'...Of Interest.' Connection Resource Bank Newsletter. Informing School System Staff Members about a School-Community-Business Cooperative Project. Final Report.

The public school system of Montgomery County, Maryland, established a database of more than 1,800 volunteer business and community resources in the areas of science and mathematics who are willing to share their expertise with students and teachers in 154 county schools. Through a grant, a monthly newsletter that highlights this sharing is published. More than 7,500 copies are distributed each month to teachers, school administrators, and career specialists. Newsletter articles about teachers' use of business and community experts as speakers in the classroom or mentors for students make all teachers aware of the resources available. Specific objectives that teachers are required to teach in science and mathematics are identified and applicable resources are listed. Special attention is paid to use of minority role models whenever possible. Alternative careers for women in science and mathematics are emphasized as well. The newsletter editor acts as a community resource and links teachers and businesses. Through the newsletter, the resource bank encourages teachers and students to look outside the classroom and encourages the business community to become involved in its schools. Documents used in the project comprise a large portion of this report. These include brochures, forms, correspondence, media articles, and two volumes of the newsletter. (Author/KC)