The person who trolls the forum, you mean. IMO that would be a great first step. Good PR means the ability to listen and hear as well as to speak and say.

Whispers around the district suggest the new Superintendent is getting rid of existing PR staff (ie the person who reads this forum).

Hopefully he doesn't stop there, but I'm not holding my breath.

Why would that be? Because the organized groups could zero in on fewer candidates?

Anonymous wrote:I have to say … man, my peeps are a bunch of boneheads sometimes … sigh.

All anybody needs to know about the Alexandria schools is here - see page 15 from this school board presentation (unanimously adopted): http://esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us/attachments/be77a3a7-bcd7-4ca0-9faf-2ac3b32c2fbf.pdf

The school board is planning a reduction in its size and thinks that it's an appropriate consideration that doing so "May make it easier for organized groups to oppose individual candidates." In other words, the school board at the expense of the schools.

Prior poster here. The naysayers/ doubters are strong on this thread. It's all true, we bought books for the class and the teacher was very thankful. Additionally, I signed up for girl's lacrosse food sharing but no one else signed up so I did it all the entire semester. It took a good amount of time, and alas in the Bradlee Shopping Center I accidentally backed up into oncoming car (whose fix I paid for too). My spouse bought lacrosse equipment including stick and protection equipment for the boy's team, as well as personally picked up and transported them to weekend events.

I really don't care if you don't believe me, ongoing ACPS doubters. We parents did what we thought was needed and right.

Thanks for doing this; I don’t doubt you did. I’m curious about what books you bought. With regard to the lacrosse food sharing/equipment, i agree that some parents do much more than others. I was very involved in the PTSA at TC and was disappointed to see the same 15-20 people at every meeting. However, I don’t think you can blame ACPS as a whole for the fact that parents are less involved at the high school level. Many parents are very involved at the elementary school level. Also, many parents either don’t speak English or can’t afford even the four bags of oranges or whatever for the lacrosse team.

I have to say … man, my peeps are a bunch of boneheads sometimes … sigh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mayor and/or council can allocate all the money in the world but if the people in charge of using that money are corrupt and/or idiots, it doesn't really matter.

Thank you. Agreed 100%. The biggest problem facing education in Alexandria is the Alexandria School Board.

Oh I dunno, there's plenty of competition from central and schools administrators. Like, for example, the fact that TCW just named a new Counseling director who reports to the asst principal that also happens to be her spouse.

I'm sure there's no conflict of interest or anything there though.

City of Alexandria Ethics Initiative
Report and Recommendations of the City-wide Ethics Initiative Committee
March 30, 2012
https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/EthicsCommitteeReport.pdf
Addendum B
6-1.2
PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
Public confidence and trust are essential to the effectiveness of City government. Public confidence and trust are maintained and enhanced when City employees conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the highest ethical standards and eroded where there is even the appearance of improper conduct. This administrative regulation, therefore, provides general principles to govern standards of conduct for all City employees, so that the public may have confidence and trust in the City and those who act in its behalf.
In observing this Code of Ethics, City employees will adhere to the highest standards of behavior, personal integrity and truthfulness, both on and off the job. Employees are to subordinate personal interests to their public responsibility when such interests conflict with the moral and ethical discharge of their duties as City employees or their status as a representative of the City of Alexandria.
This regulation also provides general guidance to employees in applying the Code of Ethics to specific situations, and applies to all employees and all categories of employees of the City of Alexandria.
DEFINITIONS / INFORMATION
6-1.3.1 Code of Ethics
A written set of principles of conduct designed to guide human behavior by applying general ethical principles to specific situations.
6-1.3.2 Employee
For the purposes of this Administrative Regulation, an employee is any individual who is employed in a City Department under the authority of the City Manager and/or who works on the City’s behalf in accordance with a written agreement with the appropriate elected official and is covered under the City's classification and salary plans. Employees may be full-time, part-time and/or be working in a temporary or seasonal capacity. While certain benefits and responsibilities may be assigned to only one or other specifically named categories of employees, unless otherwise specified, the provisions of this A.R. apply to all categories of employees.
6-1.3.3 Ethics
6-1.3.4 Ethics Statement
This Administrative Regulation establishes the City’s ethics statement as the following: “We honor the public trust by serving with integrity, civility and impartiality.”
6-1.3
A body of principles governing human conduct that specifies what is good and bad behavior and defines moral duty and obligation.
6-1.3.5 Immediate Family
Immediate family includes a spouse, child, parents, brothers, sisters, and/or any other persons living in the same household as an employee.




Here is Arlington County Public School Virginia written policy:

Arlington Public Schools 2244 North Nottingham St
Arlington, VA 22205-3346
Phone: (703) 358-6104
Fax: (703) 358-6188
Two nepotism policies:
"The first (ASD 10-5.02) contains the prohibitions contained in the Virginia Code on the employment of relatives of School Board members or the Superintendent. The second policy covers all other employees of the school system and is part of the recruitment and selection policy. To avoid conflict of interest situations, we will not consider for employment a member of an employee's immediate family if: The employee will participate in the decision to hire the immediate family member; or The employee will exercise central or supervision over the employment or the employment activities of the family member; or The employee will be in a position to influence or supervise the employment activities of the family member.

https://www.ipma-hr.org/docs/default-source/public-docs/importdocuments/pdf/hrcenter/nepotism/cpr-nepo

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mayor and/or council can allocate all the money in the world but if the people in charge of using that money are corrupt and/or idiots, it doesn't really matter.

Thank you. Agreed 100%. The biggest problem facing education in Alexandria is the Alexandria School Board.

Oh I dunno, there's plenty of competition from central and schools administrators. Like, for example, the fact that TCW just named a new Counseling director who reports to the asst principal that also happens to be her spouse.

I'm sure there's no conflict of interest or anything there though.

This is very uncomfortable. If you have a concern about either one of them, you're supposed to go to the spouse. Yup. Thanks ACPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mayor and/or council can allocate all the money in the world but if the people in charge of using that money are corrupt and/or idiots, it doesn't really matter.

Thank you. Agreed 100%. The biggest problem facing education in Alexandria is the Alexandria School Board.

Oh I dunno, there's plenty of competition from central and schools administrators. Like, for example, the fact that TCW just named a new Counseling director who reports to the asst principal that also happens to be her spouse.

I'm sure there's no conflict of interest or anything there though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:22 here. My kid went to ACPS as well and I'm also a teacher in ACPS. Paying for books for classrooms? I don't know what you're talking about. I have personally bought hundreds of books for my classroom library and have never ever required my students to buy books (!). I have requested PTA grants to buy books, but that's an entirely optional expense for parents. My daughter also participated in sports and I don't ever remember paying for food, uniforms or transporting teammates.

We inquired and then paid for each student in the class to have a specific adjunct text while our kid was at TCWHS. School funds were tight and we helped out.

You inquired? Meaning it was a book you wanted to have in the classroom? I also taught at TC and never heard of this. I've worked in Arlington the past few years and maybe times are different? Seems weird to me.

Prior poster here. The naysayers/ doubters are strong on this thread. It's all true, we bought books for the class and the teacher was very thankful. Additionally, I signed up for girl's lacrosse food sharing but no one else signed up so I did it all the entire semester. It took a good amount of time, and alas in the Bradlee Shopping Center I accidentally backed up into oncoming car (whose fix I paid for too). My spouse bought lacrosse equipment including stick and protection equipment for the boy's team, as well as personally picked up and transported them to weekend events.

I really don't care if you don't believe me, ongoing ACPS doubters. We parents did what we thought was needed and right.



Naysayers

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:22 here. My kid went to ACPS as well and I'm also a teacher in ACPS. Paying for books for classrooms? I don't know what you're talking about. I have personally bought hundreds of books for my classroom library and have never ever required my students to buy books (!). I have requested PTA grants to buy books, but that's an entirely optional expense for parents. My daughter also participated in sports and I don't ever remember paying for food, uniforms or transporting teammates.

We inquired and then paid for each student in the class to have a specific adjunct text while our kid was at TCWHS. School funds were tight and we helped out.

You inquired? Meaning it was a book you wanted to have in the classroom? I also taught at TC and never heard of this. I've worked in Arlington the past few years and maybe times are different? Seems weird to me.

Anonymous wrote:17:22 here. My kid went to ACPS as well and I'm also a teacher in ACPS. Paying for books for classrooms? I don't know what you're talking about. I have personally bought hundreds of books for my classroom library and have never ever required my students to buy books (!). I have requested PTA grants to buy books, but that's an entirely optional expense for parents. My daughter also participated in sports and I don't ever remember paying for food, uniforms or transporting teammates.

Dp-
It just means other families were picking up the slack.

Anonymous wrote:17:22 here. My kid went to ACPS as well and I'm also a teacher in ACPS. Paying for books for classrooms? I don't know what you're talking about. I have personally bought hundreds of books for my classroom library and have never ever required my students to buy books (!). I have requested PTA grants to buy books, but that's an entirely optional expense for parents. My daughter also participated in sports and I don't ever remember paying for food, uniforms or transporting teammates.

We inquired and then paid for each student in the class to have a specific adjunct text while our kid was at TCWHS. School funds were tight and we helped out.

P.S. -- I suppose the situation could vary based on what school your DC attends, but the above is true for me and my family.

17:22 here. My kid went to ACPS as well and I'm also a teacher in ACPS. Paying for books for classrooms? I don't know what you're talking about. I have personally bought hundreds of books for my classroom library and have never ever required my students to buy books (!). I have requested PTA grants to buy books, but that's an entirely optional expense for parents. My daughter also participated in sports and I don't ever remember paying for food, uniforms or transporting teammates.