Teacher Reduction In Force Policies and Notices AGAIN

Here we go again folks.
The School Board's March 8th meeting agenda is now posted on the GCPS
website.
Oddly enough, there are no "enclosures" to view at this time.  I
suspect they will probably be added in the last final moments before
the meeting, as is typical of any issue of controversy.  The following
is a portion of the agenda:

Date Prepared           Meeting Date
March 3, 2011           March 8, 2011
Initiated By            Linda Underwood
Staff Contact           Linda Underwood
Explanation of Subject/Issue
Enclosure 3 provides the Reduction in Force Resolution that will be
presented for approval.
Superintendent’s Recommendation:
Approve as presented or provide direction as appropriate.


To view the agenda:
http://www.glnd.k12.va.us/index/schoolboard/agendas/

To contact your Board of Supervisors:
Disctric 1    Andrew Pryor:       (804) 457-7177
apryor@co.goochland.va.us
District 4    Rudy Butler:         (804) 784-4241
mbutler@co.goochland.va.us
District 5    Jim Eads:         (804) 784-3944
jeads@co.goochland.va.us
District 2   Bill Quarles       (804) 556-2927
wquarles@co.goochland.va.us
District 3  Ned Creasey       (804) 556-3229
ncreasey@co.goochland.va.us

It is imperative that we stand up to the BOS and the County and get
this budget funded.  There is simply no alternative and our CHILDREN
are the ones who will suffer the consequences.  We have spent
countless hours reviewing the budget, there just isn't anything
significant to cut for FY12.  We cannot afford lose any more teachers.

The next BOS meeting on the County budget is March 14th
The BOS Public Hearing on the County budget is March 29th,
Ther School Board meeting on RIF notices is March 8th at 7:00 @
Goochland High School Auditorium
Please Help Us Fund Your Schools!!

Penny Palen
Chairman,
Goochland Education Parents Association

Board of Supervisors Presentation of School's 2011-2012 Budget

Goochland Schools need your help supporting this budget! THIS is the meeting to voice our opinions and concerns regarding our children’s education.  Here are the recent details:

*         Last year, the County gave the schools $17,330,174 - $2.6 million less than the previous year. As a result, we lost approximately 20 teaching positions, most of which have not been refilled.

*       This year the BOS have asked the schools for a reduction of an additional $693,000 from the county

*       An addition of approx. $75,000 for mowing, insurance fees and utilities just recently billed to the schools from the county.

*       An addition of $85,000 for the hiring of a Math Specialist

*       The addition of approx. $126,000 to restore two of the four furlough days that were incorporated into last year’s budget.

We have been informed by several Board of Supervisors that the more citizens from each district attending and/or speaking their concerns will have a HUGE impact on their decisions.

Please mark your calendars and plan on attending the meeting.  Bring a friend!  Bring your spouse!  Bring a student!

The Board of Supervisors will be presenting the 2011-2012 Goochland Schools’ budget:

·        This Tuesday, FEBRUARY  1st
·        7:00 pm

·        Old HS, Board Room

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