GEPA Announces New Program for GOOCHLAND TEACHERS!

We are excited to announce a new program for parents and citizens to make classroom donations directly to a Goochland classroom!  Teachers are registering needed items and supplies on our FORUMS page (see above link).
Even the smallest donations can make a difference for a classroom.  Please take a look and consider donating.  Some items may even be sitting unused in your home!
Questions? Comments?  Feedback?  Please feel free to contact us via the link above!

January GEPA Meeting

Parents/Friends:
It's that time of year again.  Make your resolutions, return those
unwanted gifts, and come join us for a discussion of the upcoming
school budget!
We are having a meeting this Sunday at the Goochland Library at
2:00pm.  The 2011/2012 school budget is being presented to the Board
of Supervisors on January 27th, with a Public Hearing on the budget at
the next School Board meeting (Tuesday, January 11th).
For more information and/or to review the budget:
http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/index/schoolboard/agendas/
(We will have more in-depth information available at the meeting)
We hope to see you there!

Please Help with Email Campaign to Governor McDonnell!

As many of us are aware, Goochland County Public Schools are facing
yet another difficult budget cycle.  There is a little known element
to the school's budget that we need to address directly to Governor
McDonnell - and it must be addressed today.

In August 2010, Congress enacted the Federal Education Jobs Fund.
This Federal fund was to be used to replace the funds lost due to the
dramatic budget cuts – to restore the quality of classroom instruction
in K-12 schools.  Virginia schools received approximately $250 million
from this fund.

Our govenor is trying to REDUCE next year's state funding to the
school districts by the amount of federal aid each district received.
This is absolutely unacceptable.  As I explained to my 11-year old
son, it is akin to your Grandmother giving you $20 for your birthday,
but then having that amount deducted from your allowance, as you have
already been paid for that month. Then, your parents get to spend that
$20 on themselves. Goochland schools received about $260,000 in these
Federal funds.  We need every penny!

The Goochland Education Parents Association is asking everyone to
please take a few moments and send a message to our Governor in
support of our children's educational dollars.  Below is a sample
letter that you are welcome to copy and paste.  Gov. McDonnell's email
address and Facebook page are linked as well.  (Another interesting
link I have added is a news article written by the VEA President,
Kitty Boitnott, that appeared in the Virginian Pilot in November.)

Penny Palen,
Chairman,
Goochland Education Parents Association


 http://www.governor.virginia.gov/AboutTheGovernor/contactGovernor.cfm

 http://www.facebook.com/bobmcdonnell?ref=ts

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/11/use-stimulus-money-congress-intended-schools

Dear Governor McDonnell,

In this time of further budget cuts to our local school systems,
parents, teachers and citizens of Goochland County are requesting that
Virginia not cut the basic State Aid to our public schools by the
amount of federal funds received under the 2010 Federal Education Jobs
Fund.

This fund was created to preserve the integrity of K-12 education in
our country.  The goals were to hire teachers, maintain or reduce
class sizes, and preserve & reinstate instructional programs.  To use
this federal aid as an excuse to reduce 2011 state funding would be
inappropriate, as it would have the exact opposite effect of this
bill’s original intention.  Our teachers and programs would once again
be in jeopardy.

The real victims of this, however, are our children.  They deserve a
quality education in Virginia.  The use of federal money to replace
state education funds is unacceptable and unfair to Virginia’s
schools, educators, and most importantly the students.

Sincerely,

GEPA now has a P.O. BOX

Have a question or concern?  Feel free to write us at:

Goochland Education Parents Association
P.O. Box 1262
Goochland, VA  23063

GCPS Strategic Plan Needs Volunteers

Subcommittees will begin their work in February and finish by the end of May when their recommendations will be presented to the school board.
The Strategic Plan - Subcommittee Volunteer form can be downloaded online http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/resources/subcommittee_form.doc or can be picked up at schools or the Central Office. If you have questions, please call (804) 556-5601 or email Superintendent Linda Underwood. lunderwood@glnd.k12.va.us


This is from the GCPS website

GEPA Meeting Notes 9/27 & New Board

Meeting 9/27 at 6:30 at Rocco’s

Meeting was called to order at 6:48 PM by Kristin McNaron, Secretary

Introductions: All in attendance made brief introductions.

Informational Items: We discussed the fact that the GEPA constitution was created in a hasty manner when the group first formed, and that it is in much need of a major revision. The outgoing board, led by Mr. Adeeb Hamzey, worked on draft of a new constitution, but we strongly encourage the new board to complete this work to build a better foundation for the organization.

Nominations: The following nominations were made and accepted:

Chair – Penny Palen

Vice Chair – JD Wright

Treasurer – Jenn Hefner

Secretary – none

Being uncontested, votes were taken by a show of hands, and the new board is accepted. Kristin McNaron has already indicated her term of Secretary will end after September 30, so the organization is in search of nominations for the Secretary position.

Other business: We discussed goals for GEPA in the coming year. These include:

• More proactively presenting our ideas to both boards before budgets are set
• Improving internal communications processes
• Improving our ability to educate public on educational issues
• Working more closely with PTAs
• 
  

Next Meeting: Tentatively Monday, October 18^th at the library – Adeeb took the action item to try to reserve the library

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM.

GEPA Election, Monday, Sept 27 at 6:30 pm

Parents --- It's TIME . . . time to elect a new board for GEPA. Please plan to attend Monday, September 27 at 6:30 PM at Rocco's.

Thanks,
Kristin