Tender Tots & NAACP Updates

Parents -

At the April 27 school board workshop, I noted that we had requested additional information from both the YMCA and the NAACP from the representatives that spoke that night. As promised, the information is linked below.

The Goochland YMCA is taking on the Tender Tots program that has been cut from the 2010-2011 School Budget. Here you will find the information sheet provided by the YMCA. Enrollment is open, and you may visit the YMCA to sign up.

This week the Goochland Gazette also published a helpful article about the Tender Tots program's transition here.

At the same meeting in April, Mr. Sekou Shabaka spoke about the long-running requests of the NAACP Educational Committee. At that time, Chairman Cisne invited Mr. Shabaka to provide written suggestions & feedback. At the workshop this week, Mr. Shabaka again addressed the board asking them to acknowledge the letter that has been sent. He further asked that the effort be conducted as a distinct project and not part of daily operations of the schools. He noted that there are successful models to learn from, including the SEED school initiative profiled on 60 Minutes and the Brooklyn-based Williamsburg Collegiate School. A copy of the letter from the NAACP to the school board is here.

School Board vote

I wanted to let you know that the SchoolBoard voted tonight unanimously to approve the Superintendent's proposed budget with no changes since the presentation on May 11th. (Maxwell Cisne was absent, so this was unanimous with the attending 4 board members).

I want to extend on behalf of many people a huge THANK YOU to everyone who emailed or called their reps. And a STANDING OVATION to the speakers tonight --- including over a dozen students representing all 5 Goochland schools. Myself and others around me were moved to tears by the wise words of these children. Several parents got up and spoke without having planned to simply because they were so moved by the young speakers.

I wish I could say that the board was so moved.

We have lost the teachers. We have lost the gifted center. But we aren't done. Stay tuned.

Calling all parents -- School Board meeting Tuesday, May 25th

The final vote on the revised 2010-2011 school budget will be this Tuesday. We highly encourage you to attend and to bring your children with you. Pick up the phone and call your school board reps tomorrow and tell them your thoughts. Then show up at the meeting Tuesday and make a stand . . . show them that we're not done fighting to keep teachers in classrooms.

WHO: YOU and YOUR CHILDREN
WHAT: School Board Workhop (Agenda)
WHEN: Tuesday, May 25th at 6:30 PM
WHERE: Goochland County Annex Building

Special Education Parent Advisory Council Meeting

This meeting is for parents of children receiving special education services:

Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Meeting Notice

Date: May 13, 2010

Time: 6:00 PM

Place: Goochland High School Media Center

Information: The Parent Resource Center
Goochland High School (804) 556-5322, Ext. 4713
or Mrs. Becki Stokes at claibnbeck@comcast.net

Is there anything new at your child's school related to Special
Education? There has been a lot going on this year that will
affect what goes on next!

This is the last meeting of the 2009-2010 school year. Please plan
to attend. We look forward to seeing you.

Goochland Special Education Parent Advisory Committee

Agenda Thursday, May 13, 2010

Welcome

Minutes

Transition Update - Bridget Parker

Preschool Update

Special Olympics Update - Jayne Hancock

Parent Resource Center Update - Nell Gambino

Special Education Update - Becki Stokes

Parents' Point

Revisiting Student Recognition

Special Education Information

Privacy Issues

Nominations/Votes

Close

5/11 Superintendent's Revised Budget Proposal

I have scanned and posted Dr. Underwood's budget presentation --> click here.

Please note, that this is a proposed budget, and the School Board will vote on it at their workshop on May 25th. If you have feedback, please contact your School Board representative. Their contact info is HERE. Note that many of them do not get or read their official email address inbox, so I HIGHLY recommend a phone call instead of an email.

5/11 School Board Meeting

Parents ---

The main agenda item tonight was the revised school budget reductions in response to the Board of Supervisors additional reduction of $317k from the school budget. It was quite notable that the presentation was printed for the SB, but not on the website for the public. The information was projected on a screen, but even moving to the front row it was all I could do to read any of it, particularly at the breakneck pace at which the slides were presented. I obtained a hard copy after the meeting, which I will scan and post in its entirety tomorrow morning. But as a teaser, here are a few notes:

RIF notices were distributed last week (yes, during teacher appreciation week). RIF letters went to 13 teachers (the other reductions are through attrition)

Summary of positions reduced (this is TOTAL, both ones already in the approved budget, plus new recommendations by the superintendent):

21 teachers
5 instructional assistant positions
1 maintenance position
1 procedural due process specialist
1 elementary director
1 HR specialist
1 research and information services position
2 receptionists positions
reduced part-time cleaners hours


"New" reduction recommendations since the 4/6 BOS vote:
$65,000 from facilities (this is the whole facilities budget -- it was "just in case" money, some money is added back to maintenance to offset this)

$13,000 from transportation by reducing number of stops in subdivisions and dead-end roads

$48,000 from maintenance due to reduced electricity rates

Director of Elementary Education (on LOA next year, critical functions assigned to existing staff)

Human Resource Specialist (retired, critical functions assigned to existing staff)

Research and Information Services (resigned, critical functions eliminated or assigned to existing staff)

Procedural Due Process Specialist (position eliminated, the teacher in this position will move back to a classroom position, responsibilities added to school psychologist)

Revised elementary gifted program from center based to school based (assign one enrichment teacher to each elementary school to address Young Explorers and Gifted (grades K-5))

Reduce one additional elementary classroom teacher

GES Odor
Beyond the budget, there was a lengthy conversation about the odor from the bathrooms in Goochland Elementary School. I will spare you the details, other than to say that the school maintenance department has been chasing this smell for 35 or more years. The board approved a request for Mr. Turner to get quotes for professionals to come in and diagnose the root cause of the issue.

Please check back tomorrow for the full presentation once I get it scanned.

School Board Meeting Tuesday, May 11

Parents -- The next school board meeting is Tuesday, May 11 at the High
School at 7 PM.  Note that Dr. Underwood will be presenting her
recommendations on further budget reductions during this meeting, so it is
definitely a key one to attend.

http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/index/schoolboard/agendas/

Teacher Appreciation Week

Reminder that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Check with your schools' PTAs on exact schedule of planned events for the teachers, but at the very least, each and every one of them deserves our heartfelt THANK YOU.

THANK YOU GOOCHLAND TEACHERS!