The Broward School Board is contemplating a measure, unique to Florida, of recruiting teachers to that county by offering affordable rental housing. Four sites are being considered in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach on which to build some 300 rental units for teachers who are starting their careers with the county.

Reports are that the school board members are to vote next month to obtain proposals from developers about developing the sites. It is understood that the plan to build the rental units was discussed last week at a workshop, and had the support of board members and officials of the Broward school district.

Ruby MaCaye, who recently graduated from college in Atlanta with a bachelor degree in education, has been contemplating pursuing her career in teaching in Broward County, where her Caribbean-American family lives. She told CNWeekly News that she was apprehensive in coming to Florida because of the comparatively low salary of $38,500 paid to new teachers in the county, and what she determines to be the high cost of renting. “I am a young wife and mother, and my husband and I cannot afford to buy a house right now, but neither do we want to pay over a half of our salaries in rent. This idea to build houses that teachers can rent at affordable rates is very cool with me. I look forward to this being approved.”

Contrary to the optimism expressed by MaCaye, reports indicate that the president of the Broward Teachers Union, Pat Santeramo, is not enthused about the plan. He was quoted in the Miami Herald as saying, “Teachers do not want to be told where they are going to live.” He said he thinks the focus should be placed by the school board on raising teachers’ salaries, rather than building houses.

Should the plan being contemplated by the school board materialize, this would be the first of such benefit for teachers that exists in Florida. Research, however, indicates that a similar plan exists in Santa Clara, California and has been a success, with a number of teachers currently on a waiting list for rental units.

The plan proposed by the school board, should be a boon to teachers who are starting their careers in Broward schools, especially if the current high rental for apartments in decent neighborhoods does not fall significantly. The school board plan is to build one to three bedroom units and targeted their rental to new teachers, who as indicated by MaCaye, earn a starting annual salary of $38,500. The teachers would pay rent that would not be more than 30 percent of their income. It is also understood that, apart from teachers, other employees in the school district could take advantage of renting the affordable units.

The Caribbean-American pilot, 23-year-old, Barrington Irving who recently set two world records as the youngest and first individual of African descent to fly solo around the world continues to be awarded for his significant achievement. Already awarded by the Miami-Dade Commission, on Tuesday, August 28, Irving was honored by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.

At the award function Irving led the Pledge of Allegiance and was presented with the 2007 Mayor’s Award by Broward County Mayor Josephus Eggelletion, Jr. The presentation took place at the Broward County Governmental Center in Fort Lauderdale.

“It is important to publicly recognize the talent and ambition of this extraordinary young man,” said Mayor Eggelletion. “He was raised here in South Florida and has, literally, reached great heights. He is a role model and an inspiration.”

On March 23, 2007, Jamaica-born and South Florida-raised Barrington Irving stepped into a single-engine plane dubbed the "Inspiration" and embarked on a 26,800-mile, round-the-world flight. On his voyage he visited Canada, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, China and Japan. When the 23-year old returned to Miami on June 27, he had set two world records: he is the first person of African descent and the youngest person ever to fly solo around the globe.

Barrington hopes his historic flight will inspire other young people to resist the negative influences of the streets and work toward their dreams. He is now concentrating on Experience Aviation, a nonprofit organization that he created in 2005 that introduces middle and high school students to career opportunities in aviation and aerospace. The group is now developing after-school and weekend programs, and Irving is thinking of other innovative ideas to pursue in promoting aviation education throughout the nation and the world.

MIAMI

Obama woos Miami-Dade audience

Despite the fact that some Cubans openly demonstrated their opposition to his statement that the US government should lift sanctions that currently curtail travel and remittances by Cubans in the USA to Cuba, a very large audience comprising of mainly Cubans turned out to hear Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama in Miami Last Saturday. The audience at the Miami-Dade County auditorium, estimated at over 1,500, was very enthused and receptive to the young, black senator from Illinois.

Also in the audience was the Caribbean American Kean-Dawes family, from Perrin. Chairmaine Kean-Dawes said that could not miss the event, and took her 14 year old son and twelve year old daughter to see history in the making. “Obama does not only represent my race, the black race, but he is the only candidate that is strong and honest enough to seek radical change in he course of America’s leadership. While other candidates try to toe the line of tradition, Obama is seeking to implement real change.”

While Obama’s rival, Hillary Clinton said she would only lift travel restrictions to Cuba in limited cases; Obama wants unrestricted rights for Cubans to travel to their country and remit funds to their relatives, as he believes that this is a better way for America to assist the Cuban people. In this way, according to Obama, Cuban Americans could deliver a message of freedom and help which would result in financial independence from Castro. Several Cubans in the audience, especially the younger people, were in favor of Obama’s plan. He strengthened his stance by telling the audience, “Until there is justice in Cuba, there is no justice anywhere.”