ACPS School Board special session

[Anonymous]

Did anyone watch or attend the ACPS school board special session last Thursday? What were the key votes and takeaways? It seemed to come out of nowhere. On Twitter, a student leader and reporter for Theogony stated Dr. Hutchings came up with the changes in grading policy. Teachers did not seem happy with the policy proposals. I tend to align with teachers on this. Second day of the academic year and they announced these. Got to be a Dr. Hutchings and Chair Alderton initiative. What do you think about it? I can't believe Dr. Hutchings would propose something on the last week of his contract (it ends tomorrow).

[Anonymous]

Hutchings will try to mandate things until the last moment of his contract. That really shouldn't be surprising. Probably so that his record at ACPS will actually reflect what he recommends in his book that other districts do. The book is a doozy by the way!

[Anonymous]

Poor SOL scores were discussed in the work session: https://patch.com/virginia/oldtownalexandria/standards-learning-results-2022-how-alexandria-schools-performed

[Anonymous]

Equity for all in ACPS means equity in failure. It is a race to the bottom and Alderton, who sends her kids to private school, is the leader. But, we only had one weapon and two drug arrests at the high school this week, but our kids were actually in school as opposed to being locked out due to safety so we will be happy. The beatings will, undoubtedly, continue until morale improves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Equity for all in ACPS means equity in failure. It is a race to the bottom and Alderton, who sends her kids to private school, is the leader. But, we only had one weapon and two drug arrests at the high school this week, but our kids were actually in school as opposed to being locked out due to safety so we will be happy. The beatings will, undoubtedly, continue until morale improves.

well be fair, this describes about every single superintendent for the past decade plus so I don't think she is doing anything different....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Equity for all in ACPS means equity in failure. It is a race to the bottom and Alderton, who sends her kids to private school, is the leader. But, we only had one weapon and two drug arrests at the high school this week, but our kids were actually in school as opposed to being locked out due to safety so we will be happy. The beatings will, undoubtedly, continue until morale improves.

well be fair, this describes about every single superintendent for the past decade plus so I don't think she is doing anything different....

She's school board chair. Say what you will about Cindy Anderson (she was weak, awful to parents and loved Hutchings) but she sent her kids to ACPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Equity for all in ACPS means equity in failure. It is a race to the bottom and Alderton, who sends her kids to private school, is the leader. But, we only had one weapon and two drug arrests at the high school this week, but our kids were actually in school as opposed to being locked out due to safety so we will be happy. The beatings will, undoubtedly, continue until morale improves.

well be fair, this describes about every single superintendent for the past decade plus so I don't think she is doing anything different....

I wonder if we are being punked, so her kids can stand-out compared to us fools who do not have the resources for privates and cannot move. I used to blindly support public education, but ACPS is a case study of failure and deserves no support. It is the ultimate joke and voters fall for it. Why the Board overhauled the grading system Hutchings' last stand confounds me.

[Anonymous]

Can someone link to or explain what the changes to the grading system were?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone link to or explain what the changes to the grading system were?

https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=z+1Lb7DEyiQ=&mtgId=2144

[Anonymous]

Here is more coverage on the grading policy: https://alextimes.com/2022/09/school-board-ponders-grading-changes/

Again, this is driven by equity. I think it is appropriate for ACPS/the Board to be concerned about equity but it is needs to be considered in the bigger picture. The attached article I think captures the complexity: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/01/opinion/farewell-to-readers.html

[Anonymous]

Alexandria could have literally the best school system in the entire DC area. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria could have literally the best school system in the entire DC area. Sad.

What do you mean? Because of the spending per pupil? Because it is far from the best school system in the area, unfortunately for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria could have literally the best school system in the entire DC area. Sad.

This. It is pathetic and sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria could have literally the best school system in the entire DC area. Sad.

This. It is pathetic and sad.

+1
The people with the money and the power to make changes send their kids to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria could have literally the best school system in the entire DC area. Sad.

This. It is pathetic and sad.

+1
The people with the money and the power to make changes send their kids to private.

Not just in acps. All throughout the DMV.