I realize that not everyone might be wild about the devolution post so I’m going to put up an open thread..:)
I realize that not everyone might be wild about the devolution post so I’m going to put up an open thread..:)
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December 12, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Erin Gibson’s take on the Dec. 10 Education Forward Committee meeting:
http://manassas.patch.com/articles/moving-education-forward
December 13, 2011 at 9:55 am
Thanks for the link Cindy. I was on the Santa Train and was unable to attend the meeting.
For those that were at the meeting I have a couple of questions that you may be able to answer.
1. I recently read that Gar-Field is an IB school. Did anyone bring up Gar-Field? I was wondering how long beenGF has been IB and if any improvement has been made academically? Gar-Field does not impress when you research schooldigger.com or greatschools.com.
2. Any comments on the forgotten LD and/or Special Ed kids? I have yet to hear anyone mention how the city will help the kids that fall into the land of the lost. A large portion of this group take SOL’s. Is this group forgotten again?
3. The goal to have students graduate with an Associates Degree…..did anyone question this? Once again this caters to the better students. Our good students are not the issue – those that are not at grade level academically and/or don’t graduate are the issue.
Additionally, why are we looking to educate beyond K-12? Public schools are K-12 not K-14. As a parent of 4 it is MY responsiblilty to help them through college NOT the tax payer. Yes, there are kids that won’t find it easy to go to college (including mine) but that is how it is – life isn’t always easy and higher education isn’t free.
December 13, 2011 at 10:47 am
I believe the mission of this committee is to help improve the schools in order to attract people to move to Manassas. Given the fact that our population is growing we have to question why we need more people. My conclusion is that we don’t need more people, but that council feels we need the ‘right’ people. And the ‘right’ people would be attracted to duel enrollment.
December 13, 2011 at 11:24 am
@Jimmy,
I agree with you on both counts. We don’t need to increase our population and duel enrollment “looks” attractive. However, duel enrollment is different than graduating with an Associates (number of classes/expense). Regardless, the unfortunate reality is the “right” kind of people research schools and duel enrollment will do little for a school that doesn’t perform/rank well.
December 13, 2011 at 12:23 pm
4kids,
You are right. I would like to think that this committee would focus on the kids that need help the most. It seems to me that there are lots of kids who are doing great and going on to great universities and doing very well as adults. The system seems to be working for them but not for the kids of great need.
December 13, 2011 at 12:32 pm
4Kids, with regards to your #2, I asked Dr. Mary Lopez, Ph.D. from Independence Empowerment Center-Center for Independent Living (shorter version is IEC) located here in Manassas to attend the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) meeting last Wednesday. IEC serves those with disabilities – all ages – and their families and are our local experts on the ADA. Dr. Lopez is in conversation now with the Chair of the SEAC regarding the proposed Resource Center to be located at the JLC. Getting IEC introduced is the first step to see if assistance can be offered since IEC is involved with the local Transitions Committee and also working with PWCS.
December 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm
One more thing on Special Education: the School Board tonight takes up action of hiring a “Regional & Alternative Placement Specialist” to be paid for by regional funding. Another much needed support position for our disabled students. Link to Board’s action item is:
http://manassas.k12.va.us/sb/meetings/2011-12/121311%20Business-wk/Hire%20Reg%20and%20lt%20Placements%20Specialist.pdf
December 13, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@ Ray,
Thanks for taking the initiative. A Parent Resource Center is much needed in the City of Manassas. Regardless, MCPS has a responsibility to these kids with or without assistance from IEC. I have yet to hear the school board or Education Forward mention this segment of the student population. All recommendations are centered on the kids already performing well.
It is my understanding that OHS has provisional accreditation due to graduation/drop out rate. The city will get the biggest bang for their buck focusing on ESOL and Special Ed students. These students are at higher risk of dropping out and testing poorly. The good students will perform well regardless.
December 13, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Smaller classes will help all the children. Enforced attentance and behavior policies will in turn help provide a solid foundation for and increase the effectiveness of smaller classes. If we cannnot afford smaller classes across the board, let’s do so just for the core subjects of english and math. I’d prefer we not stall (and especially not allow matters to get worse) while searching for an elusive perfect solution.
December 13, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Rich,
I would agree. Always a danger of analysis-paralysis.
December 13, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@Rich,
More touch time. Isn’t that one of the benefits of having parallel block in the elem. schools? Not a fan of that type of schedule for young children – too much moving around. However, it does allow for small reading and math groups (there were approx. 10 kids in my sons group when he was in Kindergarten).
Perhaps more time needs to be given to this system in order to see a positive result but Round (non parallel block school) still out performs the rest of the elem. schools in the city.
December 13, 2011 at 6:34 pm
1. They really didn’t discuss IB all that much and cetainly not Garfield but would like further investigation.
2. Special ed wasn’t discussed
3. They want to build out JLC to partner with NOVA for the associate degree.
The key is reading and Pope acknowledged that reading is the key to learning. The group seemed to be leaning towards reading and math needing the most fixing. I have always said that reading is the foundation of all learning. The rest takes care of itself.
Spec Ed…the board and admin needs a change of attitude towards spec ed. I don’t think they care about these students and their inaction and difficult behavior supports that feeling. These kids aren’t dumb but the schools could care less and every day is a battle. I think a lot of this misbehavior parents talk about is directly related to the frustrations surrounding learning struggles. It is far better to be called “bad” than dumb. It is ok to say that math isn’t your best subject but you certainly can’t say you can’t read. They’d rather get in trouble than let everyone know they can’t read. And drop outs…well after YEARS of constant frustration and failure…wouldn’t you quit too?? Every child learns differently no matter whether they are a high achiever or not. Think of the kids as circles, triangles, rectangles, pentagons, etc to represent different learning styles being crammed by the schools into a square opening..will it work, I think not.
The transient word came up again. Previously, a school board member said “if we could just keep them longer”…. Well transience doesn’t equal failure. I am a transient just like all of the multitudes of military offspring. I went to 7 schools in my 12 yrs (3 high schools in 4 yrs)and 2 colleges due to my father’s job. I am not a failure. If kids are transient due to homelessness, then federal law protects them. The school is required to transport them back to the school of origin when it is in their best interest. If you really want to help, then go get the kids and bring them back!
December 13, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Looks like the state’s fun and games with benefits/pay/contributions are starting to come home to roost: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/dec/13/tdmain01-jlarc-sounds-benefits-warning-ar-1539512/
December 13, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I spent 7 weeks as a substitute for Special Ed, more specifically the E.D. Kids. It was very frustrating but the most rewarding also.
Most ED kids self medicate and they have no problem telling you.
From day one I set down rules and expectations and I let them know exactly what would happen if they didn’t follow them. Guess what? The kids actually did their work. (most of the time). They also gave me respect.
These students need structure. They need rules and the rules need to be enforced uniformly.
When one teacher tries to enforce the rules but the next one doesn’t, the kids will do whatever they can to get away with breaking them.
Time and again teachers are disrespected because rules aren’t enforced across the board. It only takes one child to disrupt a whole class.
OHS has a dress code, enforce it! OHS has a student code of conduct, enforce it. OHS has a tardy program, oops not really so I won’t even go there. Structure, rules, disipline. It is not rocket science and I don’t even charge for my insight.
December 13, 2011 at 10:17 pm
The time is coming when anyone who desires to make their voices heard, on these Education Forward proposals specifically, when the school board is presented with them as a whole and public input begins. However, there’s nothing stopping anyone from taking advantage of citizens’ time at any meeting to give their two cents on anything you’ve got a beef with. A much broader scope of input could only help the school board and superintendent produce what we’re all looking for.
Two things that’ve got me scratching my head about presently though, are that for one, I’m now under the impression that many K-4 students are left marking time daily when some students are taken out for remedial lessons for an hour or more. (now I’m taking the word of a nine year old, so I haven’t fully checked this out) Second, JLC may be the most underutilized hunk of mortgaged real estate in the city. I was inside for the first time a week or so ago, and while waiting for a meeting I asked the receptionist what JLC was used for, how many kids are in there in an average day, and how many kids were learning in there at that moment. I’d heard the answer to the first before, but the other answers were 30 and 7. I’m pretty sure I heard her correctly.
December 14, 2011 at 12:22 am
I think you heard correctly and yes it deserves more attention (The students, the staff and the building too). JLC touches upon many issues.
For some, unfortunately, there are valid reasons why they cannot (will not, should not) speak publicly at citizens time.
December 14, 2011 at 12:27 am
Like, they’re in the witness protection program?
December 14, 2011 at 5:12 am
Maureen is totally correct. Consistency is important for all kids, but especially sped kids.
An article for consideration:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/opinion/the-unaddressed-link-between-poverty-and-education.html?_r=1&ref=education
It needs to be part of all education discussions.
December 14, 2011 at 10:29 am
@Ed,
Not witness protection :). I think Michele is referring to people employed by MCPS or have a child in the MCPS system. People may not want to admit or accept it but backlash is a reality.
December 14, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Some of the most valuable feedback would undoubtedly come from MCPS employees and parents of kids in the system. Whose opinions carry more weight than these groups? It is a shame that folks would fear retribution of any type, and if there’s real evidence of that kind of backlash, I’ve not seen it in Manassas.
Reading posts here and talking to folks in person shows me that there is great depth of feeling on lots of school issues. But if one is not willing to stand in front of the board and voice your opinions (repeatedly, logically), then there should be no expectation of the change desired. One simple fact about the school board is that every member felt strongly enough about the schools at one time or another to go through the pain of an election so that their voices could make a difference. Love ’em or hate ’em, they simply can’t please everyone. This is a free country though, and no citizen of Manassas can be held back from aquiring a board position if their ideas have the support of enough voters.
December 14, 2011 at 8:48 pm
What’s up with the Prescott house? The city put it out to bid. The bid says both stabilization and demolition.
December 14, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Excellent article from the WaPo on an elementary school with high number of kids and high ESOL being a leader in performance within the State:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-officials-use-schools-success-to-support-return-to-shorter-hours/2011/12/06/gIQA3gwztO_story.html
December 14, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@Ed,
I’m glad you haven’t experienced it but it does exist.
December 14, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Ed, excellent point about standing in front of the board to speak. Of course, their Citizens Time is right after they convene at 6:00 p.m. and being a bedroom community, tough time for many to get there. But, as Andy H has noted, it is always the few who speak unless there is a really passionate issue. Almost a case of malise about the schools even right down to voting. The majority of voters in this City don’t even turn out for elections – look at the trend of the last couple of years and it is now below 1000 who voted at last election for City Council, and of that, only about 700 or so who voted for School Board.
December 14, 2011 at 10:44 pm
4kids is right regarding backlash and just because you have not seen it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Let’s also look at single parent households, parents working nights, parents with multiple or small children, medical issues, etc. You are right about valuable feedback coming from parents and teachers. Is their input any less valuable because it isn’t presented in a televised, public forum?
I won’t pretend to know the motivations of individuals who are on the board or why they ran in the first place. If everyone had the time and financial security they needed, I’m sure you would see more individuals running for school board or other decision making positions.
Thanks for the reminders though.
December 15, 2011 at 1:44 am
First, thanks to all that have served and serve on our boards and councils. We entered MCPS, in 2000 with 2 at Round and 2 at Metz, seems idyllic upon reflection. My two boys both required and received minimal special ed. services with no problems at all… I now know that was in large part because of the schools. Metz to OHS for my daughter, a high achiever, was fine until she became ill and required home-bound services, coordinated through central office and the Superintendents office.
We repeatedly encountered behavior that was incomprehensible from professionals, rudeness, unresponsiveness and then, blaming us… to be clear, I had the support of the Special Ed department at OHS, our guidance counselor, the school nurse and all of my child’s teachers. She continues to be a decent student and well liked by her teachers and OHS staff.
And, yes, sadly – I have learned that there is backlash, especially if a teacher speaks out against administration, and there is most definitely backlash on the child and family.
I agree – it would be great to attain better ranking and improve our infrastructure, technology, etc. – but as others have pointed out, we continue to ignore the at risk students that need the most. I applaud Dr. Werner for understanding that we can’t fit all our square pegs into round holes and implementing programs that address learning differences.
Agreed, we as parents should all be making the effort to attend school board and council meetings, however, when our Superintendent is talking about programs that are obviously going to cost the city millions upon millions of dollars, while we have students who aren’t getting their basic needs met, it’s hard to see where the connection is going to happen… all the problems seem to be on a two year timetable, which coincides with her contract expiring. The Superintendents office doesn’t respond to very real and pressing issues that are presented to them about children who are here now.
Cindy, Ed, Rita… you’re all right – public forums, open communication would be ideal. After three years of battling to attain minimum services for my sick child with the Superintendents office, I’m a little pessimistic that it will ever happen. I’m beginning to feel like that kid who says “the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes” – on the upside, the school board actually returned my calls and we met with Dr. Werner and key staff members today and issues appear to be improving.
We have some brilliant, passionate, educators who are not receiving the support they need to do what they trained so hard to do; teach, connect, inspire and change lives, they didn’t go into it for the bucks… JLC seems to be a big topic – has anyone learned about Dr. Barrerra-Gibbs, her mission? I have; I’d rather volunteer my time washing chalkboards and making copies, to help her attain her goals than listen to the suggestions of a Superintendent that seemingly has no understanding of the average MCPS kids’s life. Please understand that my pessimism isn’t directly to all of you who have worked so hard to affect change… as a parent who’s tried, it’s exhausting and I applaud you all.
December 15, 2011 at 7:34 am
Input is always good and the format doesn’t matter much. If I’m unhappy I send email or call. I don’t go to meetings, mainly b/c I’ve got a bazillion of my own meetings to go to.
However, ultimately if folks aren’t happy with the results, somebody has to step up and run for office. Several challengers have announced for Council but nobody for school board yet. If you’re unhappy and you can’t run, band together with some other like-minded folks and find someone to run…and then support them.
December 15, 2011 at 8:03 am
Friends,
We may not have specific consensus on exactly all that should be done but perhaps we likely have a “general sense on a core” of what should be done. The best way to now advocate for what we want is to remain focused and advocate for that core. From reading the blog submissions above, the general consensus “seems to be” uniformly enforced attendence and behavior policy, smaller classes for reading and math, focus on special ed. Apologies if I have not accurately captured what folks have been trying to say; the fault would be mine.
Assuming there is approximate comfort with that core, let us now ensure that the school board and council hear something that approximates that core, and most definitely something other than a cacophanous wall of noise. We can convey that core as individuals, with our own emphasis here and there. As Ed noted, there will be plenty of opportunities to advocate. This can be done in person at meetings and/or by communications directed to the school board and council through the City’s website.
December 15, 2011 at 8:23 am
Re-reading “Founding Brothers – The Revolutionary Generation”
by Joseph Ellis, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2000.
Am reminded that many of the issues we debate today date back
to the founding of our nation.
For example:
“… Alexander Hamilton regarded the national debt as a
‘national blessing’, for it permitted the clustering of resources
in the hands of a small group of enterprising men who would
invest and not just spend it. For James Madison, on the other hand,
‘a Public Debt is a Public curse’… “
December 15, 2011 at 9:37 am
I want to thank Ray for posting the Wash Post article, hope everyone takes a minute to read it!
December 15, 2011 at 12:55 pm
I wanted to share more input (from various sources) regarding UNIFORMS because I do not want the issue to DETER or DISTRACT from the real problems and while probably a bonus, we are way past uniforms as a solution and from what I’m hearing we are in a budget crisis again.
Aside from what has already been mentioned………..
Many of us vary in our ideals about how something should FIT and how clean is clean enough? After all, most of the Dress Code issues, presently, have to do with the how short is too short and how tight is too tight and how low is too low – may be more difficult to modify with uniforms but not impossible.
When some of our “busier” students are not in school, their actions reflect on them and their families. When they’re dressed in uniform, they represent MCPS. Whether this be after school, spectators at sporting events or on field trips, etc.
Just food for thought……
December 15, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Uniforms – from the Virginia Code – and that is the State Board of Education in paragraph A:
§ 22.1-79.2. Uniforms in public schools; Board of Education guidelines.
A. The Board of Education shall develop model guidelines for local school boards to utilize when establishing requirements for pupils to wear uniforms. In developing these guidelines, the Board shall consider (i) ways to promote parental and community involvement, (ii) relevant state and federal constitutional concerns, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and (iii) the ability of pupils to purchase such clothing.
B. Upon approval by the Board of the model guidelines, local school boards may establish requirements, consistent with the Board’s guidelines, for the students enrolled in any of their schools to wear uniforms while in attendance at such school during the regular school day. No state funds may be used for the purchase of school uniforms.
(1995, cc. 508, 521, 526.)
The State Guidelines are at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/guidance/administration_governance/model_guidelines_uniforms.pdf
December 16, 2011 at 1:32 am
Tenacity makes a good point. It reminds me of when I had two Manassas City Police officers as professors in two different classes. They both took the time to change out of their MCPD uniform and into civilian clothes before coming to the campus. When I asked one why he didn’t just wear the uniform to class, he told me that while in uniform, everything he said or did could be seen as representative of the MCPD. As such, if they offended a student in some way, the student could make a formal against him to the Department despite him not officially acting as a MCPD officer rather the mere fact he would be in uniform at the time would make a complaint valid. Or at least how he explained it to me at the time…
Now that isn’t that different from our City’s students wearing uniforms for every time a student puts on the uniform, he/she becomes a de facto representative of the MCPS as Tenactiy correctly stated. Thus I have to wonder if a new set of regulations would have to be made to dictate to the students at what times they may wear the uniform. The Code of Conduct, in theory, already dictates how they should act while in uniform, but theory is not always reality. Just another food for thought…
Tenacity’s also right unless that everyone changes out of their uniform the moment their out of school, it would be only a matter of time before one of them does something illegal, immoral, or otherwise acts in matter that the MCPS would approve of while in uniform. Once word of our City’s students acting badly while in uniform gets out either though word of month or the news, the reputation of the MCPS would be hurt more then it is now. Just one other thing to think about…
December 16, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Tenacity is correct, to wit: “I do not want the issue to DETER or DISTRACT from the real problems and while probably a bonus, we are way past uniforms as a solution and from what I’m hearing we are in a budget crisis again.”
Let’s stick with the core solutions of consistently enforced behavior and attendence policies and smaller classes for reading and math. (If you really feel uniforms are needed then add them to the core list, but by all means stick with the core list.)
Do not give either council or the school board the excuse that “we’ve heard so many different things we were never sure what the citizens wanted.” Make sure they know what you want and start telling them now. And while you are telling them, let them know that you are going to hold them to it at election time. Let them know that if they are not part of the solution then you consider them part of the problem.
And I have absolutely no interest in any school board member telling council that they first need to hear from council how much council is going to authorize before the board can make a recommendation. That sits poorly with me.
December 16, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Washington Post: Ponzi Schemer’s conviction may put Old Town Post Office at risk
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/manassas-post-office-may-be-at-risk-after-buildings-ponzi-scheming-owner-caught/2011/12/13/gIQA7BROyO_story.html
December 17, 2011 at 7:12 am
Ray,
Thanks, Ray, I didn’t know. To tell you the truth, the building has been looking like heck. Most anything will be an improvement. It’s a fairly key location/intersection both in terms of visibility and in terms of a walking destination insofar as residents to the north can walk there without having to cross 28.
December 17, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Sorry to go off topic… I do appreciate all the postings, I’m learning a lot.
@ Ed, and Andy – I understand it’s natural to assume that if one writes about the issues I mentioned, it may appear that a) I’m one of those people who see a forum like this as an opportunity to whine or b) I wrote a few emails or called the school and did not like the answer I got or even b) I might be blowing my complaints out of proportion which might explain why I feel my issues haven’t been adequately addressed by MCPS… I wish that were the case.
I agree with both of you gentlemen, one should send emails, make a phone calls or show up at a school board or council meeting. I have sent dozens of emails to the school (yep, I have a copy of every one of them, some go back to 2003) and I have spent hours and hours on the phone with more MCPS employees than I can remember.
but I have NOT shown up at a school board or council meeting, a few reasons over the years, Boy Scouts on Tuesday nights, the husband travels, another child had dance etc – and as we encountered these problems, the natural, reasonable course was to try to work, pleasantly and politely, with the appropriate school personnel – I feel we are privileged to receive a free public education and have been blessed to have had some of the most kind, creative and hard working educators working with our children since they entered MCPS, many of whom my children have stayed in touch with – BUT, the problems kept re-occurring and getting more complex, to the extent that showing up at a meeting would be counterproductive… because there is backlash. Feel free to ask the brave teachers and personnel who stood up for my daughter.
I do not possess the education or the intelligence to run for school board, and I refrained from attended meetings for obvious reasons… like the length of this response and I am angry, saddened, disgusted and embarrassed by some of the incidents that have happened over the past few years in our schools.
In the interest of saving a few trees, I have all of the documentation in electronic format, turns out that my previous email to each member of the board almost a year ago went unanswered because the board member who inquired was told by the Superintendents office that my child’s issues were resolved.
The School Board members phone numbers were added to the MCPS website and I called Kermit Dance, a few weeks ago and he responded within a few hours and poor Pam Sebesky spent nearly two and a half hours on the phone with me.
I doubt I’m the only person who has complained about non-responsiveness from our Superintendents office.
Ms. Sebesky was responsive and I have been communicating with her – after she got past the assumptions (a, b and c) above. If it gives me any more credibility – Sandy Thompson, Supervisor of Administrative Services MCPS was tasked to audit my child’s medical records last year and has a 2 inch binder. Incidentally, Dr. Meyer tasked a secretary to produce a timeline of my child’s home-bound history (she received 10 hours of home instruction a week) the timeline implied that we were uncooperative and dishonest – apparently speaking to one of her teachers or checking her transcript never occurred to anyone in the Superintendent’s office. I was actually accused of forging a doctors signature in front of a group of students and staff at the OHS guidance office… sorry I digress. I hope that I just had my last meeting with the school about this on 12/16… Dr. Werner gives me hope.
@ Rich – I don’t know you, but your responses seem to indicate you may have a better grasp on the education issues than some, no offense intended – I’d consider nominating you to run for school board. If I did and you won – would you be willing to acknowledge that we have much bigger issues than uniforms and an IB program?
It appears that you recognize attendance and enforcing behavioral concerns are a priority. Would you be willing to concede that there’s a direct correlation between our “scores” and the fact that our school system needs help and resources to work with students who struggle because there are either differences in the way they learn or economic and cultural issues that impact their lives? Just asking… also, would you be willing to concede that our Superintendent and Deputy should, occasionally interact with students? Not just the AP, award winning kids, but the average, the indigent, the at risk kids?
I’m willing to volunteer or support any one who runs for school board that is willing to acknowledge that our School Boards goal should not just be to attract the “right” people, but to also seek solutions to promote personal growth and education for the existing populace… my email is jessicareistad@aol, I’ll start your exploratory committee…
December 17, 2011 at 11:31 pm
@Jessica…my compliments for an excellent posting.
December 17, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Good evening, Jessica,
Your frustration comes through. You have clearly been through a lot. As for me, no, I’m not running for school board (or for anything else), definitely not. I simply care, as all on this blog do. Notwithstanding occasional or even frequent differences of opinion on this blog, lack of care is not one of them. I wish I knew a lot more than I do. I do hope that whatever direction we choose, we choose a direction that benefits all of our children. I do believe that focused messages to the school board and council can be effective especially if the messages have a common theme and are carried by enough people. I understand that personal, hand-writtten notes are similarly effective, perhaps more so. Ultimatel,y since I care, I am simply trying to encourage others to push for the same core message: Consistently enforce attendance and behavior rules and have smaller classes for english and math, in a manner that benefits all of our children, and by all I do mean all.
December 19, 2011 at 7:44 am
“A mountain of candy – 170 feet high, 100 feet long and 40 feet wide – tempting
treasures of sacharine sweets beyond all dreams of matinee girl avarice,
more than 100 tons of delicious confections, enough when packed for shipment
to fill a train of twenty freight cars, represents the out-put of the Hopkins Candy
factory in Manassas for the Christmas trade throughout the country. It does not
include tons upon tons of Hopkins’ candy distributed before the opening of the
Christmas season. In order to supply the demand for Hopkins’ delicious chocolates,
“made in Manassas”, a force of over fourty employees is working day and night.
Artistic in the highest degree are the beautiful replica cartons, imported from
Germany, expressly for Hopkins’ chocolates. They are indeed worthy of
preservation as an ornament long after their delicious contents have vanished.
Each of these dainty, attractive boxes bears in letters of gold the inscription,
‘Manassas, Virginia’. They give this town most valuable advertising across the
country. The Prince William Pharmacy is the agent in Manassas for
Hopkins’ chocolates.”
Manassas Democrat (12-9-1909)
December 19, 2011 at 8:01 am
“Manassas Prepares to Welcome Santa Claus December 19th –
Will Come By Plane To Airport”
Manassas Messenger headline (12-12-1947)
“Santa Claus is definitely coming to Manassas, Harry P. Davis,
Mayor of Manassas, said he has been officially notified
from Santa’s North Pole home. Members of the special
Santa Claus greeting committee are Dr. George Cocke,
E. Rohr and Mrs. H. D. Gothwaite.
Santa will be available to greet Manassas children at Rohr’s Store.
(Santa, in 1947, would have arrived at the old airport site –
now Manaport shopping center)
December 19, 2011 at 11:04 am
Our Governor released his 2013-2014 budget today. One item of noted related to local education:
“Requires reform initiatives for K-12 education that focus on performance by requiring the Department of Education to include in the annual School Performance Report Card for school divisions the percentage of each division’s annual operating budget allocated to instructional costs, with a goal of increasing classroom spending to 65% of the budget.”
Budget summary can be found at:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/utility/docs/2013-2014%20Budget%20Summary.pdf
December 19, 2011 at 2:22 pm
“Each of these dainty, attractive boxes bears in letters of gold the inscription,
‘Manassas, Virginia’. They give this town most valuable advertising across the
country.”
What are the steps to allowing the sale of candy at the Candy Factory? I was just there last week for the model train show and I asked the person working the front desk, “How often do people ask to buy candy here?” He said, “oh, at least once a day.” It’s as much a part of our history as the railroad and the Civil War. We have local fudge makers and chocolatiers, what would it take to make it happen? Anything that would help pay costs on the building — over $70K a year — and now $123K more for sesqui events. A test or pilot to see how profitable it would be? You already have candy bars with Civil War generals at Echoes and candy bars with the golden ticket in them at Christmas time. How profitable are those ventures for the City? Who found the golden ticket, anyway?
December 19, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Ray, the intent to ensure sufficient resources are allocated for “instructional costs” and “classroom spending” is laudable. The difficulty will be in defining what is meant by those terms. The language in the budget itself does not define what constitutes instruction and classroom spending that I could find.
It would be much easier if the MCPS budget were more straight forward so that we as parents could understand how much budget was allocated to teachers salaries and benefits, instructional materials and supplies such as texts, lab equipment, etc., (which most would agree is “instructional costs” and classroom spending”), but MCPS follows state accounting standards which includes a much, much broader definition. Because of this, it is hard to know if items such as guidance counseling, the school psychologist, and the school nurse for example are considered part of instructional/classroom costs or accounted for via other means. A budget could very easily achieve the 65% benchmark simply by how they define terms yet not satisfy the intent of the language, which seems to be schools focusing on ensuring students are learning the classroom content.
Rich and Jessica, I concur with your comments. I agree organizing a single message that focuses the School Board on parents’ concerns is paramount. I also believe that message can be simplified to where many of the issues brought up in this forum will find a home.
First and foremost in my mind is a renewed focus on Leadership. Much of what is discussed above is a result of Leadership, which flows from the top through all layers. If Leadership is about acting with integrity of intent, responding to the needs of others, and making tough decisions to achieve an agreed upon vision, then we are experiencing a lack thereof:
The items 4K&aD, Jessica and Michele discuss with respect to supporting ESOL, LD, and Special Education are clearly a lack of responsiveness.
The items regarding “backlash” is clearly a lack of acting with integrity of intent.
Ensuring appropriate behavior means doing the “hard right” instead of the “easy wrong”, which often comes down to making tough decisions.
Determining the need for smaller class size, uniforms, etc also come under acting with integrity of intent to achieve the vision. If these actions are the “right thing to do for the right reason, done the right way” (and often there is more than 1 “right way”) then they should be implemented. At the heart of acting with integrity is fiscal prudence. Leadership should pursue non-monetary solutions first, then implement solutions that use scare taxpayer dollars on the remaining issues.
I would contend that improved responsiveness (e.g. a leadership commitment to public service vice forcing parents such as Jessica to fight so hard), adherence to behavioral standards (e.g. “say what you mean and mean what you say”), fostering an environment of wanting to achieve (look at what Mike Dufrene and Steve Schultze accomplish…not talking about winning football and basketball games… they are not the highest paid educators in our system, but are outstanding leaders) would go a long way to resolving the concerns mentioned above. None of those recommendations incurs a huge bill.
Glad to know there are so many other parents just as concerned as my family is over MCPS.
December 19, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Well said Ellen, thank you!
December 19, 2011 at 10:39 pm
Ellen, based on my prior experiences, I would venture to say when the budget gets approved by the General Assembly and the rules are written by VA Dept of Education, it should follow the standard of “Instructor Contact Hour” – the number of hours spent in direct instruction with hours built in for instruction preparation, exam grading, etc. But those things such as I mentioned that lead up to direct instruction have limits on them.
The support functions you mentioned guidance, school nurse are exactly that – support items. They are not direct instruction. Your right in addressing of having a publicly available line-item budget spelling out every item under Instruction, Support, etc etc vs. the lump-sum we see on the MCPS School website. As things unfold down in Richmond, this is one item I’ll be watching since also having run budgets in my time, the budget guidance says one thing, and it is not until approved you get to figure out what is down in the weeds.
By the way, my compliments on your excellent post!
December 19, 2011 at 10:42 pm
@Cindy: well, considering there is a nonprofit directly associated with the Center, they could take your suggestion up. May be able to ride their vendor license for when they sell things. I suppose there may be also rules about public health since selling a food item even if a stable one. Why not toss your suggestion to their Board of Directors?
December 20, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Thank you all for your comments, advice and input. Ellen, thank you for voicing your thoughts so eloquently and concisely, to Ray, Rich, Cindy et al; thank you for posting and sharing the information above, sometimes making a physical connections isn’t easy.
Michele has emailed me; turns out our kids are friends, reminding me that we are a small town, through the school, nearly all of our families are connected a little. In participating in this one blog, thank you, Andy – I have learned that I am not alone in my battle and there are some great people who dedicate a lot of their time to make Manassas a better place.
Ellen – you are so right, it really seems to be Leadership… accountability. Michele pointed out, that many of us parents, with kids who need a little extra help, are often confronted with responses, or lack thereof, that lead us to believe our situation is unique or abnormal.
I too, am really and truly grateful to know there are others who care enough to respond – each of you seems to have better understanding of the nuts and bolts required to run a school system, than I ever would.
Knowing you’re all out there, gave me the courage to open my mouth, voice my complaints, very strongly, once more time and I feel we’ve recently had some positive resolution with my daughters’ situation.
Getting there was definitely one of the most frustrating, aggravating and emotional situations I’ve encountered with any sort of system, government or group of people. Ever.
Everyone has their battles, this one seems too important to just walk away from. I don’t know what I can do to meaningfully contribute. I have learned that MCPS has some pretty amazing people, who were willing to help my fight to do the right thing, even went it meant defying the people who pay their salaries. That’s big in these times.
So, I’m going to try; meet with Michele, and Pam Sebesky, and try to share my experiences with the School Board, concisely, like Ellen, and hope to be a teeny part of the solution. Turns out you really can’t fix something that nobody knows is broken.
Not a clue as to how and any input or information anyone could share would be appreciated. Does anyone know if there is another forum, perhaps, facebook, blogs, that are easily accessible and perhaps, anonymous, to connect with MCPS parents and teachers? my email address is JessicaReistad@aol.com, thank you, again…
December 20, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Jessica, et al,
I’ve talked with Sanford Williams on a completely different matter (budget build… also talked briefly with Pam Sebesky) and we have scheduled time next month to get together for detailed discussions. He asked if I wanted to invite others to join as there have been several parents/teachers who have called or e-mailed me. I agreed to host a meeting and am happy to extend the invitation to anyone here who may be interested in attending. The discussion can easily be expanded to include issues identified in this forum. Please let me know if you are interested and I will post the details of where and when. Michele, you will be happy to know we decided on a Sat afternoon. 🙂
Ray, I would appreciate talking with you to learn about your experiences with the MCPS budget. One of the SB members last year asked me to help and I found the budget itself a rather trying experience. I was provided more than just what is posted on the web yet even so, it was difficult to get at basics. When I made a formal request of the SB as a whole, they instructed that a response be provided but it was underwhelming and still did not answer questions. Sounds like you have some expertise in the area and I would appreciate the opportunity to compare notes. Although an engineer by education, I spend my days managing R&D, which in addition to tracking technology development also means tracking dollars, so I am well aware of how programs can obfuscate budgets and expenditures.
Jessica, let me know when you want to speak to the School Board and I will be there right along with you!!!
Merry Christmas, Ellen
December 21, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Ellen, when you have the time, drop a note to rmbeverage@verizon.net and be happy to set up something where we can converse. Ray