Had an Education Forward meeting tonight. The meeting started with a charge from the Mayor and Chair to the committee to move this along quickly and be audacious. I’ll upload the letter tomorrow and link it.
The committee discussed things for about an hour and then we agreed that we would need several meetings to develop and evaluate the various policy options available to us. Essentially, the committee would evaluate our options and make recommendations to our staff. The staff will utilize their expertise and experience to flesh out those recommendations and help the committee see what those selections mean. I kinda sketched this up on the fly so I had to give it to the clerk but I’ll upload a copy so everyone has an idea of what’s going on. For anyone who thought we would solve all of this tonight, that ain’t the way it works. Public policy is often 4 yards and a cloud of dust. If it isn’t, many times people feel left out. Time is limited so we need to jam many meetings into a short time period but we will get there.
This meeting was necessary to get it all going and the meetings will only become more difficult as we go along. Thanks to the citizens who made the time to turn out. It’s always good seeing you folks. (If anyone wants to talk about it, you’ve got my email address. Buy me a beer and I’ll talk your ear off…:) ) I promise to get the documents uploaded as soon as I can. Overall a productive first step.
UPDATE: Challenge Letter is here.
October 18, 2011 at 4:22 am
What I found interesting is the talk of pre-K when we everyone says our school are overcrowded.
Has anyone tries to determine if the overcrowding in the schools correlates with overcrowding in housing?
October 18, 2011 at 7:36 am
Great meeting, glad to see more interested minds and bodies in the room and that it’s still Education Forward and Education Creeping Along.
Pre-K is the new spotlight:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/column_americas_other_deficit.html
I wish the News & Messenger would do an article on Alpha-Bet, the parent cooperative preschool that’s been here so long, it’s graduates are now teachers in the schools! Parents run the school and work in the classrooms. Wonder how many activated PTO presidents and scholarship winners came out of its ranks.
Maureen, what would you think of a pilot series of “talking circles” in the schools, similar to what Neighborhood Services did in the neighborhoods, to spark more parents, youth and community members to get involved in changing the schools?
October 18, 2011 at 7:38 am
and NOT Education Creeping Along.
Alpha-Bet is in the basement of Church of the Brethren on Route 28. Christine Spratley was the director at the time my children attended, back in the late 80s early 90s.
October 18, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Andy, thanks for focusing on this issue, and especially thanks for squeezing in even more meetings to address this while you also have a a business to run. Much appreciation for you and others involved in this important effort. Hope you guys can stay focused and not get distracted by collateral issues. Like Reagan, keep your eye on the ball and things will move forward.
October 18, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Cindy I think that if concrete ideas and suggestion come out of the “circles” it would be a good idea. I think parents would flock to a citizen run group as I bet there are MANY that feel their ideas and voices don’t count.
I cam think of some basic ideas that would improve things at the schools and we don’t have to spend any money to do it!
I’m going to email Andy my phone number so that he can pass it to you. I would love to help get something set up.
October 18, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Public Service Announcement (see I have not seen it anywhere else):
Manassas City Public Schools & Businesses “Stand Strong 4 Education Expo”; Thursday, November 3, 2011; 5pm – 8pm at Mayfield.
http://www.mcpsedfoundation.org/
October 18, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Ok, now that I did the PSA, here is another example of something NOT posted anywhere, but possibly only via the kids getting a handout at school to bring home. Don’t know for sure….giving the MCPS Foundation the benefit of the doubt (at the moment) that still being in the planning phase, no public announcements. But to counter that, if that is what is happening, that is just plain dumb considering the event is two weeks away.
Only reason I know about it is because I was at City Hall today, and in walking back to my car parked over in those 15 minute slots by the little plaza, I happen to see the full-color poster in the little announcement thing on the plaza. Since Elected Officials are listed on the poster as being there, I checked the Main Event Calendar on the City Website and did not see it for November….guess the City Council did not get an invite?
So how can a citizen with no kid in school, does not run a business the Foundation sent something to be a sponsor and/or make a donation, supposed to know about this to support MCPS???
October 18, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Nothing came home with any of the kids. It was mentioned at the last school board meeting. Since the council gave them money, I would be very surprised if they didn’t get an invite. I would ask for specifics before giving any money. Were past supported programs open and for the benefit of ALL kids? Are there limits to the number of participants? If so, how are the students chosen?
October 19, 2011 at 7:02 am
Out of 37,000 residents, only get 400 get Manassas Alerts by email, phone, etc.
http://www.manassascity.org/index.aspx?NID=1122 After an earthquake and hurricanes, we should all be signed up.
If the city pushed out factoids like the Stand Strong 4 Education Expo or Manassas Alerts on Facebook and other social media, more people would participate. Ray, you are the first person I have heard that even stops and looks at that kiosk or the one by the train station, but I’m sure folks do and those low-tech communications are as important as the high-tech ones.
City staff is meeting with a PR professional this morning about improving their communications. HMI is having a Team Manassas group work sesson on Thursday morning to focus on the coordination of the events that happen in
Old Town Manassas and the ongoing use of the Manassas Community Calendar.
Cavendo does the HMI and Prince William Chamber calendars that go to the media and the public. The City, the schools and the Ed Foundation are all members of the Chamber. I’m getting ready to input the Nov. 19 Neighborhood Conference on the calendar today. You can sign up with HMI and get the calendar sent to you by e-mail daily.
If you’re not getting the information you need, let the City, the schools and the Ed Foundation know.
October 19, 2011 at 8:45 am
Communication is always an issue. I typically hear about meetings word of mouth and too often after the fact. Prime example: After 5+ years of IEP/eligibilty meetings not once has an employee of the city mentioned SEAC. I had to hear about it from a friend. I brought up the lack of communication issue at the first SEAC meeting I attended. My suggestion: announce meetings through the phone system. I was quickly shot down, nobody offered any other solution and the meeting moved on.
October 19, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Cindy, interesting point about “Team Manassas”
I’ll have to look back through the Land Use Committee, but a couple of months back a consultant gave a presentation on Old Town. They were brought in to look at attracting businesses, advertising, etc etc etc if I recall right.
One interesting point raised was “Who’s in Charge” as I call it – when it comes to Old Town you have the City, OTBA, HMI, and now even “Discover Manassas” as part of the Prince William and Manassas Visitors Bureau.
I’ll dig down through the stack and find the link to the report and post it.
October 19, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Thanks, Andy, and Maureen.
Here’s the release on the EXPO from Rita:
Manassas City Public Schools and Businesses Come Together at EXPO
MCPS Education Foundation is pleased to announce the: Manassas City Public Schools and Businesses STAND STRONG 4 EDUCATION EXPO planned for Thursday, November 3 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Mayfield Intermediate School. Everyone in Manassas will have the opportunity to share their interest and support for providing the best possible education to children in the school division.
The community is invited to learn about each of the schools, directly and in one place. Each school in Manassas City Public School division will host its own exhibit and present 10 important facts that the community should know about that particular school, as well as other informational materials. Businesses and individuals will have the opportunity to speak with school administrators, teachers, and representatives.
Businesses will have a premium opportunity to participate by registering for exhibit space, which is provided free of charge. There are additional opportunities to sponsor the event and increase visibility through signage and event advertisement.
“It’s an exciting time for the Education Foundation and the school division,” says Ian Lovejoy, President of the MCPS Education Foundation. “Having this opportunity for local businesses and education to come together is a sign of the incredible things to come.”
Both the Manassas City Council and the Manassas City School Board support the event. Mayor Hal Parrish and Councilwoman Sheryl Bass will speak. Members from both groups will attend to show their support.
“We believe it is important to create an opportunity for businesses and the school division to come together for the community. Even in these economic times, our local businesses continue to support our schools. With the STAND STRONG 4 EDUCATION EXPO we offer the opportunity to promote local businesses, as well as our public schools,” says Rita Colleran, Managing Director of the MCPS Education Foundation. Businesses (who are) interested in having exhibiting at this event should contact the MCPS Education Foundation, (www.mcpsedfoundation.org) by October 20, 2011.
The STAND STRONG 4 EDUCATION EXPO is managed and sponsored by the MCPS Education Foundation. Minnieland Corporation has (also) stepped forward as a major sponsor of this effort. The MCPS Education Foundation, established in 1992, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to financially supporting Manassas City Public Schools. The Foundation funds grants for schools, scholarships, and summer enrichment programs, as well as new initiatives that are presented throughout the school year. It also participates in Youth Salute, a recognition of our best and brightest high school seniors, and Salute to Excellence, which honors teachers and staff of the school division.
# # #
If you would like more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Rita Colleran at rcolleran@mcpsedfoundation.org or 703-310-9958
October 20, 2011 at 8:23 am
If the school system is unable to educate students from K to 12, what makes anyone think pre-k will be any better? Its just another way for liberals to spend even more money on brainwashing students. Just look at many of the kids taking part in the wall street protests. I bet many attended public schools and so its not surprising they believe capitalism is bad after being exposed to liberals running public school systems.
October 20, 2011 at 9:05 am
Why isn’t the private school sector better represented at the Foundation? Have they been invited to take part?
Isn’t the private school sector part of the package that Manassas as a community has to offer to businesses and families considering a Manassas as a home?
October 20, 2011 at 10:06 am
Doug, good point. Looking at the Foundation Board, only private sector school is Minneland Private Day School, Inc. Considering the Catholic School in town, the Montessori School and the other Catholic special focus school over at the Old Marstellar at MBC, it should be a complete package given with the cost of private tuition, many families may start in the private schools and move over to MCPS after a couple of years.
October 20, 2011 at 11:06 am
I don’t know what the mission of the Foundation is, exactly so I wouldn’t know. Maybe it’s inconsistent. You should ask them.
October 20, 2011 at 11:14 am
Ray, right. Kids move back and forth in between the private and public schools, and then you also have the homeschooling networks. Some might argue that the surge in private schools reflects a failure on the part of the public schools to perform, and there is obviously some truth in that, but also just as true is that the private schools are going to have problems and an inability to serve all the different types of kids that come to them, they simply don’t have the resources and personnel to do the job that the public school is designated and designed within a community to do.
I could see people making the argument that the tension and frankly competition between the public and private sector has actually made Manassas a stronger educational environment for our children. Painful at times for both parents, children and educators but stronger and more attractive.
There is a lot of chaos for parents to deal with trying to get their kids a decent education in these times. But chaos sometimes leads to serendipidty e.g., there’s another Montessori school in the area:
http://emilianimontessori.com/
Originally the school sought to locate right in the heart of Old Town only to be red-taped into PW, that was at a time when the econ development people seem to be a little confused about zoning issues and what kind of businesses it wanted to attract to Old Town.
A real shame because the head of the school is one of the most qualified Monstessori instructors in the region and she’s a remarkably gifted teacher. We’ve seen the results with our kids and most people who have heard my son play the piano I think would agree. The Education Foundation, if it is really focusing on early education, would be well-served to ask her for input and possibly invite her to advise the board.
October 20, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William was established in July 2011. It’s mission is to assure that children in the great Prince William area (Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park and Prince William County) receive high quality child care and early childhood education.
http://www.smartbeginnings.org/Home/LocalSmartBeginnings/SmartBeginningsLocations/SmartBeginningsGreaterPrinceWilliam.aspx
October 20, 2011 at 2:09 pm
It’s interesting to me that nobody has mentioned the challenge letter….
October 20, 2011 at 2:11 pm
@tenacity: I don’t recall the City giving the ed foundation any money…
October 20, 2011 at 3:20 pm
5 year plan, premier, and audacious. How’s that Andy?
Now can we just get 9 out 10 kids to graduate with decent math and reading skills, who can be moderately polite and civil when dealing with their fellow human beings?
October 20, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Andy, does the Jolly Roger flag flying on the front of your building
have something to do with the “Challenge”, or is it in memory of
Al Davis?
October 20, 2011 at 7:54 pm
@AndyH: not sure of the mission? tsk, tsk oh Honarary Board Member (at least according to the website). 🙂
In all fairness though, the Foundation has been is sort of a hiatus the last few years, and with the new Director in place, things might move forward.
October 20, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Cindy, good posting! I checked Smart Beginnings website – anybody that puts up an evidence-based guide to instruction is alright in my book!
October 20, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Give me time to find my notes because I know the Ed Foundation asked for money. Are you saying the council refused?
On another note; the School Board had a Special meeting last night but I can’t open the Link to the Agenda. Has anyone else been successful?
October 20, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Does anyone know what the School Board Education Committee is?
They are meeting at 3:30 on Tuesday, followed by a work session after, then their regularly scheduled school board meeting?
October 20, 2011 at 11:55 pm
@Tenacity
The MCPS and the Foundation shares the same address 9000 Tudor so maybe the Foundation dervives some benefits, resources, in-kind gifts from the schools which of course does come via the Council and ultimately from taxpayers.
Andy,
As to the Mission, I didn’t mean to suggest any inconsistency by my question. A private sector school would not already be participating as a member of the board if there was some problem or conflict with such an arrangment. The foundation is a partnership between the private sector and the public schools, right? So, private schools are a part of the private sector, no? I was not necessarily even raising the question of more board participation by Manassas private school reps, I was just asking whether their role and contributions were being taken into account or leveraged by education and civic leaders in the community.
October 21, 2011 at 1:49 am
Couple things:
1) Tenacity, sorry to not have gotten back to you in the previous thread. It’s no excuse but lately my mind has been at 15 places at once and it’s hard to focus in one place for very long. (Which reminds I should check my email again… and finish writing that thing… and that other thing…) Anyway, I just wantednto say we’re good and it’s the internet after all so sometimes the intent of a message gets lost. I’m glad you weren’t like the other guy came in one came here one time and said we “blow 100k on special education.”
2) From the front-page of the website of the MCPS Foundation: “Welcome to The City of Manassas Public Schools Education Foundation, Inc. The Foundation is a community-based advocate for educational excellence for all Manassas City Public Schools“ (emphasis added). It seems odd to think of the private schools being much involved with the foundation given that statement. After all, as Mr. Brown noted, the private schools offer competition to the MCPS, so why would they be involved with a group whose purpose and programs support their competition? That does not seem logical from a business perspective. Given what it says on the website, I see no reason for the private schools to be involved in the Foundation. To me having private schools in the Foundation would be like having private security in the MCPD Association. They just don’t fit together.
3) Mr. Brown has offered a most admirable goal in saying our schools ought to produce students who are able to effectively read, write, do math, act civil in society, and so forth. However, I’m concerned the role of the parents of the students may thwart an attempt to reach the fourth item in my list. Let me tell you all about a group of young teenage boys in my neighborhood: They are in public school system, some formerly privately educated if I recall correctly, who play sports and stuff as boys do. However, if you have a problem with them and express it, instead of talking with you civilly, they’ll egg your car or taunt you to call the police. They’ve been caught by the PD and fined before for their actions but they don’t get the message. Why? Their parents. To the parents, it always your fault for having a problem with them and not because their kids were doing anything wrong. They’ve taught the boys they’re not responsible for their actions, it’s always someone else’s fault. Schools cannot change that attitude, that’s beyond their realm. Those boys should know better and act civilly by their age but their parents didn’t raise ‘em right. That’s not the schools fault though.
And 4) Coming off my third thing to say, I want express my disagreement at the notion bought forth by citizenofmanassas on the so-called “brainwashing” in the public schools. Now if you ask me, I bet many of the WS protestors must have went to liberal private schools/colleges and taught capitalism is bad since those schools can be so one-tracked. That was mainly sarcasm but in the City at least, I can say that there was no real political bias while I was there, a mere four years ago. While I name quite a few teachers were openly Republican, that did not really influence the way they taught. That kind of thinking is mistaking exposure to ideas for brainwashing. I read the Communist Manifesto in AP European History, a class taught by the sponsor of OHS’ Young Republicans at time. I also read Hitler’s Mein Kampf in AP World History II. Furthermore, I studied Islam in Honors World History I. Not once were teachers trying to brainwash me but merely to teach me about different aspects of history to understand it better and learn from the past. Let’s get a grip and realize that each student determines their own beliefs and while they are exposed to many ideas, there are more factors at play then just the schools such as their parents and background. By the time you’re a teenager, you’re able to make your own decisions and I doubt will brainwashed by the mere exposure to different beliefs. Finally, I doubt capitalism is taught before that time.
Well, I’m done for now. Unlike my pappy, I’m not interested in debating; I just wish to expose you all to different ideas like schools do. The fact you all probably won’t change your opinion proves my point about how this kind of thing isn’t brainwashing. I also got some things to do so I might not be around anyway…
October 21, 2011 at 7:28 am
Tenacity: Again, I don’t recall them asking for money. Find your notes and let me know if I’m wrong. I just don’t remember a request for funds from them.
October 21, 2011 at 9:11 am
Andrew,
A couple things?
You need to learn brevity. If you want to discuss, moderate your rhetoric, you’re lecturing, i.e, Comment box says “Comment” not “Lecture.”
Obviusly the Foundation disagrees with you concerning the inclusion of private sector education input into the Foundation’s mission. As far as the private security example you cite, that doesn’t stand up too well to the reality on the ground, as a former corporate member of ASIS, I can assure you that collaboration and exchanging ideas and personnel is not something one is precluded from doing simply because of the competitive nature of the relationship.
October 21, 2011 at 9:55 am
@Andre Bev. and Mr. Brown:
MCPS does not compete with private schools. “IF” vouchers were given or if we had charter schools the situation would be different. Public schools are a monopoly. As a tax payer I have no say how my tax money is being spent or even which public school my child attends.
Could anyone clarify Pennington for me? It is in the middle of the city but the county owns it. Why did the city not require or develop an agreement with PWC allowing MC students the ability to attend this school? We help out county kids all the time. For example, MCPS sends a speech therapist to a local private school to provide services to both city and COUNTY kids. I understand that it is required that kids recieve services in the district they attend school BUT I bring my child to a school for therapy why should these kids be catered to?
October 21, 2011 at 10:43 am
What private school does the MCPS send staff to?
October 21, 2011 at 11:57 am
The SLP from Haydon goes to All Saints School.
I questioned this on a few occasions and this is the history I was given:
A few years ago Pennington serviced the kids at All Saints School. After a change in admin. at Pennington, it was decided (or they realized) that they did not have to service All Saints kids. Pennington and the land belong to PWC and AS is located in the city. Since kids need to be serviced in the district that they attend school regardless of home address MCPS was required to take on any All Saints student needing speech therapy. At first AS parents were required to bring their child Haydon but as of last year MCPS decided that they would send a therapist to All Saints instead of having the kids come to them.
This annoys for a variety of reasons.
1. PWC nails Manassas City whenever they can.
2. More than 1/2 the students attending All Saints School are county kids.
3. MCPS increased it’s workload because many of the kids at All Saints (prior to being catered to) secured therapy outside of the schools system.
4. The city only has to provide a pool of hours to private/home-school kids. The city private/homes-school kids should get these resources NOT county kids.
October 21, 2011 at 12:08 pm
4K&D,
Yes, there is competition, and cooperation, between the public and private schools when it comes to educating the children of Manassas. It may not be always explicit and it may be grossly dysfunctional at times, but one has to step back and analysis and assess it from a system’s perspective.
The point I was attempting to make is that Foundation to be successful might want to understand and leverage the total educational environment in which its primary objective the MCPS is operating. It was a rather simple point and I offer it up to any members, or honorary members of the board, who might be scrolling thru.
October 21, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@ Doug Brown
I see the cooperation but please give an example of competition. Other than the regional science fair the only competition I see is for the kids who are attending private schools. I don’t even see competition within the city schools. Unless I move I have no choice of elem. school. Heck, one of my sons recieves services through the city, I have recommendations from doctors and STILL I can’t choose the most appropriate public school for his situation. I made a request just last month and was denied AGAIN. Funny, if I moved one block over that same school would HAVE to take him.
October 21, 2011 at 1:36 pm
4K&D,
That is the competition for students and families who go to the private schools, and especially in Manassas case – English as a first language students who will keep those SOL scores high. A lot of people have simply given up on the MCPS, they homeschool or go private. The outward migration of those familes from the MCPS has definitely had a negative impact on MCPS.
October 21, 2011 at 3:10 pm
I’ll agree to that but it isn’t “true” competition since it is not an option for many parents. Regardless, the number of kids that go to private school whose parents would consider making the switch is small. Many families go private for personal reasons and others don’t care about the expense. It may be helpful for the city to survey parents that decided to pull their kids from the system as well as those parents that decided to switch them into MCPS. The results may help determine strengths and weaknesses in the system.
October 21, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Ray, Kendra Keilbasa (Leadership Prince William 2010, formerly with Home Instead Senior Care) is one of the contacts for Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William.
October 21, 2011 at 8:46 pm
@FourKidsnaDog – regarding Pennington.
That land is part of what is nicknamed the “donut hole” in the City. The Courthouse/Jail Complex, Senior Center and Pennington sit on about four acres. Technically, it is the County Seat. Back in 1975 when the City was chartered and the split from the County came, the issue of that land took from 1975 – 2005 to get settled in the Courts. It is County facilities and County land with the City having the right to first claim when the County ever gives it up. One of the little odd stories about our fair City!
October 21, 2011 at 8:55 pm
The Challenge Letter – thanks for the posting. I like the lock-down on required dates for adoption and implement is great. Would like to have seen though a mandated date/dates for one or two public hearings before adoption in January. Still, I have faith in at least a couple of the Education Forward Committee folks who will intergrate that into the planning.
October 21, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Here’s an “audacious” plan for ya.
Start by dismantling the MCPS system. Take all the money saved and give every school-aged child in Manassas City an educational voucher to take anywhere they want. The kids would benefit, the City would benefit, and the money would be better spent.
A voucher system for Manassas City children would instantly catapault our city’s popularity as a desired destination for residency. Guaranteed.
October 24, 2011 at 1:16 am
I agree with the Countrydoc but the the vouchers would have to reach beyond the city and into other counties.
Andy, it is possible that there was a miscommunication with exactly what the council has agreed to fund (on top of the revenue sharing agreement) with regard to the schools and education.
I am confused by the Education Foundation’s website and the statement that they have an all volunteer staff? I believe the Director is paid with a clause to include a percentage of funds brought in by grants?
Clarification is also requested on the use of funds for the Education Forward committee itself? Where did the money come from and is this what AP testing was paid for with? Is PD 360 part of this all well? I found Dr. Meyer’s comments very interesting in this article:
http://www.slideshare.net/SchoolImprovementNetwork/manassas-va-new
October 24, 2011 at 1:10 pm
It would be wonderful but a lot would have to change to see a rise in charter schools, vouchers and/or the dismanlting on MCPS. The ACLU would go after us if we dismantle, the Blaine amendment makes vouchers unlikely and charter schools have many hurdles. Like it or not the quickest fix is to work is what we have.
From a CATO Institue article:
Thirty-six states, including Virginia, have a “Blaine” amendment in their constitution that prohibits the use of public money for tuition in private or sectarian schools. Some state supreme courts have taken a narrow reading of this restriction, allowing voucher programs as long as state money is provided directly to families and only indirectly to private institutions. But the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that such an approach violates the public-private funding ban.
Only states with no charter laws have a charter school environment worse than Virginia, which has only eight active charters compared to 491 in top-ranked Arizona. State law gives Virginia’s 133 school districts almost complete control over the kind of policies that could result in more charter schools. Robert Holland, a senior fellow with the Arlington-based Lexington Institute, says Virginia is unlikely to build a meaningful charter system. The reason, says Holland, is that “final authority is in the hands of the local school boards,” which are typically controlled by the local education establishment. And the establishment types are rarely well-disposed to allowing competition within their respective fiefdoms.