Finally, the Alexandria School Board has selected a new superintendent: Dr. Morton Sherman of the Tenafly (N.J.) public school district. Previously Dr. Morton was superintended of the Cherry Hill (N.J.) school district.
Two interesting facts to note from today's Washington Post news article: Dr. Sherman has a background implementing International Baccalaureate programs (IB), and he comes from a much smaller and less diverse school district than Alexandria's.
12 comments:
According to the ACPS web site the School Board Chairman is leaving at the end of the school year due to her husband's transfer.
The superintendent search started off poorly but seemed to end well. At least it looks like they picked a good candidate and the Board was in agreement.
My impression, based on no specific insider knowledge, was that the Board Chair was not interested in any broader changes at JH beyond what has already happened. So it is hard to see how this would be bad news. Not necessarily good news, but at least not bad news.
I haven't seen an update from the meeting on Tuesday night. Was the president of the ICCA too busy changing the bylaws to attend the work session on the James Bland redevelopment?
The association's treasurer attended the work session. There was little or no new information beyond what we already heard at the May ICCA meeting.
"Was the president of the ICCA too busy changing the bylaws to attend the work session on the James Bland redevelopment?"
I don't belong to the ICCA but it seems odd that a pissy statement such as this is included in the school's posting. Is your point that public housing needs to be dispersed in order to better educate our neighborhood children? If so put your butt on the line and let us know why you need others to attend such meetings in your stead.
"If so put your butt on the line and let us know why you need others to attend such meetings in your stead."
Yeah, I agree. Having suffered through many city meetings myself, I know how tedious they can be.
I totally and absolutely appreciate the Growler's efforts and the efforts of the ICCA. Thanks, everyone.
Dr. Sherman has first-hand experience dealing with public schools on more personal matters:
In a March 06 Families Matter! magazine article Morton Sherman writes of his daughter’s struggle with severe depression and the important lessons his family has learned through this experience. In the form of a letter to actor Tom Cruise [scientology advocate], he shares his daughter’s story and discusses the dangers of stigma surrounding mental illness. Mr. Sherman writes, “When a child breaks a leg, we put a cast on it. When we have a headache, we take aspirin. When the flu season starts to break out, we all run for shots. So must it be for the mental health of our children.”
Click here to read the full article
http://www.tapartnership.org/news/Mar06/familymatter.htm
The last comment's link to Dr. Sherman's was truncated so here's the Tiny URL link to take readers to the article:
http://tinyurl.com/s4lvu
Throughout all the blog entries there seems to be a community concern for the future of JH School. you are right to be concerned. Developers are very interested in that plot of land so close to a Metro stop. I have one suggestion that might really help the school. It is not well known but a person does not have to be a parent to be a member of any school's PTA. If enough of you are truly interested in making JH the best possible school, join the PTA even if you are a single person. Schools are far more than just places where kids go to learn. They serve as community centers, polling places, sometimes churches for congregations waiting for new churches to be built, senior center meeting places, and, frequently, the only green space a neighborhood has. You can join at any PTA meeting. I urge as many of you who can to join JH's PTA and help give its community a bigger voice. Everyone will benefit. Consider also joining tutoring programs and any other outreach programs the school may have. You all have a lot to offer the children there.The more neighborhood community support a school has the better its chances to receive more money for programs and capital improvements and the less likely for it to be considered ripe for development by Council members and others.
"the less likely for it to be considered ripe for development by Council members and others.
I suspect decision to redevelop the site belongs to the school board and not the City Council. Otherwise I do support relocating the school to the Yard. It is time to start over and maybe with Mrs. Eberwein's Board departure we can assume a fresh start.
In re development being the School Board's business. That is true in theory but as Council has final say on the Board's budget, they could certainly put the Board into the position of having to close JH (which at least 3 Council members want)and then the City could sell the land off to developers.
In re putting JH students into the school at Potomac Yard, that school, even in its current planning stages is going to be too small for the students in Potomac Yard, much less any other students. Plus, if the current info is correct, they are planning to build a school for 400 students on only 3 acres. Well, that is in total violation of the State's regulations for building schools. A school for 400 must have a lot of 6 acres PLUS an additional acre for every 100 students. In other words, a 400 pupil school must have 10 acres. I know that many of Alexandria's current schools don't meet that requirement but they were built prior to this rule and the state has shown no interest in building schools on smaller parcels of land.
Just for another perspective for what it is woth if one checks the website on rate your teacher (check google) one will be interested in what Dr.Sherman received from over 25 persons who rated him dating back to his time in Cherry Hill, NJ. what is unusual is this website mainly is a rating for teachers; evidently, many persons chose to rate this superintendent. Very interesting and I do not believe the board checked this out.
The site this commenter refers to is:
www.ratemyteachers.com
Post a Comment