THOSE schools

Time for a rant.

We live in Sterling, and the kids will be going to Sterling Park schools. We just can't have OUR kids going to THOSE schools.

I hear some variation of this every couple of months. I heard it again today. What astonishes me is how adults will speak this nonsense and feel absolutely no need to justify the statement. When I hear it, I say: "Back it up."

If a kid has had a bad experience, I'm all ears, let's figure out what the problem is and solve it. If there is a problem with a particular teacher or principal, I want to know. Where there is data raising concerns about a particular school, let's look at it and act on it. You want to talk about violence and discipline? Compare the data on the state website; the statistics for Park View are very similar to those for never-maligned Potomac Falls.

I have yet to find someone who can make the case that there is something wrong with the schools themselves, or with the job they're doing for the vast majority of kids. After all, these schools draw from the same talented team of LCPS principals and teachers as every other LCPS school.

The fact is that a sweeping statement about "Sterling Park Schools" is pure prejudice. Sterling Park is served by seven schools. One High, one Middle and five Elementaries. Each is unique. "THOSE schools" doesn't mean "THOSE teachers" or "THOSE principals," or even "THOSE buildings." "THOSE schools" is just code for "THOSE kids," meaning "the poor ones with brown skin."

Don't let it slide when someone says such a thing. Challenge them to back it up. Don't let it be socially safe to say such a thing. There is no place for prejudice against children.

Subway & Safeway school rewards

I eat at Subway pretty regularly... veggie-stuffed subs to fend off the temptation of drive-through burgers and fries. Like most places, Subway has a cash card program. I generally think these are bogus (in exchange for my contact information and cash, I get a piece of plastic?), but I've made an exception for Subway School Rewards. I got a card and signed up my kid's elementary school as a beneficiary today.

I also signed up for Safeway's Escrip program, which let me designate three schools.

Any one of these programs doesn't contribute a lot of money to an individual school, but put together they do allow schools to purchase a few extras to augment their classrooms.

No School Board at Back to School Nights

I have kids at five different LCPS schools this year, in addition the schools I represent. This fall at your Back to School nights you'll receive a welcome from the principal, a plea for volunteers from the parent-teacher organization, a plea for contributions from the Loudoun Education Foundation. You'll be itching to get to the end of the speeches and get to your kid's classrooms. At least there's one less speech this year than usual:

From Dr. Hatrick to principals:

Please do not invite School Board members to speak at your Back to School nights or to make videos ahead of time to be aired at those meetings. School Board members will attend these events and mix informally with parents if they wish to do so, but they do not have a Bond Referendum to discuss, which is their reason for speaking in previous years. We want to be careful not to have your Back to School Night become a "political" forum that could potentially be open to a number of elected officials or candidates. If you have already extended such an invitation please politely withdraw it.

New PFHS Principal is Janice Koslowski

Last night the School Board enthusiastically endorsed the Superintendent's choice of Ms. Janice Koslowski as the next principal of Potomac Falls High School. Ms. Koslowski is currently the principal of Eagle Ridge Middle School. Prior to holding that post, she was Assistant Principal at PFHS. Ms. Koslowski remains principal at Eagle Ridge MS until her successor to that post is named, which will be after the start of school. Current PFHS Principal David Spage will remain as principal until then.

Ms. Koslowski was strongly recommended to the Superintendent by a panel of teachers, administrators, and a PFHS parent.

Personally, I'm thrilled at the selection. I recently expressed my dismay at the loss of PFHS administrators to more senior LCPS positions, potentially leaving the school with a lack of institutional knowledge. Bringing back a well-regarded former PFHS AP who now has successful experience as a LCPS secondary school principal sets my mind at ease as a PFHS parent as well as a Board member.

As I said to Ms. Koslowski last night, I am completely confident that she is well qualified to supervise the education of my children. That is not a statement that I make lightly. I know that my fellow PFHS parents will feel the same. I look forward to working with her.

Update: LCPS Story

New Employee Orientation

New Employee Orientation is today, at Heritage High School. 250 new employees will be welcomed in for the new school year, about a third of what has been typical in the past few years.

Appeals & Adherence to Policy

Parents have the right to appeal administrative and disciplinary decisions to the Superintendent and ultimately to the School Board. When parents do appeal to the School Board, a committee of three members reviews the case and issues a final ruling. I have sat in on a few administrative appeals now, and I find that in these cases the administration has consistently upheld the policies set forth by the School Board. In cases where the Board overturns an administrative appeal, members base the decision on the privilege of not being bound by policy, and the ability to avoid unintended consequences of policy.

That’s not good enough, though. Most parents don’t appeal all the way to the Superintendent, much less the School Board, even though the option is laid out to them in plain sight. A policy producing unintended consequences should be modified if possible, even if only to give the administrators carrying it out the discretion to avoid such unintended consequences without needing a number of appeals.

Lake Wobegon Schools

Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.

I was chatting with a principal this morning, and a thought struck me. Our community expects, and deserves, "Lake Wobegon" schools. Where all the schools are nearby, all the sports are free, and all the teachers are above average.

LCPS Adult Education classes

In keeping with the LCPS emphasis that learning is a lifelong endeavor, the fall schedule for LCPS Adult Education classes is out. Focus on GED and English as a Second Language, but also music & arts, business & software classes, personal finance and horticulture, foreign languages, cooking & exercise (maybe take those as a pair). Not a lot of classes on each subject, but quite a breadth of subject areas. Sign me up for “Introduction to Arabic Lanuage & Culture.” Oh, wait. That’s on School Board meeting nights. Maybe another year.

Discipline Policies Under Review

The School Board is undergoing a comprehensive review of all LCPS policies this year, revising many along the way. Tomorrow night, Tuesday August 18th the Discipline Committee from 5:00-6:30 to begin its review of discipline policies (Chapter 8, Article III: Policies 26-39). The meeting is open to the public.

AYP 2009: Post's Take on Virginia Scores

Va. Test Scores Climb, But More Schools Miss Targets

More Virginia schools fell short of academic benchmarks in the past school year even though passing rates on state reading and math tests continued to climb, according to results made public Thursday morning.

The data show that 525 schools, or 28 percent of the statewide total, failed to make adequate progress under federal education law in the 2008-09 school year. In the previous year, 479 schools -- or 26 percent -- fell short.

At the same time, the percentage of students who met or exceeded the state standard for proficiency in reading and math rose in the annual spring tests. Eighty-nine percent passed Virginia's Standards of Learning English reading tests, up from 87 percent the year before. And 86 percent passed the SOL math tests, up from 84 percent the year before.

Virginia AYP scores released today

The Virginia Department of Education releases the AYP/SOL results for all schools today, including Loudoun. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, Loudoun School Board members got a sneak preview yesterday of the results. I haven't been able to dive in to them in detail so I'm not providing much analysis, just some facts and links.

LCPS as a division made AYP again this year. AYP requires at least 79% of students in various demographic categories and ages to pass Math tests and 81% of students to pass English tests. This is a higher bar than last year, when the goals were 75% in Math and 77% in English.

Press Release from Virginia Department Of Education
Memo from Sharon Ackerman, LCPS Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Press Release from LCPS Public Information Office

There will be ambivalent reactions from the LCPS establishment. You will hear and read repeated assurances that everything is going well and that the test results indicate broad success, and this is true. More quietly there is concern about the large number of schools that did not make AYP. Resources and attention will be shifted to those schools and students who did not pass their SOLs, and there will be warnings to the Board of Supervisors when budget time comes around that continued classroom crowding due to lack of new schools and larger class sizes is not going to help the situation.

I counsel my fellow parents with children at LCPS to look first at your own child's results. Did your own children pass their SOLs, and whether they did or not are you pleased with their individual progress? If not, focus on them for this school year. Is you are satisfied with your child but worried about your school, volunteer to work with children in one of the areas where your school is struggling.

Post your thoughts in the comments section.

Update: In-depth story in Loudoun Independent

Boundary Process Update

At yesterday afternoon's Board meeting, we briefly discussed the brewing conversation about boundary policies and processes. The focus was Dr. Adamo's description of his staff's recommendations for a new process. Bob Ohneiser also referenced his list of 39 suggestions that he wants reviewed and discussed.

Tonight at 7pm will be the real in-depth discussion, at the first meeting of the Boundary Process committee, chaired by Mr. Geurin. Expect most of the Board to attend.

Notes from Tonight's Board meeting

• There were many fond remembrances for Mike Lunsford. I couldn't do better than the words I had already written, so I left it alone.
• There were many congratulations for David Spage. I don't like to give personal congratulations on promotions from the role of employer. Seems to me that a promotion is a challenge, not a reward. I expressed confidence in Mr. Spage's ability to take on his new role, and regret that he won't be at the helm of PFHS anymore.
• AYP numbers for last year will be released for all schools across the state on Thursday. The School Board will get a sneak preview of Loudoun's numbers tomorrow.
• The Board adopted a revised Policy 2-3, Code of Ethics. In addition to some new language, it is now titled Code of Conduct. I voted no. The word "Ethics" belongs in our policies.
• The Board adopted a revised Policy 8-15, Admission Requirements. Changes are minor.
• The Board reviewed a number of Curriculum-related policies with either no changes or minor changes as part of its ongoing policy review process. They will most likely be adopted at our next meeting. I have particular concerns about 5-9, which allows schools to sell workbooks, writing books and drawing books to students at a seven-percent retail markup. This is a recitation of existing state law. Mrs. Ackerman says this is not in practice at LCPS, the community would want for it to be in practice, so it shouldn't be in the policy.
• The Board reviewed proposed FY11 budget meeting calendars. While public input on the budget is encouraged year-round, public input on the budget is scheduled for October 13th, far ahead of the Superintendent making his recommendation to the Board. Almost nobody ever shows up for this hearing. I'll post a reminder for it a week in advance.
• The Board reviewed a number of Personnel policies with no proposed changes as part of its ongoing policy review process.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for September 8th, the first day of school.