Update: Pat Weiler has been named the interim City Manager. That’s good news. She and her staff produce the budget and are excellent folks. Pat’s a killer and will have no problem handling this.
On another note, the City Manager told me this afternoon that the Superintendent has announced her retirement to her staff. I know of no details yet but the information is accurate. We’ll look to the School Board for that info…
January 30, 2012 at 9:59 pm
My compliments to you for closing the other thread, Oh Blog Meister!
January 31, 2012 at 6:59 am
Now that the convention is behind us but the election remains in front of us, let’s see what the pols do about our schools. Will the voters have a real basis to decide who they are voting for … or not? Education forward, when?
http://manassas.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-education-forward-when#photo-3959229
January 31, 2012 at 8:53 am
@Rich,
I could not agree more with the comment/letter in the Patch. BTW, did anyone read the article about the girl being attacked on the way to school? Does MCPD step up patrols before and after school? There is a lot of nonsense that goes on during that those time periods. A few weeks ago I witnessed a group of boys passing around a flask on Wellington Rd. ( light by Metz and OHS ball field). Apparently, they had no fear of being caught because they passed is around as if they were sharing a pack of gum.
January 31, 2012 at 9:08 am
My compliments to Rich as well on a letter well written and content right on point.
I read the article and, unfortunately, am not surprised. As one of many citizens asking MCPD and MCPS to step up patrols both before and after school for years only to get more speed traps. Drivers are not usually the problem, it is students running, crossing the streets at will, walking down the middle of the street and yes, drinking/smoking out in the open.
As for Ed Forward, it was stated at the most recent PTA meeting at Round Elementary, that there would no action until after the budget session AND that the proposals were intended to be put into place one, two or maybe even three years down the road. In addition, the problems facing us now were just “little fixes” that would be addressed anyway.
January 31, 2012 at 9:13 am
In Andyworld BC (before council) he wrote an editorial column
for the Manassas N&M which I enjoyed reading – most of the time.
Do remember being lambasted for voting to approve the
Harris Pavilion. The point being that serving in elective
office in a diverse community of 38K people, you have to expect
some criticism and that isn’t a bad thing.
(This may sound odd to some, but after being taken to task during
citizen’s time or a public hearing I have often thought
what a great country we live in – in our democracy people
have the right to protest – indeed, on occasion, they have the
responsibility to protest the actions of their government –
be it national, state, or local).
January 31, 2012 at 9:16 am
@Andy,
Regarding your comment on another blog. Some may view that having a blog is a risk not worth taking. I, on the otherhand, admire you for reaching out to the citizens of Manassas.
January 31, 2012 at 11:00 am
Rich,
Great letter. Folks need to keep the pressure up, regarding the state of the schools. When they feel the heat, they will see the light.
January 31, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Pat Weiler is our new Interim City Manager. Great news:
http://manassas.patch.com/articles/city-names-interim-city-manager
January 31, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Education forward is dead, people. Wake up. It was never anything more than a distraction. It isn’t supposed to meet until May? Put a fork in it, get your kids outta the schools.
February 1, 2012 at 12:59 am
You may be right, Helen, but at the moment reality rules. No dough for private school and no go for home school. Most people that can get out are out. I don’t recall any “talks” from parents, clergy, schools or society reminding us that you may not have all healthy or typical children and be careful not to have one too many because you never know….your public schools might stink (wanted to use another word).
Until the vouchers come rolling in, reality rules.
February 1, 2012 at 1:04 am
Let’s hope she has the decency to take her second in command with her since she is the one who brought her on board in the first place.
February 1, 2012 at 7:29 am
@Helen: I don’t know that it’s dead but, given recent events, its purpose needs to be re-visited.
February 1, 2012 at 8:25 am
Education Forward does need revisiting – I agree with AndyH when he stated at Convention it should be meeting more than it does – and add in it should include more than Council or Academics. This is a group ripe to have working groups within it looking at specific real-time issues and not two to three years down the road. This delaying also allows for opportunities lost, and quick frankly, stonewalling by MCPS.
For instance: Under the presented to Land Use Committee “Neighborhood Standards & Measures of Success” there is a section on Education and working with the Boys & Girls Club after-school program that focus on skills for the classroom. CAVEAT: if you look at the presented item, in reality it is only GTS and not elsewhere for several reasons I’ll skip.
As presented, it was stated the MCPS “pushed back” against it. An opportunity lost by their delaying and resisiting to help at least a small sector of the kids gain reading and other skill improvement. Additionally, another opportunity lost was the latest grant cycle by AmeriCorps which focused on education. I provided Neighborhood Services the grant info in December to include a brief synopsis of how to write it….wasted time, wasted breath.
Education Forward should revamp itself and retarget bringing in the help by people who want to help, and are rebuked.
February 2, 2012 at 1:43 am
With respect to the pending retirement of Dr. Pope, I offer the following:
Dear MCPS School Board,
I volunteer to serve on the selection committee for the new superintendent. I am a concerned parent who is committed to ensuring our schools provide our children and youth the knowledge and life skills they will need to create bright futures for themselves. Why do I think I can help? I know a thing or two about effective leadership…and that is first and foremost what our new superintendent must provide to turn our school system around.
I would like to know how the applicant would establish a culture of public service and excellence among his/her direct staff and restore the focus on our students. I would be interested in hearing how the applicant would go about empowering and supporting our school principals and teachers; how the applicant would hold staff, administrators and teachers accountable for their performance; and what the applicant would do to eliminate non-value added reporting and paperwork. I’d be interested in how the candidate would partner with the community, local government and local services to create a mutually supportive environment across the city for our students.
I’d like to hear the applicant explain the steps that would be taken to ensure every elementary school student has been prepared to be successful at Mayfield and Metz, and every Metz student has been prepared to be successful at OHS. I would like to know what standards the applicant would invoke to ensure that parents are responded to in a meaningful manner. I’d like to understand the applicant’s approach to transparency in use of our tax dollars.
The answers to these questions will tell us if the applicant has the needed vision, integrity, grit, and leadership skills. It’s not enough to tell us what would be done. The measure of effectiveness will be in HOW the applicant would go about getting it done…with respect to people, resources, and dedication.
Ellen M Purdy
Candidate for MCPS School Board
February 2, 2012 at 9:41 am
Ellen, a question: When you say “partner with the community”, does that include the community-at-large? “At-large” meaning the stakeholders which is each and every one of the residents who pay taxes to the City which then turns over a good chunck of our dollars to MCPS?
Reason I ask is – and from experience talking to School Leadership in the past – “community” to them has meant more in terms of businesses and organizations. Thanks!!!!
February 2, 2012 at 12:36 pm
FYI – According to today’s News & Messenger, for the first time
in over twenty years, an individual will seek a Manassas City Council
seat running as a Democrat — Patricia Richie-Folks.
(Although a last name like “Richie-Folks” sure sounds Republican).
February 2, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Just to add to the above comment:
Don’t forget there’s also one announced independent, Jerry Carman (who based on his comments on his personal website and his posts on BVBL is unusually far-right leaning for an independent… don’t know why he didn’t registrar as a Repubican and try his luck at the convention…) . He posted last month on BVBL that would have enough signatures to run for Council by the beginning of this month. I haven’t seen any updates to know if he got all of them. If anyone has an update on that, please feel free to pass it along.
In my opinion, based of those two challengers (and possibly others who haven’t announced yet), the three Republicans running for the City Council, Ian Lovejoy, Jon Way, and Mark Wolfe, would do well to form a bloc and campaign together like the Three Musketeers under a “all for one, one for all” attitude. Seems to me if they formed that bloc and combined their resources, endorsements, etc they and the Republicans would be unstoppable in May…
February 2, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Andy,
Do you have any updates on the bike/hike trail in the general area of the airport? I was over in that area on a hike a few weeks ago, and see a lot of potential for a pretty good trail.
February 2, 2012 at 8:15 pm
I may be at the end of this ‘old’ thread, and my comments may not be read by those already discussing the winter that wasn’t. But since schools are almost always being discussed here, I want to throw out a few thoughts and hope they resonate a little.
Posting ideas on a blog is honestly not the way to get anything changed. Sometimes I feel better after providing my proverbial two cents, but I’m hardly committing to specific change action when I do so. Change comes through action, not platitudes. I enjoy reading this blog, but it’s usually not for serious enlightenment. Sorry AH
While there are always comments like ‘why don’t we do X’ or ‘why can’t we do Y’, what I do not commonly see is, ‘Here’s what I think is a good idea, here is why I think it can work, and here is what I am personally pledging to do to make it happen.’
I do not doubt that the folks who are volunteering to be on any selection committee for a new superintendent have good intentions. But if those intentions start and stop at voluteering here on this blog, then I’d prefer you move on to something else. I’m sure some elected Manassas pols do read this blog from time to time. It might not be wise for them to ignore that it is here. It’s hard for me to guess if fifteen people read it or five hundred, but if you really want to be heard, take advantage of citizens time at the meetings. There’s slightly more effort involved, but there is infinitely more impact. As far as I know, there is no such committee yet proposed. If you want one, get to the board meetings and get the ball rolling. I’d say now is the time.
I was never really on board with the idea that any one MCPS administrator or board member simply ‘had to go’. I can disagree with their plans and their actions (inactions) , but unless I’m constantly providing feedback in person, during citizens’ time or face to face with those powers that be, I’m just part of the background noise. I’m usually more concerned with the devil I don’t know than the devil I do, so I’m careful of what I wish for.
While I also commend those who are willing to run for local office, and hope they are really ready to do something different, I still don’t hear the plan. It is highly possible that I simply lack the sagacity to decipher it, but for now it’s just ‘I’m the new guy, and not one of them’. Our superintendent has chosen to resign. There is a board election soon. How can we possibly say that anyone is ‘better’ than what we have now, if concrete proposals aren’t provided? Saying ‘I’m going to hold them accountable’ sounds nice, but unfocused passion is less desirable than a plan. To me, that is. If you want my vote, give me your plan. I’ve now got another 8 plus years left of kids in MCPS. It isn’t that long. If I thought it best to wait until after the budget season is over, if I thought it best to wait until after the next board election, then I think I’m still wasting too much of the 8 years I have left directly tied to MCPS.
At the recent Round Elementary PTO meeting where board members spoke, they mentioned the desire to hold a community wide forum to choose the future direction of MCPS. Like the one some years ago. But like in the previous forum, it was to ‘choose’ the direction. Not discuss it. The discussion part has to come long before the choosing so that there are actually choices. Not everyone will be happy with the choices. But I’m fairly certain that those involved in the earlier discussion phase are going to be more satisfied than those who didn’t have time for the discussion. I’d like this forum to take place before the end of the school year.
If you desire change, figure out what it is you really want and push. The goal for me is not just higher SOL scores. The goal is to literally have a super school system that others want to emulate. Lots of ways to get there, I guess, but ‘spending more’ is not a popular notion in these parts. OK, so if we do not spend more, and there is not an ounce of fat in the budget, then it comes down to volunteers and volunteer programs. Doesn’t it? Magic is kind of out of the question, so volunteering seems the most productive solution. Volunteers from the community. Ready to spend 20 or more hours per week as a board member? Great. Want to be on a selection committee for a few hours? You can do better than that. Get a thousand people involved and committed, and with some endurance on the part of the volunteers, I’d say we’d have something fairly bold and audacious happening.
Our community must step up and give TIME. Kids need to read, and they need to know math. It’s fundamental. Did you know there are folks who volunteer at the elementary schools to just read to kids? Help them along a little bit? That’s action not platitudes. I don’t know how many there are now, but what if there were hundreds? I don’t know if there are any doing the same for math. There’s a local doctor who has been volunteering with the sports programs for decades. Yes, decades. That’s what helps make it happen.
There are tons of folks who have some time to give. An hour a month, an hour a week, or anything in between is better than nothing. Maybe a couple lawyers provide work sessions on logic to high schoolers and tell them how awesome it is to be a lawyer. Maybe business owners would enjoy talking to kids once a month on why it’s good to be the king, and how one gets there. Retired teachers can tutor kids who need help in their specialty? Have we got any engineers living in town who can explain algebra in a new way to kids who can’t get it the first time? I believe that’s what has got to happen.
At the next board meeting ( or at least the one on Feb 28th when they approve their budget) I’m going to propose a major volunteer program. Sure there’s issues like background checks, etc. But they’re not insurmountable hurdles. I’m going to tell them exactly what I can do to help implement it. I’ve got four hours a month or better to give just helping a kid read or do arithmetic. I’d think it shameful if every member of school board and council couldn’t commit to a quarter of that. The Mayor , too. Either they care or they don’t. And if that additional commitment is too much, well ok, lets look for someone else who is ready to put their shoulders to the wheel.
I’m also going to say that if they plan on a new building for central office personel anytime soon, they’re off their rocker. I don’t care how old their offices are, Baldwin is likely older. Heck, I’d support giving them gold plated crappers if we had even the second best school system in NOVA. Or they can have the Baldwin building when those kids are provided the replacement that is needed for them.
I’m going to suggest that we work towards having our own Thomas Jefferson type school. Lets have other jurisdictions fighting to get their best and brightest working next to ours. That’s likely a costly one, but I’ll pay more if we can get one. School systems pay for the privilege of attending TJ now, and I bet demand exists for another similar school.
I’ll stop here because I’ve gone on long enough for one post. Call me an idiot, call me a jerk, I can take it. But what I can’t take as easily is a community who readily points fingers, but can’t be bothered to invest personally in solutions. As always, smb
February 3, 2012 at 8:56 am
Good post Ed. I hope MCPS can get a volunteer program going. Parents often work maybe it could be open to include senior citizens in our community? Senior citizens volunteer at one of the schools my kids attend. I see it as a win all the way around – the kids, teachers and seniors all enjoy and benefit.
February 3, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Volunteer work is fine I suppose. But it seems to me that’s kind of a recent developement in the last decade or so. How did schools prior to the push for volunteers produce good students? Are we letting kids off the hook a bit, buy telling them without extra help, they won’t make it, or should not be blamed for not making it without the extra help? Self motivation and responsibility should be at the center of any attempt at improving student proformance
February 3, 2012 at 12:39 pm
@Ed, great piece. Through one of my volunteer roles, now will be working with the Special Education Advisory Committee to build the relationship with our local Independence Empowerment Center who assist those of disabilities, regardless of age.
4Kids, regarding involvement of our “Vintage Virginians” which is now the phrase being used to refere to our Seniors: one proposal years ago was to involve the RSVP program (coordinated by Prince William Volunteer) to make use of the two Senior Centers as tutoring locations. Within the City, the idea proposed died on the vine as I got all kinds of reasons opinioned as why it could not occur, although in my thinking, all of those were ones which could be worked around.
February 3, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Wow…
@ Ed, great post, I very much appreciate hearing your perspective and your opinions. However, I don’t want to google the word “sagacity” for fear I may find my name referenced…
I learn from you every time I speak to you, to clarify, good things. Again, my standard disclaimer – I’m sort of a simpleton – what I heard was, we should put our money where our mouths are, so to speak. Agreed. And we should demand a concise written plan of action from our elected officials, School Board, any administrators or candidates to fill Dr. Pope’s shoes, yes? I concur.
I’m on board with your volunteer program idea. I’ll go as far as committing to spending at least 4 days per month, more at the startup, if there is no program in place to volunteer, to help assist and or implement a program that a) follows MCPS policies or b) and I like B better, researching other volunteer groups to make sure that we properly screen, background check (full criminal), APPROPRIATELY check references and follow fingerprint protocol on all volunteers… many of our folks have done this through Boys/Girl Scouts, Churches, etc. No need to re-invent the wheel, I’d guess we could ask permission from the volunteer to have access to that information… We’ve got a MCPS dad who works in the regions fingerprint warehouse, NOVARIS… my husband spent 7 years as the program director, when he was with Fairfax County police, I think I can confidently say, I can pick some brains on this area…
Off topic, but maybe we should be asking ourselves if this is something MCPS does with all their new hires… just saying. My job requires me to undergo the screening process every two years and I don’t work with children…
@ COM, I respect Andy and his blog… so I’m going to put this as nicely as I possibly can… since you don’t use your real name, and I do… I think what Ed was trying say, is that now is the time for us, as stakeholders, to become part of the solution. Changes are happening and change is good… let’s keep the positive thoughts and ideas flowing,
In my humble opinion, any kind of volunteer effort, from any member of the community sets a beautiful example of positive, productive citizenship for the children we are trying to educate. I’m going to log off, since I’m in Delaware and walk my beach and pick up trash or seashells – enjoy your Friday, folks!
February 3, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Ray,
When I say community I mean, parents, citizens even if they never had or no longer have students in our schools, local businesses, local organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Junior Women’s Club, you name it. I really do mean community.
We have so much expertise, experience, and wisdom in Manassas, it is a shame not to tap into it. When I first contacted Dr. Pope during my daughter’s sophomore year about establishing a personal finance class (before it became a VA requirement) so we could teach our kids to be savvy consumers and personal finance managers, I volunteered to help create a curriculum and seek out some friends who were financial advisers to enlist their help. Her answer was to decline because “they already had a process”. My daughter graduated from OHS without that class… it was left to my husband and myself to see to that part of her education. If MCPS had a construct to accept volunteer assistance such as this, I wonder how much quicker we could have established that class and how many more kids could have been taught those valuable lessons and insights?
Thanks for all and every, Ellen
February 3, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Ed,
I concur with your comments, so I’m going to blindside Andy and ask if he would mind posting a series of vignettes I’ve been developing this past week that lays out much of what you asked for…details for how to get from where we are today to where I believe we should be going.
As a bit of expectation management, I should warn that these vignettes are not really a plan (which in my mind constitutes a purpose, scope, process, resources, schedule, roles and responsibilities), they are “way points” for getting to the key components of a plan. I am a firm believer that for a plan to be implemented successfully it should be established and honed collectively by the folks charged with the responsibility of implementing it.
People make things happen, not boxes and lines on an organization chart, so those people should have a role in creating the plan…mostly because with their input you get a better plan than one created in isolation by one person. Having said that I am also a believer it is better to give folks something to edit vice asking them to start with a blank sheet of paper, so if Andy will be so kind, I’ll offer up my 2 cents. Then let the editing begin!
I’m headed to the Varsity basketball game tonight, hope to meet some of you there! Ellen
February 3, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Ed, that was a really, really good piece. I know that you meant every word and it all came through.
February 3, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Jessica,
I’m not dimissing it out of hand, just bringing up some concerns, that are common sense. There are plenty of people that say just spend more money and the results will change. Well, as we can see, just spending more money, we are about 13K a student, does not mean better results. So, just having people volunteer does not mean better results and in the end, if a student is not ready to learn or willing to learn, no matter how much feel good stuff we do is not going to bring us the results we need.
February 3, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Excellent dialogue happening.
We all need to pay attention to the new central office proposal. It is not a done deal and I agree, should not happen at this time.
Volunteering is an invaluable experience and some of do, and have done, as much as we can from day one. However, it has need been as fruitful as one might think. Many are discouraged from doing more than copying or errands. Schools have been somewhat guarded with where parents are “allowed” to be. Even substitutes are only allowed to have only so much access and ask only do many questions. Often times they aren’t even given a lesson plan. Hopefully this will all change, but it needs to be said. I also don’t want those that work 6-7 work weeks, travel or have multiple jobs, single parents, etc. to feel that there are not contributing because that can’t be in the school or attend the functions.
Once again, not possible for all to commit to speaking in a public forum and shouldn’t be penalized that for that.
One last word on volunteering. I have a friend that put at least 4 hours a week into her child’s school for 5 years, only to find out that the child’s grades were manufactured, interventions non-existent and created a home atmosphere that none of us should ever have to go through.
You will see specific plans come out. Concrete proposals that we can all get behind and they won’t break the bank. There are solutions that will cost $$ but it should come out of the “top heavy” bureaucracy that we all know as MCPS.
February 4, 2012 at 1:01 am
Thoughts on the new School Administration Building with associated School Vehicles Maintenance Site adjoining it:
let the School Board identify it on their CIP and hopefully they will also maintain a proper one and not let things slip on and off – City Planning folks offered their help, School Board should take it. But a caveat: it is an unfunded, out-year project because –
If, and I repeat If, the City gets first dibs on the Old Post Office, well, now there is a purpose for it. Renovate it for the new Administration Office.
Leave the School Vehicles where they are now because common sense says consolidated Maintenance Facilities are more economical especially when you look at environmental impacts. Our Public Works Facility has all those in place and having to run another location with them is just not economical smart. Since the MCPS has a budget shortfall…and most likely will in out-years…this is one expense that can be avoided.
February 4, 2012 at 1:09 am
Ellen, thank you!
I had a hunch your definition of community is the same as many of us who haunt Andy’s blog 🙂 I also like your approach of having the vignettes as the first step in any planning is Assessment. And that Assessment is the time to toss in everything and anything against an issue looking for a solution. Assess-Plan-Implement-Evaluate (APIE) are the core to every planning process…with of course cycling back through each step as needed. Look forward to your thoughts.
February 4, 2012 at 8:58 am
Good morning folks, The game last night was awesome!! Eagles won, but it was a tough slog down to the last 5 minutes. After that it was pretty much a done deal. Here’s hoping the game tomorrow will be as fun to watch.
Ray thank you for your comment…I had never heard the acronym APIE but I like it. I’m betting you’ve also run across the OODA loop …Observe, Orient, Decide, Act, then do it again as the situation warrants.
Tenacity, any insights as to why there is such push back against volunteering? This is a bit of a sore spot with me.
In a previous position, I served as Director, Joint Ground Robotics. We had some decommissioned robots no longer suitable for service but they still had life in them. I convinced our Deputy Under Secretary to allow us to donate them to schools in support of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math). Having served as a judge in many robotics competitions from middle school to college level, I’ve seen first hand how getting involved with robotics has inspired kids to take on the tough subjects of math and science; taught them how to work effectively as a team; and given them opportunities to be leaders and public speakers. My first thought was Manassas but I couldn’t get anyone in the system to work with me to make it happen. Huge opportunity lost! Sigh…
Also, I completely agree with your comment regarding paying for solutions via the “top heavy” bureaucracy. I’ve worked with enough multi-million dollar budgets over the years to know where to find the inefficiencies. I tried to help one of our School Board members last year by telling her what types of data to request beyond what was already provided. She gave it the old college try but was shut down by other Board Members as well as key personnel in the Central Office.
This time around I’ve been told I will be provided the data requested because other key members have now asked for my assistance. Wish me luck…I’ve never yet met a budget I couldn’t wring efficiencies from, and I’m hoping this will not be the first.
OK, time to get back to the laundry (yuck).
February 4, 2012 at 9:00 am
Repurposing the Post Office is brilliant — small hub, staff operating on laptops and cells, walkable community. Centralize “stuff” not people and disperse out into schools so you’re constantly taking the pulse. Keep school vehicles at the award-winning maintenance facility over at Public Works.
February 4, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@Cindy…and even has an OmniLink bus stop right in front of it. Another benefit to that building, although does need a curb cut – which could be put in IF the City gets the building back.
February 4, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@Ellen…on issues by MCPS and Volunteering: one reason might be the work in “vetting” of the volunteers. There is a lot of work in running a proper volunteer program, plus by law, each one of those positions must have a job description associated with it. Of course, one way to allow for simplifying the process is if someone, for example, has completed the Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts Leader Training (at any level) which includes issues of abuse, etc etc etc.
Consider also the MCPS Special Education Advisory Committee has received approval (but the funding yet) to establish a Parents Resouce Center over at JLC. Their plan is to have it staffed with volunteers.
February 4, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Glad you brought that up, Ray. Part of a PRC (Parent Resource Center) or PTRC (Parent Teacher Resource Center) is the resource part. The volunteer should have some knowledge to point visitors in the right direction and to relevant resources. Should be interesting.
February 5, 2012 at 7:14 am
Why does an advisory committee needs funding. Is a Parent Resource Center like a clubhouse for the committee? How many funds are requested for this.
JLC is a school building used by OHS students. THere should be more of them in there, with teachers.
February 5, 2012 at 10:06 am
M. Burns…No, a resource center is not like a clubhouse. The Parent Resource Center can provide information on the following (taken from the PWCPS website for ease):
PWCS Special Education programs
and services
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
and related services
Regional conferences and seminars
How to be an active participant in your
child’s special education program
Long-term planning for your child’s adult
years
PWCS Special Education Advisory
Committee (SEAC)
Special education regulations
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) 2004
Section 504
Augmentative communication
Assistive technology
Parent support groups
Tutors
Sports/Recreation for children with
disabilities
Summer Camp Directory
Early Intervention/Preschool
. . . and much more
This is an area sorely lacking in MCPS. I would assume the funding would be used to stock the centers with resources.
JLC is not used solely by Osbourn students. JLC is an Alternative setting for Metz and OHS students who cannot be successful in the traditional setting.
February 5, 2012 at 11:51 am
Thanks for clarifying. In addition, the PRC or in our case PTRC (Parent Teacher Resource Center) is for staff as well as parents and students. References, resource material and information is not available at typical libraries. It is also SUPPOSED to be a place for guidance and direction, see link:
http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/vaprcs/downloadables/PRC%20Guidebook%20Jan2011.pdf
MCPS does not readily give out information to parents, prospective parents or staff in the federally mandated area of IDEA and Section 504 of the ADA. You must be your own researcher, advocate and semi-expert pertaining to your child’s rights and resources. Don’t be one of the many that assume all staff is knowledgable or being given appropriate direction or guidance.
The funding has come from a VA DOE grant. Please read the link provided to learn more.
February 12, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Whomever the new superintendent is, they should take a lesson from our neighbor to the north. Manassas Park has been lauded over and over again lately for the quality of their public education and for the value it brings their residents. They were just mentioned again in the N&M for recognition by the College Board in their “2012 AP Report to the Nation”. This is on top of other notable accolades in the past few years including being named as one of the best ROI in education in the DC metro area and having one of the highest AP classes per capita in the area. Manassas Park manages to excel DESPITE having similar “demographics” to Manassas City. They do so because they have a pervasive culture in their public schools starting in grade school that believes that EVERY child can learn.
I for one am glad to see our superintendent go. I would have preferred to see her fired but retirement is the next best thing. Her response to any question about the quality of the schools she was responsible for was to blame “demographics”. In case you don’t know this is code for ‘we have a lot of african american and hispanic children in our schools and therefore we can’t help the low scores’. When you have resigned yourself to failure the outcome should surprise no one. I believe this tendency to blame “demographics” for the poor quality of MCPS is a base form of racism that assumes black and hispanic kids cannot/will not learn. The leader we need for MCPS will look at all of our disadvantaged students as a challenge rather than an excuse.
Manassas Park City Schools Superintendent Bruce McDade should be congratulated for the work he has done in Manassas Park. At least we in Manassas City don’t have to go far to see examples of how public education can be done well.