High Point TSA members convince BOE to send them to nationals
By Sue Kvanali
SUSSEX — Members of the High Point Technology Students Association showed up to the BOE's April 14 meeting to convince board members to allow them to compete at this year's national competition in Orlando, FL. After hearing the students' case, board president Paul Derin called an executive session, which resulted in the students being green-lighted for the competition.
The TSA is a national organization that cultivates aspiring engineers, scientists and technologists by promoting technology education in middle and high schools throughout the U.S.
High Point's TSA team won five titles at this year's state competition in Ewing on April 10, a big reason for the students' push to be included in this year's national competition.
The board said students could attend the competition provided a parent accompany them. They also stated that the district would reimburse parents up to $800 dollars in expenses in addition to paying for the student’s registration fee.
Students speak out
“We attended last month’s meeting and talked about our situation with the TSA and we still haven’t received an answer from the board or administration,” said Krishna Desai, a member of High Point's TSA team, before the executive session was called.
“I don’t think anything has changed since the last time that we spoke to you, said Interim Superintendent Dr. Terry Brennan. “I think we explained it pretty well.”
The discussion then shifted to Tom Costello, Principal of High Point High School, for further clarification. “After having spoken with the advisor, Brian Drelick, and talking with Dr. Brennan, for a number of reasons we did not feel like that trip was going to run," said Costello. "And we’re not going to be able to support any of these students going to the National Convention in Orlando."
The reasons laid out by the board at the March BOE meeting for not supporting the trip revolved around budget issues and security concerns at the venue.
Parents support students
Drelick, who is a teacher and Chairman of the Department of Technological Studies at High Point, has been to the venue in question twice and didn't feel it was safe due to its remote location. The concern was that students would have to travel too far from the hotel they would be staying at to find entertainment when not competing in TSA events. Funding for this year’s TSA trip was used to purchase uniforms for next year’s competitions as well.
“This is a national event," said parent Asutosh Desai. "All over the United States students are coming. Why does only High Point have a safety issue?”
TSA team members and their parents said the notion of not competing in nationals came as a surprise to them. “My son Christian won first place for his team for animatronics. Why weren’t the students told at that time? And why weren’t the parents told? We weren’t notified,” said parent Carmen Tracy.
“Just for clarity, the students are aware of this," said Drelick. "Those that attended [nationals] last year knew already last spring that we would likely not be attending this year." Drelick said that he meets regularly with an executive board comprised of six student-elected TSA members. “We talked collectively that we would not be going to nationals at our first general membership meeting in October. We have been totally forthcoming with information going back almost a full calendar year at this point.”
“Our phone rings for board meetings, any special events, it’s something they could have put out there to us,” said parent Rich Sciolaro. “We really did not know until just weeks ago, basically after they won their state championships, that they weren’t going to Nationals. That’s when we found out.”
“If this was the wrestling team, or this was the softball team or if this was the baseball team we never would have said you are not going to a championship, you’re not going to be represented at the national level," said attorney William Kehoe, retained by a parent that was unable to attend BOE meeting. "I think it’s an embarrassment to the school.”
The pleas did not fall on deaf ears. Fifteen minutes after Derin called for an executive session, the board decided to support the TSA's attendance at the national competition.
“I’m happy that we’re going to get some funding. I’m happy that Mr. Drelick is going to help us get the children ready so that they can go because they deserve the recognition,” said Carmen Tracy. “I’m glad with the board’s decision this got resolved. Every little bit helps.”
“These kids are examples for tomorrow’s kids. We tell the kids if you stand up today, you make a path for tomorrow’s kids. Maybe you win, maybe you lose, but you make a good path for the next students,” said parent Pinky Patel.