New Meeting Formats

Tonight's School Board meeting will feature the presentation of the proposed 2009 LCPS operating budget by our superintendent, Dr. Hatrick. Two weeks ago he presented a proposed capital improvements plan (CIP), and the next month features several meetings on each, evenings and Saturday mornings. If you have a concern about the school budget, whether it's something you think needs adequate funding or something you think gets too much funding, now is the time to let me know and email is the best medium.

Also tonight, three of my colleagues will join me in proposing changes to the School Board Bylaws that, if passed, will affect the way our meetings are conducted in the future. The biggest change will be to hold one regular School Board meeting at each Loudoun County High School each year. There are other Virgina School Boards that do this with great results. While we'll be pushing Board members and senior staff out of our comfort zone at the Admin building, I think that the benefits outweigh the potential inconveniences.

It is my hope that holding alternate School Board meetings at High Schools instead of in the Admin building we will:

• Make the meetings more accessible to the public by holding them closer to home in a familiar building
• Generate interest among High School students about how they can influence how their schools operate, and how the decisions of the community affect them
• Make Board members more familiar with the High School clusters in different areas of the County (I envision each meeting in a High School beginning with a short presentation and welcome by the Principal).
  

Other changes we are proposing to the way that Board meetings are conducted are primarily focused on making the meetings more efficient by limiting the time allowed for board member comments and questions, staff presentations and ceremonial recognitions. Anyone who has ever attended one of our common Tuesday-night marathons will understand. You can download the specific proposals here. We hope to vote on the proposals on Tuesday, December 11th.