Travis Visits Lewisburg High School

Lewisburg High School Student Council hosted a student town hall today with Travis Gilbert. Students discussed their opinions on the Keystone Exam legislation, nutrition standards, and school environment standards.
Students generally disagreed with the state's initiative on setting school nutrition standards, and encouraged local control on that issue.
Students agreed that bullying has a new definition in 21st century schools, and said teachers had the most power to curve bullying.


Travis will now attend the November meeting of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education at the Bloomsburg School District. Travis will wrap up this week with a student town hall at Danville Area High School.

Join Our Organization!

Submit the information at travisgilbert.com to join our mailing list as we organize the student leaders of Pennsylvania!

Travis to Attend PSBA Student Delegate Program

Travis Gilbert will be attending the 39th Annual PSBA Student Delegate Program in conjunction with the School Leadership Conference on October 14-16. Travis will be floating among the Hot Topic discussion groups, speaking with students around the day, and will give a speech at the School Leadership Banquet on Thursday night at the Hershey Convention Center.

Be sure to speak to Travis about the issues you are about at this conference!

Environment and Wellness Standards

During the September Meeting of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, the issue of climate and health/wellness standards came up. Climate standards would define what a 'safe school' is and health/wellness Standards would address student's nutrition and exercise.

FOR PA STUDENTS:

Should the state mandate physical education in schools?

Does your school offer enough nutritious foods at lunch?

Do your student clubs/sports sell junk food for fundraisers?

Should their be a clear definition of a 'Safe School?'

Please Post Your Answers to the Blog!

September State Board of Education Meeting: Preview

The next Pennsylvania State Board of Education meeting will take place on September 16 through the 17, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Department of Education Honors Suite. A meeting of the Chapter 4 committee will take place at 9:30 following the Council of Basic Education meeting at 10:45 on Wednesday. The Council of Higher Education will meet following lunch at 1:30, following committee meetings for the Vocational Technical Education Committee and Health and Wellness Committee. On Thursday, the State Board of Vocational Education will meet at 8:30 with the State Board of Education following.

Check out Travis' Facebook and Twitter for updates during the Meetings!

Travis Quoted in Patriot News

Travis Gilbert was quoted by the Patriot News during the discussion about the Keystone Exam proposal during the Thursday meeting of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

Link to Article: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/08/state_board_oks_graduation_req.html

Statement on Keystone Exams Passage

Statement Keystone ExamsAugust 13, 2009On a 14-2 decision, the Pennsylvania State Board of Education passed the keystone exams this morning. I was against the keystone exams at first, for they added an extra layer of testing onto the students of Pennsylvania, but during the compromise period of the debate, I had changed my mind. When Joe Torsella, chairman of the board, announced that the Keystone exams would replace the PSSA’s and would create an individualized path for students, I quickly grew very fond of the proposal and supported its passage this morning. I was very vocal with my conversations with Mr. Torsella and Secretary of Education Zahorchak, and voiced my total support of the exams at meetings over the past few days. I would like to thank Joe Torsella, all the organizations involved, and the members of the Pennsylvania Board of Education for their continued service to Pennsylvania Students and for passing the Keystone Exams. I am positive that the keystone exams will provide a much better test for students, will decrease testing time, and give some personal meaning behind the test.

GRADUATION TEST UPDATE!

New compromises and agreements have been made between the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and the Pennsylvania General Assembly on the future of graduation tests in Pennsylvania and the future of the PSSA test. Stay connected for more updates to follow.

Travis Gilbert Honored by Newville Borough Council

Travis Gilbert was recognized by the Newville Borough Council members at their regular monthly meeting on June 23, 2009. Council President William Toth read Resolution 2009-07:

"Whereas, Travis Gilbert is a sophomore at the Big Spring High School where he as excelled in academics; and
WHEREAS, Travis Gilbert is a founding member of the Newville Do Something Club, a national chartered public service organization which is sponsored locally by the Newville Borough Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Travis Gilbert has competed against fellow high school students throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to serve as the student representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, Travis Gilbert enjoys the prestigious honor of having been selected to serve on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education during his senior year. During his junior year, Mr. Gilbert will serve as the student member-elect to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.NOW

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, and it is here by adopted that the Mayor and the members of the Newville Borough Council do hereby extend to Travis Gilbert their sincere congratulations and commendation upon being named to serve as the Student Representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.
The Mayor and the members of the Newville Borough Council do further congratulate Travis Gilbert for the honor and distinction that his appointment will bring to the Big Spring School District and the Newville community.
The officials of the Newville Borough do further extend to Travis Gilbert their best wishes for a successful tenure on the Pennsylvania State Board of Education."

Student Staff Announced!

Standing Left to Right: Benjamin Barnhart, Ben Zauzmer, Jake Paston, Travis Gilbert

Seated Left to Right: Natalie Geist, Christina Atterbury

Travis Gilbert's new student staff, a group of 9 student leaders across the state have been announced. Region directors have been appointed to each of the 7 regions of Pennsylvania to help Travis better manage the state and maintain good communication with the students of Pennsylvania.

Region A: Vacant

Region B: Vacant

Region C: Christina Atterbury (Westmont Hilltop High School)

Region D: Maia Stam (Wellsboro Area High School)

Region E: Benjamin Barnhart (Lampeter-Strasburg High School)

Region F: Jake Paston/Ben Zauzmer (Upper Dublin High School)

Region G: Natalie Geist (William Allen High School)

Chief of Staff: John Kocsis (Cumberland Valley High School)

Congratulations to All of the New Staff Members!

Pennsylvania Regions Created!

Pennsylvania has been broken up into Regions! Check out which one you are located in!

Region A: Medium Purple (Northwest)

Region B: Red

Region C: Light Purple

Region D: Yellow

Region E: Green

Region F: Orange

Region G: Dark Purple (Center, East)

Travis Recognized at Big Spring School Board Meeting

On June 1, Travis Gilbert was recognized at the Big Spring School Board monthly meeting. “It's no surprise to anyone at Big Spring High School that Travis was selected for such a prestigious appointment on the PA State Board of Education. His work ethic coupled with his people skills are a winning combination that will bring him great success in the years to come. We are extremely proud of his accomplishments. He truly projects the pride and class that is reflective of what one thinks of when they hear the name of Big Spring High School," Big Spring High School principal, John Scudder said. Travis would like to thank Ms. Christa Daugherty, Mr. John Scudder, Mr. Fred Potzer, and the Newville Community for all their support.

Keystone Exams: UPDATE

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 281, stripping power from the Pennsylvania Board of Education to create graduation tests and giving that power to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. There were 48 'yea' votes, and 1 'nay' vote. Senator Jim Ferlo, from the Pittsburg area, was the only 'nay' vote.

Governor Rendell vowed to veto Senate Bill 281, so stay tuned for more updates!

What Are The Keystone Exams?

Everyone may be asking, "What Are the Keystone Exams?" and "How do they Affect Me?"

Well, here is your answer: The Keystone Exams are a series of tests that you must pass in order to graduate. There are 10 tests, each specific to an educational area such as Algebra I, civics/government education, or writing. Students must pass 6 of the 10 tests: one science, one history, 2 math, and literature and composition tests. Students still must receive at least proficient in the math, reading, and science PSSA test as well. The exams would be given once each fall, winter, and spring. Students would be able to re-take any exams they did not pass.

Any questions you may have about the Keystone Exams may be forwarded to Travis Gilbert's facebook page, just click the link on the right side of the blog. Keep updated on the Keystone Exams by checking out the blog daily.

PA Graduation Testing: UPDATE

On Tuesday the Pennsylvania Senate Education committee, chaired by Senator Piccola (R-Dauphin) voted in a 11-0 decision to send Senate Bill 281, introduced by Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), to the floor for vote. The Bill states that the Pennsylvania Board of Education cannot, "develop or implement any standard.....approve or propose any regulation to require school districts to develop new or additional high school graduation requirements." This bill puts the powers of graduation testing into the hands of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Governor Rendell vows to veto the bill if it reaches his desk, and the bill may reach the senate floor as early as next week. Stay Connected for Updates on this issue!

Welcome!

Hello Everyone! I'm Travis Gilbert, the new student member-elect on the Pennsylvania Board of Education. I was appointed to the position on May 21, 2009 after an application process ran by the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC). I ran on the platform of increasing the communication between the two student members on the board of education, and the students of Pennsylvania. Since May I have created a facebook page, twitter, and this blog to kick off using the Internet to connect to students. Pennsylvania is a very large state, but the Internet has no limit. So Welcome! Check out this blog and the other sites. Check back, post comments, contact myself so we can begin two years of conversation between the students of Pennsylvania and the lawmakers of Pennsylvania. Their decisions directly affect you, so get informed, and most importantly, get involved!