Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman has announced that Jefferson-Houston School will be operated by a principal for instruction, assisted by a chief executive officer, with oversight by an alternate governance committee comprised of school leadership, PTA representatives and central office staff. This committee will provide support and guidance needed to assist the principal in his or her quest to improve student achievement. The principal for instruction position is being advertised now with a goal of selecting a new principal by late July.It also appears that assistant principal Melissa Deak has left and a new assistant principal, Helena Payne, has been brought in from Hammond Middle School (http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2011/nr2011062103.php).
Two community meetings will be held to answer questions about the search for a new principal and about the new governance structure. The first meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, in the school library, 1501 Cameron St., Alexandria. A second meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, also in the school library. Read more at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2011/nr2011062701.php
The question for skeptical parents and community residents is whether these changes reflect a genuine intent to bootstrap the school into better performance or are simply churning exercises. Given that test scores are typically released in September, do school officials know something we don't about the spring's test results?
26 comments:
ACPS should have at least a premliminary knowledge of the results as SOLs were taken online this year and were scored almost instantly. Weighted scores and the overall performance will be released mid-summer. Performance scores for the individual child were sent home at the end of the school year.
When you dont know how to fix the problem, reorganize the structure. It's a good distraction that works every time.
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=352465&paper=59&cat=104
"Gunshots in the middle of the night. Drugs dealing in plain sight. Public urination. Threats of violence. A car set on fire. Screaming and loud music. Litter rolling through the streets. These are some of the things neighbors in North Old Town say are happening in and around public-housing unites in Chatham Square and government-subsidized units at Hopkins Tancil.
"It’s not what you think of as Old Town," said Jennifer Smith, president of the Gadsby’s Court Homeowners Association. "The quality of life has really deteriorated over the last two years."
Nonsense, responds the chairman of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
"I think their concerns are overblown," said Melvin Miller, longtime chairman of the public-housing authority. "I just don’t think it’s true.""
So shall we privde video tape evidence to prove him wrong, or have Miller and a reporter take a ride-along for verification purposes? Throw Spa Court in there, too; it's really been "blossoming" ever since the mayor's barber arrived and upped the loiter factor to an unsustainable number. Open air deals near a park are back up to the bad old levels, and zip-all seems to be happening to stop it.
There is an article in the Gazette about the poor people who live around Tancil Court having to deal with crime and other antisocial behavior on the part of many of its residents and visitors. There is the typical quote from the depsicable Melvin Miller claiming that he doesn't know what these people are complaining about as there are no problems.
Which reminds me, absentee voting begins today for the Virginia Senate Primary. Don't get mad about the City's public housing policies. Get even. Personally, I'm making it a point to vote against Krupicka for supporting ARHA and Resolution 830 while he was a member of City Council.
"I think their concerns are overblown," said Melvin Miller, longtime chairman of the public-housing authority. "I just don’t think it’s true.""
Melvin Miller could not possibly be a bigger assh_le. Krupicka voted to reinstate him as ARHA chairman, no? Well, then vote against Krupicka in the primary. And in the next City Council/mayoral election, vote against all the members who did the same.
Otherwise, nothing will ever change.
Krupicka was ONE of the council members who backed down when confronted with the NAACP and resident revolt orchestrated by Miller. He was also for forcing standards as conditions of forgiving (extending... whatever)the loan, give him a break - he doesn't like their management any more than we do. Pope plays both sides of the fence but this was a decent piece.
"Krupicka was ONE of the council members who backed down when confronted with the NAACP and resident revolt orchestrated by Miller."
Yes, but he is the ONLY one who is running for Senate. So, at this point, my anger at the City over its public housing policies and its cowardly refusal to deal with Melvin Miller is directed towards him. Plus, he voted to redeposit a huge number of ARHA units at Bland, when he could have chosen to do the right thing and redistribue.
"Vote against Krupicka in the primary. And in the next City Council/mayoral election, vote against all the members who did the same.
Otherwise, nothing will ever change."
Amen to that! Our power is in our votes.
"Amen to that! Our power is in our votes."
Your power is in numbers. I hope that everyone who contributes to this site is out there at city meetings(no matter how fruitless and boring - they're just trying to outlast you). Send letters and understand your options.
"Your power is in numbers."
Yes, maybe it's time for all the small groups to get together under some kind of umbrella organizaiton. The Chatham Sq. people have a clear interest, as do the citizens who formed the North Old Town group referenced in the Gazette article. There are now so many more of us in close proximity to these ARHA properties (and thereby suffering) that we should be able to exert some real pressure finally to change Res. 830, etc. Can NOTCA join this fight? How about the Lofts and places such as that? Not to mention all the new buyers at Old Town Commons who will undoubtedly be surprised by what is in store for them. They'll certainly need a forum in which to express their anger.
"Why are we living like this?" Smith asked city officials last month. "It defies logic."
How true. Now if they can extrapolate that if a somewhat less-concentrated public housing area like Chatham Square is experiencing this type of activity, what is life like near concentrated public housing Adkins, Bland and Madden like?
"Although one representative from ARHA suggested that neighbors who were unhappy with living in an urban environment should move to the suburbs, North Old Town residents dismissed that idea."
What a classic reply from ARHA, its either you are a racist, a gentrifier or can't handle living in a city. ARHA is such an anachronism and an insult to our intelligence its unbelievable. I despise the entire spineless city council for not only allowing this to continue, but encouraging it for political gain.
I read Michael Pope's article, and was appalled by Melvin Miller's remarks and those of one of the ARHA representatives. Have they all forgotten that their salaries and ARHA's operating budget are funded by our hard earned dollars??? If people really want to fix public housing in Alexandria, here is what needs to happen...
- eliminate resolution 830, ARHA should be able to purchase property outside the city to help redistribute tenants
- reduce the overall number of public housing units in each Old Town neighborhood to a density no higher than Chatham Square
- deny housing to former drug dealers, and their relatives, and anyone with extensive criminal records
- insist that no more than two adults live in any given unit, and that both must have jobs. You can tell by the amounts of trash generated each week that many ARHA units have far more people living there than the number on the lease.
- fire Melvin Miller
- insist that the APD treat infractions taking place in ARHA neighborhoods the same as other neighborhoods. Profanity, drug use, loitering, unruly behaviour are not tolerated on King St, so why in our communities?
This would be a start. Let's see it happen.
"I read Michael Pope's article, and was appalled by Melvin Miller's remarks and those of one of the ARHA representatives."
Yes, but not surprised.
Those of us in PG with a long history of dealing with Melvin and ARHA have a responsibility to educate our less experienced Chatham Sq. neighbors on the history of the ARHA chairman, resolution 830, and City politics.
The bottom line, people need to hold politicians accountable or nothing will ever change.
People should start with voting against Krupicka, then sending an email to him and the rest of the Council members telling them why you took that action.
Krupicka, and many other current council members, voted to reappoint Mr Miller out of sheer cowardice, despite being well aware of his destructive nature. Krupicka (and the other members of council) knew Mr. Miller was bad for ARHA and the City, made a half baked attempt to get rid of him, then backed down out of fear.
If you ever want things to change, vote against them.
I was at a Housing Master Plan meeting where they were trying to determine the issues and needs of ARHA residents, and one of the requests was better access to education, socialization and child care. Just kidding. It was actually GRANITE countertops! A social worker said she personally coordinated job opportunities that residents refused to show up for. In her words, they would prefer to lean against cars. Why are we focusing on perpetuating this kind of dependancy when there are so many workforce housing needs going unaddressed? Why not reward individuals and families who show some potential, not to metion respect and a little gratitude for city and taxpayer generosity?
""Why are we living like this?" Smith asked city officials last month. "It defies logic.""
Because Melvin just wont give it up and wake up to reality. And the sycophants (who live nowhere near Tancil) wont let anything change.
Its almost comical at this point.
"ARHA have a responsibility to educate our less experienced Chatham Sq. neighbors on the history of the ARHA chairman, resolution 830, and City politics."
We have a very good understanding of ARHA and Melvin Miller. Remember when we tried to show video-taped evidence a year ago to the Council and the Mayor shut it down?
Our perspective is the Mayor is not interested in the truth and doesnt want to see it or hear it. I also hear that the Mayor has a PO Box right by Adkins, so its not like he doesnt know whats going on.
He just doesnt care.
""Although one representative from ARHA suggested that neighbors who were unhappy with living in an urban environment should move to the suburbs"
Here is a novel concept; why doesnt ARHA move to the suburbs?
Better yet, move to Delray. Move into Melvin Miller's and Bill Euielle's block. See how they like it.
Oh wait, Alexandria's so-called "liberals" dont want anything to do with ARHA either.
"insist that the APD treat infractions taking place in ARHA neighborhoods the same as other neighborhoods. Profanity, drug use, loitering, unruly behaviour are not tolerated on King St, so why in our communities?
This would be a start. Let's see it happen."
Cue Lenny Harris and David Englin's music.
I sense another "chattel" crusade coming....
"Oh wait, Alexandria's so-called "liberals" dont want anything to do with ARHA either."
Actually, they LOVE public housing and AHRA. You're right they don't want it in their neighborhoods. However, it is in the City Council members' best interests to maintain this reliable voting block. Why do you think they provide rides to the polls on election day? If we moved to a total voucher system, they would not have these guaranteed votes.
Sick, I know. But it's the truth. Anyone who lives in Chatham Sq. saw this in action a couple of weeks ago, when the city politicians showed up last month at the annual "family day" celebration at Tancil Court. Not sure who paid for this, but I'm guessing it was the taxpayers.
Even Marion Barry gets it:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/07/11/barry-no-more-renters-in-ward-8/
As an FYI, Lenny Harris is generating a response to the Michael Pope article... Looks like he is more than ready to call out the race card and general insensitivity of homeowners in the neighborhood. (such, total, BS!)
Subject: Please Attend A Community Meeting On Thursday
Xxxx and Xxxxx,
Please be advised community member Lenny Harris has organized a meeting regarding the communities concern about the unverified information presented in the July 7 Neighborhood Under Siege story “that is not supported by crime stats or community observations.” That quote if from Lenny Harris.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. Senior representatives from the Alexandria Police Department and City Manager’s Office will attend the meeting and provide an accurate assessment of the crime issues in the area, and address community quality of life concerns.
Thanks,
Xxxx
All: The e-mail excerpt below, which intentionally left out Chatham Square and everyone impacted by ARHA, was sent directly to local media by city staff in a blatant attempt to provide a one-sided account refuting the facts stated in the 'Community Under Seige' article. "Please be advised community member Lenny Harris has organized a meeting regarding the communities concern about the unverified information presented in the July 7 Neighborhood Under Siege story “that is not supported by crime stats or community observations.” That quote if from Lenny Harris. The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. Senior representatives from the Alexandria Police Department and City Manager’s Office will attend the meeting and provide an accurate assessment of the crime issues in the area, and address community quality of life concerns."
Please come out, see the encore fireworks and show your support - at least Chatham Square had the courtesy to address their concerns face to face.
And who was the City staff member who sent this E-mail?
I hope that everyone who writes in to this blog does everything in their power to attend the meeting tomorrow night. Tell your friends -this is our chance to show what we think of ARHAs management of their properties. Nobody should be made to deal with the problems created by an organization and city which refuses to acknowledge the responsibility they bear in ensuring the residents they allow to live in public housing are law-abiding, respectful members of the community.
"And who was the City staff member who sent this E-mail?"
I'll leave it at 'it was just his or her job'. I'm sure the idea came from further up than the poor minnion who wrote the e-mail - whoever had the idea was more strategic and slippery than to be directly associated with coordinating this. Which pretty much leaves us with the entire city staff.
"And who was the City staff member who sent this E-mail?"
Tony Castrilli sent the email about the meeting. And it's no surprise to those of us who have been dealing with ARHA and city officials on these issues over the past five years that they would try to spin and distort the truth of what's happening. That is their MO: demonize the law abiding citizens; brand them liars and racists. Ironic that city officials are falling all over themselves to set up a meeting with "community member Lenny Harris" (does he even live in Old Town?) and yet there's been no effort made by the city to schedule a follow-up meeting to the one Pope details in his article to address the surrounding HOA communities' concerns. Is there any doubt as to what side the city is on? It's time to rally together and send city council a message they won't forget come election time: You're fired!
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