Anonymous
Post 02/22/2014 10:58     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
The school board "bought" passing grades, and less-awful failing grades, for GW and FCH middle schools by merging the failing school units into the passing ones. That works one time, during the transition year, then the entire middle school complex statistically fails. The cumbersome admin isues that flow from this are just huge. The tremendous insult to GW parents will produce a political blowback. This is the new school board.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2014 10:39     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
I hope that the model they plan for the middle schools is not the same top heavy model they use at TC Williams. This model does not work because Sherman and Maxey put incompetent, unseasoned administrators in place that are not instructional leaders. The trick is the VDOE approved TC's so called transformation model, that was smoke and mirrors. If you follow the data they have not made any real impact in the classroom, teacher morale is low and there is very little confidence in the administrative team.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2014 10:29     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS) The truth of the matter is that this is the same model they have at
Anonymous wrote:Agree with you, 8:19. I think if folks really look at the numbers, you would see that there is not some amazingly large difference between GW1 and the other schools. They just managed to just over the magic line in the sand.
Again, the teachers at both schools (including the former teacher who posted earlier) have given sound reasons why it is better for them to be able to work in teams across the campus. It's easier for counselors to schedule when they aren't confined to a limited number of teachers.
As far as "personalization" goes, the new plan has one academic principal and two counselors that follow one cohort (class year) throughout the three years they are at school. These staff will be assigned to your children throughout their entire time in middle school. If you have issues/concerns with your kid's education, you can work with those same people, who will get to know your child, and if you need to appeal to a higher authority, you have the the Principal, Dean of Students, and Director of Counseling, depending on what the issue is.
I'm the Hammond parent who posted earlier, and while I realize I don't have direct knowledge of GW, I'm just honestly not seeing the downside of this revised structure.
If you are already happy with your middle school experience, I don't see how this change will make things worse for you. On the other hand, I think teachers believe they can do even better with the proposed structure, and I think they should be given the opportunity to do it.
I think a lot of folks just heard, "GW back to one school!" and immediately went on defense, but I hope folks will actually read the memo the staff prepared for the school board meeting.
I think someone posted the link earlier in the thread, but here it is again:
http://eboard.acps.k12.va.us/attachments/9dab9775-477f-4d2f-82cb-63db5c2b2d76.pdf
Anonymous
Post 02/18/2014 13:30     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
This is scheduled to be voted on this week - Feb. 20th.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2014 15:31     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Anonymous wrote:
The new staff memo directly contradicts the working group's much more detailed and complete findings. Once again the school board has shoved the PTA under the bus, due to one school board member who has openly admitted having issues with the PTAs city wide.


Care to name this school board member so we can verify?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2014 16:54     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Gosh, I would be delighted to have had as responsive an ACPS Board to community concern as I heard last night at the meeting during my kids ACPS years. They fully admitted they dropped the ball on parent meetings about GWMS in January. And, one theme at last nights ACSP School Board meeting was to better "remember the community" in similar future discussions (we're Titans after all). They also re-iterated a desire to continue to embrace PTA's to help spread the word of agenda items and arrange break out sessions for feedback/concerns.

If my kids-some one to four years ago-had a Principal Mann in their school, we all would have jumped for joy. His discussion last night about GWI was forthright! No mincing truths or words. So Good, Mr. Mann.

Have people so soon forgotten how the almost lock-step prior Board voted up almost every new fangled approach, new budget expenditure (including fancy inset desks/bookcase furniture for admin/principals at great $$$), every outside consultation that Superintendent Sherman called for? Now the Board is struggling with crowding, trailers, lights, safe playgrounds, not furniture!

That is why the current Board is partially perceived as not moving along as fast as some here desire. Sometimes treading water is what saves one, instead of swimming (as the prior school board, imo, did all too much) with the current.

ACPS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 02/06/14
http://acpsk12va.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2014 15:46     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well said 12:23. I for one am grateful for the work of the school board members. It's a thankless job, a ton of work for a very very nominal amount of pay, and I would not want to do it. If you don't like the job they are doing, guess what you can run next time. But I appreciate the fact these folks were willing to step up, take hundreds if not thousands of hours of time away from their families to do their best to improve our schools. I choose to believe that they have the kids' best interests at heart. And I'm tired of hearing about the chair's decision to move her kids to lyles crouch. Lets not assume the worst. Like the previous poster said, if you too want to transfer, try.


So sad that all that time and effort has been a total waste then, isn't it? They will never get those hours back, and the schools still suck as badly as they have for more than a decade.


Not at all. They were actually improving, most of 'em. Not any more.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2014 15:12     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
ACPS is up to its old tricks: redistrict, rename, reorganize. A more dishonest bunch never there was.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2014 14:22     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well said 12:23. I for one am grateful for the work of the school board members. It's a thankless job, a ton of work for a very very nominal amount of pay, and I would not want to do it. If you don't like the job they are doing, guess what you can run next time. But I appreciate the fact these folks were willing to step up, take hundreds if not thousands of hours of time away from their families to do their best to improve our schools. I choose to believe that they have the kids' best interests at heart. And I'm tired of hearing about the chair's decision to move her kids to lyles crouch. Lets not assume the worst. Like the previous poster said, if you too want to transfer, try.


So sad that all that time and effort has been a total waste then, isn't it? They will never get those hours back, and the schools still suck as badly as they have for more than a decade.


+10000
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2014 14:04     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Anonymous wrote:Well said 12:23. I for one am grateful for the work of the school board members. It's a thankless job, a ton of work for a very very nominal amount of pay, and I would not want to do it. If you don't like the job they are doing, guess what you can run next time. But I appreciate the fact these folks were willing to step up, take hundreds if not thousands of hours of time away from their families to do their best to improve our schools. I choose to believe that they have the kids' best interests at heart. And I'm tired of hearing about the chair's decision to move her kids to lyles crouch. Lets not assume the worst. Like the previous poster said, if you too want to transfer, try.


So sad that all that time and effort has been a total waste then, isn't it? They will never get those hours back, and the schools still suck as badly as they have for more than a decade.
Anonymous
Post 02/06/2014 20:07     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Well said 12:23. I for one am grateful for the work of the school board members. It's a thankless job, a ton of work for a very very nominal amount of pay, and I would not want to do it. If you don't like the job they are doing, guess what you can run next time. But I appreciate the fact these folks were willing to step up, take hundreds if not thousands of hours of time away from their families to do their best to improve our schools. I choose to believe that they have the kids' best interests at heart. And I'm tired of hearing about the chair's decision to move her kids to lyles crouch. Lets not assume the worst. Like the previous poster said, if you too want to transfer, try.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 12:23     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Agree with you, 8:19. I think if folks really look at the numbers, you would see that there is not some amazingly large difference between GW1 and the other schools. They just managed to just over the magic line in the sand.
Again, the teachers at both schools (including the former teacher who posted earlier) have given sound reasons why it is better for them to be able to work in teams across the campus. It's easier for counselors to schedule when they aren't confined to a limited number of teachers.
As far as "personalization" goes, the new plan has one academic principal and two counselors that follow one cohort (class year) throughout the three years they are at school. These staff will be assigned to your children throughout their entire time in middle school. If you have issues/concerns with your kid's education, you can work with those same people, who will get to know your child, and if you need to appeal to a higher authority, you have the the Principal, Dean of Students, and Director of Counseling, depending on what the issue is.
I'm the Hammond parent who posted earlier, and while I realize I don't have direct knowledge of GW, I'm just honestly not seeing the downside of this revised structure.
If you are already happy with your middle school experience, I don't see how this change will make things worse for you. On the other hand, I think teachers believe they can do even better with the proposed structure, and I think they should be given the opportunity to do it.
I think a lot of folks just heard, "GW back to one school!" and immediately went on defense, but I hope folks will actually read the memo the staff prepared for the school board meeting.
I think someone posted the link earlier in the thread, but here it is again:
http://eboard.acps.k12.va.us/attachments/9dab9775-477f-4d2f-82cb-63db5c2b2d76.pdf


The new staff memo directly contradicts the working group's much more detailed and complete findings. Once again the school board has shoved the PTA under the bus, due to one school board member who has openly admitted having issues with the PTAs city wide.


I'm not sure I see this as a direct contradiction. Working group said, "let each school decide" but there isn't consensus at GW on single school or multi-school model. Teachers want one school and parents want 2. You can't compromise and make 1.5 schools. They have to make a recommendation, and they went with what more teachers wanted then what the GW PTA wanted.

I think I recognize you from similar posts. You seem convinced that the entire School Board hates PTAs. As a PTA person myself, I just don't find that to be the case. The members I've had direct contact with (both this board and previous board) don't always agree with everything I say as an individual or as a PTA person, but they've always been available to talk and seem to value the opinions of actively involved parents.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 10:45     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Anonymous wrote:Agree with you, 8:19. I think if folks really look at the numbers, you would see that there is not some amazingly large difference between GW1 and the other schools. They just managed to just over the magic line in the sand.
Again, the teachers at both schools (including the former teacher who posted earlier) have given sound reasons why it is better for them to be able to work in teams across the campus. It's easier for counselors to schedule when they aren't confined to a limited number of teachers.
As far as "personalization" goes, the new plan has one academic principal and two counselors that follow one cohort (class year) throughout the three years they are at school. These staff will be assigned to your children throughout their entire time in middle school. If you have issues/concerns with your kid's education, you can work with those same people, who will get to know your child, and if you need to appeal to a higher authority, you have the the Principal, Dean of Students, and Director of Counseling, depending on what the issue is.
I'm the Hammond parent who posted earlier, and while I realize I don't have direct knowledge of GW, I'm just honestly not seeing the downside of this revised structure.
If you are already happy with your middle school experience, I don't see how this change will make things worse for you. On the other hand, I think teachers believe they can do even better with the proposed structure, and I think they should be given the opportunity to do it.
I think a lot of folks just heard, "GW back to one school!" and immediately went on defense, but I hope folks will actually read the memo the staff prepared for the school board meeting.
I think someone posted the link earlier in the thread, but here it is again:
http://eboard.acps.k12.va.us/attachments/9dab9775-477f-4d2f-82cb-63db5c2b2d76.pdf


The new staff memo directly contradicts the working group's much more detailed and complete findings. Once again the school board has shoved the PTA under the bus, due to one school board member who has openly admitted having issues with the PTAs city wide.
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 09:00     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Agree with you, 8:19. I think if folks really look at the numbers, you would see that there is not some amazingly large difference between GW1 and the other schools. They just managed to just over the magic line in the sand.
Again, the teachers at both schools (including the former teacher who posted earlier) have given sound reasons why it is better for them to be able to work in teams across the campus. It's easier for counselors to schedule when they aren't confined to a limited number of teachers.
As far as "personalization" goes, the new plan has one academic principal and two counselors that follow one cohort (class year) throughout the three years they are at school. These staff will be assigned to your children throughout their entire time in middle school. If you have issues/concerns with your kid's education, you can work with those same people, who will get to know your child, and if you need to appeal to a higher authority, you have the the Principal, Dean of Students, and Director of Counseling, depending on what the issue is.
I'm the Hammond parent who posted earlier, and while I realize I don't have direct knowledge of GW, I'm just honestly not seeing the downside of this revised structure.
If you are already happy with your middle school experience, I don't see how this change will make things worse for you. On the other hand, I think teachers believe they can do even better with the proposed structure, and I think they should be given the opportunity to do it.
I think a lot of folks just heard, "GW back to one school!" and immediately went on defense, but I hope folks will actually read the memo the staff prepared for the school board meeting.
I think someone posted the link earlier in the thread, but here it is again:
http://eboard.acps.k12.va.us/attachments/9dab9775-477f-4d2f-82cb-63db5c2b2d76.pdf
Anonymous
Post 02/05/2014 08:19     Subject: Alexandria Middle Schools (ACPS)
Actually, if you were to do side by side comparisons of specific courses at 1 and 2 you will find that sometimes 1 has a smaller gap, and sometimes 2 does. This is why one school makes sense...so that they will share what works with each other ( believe it or not, not all departments share across schools)