Loudoun Schools Dais

The School Board's Killer Bees

The School Board deals regularly with the three B's: Boundaries (attendance zones), Buildings, and Budgets. All three are currently in play. We're considering revising the attendance zones for the Stone Bridge High School Cluster to relieve the student crowding. Crowding will be relieved with the opening of ES-20 next year, but we need to adjust the attendance zones throughout the Dulles South area. We've also started evaluating the Superintendent's FY2011-2016 Capital Improvements Program Capital Improvement Program.

But by far, budgets, specifically operating budgets will have the greatest impact on a student's education.  Mark your calendars and come out to speak on December 8th at the County government center or December 10th at the School's admin building about what the priorities should be for the County's FY2011 operating budget.  Here is the official announcement by the Board of supervisors:

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has scheduled two public input sessions in December to allow members of the public to provide input and ideas for the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget for the county government and schools. Because of current fiscal challenges, the Board is seeking input prior to the budget presentation that normally occurs in February. The first session will be held Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg. The second session will be held Thursday, December 10, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Loudoun County Schools Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, in Ashburn. Each session will begin with an overview by county staff of the budget forecast as can best be provided at that time. “These sessions are in addition to the budget public hearings that we hold every year in February,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York. “Due to the challenging budget situation that we are facing and the concerns that we all have about the forecast going into next year’s budget work sessions, I think it is important to provide an opportunity for citizens to give comment earlier in the process so that both the staff and the Board will have the public’s thoughts in mind before the proposed budget is completed.” Members of the public will be able to sign up in advance for the December sessions beginning Tuesday, December 1, 2009, at 8:30 a.m., by calling 703-771-5072 or 703-777-0200. Sign-ups will be taken through 12 noon, December 8, for the first session, and 12 noon, December 10, for the second session. Speakers are encouraged to prepare concise remarks and will be limited to two minutes. Speakers are welcome to provide written handouts to the Board. It is requested that 12 copies of written handouts be provided. Information about the Loudoun County budget, including the complete FY 10 budget document, is available online at www.loudoun.gov/budget.

Superintendent to Make New Recommendation for Stone Bridge High School Attendance Zones

The Superintendent provided advance notice to the School Board late last week that the staff is preparing a new recommendation regarding attendance zones for Stone Bridge High School (SBHS). Last Spring the attendance zone process ended without the School Board resolving the overcrowding at SBHS.

 

Because it has become all to obvious that funding for future construction projects will be severely limited, the Staff's recommendation will propose to move the Lansdowne community's students to Tuscarora High School (THS) in a phasing that either starts in the past manner with all rising ninth and tenth grade students being assigned to THS or an a plan that would phase in one grade per year. In either case upper class-men will be given a choice of moving or staying.  However, its been over 40 years since LCPS opened a high school with a senior class and I don't expect to do it at THS.

 

The planning documents will be sent to the School Board in soft-copy later this week. The issue of determining SBHS's and THS's attendance zones will be presented as an Action Item to approve the attendance zone process calendar at our November 10th meeting. The process will include at least one public hearing and a School Board Attendance Boundary Work Session. The Superintendent expects adoption of a plan at our December 8th meeting.

 

I don't for see a need to consider attendance zone changes to Briar Woods, Broad Run, Heritage, or Loudoun County High Schools. Students that are currently in the approved Tuscarora High School attendance zone should not be involved in this rezoning process either.

President Wants to Extend School Year for Loudoun Students

I just read an article that says President Obama wants to extend school year and hours . The first question I have is: who will pay for the additional classroom costs or will this be yet another unfunded mandate on local school districts? Maybe the legislation will be called No Child Left at Home! Maybe tdhe President will help us eliminate the "Kings Dominion Law", so we could start school before Labor Day! 

Seriously, our country should consider changing the school year, but these changes will have dramatic societal impacts. I envision students graduating from high school after eleven years (K-10) and then going into trade schools, college, the workforce, or the military. But, are 16 year olds going to be ready for college or the workforce?  If they are able to join the military, should 16 year olds get to vote? 

On a related note and closer to reality, below is the proposed calendar for the 2010 -2011 School Year:

September 6 - Holiday (Labor Day)

September 7 - First Day of School for Students

October 11  - Holiday (Columbus Day)

October 29  - End of the Grading Period

November 1-2  - Student Holiday (Planning/Records/Conference Days)

November 24-26 - Holiday (Thanksgiving)

December 23-24/27-31 - Winter Break (Classes Resume January 3)

January 17 - Holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

January 21 - End of Grading Period

January 24 - Moveable Student Holiday* (Planning/Records/Conference Day)

February 21 - Holiday (Presidents' Day)

April 1 - End of Grading Period

April 4 - Student Holiday (Planning/Records/Conference Day)

April 18-22 - Holiday (Spring Break)

May 30 - Holiday (Memorial Day)

June 16 - Last Day of School for Students/End of Grading Period

If you have any suggested changes or comments, please send them to Schools@Loudoun.k12.va.us

School Board Approves .5 Additional Weighting for Honors Courses

The School Board Approved the following motion tonight. The vote was 7-2 (Yes - Bergel, DuPree, Godfrey, Guzman, Marshall, Ohneiser, and Reed; No - Geurin and Stevens). Here is the motion we approved:

That the School Board approve the assignment of an additional .5 weighting to existing high school honors classes. The .5 weighting applies to the transcripts of students taking honors classes in the 2009-2010 school year and applies retroactively to all students currently enrolled in LCPS who have high school honors classes on their transcripts from previous years.

School Board Will Vote Tomorrow Night on Additional Weighting for Honors Courses

The School Board will take up a Board directed and Staff Recommended motion concerning the weighting of Honors Courses. This is the motion that was tabled at our last meeting:

That the School Board approve the assignment of an additional .5 weighting to existing high school honors classes. The .5 weighting applies to the transcripts of students taking honors classes in the 2009-2010 school year and applies retroactively to all students currently enrolled in LCPS who have high school honors classes on their transcripts from previous years.

I will support the motion for two reasons: 

1. Students that take honors courses should be rewarded for the increased rigor of these courses.

2. This will create a level playing field with Fairfax and other districts for our students applying to colleges and for merit scholarships.

Revised Goals Approved

Below are the Board's revised goals. I'll post my personal 'top ten' School Board goals on Monday.

Loudoun County Public Schools Mission Statement

The mission of the Loudoun County Public Schools is to work closely with students, families, and the community to provide a superior education, safe schools, and a climate for success. The educational programs of Loudoun County Public Schools will strive to meet or exceed federal, state, and local requirements for assessment of achievement and to promote intellectual growth, individual initiative, mutual respect, and personal responsibility for productive citizenship.

Loudoun County Public Schools Goals

Student Achievement

• LCPS will ensure that all graduates demonstrate readiness for continuing education and entry level skills for immediate employment.
• LCPS will continue to provide full-day kindergarten for at-risk students and will develop a long-term plan to establish full-day kindergarten for all students countywide.
• LCPS will ensure that at least 92% of students will pass all required Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.
• LCPS will ensure that students and schools will attain the annual measurable objectives called for in the Adequate Yearly Progress requirements of NCLB.
• LCPS will identify and reduce the disparity in achievement among all educationally accepted subgroups.
• LCPS will ensure that students in identified racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups will exceed all requirements of Standards of Learning and NCLB.
• LCPS will ensure that all students demonstrate grade level reading proficiency by the end of the first grade or will have an individualized program of reading instruction.
• LCPS will improve English language literacy among all students, especially those who are identified as Limited English Proficient.
• LCPS shall significantly improve ACT and SAT performance.

Curriculum Development

• LCPS will enhance and expand alternative education programs.
• LCPS will expand its academy programs to serve students with special interests and abilities.
• LCPS will review and revise career and technical programs to meet evolving employment and post-secondary educational requirements.
• LCPS high schools will expand opportunities for student involvement in school-sponsored co-curricular activities.
• LCPS will strive to incorporate 21st century global skills into the curriculum.

Class Size

School staffing will be sufficient to provide for the following average class sizes:

 

Elementary			Secondary
	Average Class Size	Max Class Size
Kindergarten	22	15*	Grades 6-8	21.6 (Teaching 6 of 8 periods a day)
Grades 1-3	22	25**	Grades 9-12	25.9 (Teaching 5 of 8 periods a day)
Grades 4-5	22	27***	New Cell	New Cell
* A teacher assistant will be added to each half-day kindergarten class that exceeds 15 students. ** A teacher assistant will be added for the grade level when all classes at the grade level have enrolled 25 students and one class enrolls the 26th student. *** A teacher assistant will be added for the grade level when all classes at the grade level have enrolled 27 students and one class enrolls the 28th student.

Compensation, Recruitment, and Retention of Staff

• LCPS will offer a competitive recruitment, compensation, and professional development package that will attract highly qualified candidates and retain employees who meet established performance standards.

• LCPS will continue to explore methods for improving the quantity and quality of instructional and team planning time.
• LCPS will increase recruitment and employment of minority applicants for teaching and administrative/supervisory positions.
• LCPS will expand support for National Board Certification and other forms of developing teacher excellence.

Growth and Resource Parity

• LCPS will manage the effects of growth and use methods for assessing parity between older and newer campuses to ensure that all students, faculty and staff have access to quality facilities, resources, and instructional programs.
• LCPS will provide necessary and sufficient district level staffing in order to maintain excellence in a large and rapidly growing system.
• LCPS will continue to use scarce resources wisely by conserving energy, recycling materials whenever possible, and by educating students on best environmental practices.
• LCPS will annually prepare ten-year planning documents combining the Capital Improvements Program and the projected capital needs contained in the ten-year Capital Needs Assessment.
• LCPS will strive to establish paperless practices.

Community Relations

• LCPS will enhance community relations by frequent communication and through maximized opportunities for public input related to issues under consideration by the School Board.
• LCPS will increase community participation by regular distribution of school information to the citizens of Loudoun County, including an Annual report regarding progress made toward achieving system goals.
• LCPS will increase the outreach to parents of pre-school and school age children in order to increase parental awareness of available services, such as educational programs focused on parenting skills and the opportunities that already exist for testing, evaluation and special education services for children as young as two years of age.
• LCPS will promote increased involvement of parents, businesses and the community, and PTA's, PTO's, PTSA's and PTSO's will be recognized as essential partners in every school.
• LCPS will provide means to include parental input in assessment of school performance.
• LCPS will develop content and maintenance standards for all components of individual school Web sites to ensure that students and parents throughout Loudoun County will have access to the information they need for academic progress and success.
• LCPS will enhance the capabilities of schools and related infrastructure to facilitate emergency preparedness in the County and the safety of LCPS students and personnel.
• LCPS will ensure its home page calendar includes all known School Board meetings at least 60 days in advance and include major agenda topics once the agenda has been set.

Health, Safety, and Wellness

• LCPS will promote programs that enhance students' and employees' health, safety, and well-being.
• LCPS will strengthen programs that support safe learning environments free of bullying, teasing, and physical violence.
• LCPS will address student and employee obesity through programs developed to improve nutrition and promote physical fitness through lifetime activities.

President's Education Speech & Dr. Hatrick's Instruction letter to Loudoun County Principals

As promised, and without editorial comment, here is the link to the President's speech to students that will be delivered tomorrow at Noon from Wakefield High School in Arlington: http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/

Additionally, Dr. Hatrick has posted a letter to clarify the process LCPS will use concerning this speech.  http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/loudoun/lib/loudoun/Announcement%20Images/DrHatrick_regardingPresObama.doc

LCPS will not air President's Webcast Live

The day-to-day operations of Loudoun County's public schools is the responsibility of the Superintendent. He decided not to broadcast the President's webcast live because it would interfere with the first day of the school year. His decision wasn't politically based and I support it. 

 

Here is the e-mail that the Deputy Superintendent for Instruction sent to principals:

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear All:

We have been made aware of the letter sent to all school principals from Secretary Arne Duncan announcing President Obama's speech to school children on September 8, 2009.  Because this is the first day of school we know that you already have a full day planned for your students and staff.  Dr. Hatrick is not expecting you to share President Obama's speech with students at the live broadcast time on that day.  Since this is a webcast, principals or teachers may elect to retrieve the speech at a later time and with the preparation or related activities appropriate for students at your school level. 

 

Please carry out your routine activities on the first day of school.  Thanks for your cooperation.  Call me if you have questions.

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Speak Up or Prepare for a Disaster

This next week will be the public's opportunity to comment on next year's School operating budget.  The BOS is only allowing people to speak once.  Here is the schedule:

February 25, Wednesday
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors: 6 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room in the Government Center, 1 Harrison St. SW, Leesburg

 

February 26, Thursday
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors: 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room in the Government Center, 1 Harrison St. SW, Leesburg

 

February 28, Saturday
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors: 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room, School Administrative Offices, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn

 

If you support funding for the schools, please come and speak. In ten years, only ten persons have come to the School Board's meetings to ask that the School's Budget be cut. This year, we had a gentleman come and ask us to increase the health care co-pays. That was done.  If the Board of Supervisors doesn't hear from you, they'll assume its ok to "Butcher" our educational programs.

 

Never Say Anything in an E-mail That You Don't Want Everyone to See

Never say anything in an e-mail that you don't want everyone to see! Pam Taggert, the Co-Chairperson of the Loudoun Chapter of the NAACP's Education Committee, sent an e-mail last Friday to the School Board and Board of Supervisors concerning the Washington Post's story concerning our Superintendents travel to conferences.  My response went to all of the people Pam included on her e-mail but also ended up on a blog called Too Conservative.  I stand by what I said, here is my e-mail:

 

Pam;

 I think it is great that our highly experienced Superintendent is both highly in demand and also willing to learn new things. Yes, Dr. Hatrick traveled a lot, but the overwhelming majority of the costs were borne by others, like the State Department, not Loudoun County. Also, professional development is part of his contract with the School Board. Although he sometimes may not be physically in the County, he is still on top of issues and available. And when he is here he puts in more time and energy into his job than anyone I know. Do you know of any executive in government or business that puts more into their job?

Additionally, I hope you're well, I didn't see you at either the February MSAAC or the School Board's Budget Meetings. I would hope that the NAACP Education Committee would review our FY2010 Approved Operating Budget and the 'infamous' tiers and provide comments to the Board of Supervisors concerning the impacts on minority student performance and minority employee hiring/retention.

 

Respectfully Yours,

 

~TR