Latest news with #Bulson
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Tech, Patrick Space Force Base partner to offer master's degrees for military personnel
Coming full-circle in a sense, the Florida Institute of Technology will start offering master's degree programs this fall behind the gates at Patrick Space Force Base for military and civilian personnel. "We were founded in the same year as NASA: 1958. And our original mission was to serve as a night school for missilemen, as the Cape Canaveral technicians needed master's degrees in the early days of the Space Race," Florida Tech President John Nicklow said. "Scientists and engineers came together in that year to launch that very important work. The mission soon evolved to encompass military service members. And as Kennedy Space Center grew, and Patrick grew and evolved, so did Florida Tech," Nicklow said. Florida Tech: Virgin Galactic spaceflight chief encourages Florida Tech grads as company builds new rocket plane Nicklow spoke during a June 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony at Patrick's Education and Training Center, where the Melbourne-based university has set up classrooms and support facilities. The four degree programs: Master of Science in acquisition and contract management, Master of Science in space systems, Master of Science in space systems management, and Master of Business Administration. "All incredible things, as you look at Patrick Space Force Base and the unique professionals that we have here, being able to continue their educational experience to further build on their repertoire, their skill set," said U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher Bulson, Space Launch Delta 45 deputy commander. "Whether it's within the Department of Defense, or coming back to the local community when they're done with their service," Bulson said. Nicklow and Bulson plan to expand Florida Tech's offerings in the future, based on need and demand. Student enrollment projections remain in "the discovery phase," they said. Florida Tech's institutional accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, is expected to approve the Patrick instructional site this summer. The Melbourne university's faculty members and instructors will commute to the beachside Space Force base and teach eight-week classes in hybrid (in-person and online) fashion. Don Platt, associate professor of space systems and director of Florida Tech's Spaceport Education Center in Titusville, will oversee operations. During a December FLORIDA TODAY interview, Nicklow and Space Force Maj. Gen. Timothy Sejba said the university and STARCOM — or Space Training and Readiness Command headquarters — were exploring an educational partnership. STARCOM is in the process of moving from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs to Patrick, eventually bringing more than 450 military and civilian personnel to Florida's Space Coast. The St. Johns River Water Management District has issued a stormwater management system permit for two future modular buildings for STARCOM personnel on base. Brevard Engineering College — today's Florida Tech — hosted its first classes on Sept. 22, 1958, inside three rented classrooms at Eau Gallie Jr. High School. That building is now West Shore Jr./Sr. High. The university earned the NASA-themed nicknames "Missileman U" and "Countdown College" during its formative years. Five Florida Tech graduates became NASA space shuttle astronauts: Suni Williams, Joan Higginbotham, Kathryn Hire, George Zamka and Frederick Sturckow. Another alumnae, Ann Dunwoody, became America's first female four-star general in the U.S. Army. "I really appreciate the words on the history of the university. It's really amazing to continue that legacy in a different way," Bulson told Nicklow during a tour of Florida Tech's new educational space. "You know, it feels like we're getting back to our roots in some way by doing this. It's a little bit different, but it's who we are," Nicklow replied. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'Missileman U' Florida Tech to offer degrees at Patrick Space Force Base
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Harford County parents concerned after school district cuts 167 positions
The Harford County schools superintendent assures parents that students' education remains the top priority despite 167 positions getting cut to help balance the budget. However, parents are worried about what the drastic cuts could mean for their children. "I'm very dismayed because I feel like we've been preached to vote for the casinos, and stuff like that," said parent Stacy Sander. "We're supposed to be putting money back into the school system, and I feel like the school system gets the shaft every time." The district began notifying schools this week of the 167 positions that will be eliminated to recoup $15 million toward the budget shortfall. With these cuts, the proposed budget presented to the Harford County executive is $347 million, which is $26 million more than last year's budget. Superintendent Sean Bulson hopes to reallocate staff members from positions that are cut to positions that are vacant due to turnover and retirement. "Our goal is to ensure everybody has a job at the end of this," Bulson said. "The one thing we can't guarantee is where that job will be." Bulson says the cuts will increase the average class size by two students, which he says isn't ideal, but he admits that creating a fair budget is a balancing act. Also on the chopping block are summer school programs, which will save $220,000 toward the budget shortfall. This does not impact Extended School Year, which is federally mandated for special education students. Bulson added that, despite the rumors, the district has no plans to close any of the 55 schools. "Basically, the things driving the increases in our budget, increased special education costs, increased cost of healthcare and other insurance, and the lack of flexibility from the Blueprint, all combined have created some of the challenges we're running into," Bulson said. Bulson says the final budget will also depend on money from the state and likely won't be finalized for another couple of months. Frustrated parents told WJZ that they hope that the local and state governments keep the students at the top of their minds when voting on a final budget. "I think we need to reevaluate what's important in government and the spending, where we are putting our dollars," Sander said. "Our education is the foundation of our youth, It's the only way they're going to have a future, is to get a good education." Sander told WJZ that funding for education has been in a downward spiral since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're getting money taken away from our children's education and I feel like ever since COVID, it's just been a downward spiral with the educational system," Sander said.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Harford school board proposes eliminating 150 positions to address $60M funding deficit
Harford County Public Schools is proposing the elimination of 150 positions and lower raises for employees next year as school officials work to reduce a $60 million budget deficit. The $60 million funding deficit that has plagued the district's FY26 budget comprised a $20 million salary package, $10 million in cost increases and $30 million needed to make up for the $30 million the school system pulled from its savings account to cover its operating budget last year. Based on current revenue projects from the state, county and other revenue sources — all of which are subject to change — Harford County Superintendent Sean Bulson proposed that the system reduce its salary package from $20 million to $13 million, reduce 150 positions equaling a savings of $15 million, and use $10 million in savings as opposed to $30 million. 'We are at a place where we have to make tough decisions,' Bulson said during his presentation to the board of education Monday night. 'This proposal is based on the financial health of the school system and what I think is the best path forward for the school system.' Bulson emphasized that he is confident the school system will be able to cut the 150 positions through turnover with staff retiring or not returning to the district next year. However, he said the reduction will impact students. 'Unequivocally, yes this will impact student achievement,' Bulson said. 'I can't balance this budget in a way that doesn't impact student achievement.' With the proposed reductions, Harford schools' funding request to the county government in FY26 is projected to be about $347.6 million — an increase of $26.24 million compared with last year and a reduction of about $33.76 million to the $60 million deficit. Bulson pointed out many issues he said superintendents across the state have with the statewide education funding initiative, Blueprint for Maryland's Future. Much of Bulson's concerns focused on the initiative's plans to fund expensive programs and areas of education budgets that he said do not yield a return on investment. Citing the high cost of Blueprint, Bulson said he would like to see things like college and career readiness be more of a funding priority in the Blueprint and a reduction in spending in other areas to allow school systems the ability to fund initiatives to hire more teachers and lower class sizes. 'The way [Blueprint] is currently designed, this is the blueprint to increase class sizes in the state of Maryland,' Bulson said. Since the start of FY26 budget conversations, school officials have pitched the idea of implementing fees for athletics, transportation and magnet schools along with closing smaller schools like Darlington Elementary to save money. Bulson said that his proposal does not include closing any school facilities or implementing fees other than the system's already existing 'use of facility' fee that he said he would like to get up to market rate. Bulson explained that he is opposed to passing fees on to parents and students because it would generate more angst than revenue significant enough to fill the school's budget deficit. Going forward, Bulson said he is focusing on cutting costs to ensure Harford schools come up with a sustainable budget that delivers the most to students given the current fiscal realities of the state and its low revenue projections. The proposed budget is subject to change based on board of education deliberations and fluctuating revenue projections. On Wednesday, Feb. 6, the board of education will host a public input session on Harford schools' FY26 budget at 6 p.m. at the A.A. Roberty Building at 102 South Hickory Avenue in Bel Air. Board members are set to vote on the proposed budget Feb. 10. Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@ 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.
