Tuesday, April 28, 2009

My Statement On Leesburg Elementary Schools

Author:
I support the staff plan. Had the representatives of the Leesburg area spoken with one voice, or even two, on the question of whether to redistribute students on the basis of economic and ESL status, I would have voted to support them as the elected representatives of the area as I did in Western Loudoun.

Moving children between schools should be the option of last resort. Moving children between schools is what the federal government forces you to do when it thinks a school is failing. To move kids, we should demonstrate that there are problems, that a boundary change will solve those problems, and that nothing short of a boundary change will solve those problems. Two years ago when Catoctin ES failed to make AYP and students were given the option by the federal government to relocate to a different school, we did not encourage them to do so. Now that Catoctin is making AYP, I do not see a new reason to do so.

I don’t know these schools very well, which is one of the reasons it is best for the area’s representatives to seek common solutions instead of turning to the rest of us to decide. But there are schools in my district, some of which my children have attended, which have dramatically different levels of ESL and students, and students with economic hardships. The differences are similar to those in Leesburg. My own children go to the school with the highest levels of ESL/FRL students in my district. I see no need to rebalance the schools in my district to change this mix, and I have not seen the evidence that the schools in Leesburg are suffering from problems that a boundary change and nothing short of a boundary change will fix.

Balls Bluff’s principal is an LCPS veteran but still in her first year at the school. A new principal of Catoctin Elementary will start in the fall.

The larger Leesburg ES PTO community has expressed its intent to work together to help the Balls Bluff and Catoctin PTOs to raise funds and staff events. I hope this will happen, and lead to a smoother process when ES-15 opens in Leesburg a few years from now.
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3 comments:

  1. "Moving children between schools is what the federal government forces you to do when it thinks a school is failing. To move kids, we should demonstrate that there are problems, that a boundary change will solve those problems, and that nothing short of a boundary change will solve those problems."

    Please demonstrate to me the "failing" nature or "problems" that the Ashburn school system has, year after year, as these kids are moved again, and again, and again. I do not live in Ashburn but was appalled to hear how many times these kids have been moved!!! The mentality of the board appears to be that they moved you once they'll move you again, and again (clearly the case in Ashburn) BUT if you haven't been moved you'll need to volunteer to be moved regardless of obvious overcrowding problems.

    Your approach to defer to the regional representative is a convenient political ploy, ensuring, or hoping to ensure that you will have their vote when your time comes. Good luck with your strategy! As the Old Washington saying goes, “if you want a friend, get a dog”.
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  2. 3 Questions for you regarding your vote.

    1. What specifically did the School Board do to help Catoctin when it failed those two years?

    2. If Catoctin fails this year, are you prepared to stick to your logic and help to ACTIVELY find solutions? I hope this is hypothetical.

    3. As a parents at Catoctin, how do we ensure we are tapping into all the available resources we can? I have heard about these resources, but not sure where they are.

    I appreciate your blog here. I want to be part of the solution here.

    Dave, a proud Catoctin parent
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  3. 1. What specifically did the School Board do to help Catoctin when it failed those two years?LCPS provided increased support and close oversight of the development and execution of a School Improvement Plan. Catoctin subsequently made AYP. I should be note that Catoctin ES failed to make AYP in those years by just a few tests, and that the kids who failed in one year passed in the next... different kids. In other words, the entire school wasn't falling apart instructionally and the same kids weren't falling behind year after year.

    2. If Catoctin fails this year, are you prepared to stick to your logic and help to ACTIVELY find solutions? I hope this is hypothetical.I am confident that it is hypothetical, but nonetheless I am totally committed to ensuring that Catoctin ES has what it needs to succeed.

    3. As a parents at Catoctin, how do we ensure we are tapping into all the available resources we can? I have heard about these resources, but not sure where they are.Work closely with your principal and your school board representatives. Search the LCPS website. Ensure the PTA has delegates attending LEAP, MSAAC and SEAC meetings.

    Remain an involved, proud parent. That's the best resource of all.
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