The Sounds of Silence
Readers who want to learn more about the troubled history of our perennially underperforming Jefferson-Houston School will want to read a new Old Town Crier column by local historian and resident Sarah Becker. It sheds new light on Alexandria's segregationist past -- a subject frequently covered up and dismissed in fashionable circles but which informs every decision within the City, especially those relating to the schools.
More Sounds of Silence
Alexandria City Public Schools will be holding a "community meeting" tonight from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in Jefferson-Houston's multi-purpose room to discuss the latest developments with the new K-8 building.
However, it's now 4.5 hours before the meeting and neither the Growler nor the other West Old Town Citizens Association representative who sit on the "communications" committee for the new school have received an E-mail with links to key documents just posted to the ACPS Web site.
But others have. Word has come to the Growler that through non-official means School Board Vice Chair and new school advocate Helen Morris sent the Upper King Street Neighborhood Association a reminder over the weekend and an update again this morning.
Given this fact, just what is ACPS's definition of "community"?
The Rest is Silence
As readers may know, ACPS is "investigating" unnamed employees who made transfers of funds between capital improvement accounts without notifying the School Board or City Council, which must authorize these transfers. No word yet on who was involved or how many highers-ups had knowledge.
25 comments:
Why do we deal with the stresses, the insults? Look who has bailed. From the Del Ray wedge: Councilman Krupicka and Delegate Englin. From Old Town: Lee Quill. It's a setup including the public relations. Look at Ms. Morris' donor list and it will all become clear.
Helen sent this link to one of the neighborhood associations: http://eboard.acps.k12.va.us/attachments/9680dca1-5e5c-4169-bf73-438961df0a47.pdf
"Look who has bailed."
I agree. The recent list is long including some parents who now sit are the new school's committees. I trust no one involved with this process starting with Sherman. West Old Town Citizens Association should receive the same mailings as Upper King Street Citizens Association. Unless the deck is being stacked.
We're parents whose child will be eligible in another two years and there's been no outreach to us.
"Helen Morris sent the Upper King Street Neighborhood Association a reminder over the weekend and an update again this morning."
Someone from Old Town West Civic Association should speak at the next Public Comment Period available at a School Board meeting re: Morris's lack of inclusion of the neighborhood.
It's time to hold Sherman accountable. One of his first moves was to fire the School System's Public Information Officer and hire a consultantant to spin his management. So now, is he watching his staff transfer funds from one account to annother?
I don't think that he can spin accounting. Numbers are real.
http://alexandriava.gov/tes/info/default.aspx?id=39394
So we don't get sandbagged on another issue of local concern, here's a reminder about the next meeting dealing with the bus/rail Route 1 corridor scheme. It's Thursday, December 15th at 7 p.m. at City Hall in the Sister
Cities Room -- Room 1101.
Growler last night I heard school staff ask you if you wished to put on a mailing list. If you were asked to serve on the communications committee are you not already on a committee mailing list? I just happened to be standing near where you were. The exchange boggles the imagination.
The issue here is that the community appears content to simply blog about the woes of this and other schools within Alexandria. I challenge those concerned with what is happening with the city's schools to move beyond the computer screen and attend school board meetings where these heartfelt concerns, thoughtful questions, and much needed challenges can be brought before all public eyes.
"Helen Morris sent the Upper King Street Neighborhood Association a reminder over the weekend and an update again this morning."
I wondered when she was running why she was sucking up to Del Ray types... she won't get my vote for anything again if she bothers to run.
"I challenge those concerned with what is happening with the city's schools to move beyond the computer screen and attend school board meetings where these heartfelt concerns, thoughtful questions, and much needed challenges can be brought before all public eyes."
Maybe when but not before the Board's Vice Chair opts to communicate honestly with everybody.
Waiting for ACPS to be forthcoming before speaking out about issues within the school system?! Now that is a novel idea. I believe such reasoning abounds within our district's elementary, middle, and even high school, but should not be a rationale approach taken by adults in the community. The community and parents within Alexandria hold an enormous amount of power. It is just a shame that they are ignorant/indifferent to most issues of importance within ACPS. Or worse yet, choose to simply gripe in a forum which may have little, if any, actual impact on solving the woes of the system.
"Or worse yet, choose to simply gripe in a forum which may have little, if any, actual impact on solving the woes of the system."
Meow. It was social media that toppled Middle Eastern governments was it not?
I'll keep my eye on Tahrir, I mean, Market Square. Just let me know when that rascal of a misfit "social media" decides a toppling is about to commence. He is always getting into some mischief as those seemingly enraged citizens stand idly by.
"Meow. It was social media that toppled Middle Eastern governments was it not?"
No, it was actually mass numbers of people taking a clue from the social media and getting off their couches and protesting. Social medial without action is just talk.
Becker's research is her usual good quality but so far the city has not acted responsibly to solve the segregation problem. As I was told Rosemonters who live around Shuter's Hill will always prefer MacArthur. My children are not guinea pigs and we left the neighborhood two years ago because we wanted a better school for the both. A new building is not going the solve the Jefferson Houston problem anymore than a new building solved T.C. Williams' educational problems.
"Becker's research is her usual good quality but so far the city has not acted responsibly to solve the segregation problem."
It is stupid to think a new school will solve JH's educational problems, In 1999 the whites took care of themselves and like you I see no reason to put my child's education at risk. So there's no misunderstanding we're black. Euille should be exercising greater moral leadership. Instead like Krupicka and Sherman he is willing to spend excessive amounts.
"Instead like Krupicka and Sherman he is willing to spend excessive amounts."
We are supposed to believe that the issue now is the building, the building only. In truth the school's educational future is what should concern us. Initially Sherman argued Principal Kim Graves was the long term solution. She failed at the elementary level and went to the central office. Now we are supposed to believe the expanding middle school is the solution. No. Morris says nothing publicly regarding performance and in truth Perry's academic record seems like the better one especically considering where she started. By comparison Sherman hires a spin doctor who the record shows contributed kindly to her campaign. Morris has negotiated well with her fellow board members poorly with the community as a whole. Maybe that's why overall confidence is low.
"Look who has bailed. From the Del Ray wedge: Councilman Krupicka and Delegate Englin. From Old Town: Lee Quill."
You leave out Bill Cromley now rumored to be on a super duper construction committee.
"Someone from Old Town West Civic Association should speak at the next Public Comment Period available at a School Board meeting re: Morris's lack of inclusion of the neighborhood."
Why? Participation is useless not unlike when participating in the charrettes associated with the Braddock Road Small Area Plan. We're pulling for Seminary set precedent by winning its Hammond lawsuit.
"A new building is not going the solve the Jefferson Houston problem anymore than a new building solved T.C. Williams' educational problems."
It might if the only goal is separate but equal facilities. Think about it.
Just read school board member Arthur Peabody might run for city council. Heard earlier the infamous Claire Eberwein has returned from Vienna and again interested in city politics. Makes me wonder. What are Morris' longer term goals?
These people have run the school system into the ground. Don't believe so, just stop by any school and speak to teachers. Not into the personal thing, then simply examine the multitude of changes made within the past 3-4 years under Mr. Sherman. What have these changes produced?
Since you mention lack of communication between ACPS and the community, here is another case in point. A few weeks ago I was shocked to get a notice telling me that my child would not attend school on December 12. It was only this summer that the schools' Superintendent Morton Sherman was still floating the idea of petitioning the state to extend the school year before Labor Day. Now, less than 6 months later, the school system has started taking student days away! I am maddened and confused. What is the purpose and why this decision after so much of the system's time, resources, and money were spent on pushing to lengthen the school year? More lost instruction days are schedule. How is this going to impact student learning and achievement on measures like the SOLs? Not to mention impact my, and every other parents', schedule. We were told that these changes are for professional days. Isn't there an entire week before the start of school for this? Aren't teacher work days already built into the calendar? If changes have to be made in such a last minute fashion, how effective can these initiatives truly be? Do we not live in a day of rampant use of technology, where ideas can be emailed or professional learning may take place at other times than during our children's school day? Was any thought given to addressing any of these questions or concerns from the community? Hard to imagine that they will get JHAA right when they can't even sing the same song on when kids should and shouldn't be in school.
ACPS got an earful about their attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of Alexandria's adult students. Don't go easy on them for their attempts to omit the community from being part of the JHAA process. This is how they have chosen to operate for the past four years. Enough is enough and the community should make their voices heard through their votes for school board. Clean house and take Sherman along too!
In case anyone was wondering:
Gunshots were reported at 6 p.m. in the 1200 block of Madison Street, according to Alexandria Police Department spokesperson Jody Donaldson.
Officers responded to the call, but no person or weapon was found.
In case anyone missed it, another J-H dog-and-pony show alights Tuesday evening. Found on a web search:
http://www.acps.k12.va.us/board/jh-project/meeting-20120110.pdf
Greetings Jefferson-Houston Community,
Some good news as we start the new year: Our new school pre-construction process is moving ahead.
Please plan to attend the Jefferson-Houston School Project Community Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10 from 7-8:30 p.m.
We will provide updates on our pre-construction progress and meet the Architectural/Engineering Team.
The meeting will be held at the school in the school Multipurpose Room. Light refreshments and childcare will be provided by ACPS.
For overflow parking needs, bus transportation will also be available from the Charles Houston Recreation Center at 6:30pm to
take people to Jefferson-Houston for the meeting. The bus will return to Charles Houston immediately following the meeting.
Everyone is welcome. Please plan to participate and encourage others to attend. Attached is a flyer that you may pass along.
Wishing you all the best in 2012.
Cheers,
Stephen Wilkins
JH School CEO
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