Many thanks to the hundred or so folks who turned out for last night's budget information meeting at Potomac Falls High School. Dr. Hatrick gave a very in-depth presentation and took questions for about forty-five minutes. Board members Joe Guzman, Warren Geurin, Tom Reed and Priscilla Godfrey were also there.
One gentleman got into a little numbers debate with Dr. Hatrick, and it was easy to understand why he felt frustrated. One of the presentation's early slides stated that LCPS funding as a share of local property tax revenue has declined from 78% to 70% over the past several years. In response to the gentleman's question, Dr. Hatrick stated that LCPS takes up only 50% of the County's budget. That left a lot of people wondering...which is it? 70% or 50%?
It's both, actually. A little more than 70% of the property taxes you pay goes to fund school operations. But the County has other revenue sources besides property taxes, such as special funding from the State and Federal government specifically for law enforcement. So the LCPS share of total expenditures is closer to 50%.
There's similary interesting pair of numbers on the LCPS side. The School Board's proposed budget calls for $11.9M less funding from the County (called Local Transfer) than LCPS received last year. That's a drop in funding. But the LCPS proposed budget increases by about 0.2%. Why? Because LCPS also received revenue from other sources, including state and federal governments and fees charged for building use (and next year, for sports and parking).
Friday, January 30, 2009
Federal Stimulus for Loudoun Schools
According to this document (PDF), labeled "Estimated allocations to LEAs for education under House Appropriations Committee Draft 2009 Stimulus Bill, the 'American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009'", Loudoun County would receive the following funds for schools:
2009 Construction: $1,283,300
2009 IDEA Funds: $5,246,000
2010 IDEA Funds: $6,012,200
2009 Construction: $1,283,300
2009 IDEA Funds: $5,246,000
2010 IDEA Funds: $6,012,200
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tonight: Budget Input Session
For all neighbors in the Potomac Falls High School Area:
Please join me at Potomac Falls HS Tonight at 7pm for a presentation on the budget and this year's budget process, followed by Q&A and public input.
Superintendent Hatrick or a member of the senior administrative staff will be on hand to present the various budget scenarios and take questions from the public.
The School Board has delayed action on potential budget cuts until February 10th to receive more input.
Please join me at Potomac Falls HS Tonight at 7pm for a presentation on the budget and this year's budget process, followed by Q&A and public input.
Superintendent Hatrick or a member of the senior administrative staff will be on hand to present the various budget scenarios and take questions from the public.
The School Board has delayed action on potential budget cuts until February 10th to receive more input.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Why I Voted "No" on the Budget
Last night I was the lone dissenter on the School Board's proposed FY10 budget. I voted no because the now-adopted budget does not reflect the Board's stated priorities, which included a salary increase for employees. There are other ways in which the adopted budget did not conform to our adopted priorities, but the purpose of this post is not to enumerate them.
The irony is that when the Board voted on priorities, I voted for job preservation ahead of salary increases. But once the Board adopted its priorities, I supported them, I expected the Board to stick to them and I believe others had a right to expect that as well. Priorities can be changed, but they should be changed openly and purposefully, not simply by ignoring them.
The School Board needs long-term strategic direction. The School Board needs to adopt goals and priorities that it will commit to, and then it needs to stick with them. LCPS employees need goals and priorities that they can implement. The public needs to know what this Board stands for and what it intends to accomplish.
This Board lacks a map, a compass, and a rudder.
The irony is that when the Board voted on priorities, I voted for job preservation ahead of salary increases. But once the Board adopted its priorities, I supported them, I expected the Board to stick to them and I believe others had a right to expect that as well. Priorities can be changed, but they should be changed openly and purposefully, not simply by ignoring them.
The School Board needs long-term strategic direction. The School Board needs to adopt goals and priorities that it will commit to, and then it needs to stick with them. LCPS employees need goals and priorities that they can implement. The public needs to know what this Board stands for and what it intends to accomplish.
This Board lacks a map, a compass, and a rudder.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dr. Hatrick's Many Secretaries
Since joining the Board I have heard again and again from various folks about Dr. Hatrick's many secretaries. Their number seems to have become something of an urban legend around Loudoun, and last week I received the most extravagant estimate yet. The letter stated in part that Dr. Hatrick: "has five assistants who also make almost $200K."
My guess is that TG will be the first of "Dr. Hatrick's many assistants" to read this post, I hope she rolled her eyes and laughed at the italics above. Informants tell me that TG reads my blog faithfully.
I think what happened is that my gentle correspondent heard about the five Assistant Superintendents (who are well paid but not out of line with their level of ability, responsibility, education and career accomplishment) and mistook this for five "assistants to the Superintendent." Nonetheless, it was this general feeling that the front office is overstaffed that supported the mistaken statement.
For the record three secretaries work in the Superintendent's office, but so do the division counsel, the Deputy Superintendent and the Clerk of the Board. So TG, along with TF and KD, manage the avalanche of paperwork, correspondence, phone calls, meetings and forms that these three guys both generate and attract every day. They also provide a lot of assistance to the School Board members, who have no staff except CC, who also works in that office. CC is the Board Clerk, a position that we actually vote her into each January.
If you walk into the Admin building, the Superintendent's office is on the ground floor. If you look for a phone number at LCPS Admin, the Superintendent's office is the first one listed after the reception desk. This is an extremely accessible office. Result: in addition to the Superintendent, the Deputy Superintendent and the division counsel, TG, TF & KD work for a lot of the parents of Loudoun County.
On snow days (and especially days that should have been snow days for the west or shouldn't have been snow days for the east), when a crisis happens, when people get upset about one thing or another, it's TG, TF & KD that serve as the LCPS first responders. No matter how many angry people they have heard from in a day, I have never heard an unkind word from them about anyone. TG, TF & KD are responsible for ensuring that appeals are answered in time, that parents have the information they need in the toughest circumstances, that children's confidential information is kept that way. They keep the Board informed and on task, help disoriented parents who need answers and act as a de facto switchboard for the whole dang school district.
If you think that there should only be two secretaries, or one, or none working in that office, you're free to do so. At least now you know the real number. I hope you also now know that TG, TF & KD are an important part of your child's education and well-being at LCPS.
I hope they know how much we appreciate them.
My guess is that TG will be the first of "Dr. Hatrick's many assistants" to read this post, I hope she rolled her eyes and laughed at the italics above. Informants tell me that TG reads my blog faithfully.
I think what happened is that my gentle correspondent heard about the five Assistant Superintendents (who are well paid but not out of line with their level of ability, responsibility, education and career accomplishment) and mistook this for five "assistants to the Superintendent." Nonetheless, it was this general feeling that the front office is overstaffed that supported the mistaken statement.
For the record three secretaries work in the Superintendent's office, but so do the division counsel, the Deputy Superintendent and the Clerk of the Board. So TG, along with TF and KD, manage the avalanche of paperwork, correspondence, phone calls, meetings and forms that these three guys both generate and attract every day. They also provide a lot of assistance to the School Board members, who have no staff except CC, who also works in that office. CC is the Board Clerk, a position that we actually vote her into each January.
If you walk into the Admin building, the Superintendent's office is on the ground floor. If you look for a phone number at LCPS Admin, the Superintendent's office is the first one listed after the reception desk. This is an extremely accessible office. Result: in addition to the Superintendent, the Deputy Superintendent and the division counsel, TG, TF & KD work for a lot of the parents of Loudoun County.
On snow days (and especially days that should have been snow days for the west or shouldn't have been snow days for the east), when a crisis happens, when people get upset about one thing or another, it's TG, TF & KD that serve as the LCPS first responders. No matter how many angry people they have heard from in a day, I have never heard an unkind word from them about anyone. TG, TF & KD are responsible for ensuring that appeals are answered in time, that parents have the information they need in the toughest circumstances, that children's confidential information is kept that way. They keep the Board informed and on task, help disoriented parents who need answers and act as a de facto switchboard for the whole dang school district.
If you think that there should only be two secretaries, or one, or none working in that office, you're free to do so. At least now you know the real number. I hope you also now know that TG, TF & KD are an important part of your child's education and well-being at LCPS.
I hope they know how much we appreciate them.
1/27/09 Board meeting
There really isn't anything on the agenda except the budget votes, but if you want to watch us vote, be prepared to stay late. Everything else happens first including recognitions, public input, the Superintendent's report, Board comments and even a closed meeting. As always the meeting will be webcast and available on cable & FIOS, though it's harder to cheer us on or give us the evil eye from home.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Posts I Never Got Around To
In my 'drafts' folder I have the remnants of posts that seemed like a good idea at the time but never managed to get off the ground. If one of them piques your interest, let me know and I'll give it another run:
10/29/08: Multiple Budgets
8/13/08: Outreach Coordinator
Fisher to Take Schools Outreach Position
Important to Push
YMCA's Director to Join Schools
5/28/08: Sports & Music
Sports Illustrated: Top Sports Program in Virginia
100 Best music programs
Wash Post: #2 Softball team
5/23/08: Best Music Communities
4/25/08: Larger Elementary Classes
Labels: Budget, Elementary
4/21/08: Personnel Changes
Teacher transfers due to class size increases
Changes in administration
Role of Board
2/7/08 VHSL & Home schoolers
WashPost Story
1/1/08: Cluster Meetings
12/27/07: AP Test instead of Final Exam
WashPost Story
12/27/07: LCPS Efficiency Review
Efficiency Survey
12/25/07: Perks
NASCAR-style hat
Dinner once/month
Notebook PC
Blackberry
Phone line, Fax line, fax machine
10/29/08: Multiple Budgets
This year the budget climate is different from any other I have seen due to the financial crisis shared by local and state governments across the county. The Board of Supervisors taken the unprecedented step of setting a budget range for the County Government six months before budget adoption, a range from a flat budget to a 15% cut in the budget. With LCPS enrollment growing an average of 6% per year, a flat budget is actually a budget cut even before the impact of inflation or a raise to a coaches, custodians and teachers.
8/13/08: Outreach Coordinator
Fisher to Take Schools Outreach Position
Important to Push
YMCA's Director to Join Schools
5/28/08: Sports & Music
Sports Illustrated: Top Sports Program in Virginia
100 Best music programs
Wash Post: #2 Softball team
5/23/08: Best Music Communities
4/25/08: Larger Elementary Classes
The most visible change in this year's budget cuts come from increasing the size of many classes. At the Middle & High School level the effects won't be seen until the fall and will be difficult to summarize because these students enroll for classes independently, but I suspect that we'll have plenty of anecdotal response from students, parents and teachers.
At the elementary level though, we already have a preview of who will be affected. There have been recent headlines about two small schools that will experience combined grade levels, but they won't be the only schools putting more students in with fewer teachers. The average class size will increase by one student, but you'll see that things can't be spread so evenly.
I received a document on Thursday that shows how many teachers are allocated to each elementary school by grade level, and it reveals which grade levels will be affected at each school. For instance, Algonkian Elementary is a school in my district with four first grade teachers and four second grade teachers this year. Next year, we can expect that the first graders will become second graders and the second graders will move on to third. To keep a stable class size next year, we would need four teachers each for second and third grade. Instead there are only three teachers allocated to Algonkian this year for second and third grades, and the kids in the fourth classrooms will be distributed among the other three. This is how an average class increase of one student becomes several new students in different classrooms.
Labels: Budget, Elementary
4/21/08: Personnel Changes
Teacher transfers due to class size increases
Changes in administration
Role of Board
2/7/08 VHSL & Home schoolers
WashPost Story
1/1/08: Cluster Meetings
12/27/07: AP Test instead of Final Exam
WashPost Story
12/27/07: LCPS Efficiency Review
Efficiency Survey
12/25/07: Perks
NASCAR-style hat
Dinner once/month
Notebook PC
Blackberry
Phone line, Fax line, fax machine
Friday, January 23, 2009
Grading Scale Update
While we were busy freezing salaries last night, Fairfax changed its grading scale.
The subject is under increasing discussion among my colleagues, and I have published a lot of material on the subject here on my blog (link to pertinent posts). The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee will discuss the grading scale at their February meeting. The Curriculum & Instruction committee Chair, Priscilla Godfrey, has scheduled a meeting for February 4th on the subject. I expect the committee to ask for a staff recommendation by some future date.
The subject is under increasing discussion among my colleagues, and I have published a lot of material on the subject here on my blog (link to pertinent posts). The Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee will discuss the grading scale at their February meeting. The Curriculum & Instruction committee Chair, Priscilla Godfrey, has scheduled a meeting for February 4th on the subject. I expect the committee to ask for a staff recommendation by some future date.
Pay Freeze Guaranteed in favor of jobs
Last night's budget worksession took a surprising turn when the Superintendent proposed to the Board that we freeze all salaries in the proposed budget, and reinstate most other recommended budget cuts, many of which would have cut positions. He said this after meeting with other Virginia Superintendents and finding none who were planning a pay raise.
Our Board, which in December voted to increase salaries instead of preserve jobs, did a prompt about-face, endorsing the Superintendent's proposal. This only changes the look of the proposed budget cuts above 10%, the level at which level the pay freeze was already scheduled. In another reversal, the Board voted not to increase out-of-network health insurance deductibles for employees. Copayment increases remain.
Other decisions were made in a long series of votes over the course of more than two hours. I didn't take notes and can't report all the details.
Our Board, which in December voted to increase salaries instead of preserve jobs, did a prompt about-face, endorsing the Superintendent's proposal. This only changes the look of the proposed budget cuts above 10%, the level at which level the pay freeze was already scheduled. In another reversal, the Board voted not to increase out-of-network health insurance deductibles for employees. Copayment increases remain.
Other decisions were made in a long series of votes over the course of more than two hours. I didn't take notes and can't report all the details.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Progress on School Before Labor Day
I'm in Richmond today. This morning I testified before the Senate Committee on Health & Education in favor of SB 1266, which would give School Boards full control over setting the school calendar. Currently we are unable to schedule a school start date prior to Labor Day, a law that has been on the books since 1986. The law's original sponsor is on the committee and defended it vigorously this morning, but for the first time in 22 years of trying the committee referred the bill to the full Senate.
Many thanks to Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel for sponsoring this legislation and inviting me to come to testify on its behalf.
Previous Posts:
2009-2010 School Calendar
Back to School Before Labor Day?
I'll write more later. Right now I need to come back to Loudoun for tonight's budget work session, which starts at 6:30.
Many thanks to Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel for sponsoring this legislation and inviting me to come to testify on its behalf.
Previous Posts:
2009-2010 School Calendar
Back to School Before Labor Day?
I'll write more later. Right now I need to come back to Loudoun for tonight's budget work session, which starts at 6:30.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Board maintains class sizes, drops white boards
The School Board voted last night to remove half-student increases in Elementary and Middle School class sizes from the proposed budget that we will send to the Board of Supervisors. Class size increases remain for High Schools, but I will propose that we remove those increases from the proposed budget at our next meeting.
The savings required to fund the extra personnel to maintain the class sizes with nearly 3,000 new students comes from three sources in the Superintendent's proposal. New electronic whiteboards were budgeted for all classrooms from grades K-2, additional security cameras and RFID card access systems for high schools, and funds for staff development activities.
Class size increases remain a possibility if the Board of Supervisors cuts the budget below the current FY09 funding levels.
The savings required to fund the extra personnel to maintain the class sizes with nearly 3,000 new students comes from three sources in the Superintendent's proposal. New electronic whiteboards were budgeted for all classrooms from grades K-2, additional security cameras and RFID card access systems for high schools, and funds for staff development activities.
Class size increases remain a possibility if the Board of Supervisors cuts the budget below the current FY09 funding levels.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Answering emails
I have a long list of budget-related emails to answer today. I haven't had my usual short turnaround time this week, overloaded with work and school board. If you sent a message and haven't received a response from me yet, hopefully you'll get one today. If you don't receive a response today and you are expecting one, please send me a reminder. If you have budget input the best time to give it is this weekend, the best way to give it is by email (or schedule a meeting by email).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Coffee tables instead of the podium
Public hearings, while required by law, are frustrating exercises. I know they’re frustrating for everyone. What I want more than anything is to step down from the dais and have coffee with each of you. In addition to a public hearing, we ought to hold a ‘coffee with the Board’ night. Each board member could sit at a different corner of the room, or in different rooms. There would be opportunity for two-way communication, opportunity for people who aren’t comfortable speaking on microphone to the whole room, opportunity for questions and answers. The public hearing at the podium would follow but I suspect that many people, having already been heard on a more individual level, would pass. I wonder what my colleagues would think of the idea.
Well anyway, let’s get together for coffee.
Well anyway, let’s get together for coffee.
Connect-Ed school alerts
It's not just for upcoming events...
I got messages this morning about the 1-hour school delay:
I got messages this morning about the 1-hour school delay:
- On my cell phone as a voice mail from the Public Information Officer, Wayde Byard
- By email (though it went to the junk box)
- On my home phone as a voice mail from the PIO
- On my home phone as a voice mail from one of my kid's principals
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
MSAAC Agenda 1/15/09
I found an agenda for the upcoming Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee meeting. I started perusing it casually but grew very interested, it looks to be an extremely interesting meeting and I wish I could attend. Unfortunately the Board has a budget meeting at the same time, and usually Thursdays for me are reserved for family. On the agenda:
Upcoming meeting themes:
- February: Fairgrade
- March: Summer Programs
- April: ESL and Parent Symposium
- May: Special Education
- August: Achievement and Discipline gaps
Parent delegate roles and responsibilities
Subcommittees:
- English as a Second Language
- Communications
- Parent Symposium
Your MSAAC Vision
The list item is especially intriguing. I have to say that it appears the new MSAAC is off to a spectacular start.
The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, January 15 2009 at 7pm at Stone Bridge High School.
Land Acquisition Process
The Board of Supervisors and School Board were at odds last year over the process of purchasing land for new schools. Representatives from each body met and worked out an ‘experimental’ modified process. It is experimental in that it was not officially changed by either Board, but that the Joint committee members agreed on behalf of their Boards to follow the process for the next six months.
In November the Joint committee of the two boards discussed the new process. There is a transcript of each Joint committee meeting available. The linked document below is the section of that committee transcript dealing with the current land acquisition process and I believe it is the most complete information available about what that process looks like, at least for now.
Land Acquisition Process Transcript
In November the Joint committee of the two boards discussed the new process. There is a transcript of each Joint committee meeting available. The linked document below is the section of that committee transcript dealing with the current land acquisition process and I believe it is the most complete information available about what that process looks like, at least for now.
Land Acquisition Process Transcript
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Inauguration Day a Holiday for Staff
The School Board voted tonight to make next Tuesday January 20th, a holiday for all LCPS staff in celebration of the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.
I hope everyone will enjoy the day.
The School Board holds a budget work session that night at 6:30pm.
I hope everyone will enjoy the day.
The School Board holds a budget work session that night at 6:30pm.
School Board Awards Woodgrove Contract
The Loudoun County School Board voted unanimously tonight to award a contract to the James G. Davis Construction Corporation for the construction of Woodgrove High School in the amount
of $53,875,000 to construct Woodgrove High School on the Fields Farm property northwest of Purcellville.
Somebody let me know when you see the first bulldozer.
of $53,875,000 to construct Woodgrove High School on the Fields Farm property northwest of Purcellville.
Somebody let me know when you see the first bulldozer.
C&I Committee to Discuss Grading Scale Feb 4
Priscilla Godfrey is the new Chair of the School Board's Curriculum and Instruction committee. She announced this afternoon that the next meeting is on February 4th and the planned topic is the LCPS grading scale.
Board Meeting 1/13/09
Key items on tonight's agenda:
- Closed meeting (4pm)
- Award of Contract for the construction of Woodgrove High School
- Adoption of Capital Asset Preservation Program
- Adoption of Capital Improvement Program
- Personnel Issue: Inauguration Day
Monday, January 12, 2009
Special Education Advisory Committee meets Jan 21st
The next meeting for the SEAC will be Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. We meet at the LCPS Administration building, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn Virginia.
Please note that this meeting is on Wednesday - NOT Tuesday, our regular night - due to the Inauguration and school closing.
Our speakers this month will be Cathy Shwaery, discussing the Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS) program in the county and Elaine Layman, Principal of Tolbert Elementary. Tolbert is one of the fifteen pilot sites for Response to Intervention (RTI) in the State of Virginia. Please join us to learn more about how these two programs impact special education.
Mrs. Kearney will also give us an update on the budget and discuss potential implications for special education.
If you have any questions, please email Deana Czaban at: deanaczaban.seac@gmail.com.
A Budget Approach
I'm still developing my approach to this year's budget but I think it boils down to this: Aligning the budget with the Board's adopted budget priorities (passed in early December) and attempting to do no permanent harm to any program. Few programs will be untouched during the budget struggles in this year and the next, but recovering from this difficult time will be easier if we don't need to start from scratch.
Hatrick's National Outlook
There is a small blurb in the Post this morning featuring Superintendent Ed Hatrick's thoughts about the national government's role in education.
Hatrick's Advice to Obama's Secretary of Education
I would advise doing everything possible to focus the department and its available funds on meeting the federal government's obligations for funding for special education.
I also hope that the new administration will focus on the needs of children who live in rural and urban poverty. I guess I'm suggesting that there be a return to the roots of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act at the federal level. The role of the federal government in public education is limited, and we cannot afford to continue to waste money and energies on the Department of Education's trying to police every public school system in America.
Dominion Principal is LTM Citizen of the Year
As you know if you've seen a local news stand or had a paper delivered to you this week, the Loudoun Times Mirror has named Dominion HS Principal Dr. John Brewer as its Citizen of the Year for 2008. I'll confess that I don't know Dr. Brewer very well, but I was pleased to see an LCPS principal named, given the enormous impact that every principal has on our community.
The Loudoun Times Mirror provides very good local coverage of LCPS by reporter Elizabeth Coe; LTM Editor in Chief Paul Smith serves on the LCPS School-Business Partnership committee. LTM is a commendable corporate citizen in its own right.
LTM also published its complete list of Citizens of the Year, going back 45 years. LCPS is represented several times in that list, including School Board member Helen Hirst Marsh, (1964), Superintendent Clarence M. Bussinge (1968), Wendall Fischer (1996) and Superindentent Ed Hatrick (2001).
The Loudoun Times Mirror provides very good local coverage of LCPS by reporter Elizabeth Coe; LTM Editor in Chief Paul Smith serves on the LCPS School-Business Partnership committee. LTM is a commendable corporate citizen in its own right.
LTM also published its complete list of Citizens of the Year, going back 45 years. LCPS is represented several times in that list, including School Board member Helen Hirst Marsh, (1964), Superintendent Clarence M. Bussinge (1968), Wendall Fischer (1996) and Superindentent Ed Hatrick (2001).
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Teachers & Inauguration Day
My colleagues & I on the School Board created a little bit of a puzzle last month by designating inauguration day as a student holiday this year and in all future years (LTM). The hitch is that it affects teachers at different grade levels in different ways, because the day falls in the middle of exam week for Loudoun's high- and middle-schools. Elementary teachers were largely in favor of the change when it was first proposed, middle-school teachers were split and high school teachers generally opposed it.
The board chose to move an existing student holiday scheduled at the end of that week (Friday jan 23rd) to inauguration day (Tuesday Jan 20). Tuesday becomes a planning day that teachers use to grade final exams. Teachers and staff are still required to work, but can use a personal day to take the day off if they wish. With the Board's blessing the Superintendent extended the due date for final exam grading by one day to offset secondary-level teacher's concerns about time to grade exams that will take place in the days after inauguration day.
Now the Board is hearing from many teachers that they'd like to take the day off entirely. From a typical email:
The board chose to move an existing student holiday scheduled at the end of that week (Friday jan 23rd) to inauguration day (Tuesday Jan 20). Tuesday becomes a planning day that teachers use to grade final exams. Teachers and staff are still required to work, but can use a personal day to take the day off if they wish. With the Board's blessing the Superintendent extended the due date for final exam grading by one day to offset secondary-level teacher's concerns about time to grade exams that will take place in the days after inauguration day.
Now the Board is hearing from many teachers that they'd like to take the day off entirely. From a typical email:
This motion recognizes the professionalism of teachers in completing grades for the reporting period in a timely fashion that meets the needs of the students and themselves. Secondary teachers (middle and high school) will not have completed semester exams for students by January 20, thus making that scheduled workday unproductive for them. Allowing teachers the option to not report to work on the 20th recognizes their need to complete their work in a more meaningful way.It appears that two Board members are prepared to offer a motion at next Tuesday's meeting, making attendance on that day optional for teaching staff. As of this morning the Superintendent has not made a recommendation to the Board on this question.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Fairfax Releases Grading Scale Report
Fairfax County Public Schools released its grading scale report (PDF) this week.
The Fairfax School Board takes up the question for discussion on January 8th, the agenda item lists the following options:
Option 1: No action
Option 2: Change weights only (0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP/IB, and dual enrollment)
Option 3: Change scale only (10-point)
Option 4: Change both
The recommendation of the Fairfax Superintendent is Option 2.
Loudoun does not yet have a recommendation from Superintendent Hatrick, or any meetings scheduled to address the subject.
My previous posts on the topic.
The Fairfax School Board takes up the question for discussion on January 8th, the agenda item lists the following options:
Option 1: No action
Option 2: Change weights only (0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP/IB, and dual enrollment)
Option 3: Change scale only (10-point)
Option 4: Change both
The recommendation of the Fairfax Superintendent is Option 2.
Loudoun does not yet have a recommendation from Superintendent Hatrick, or any meetings scheduled to address the subject.
My previous posts on the topic.
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