improve education."
Keep spending like there is no tomorrow MTLSD!
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