Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basically what you saw was that most of the new School Board members, except Hynes, don't feel they understand the current AAP program well enough to support its further expansion at this point. South County MS was an exception because board members felt that community had been promised a center when the school was opened. There wasn't much concern expressed that, if needed, schools like Cooper could be ready to offer AAP this fall.

All in all, not a bad outcome for now. Of course, if the SB does not change current AAP eligibility and does nothing, it will be faced with severe overcrowding at Kilmer and some overcrowding at Longfellow in a few years, but right now both schools have been renovated and neither currently faces a Haycock-like crisis.

Is it just me, or does anybody else see the contradiction, here... Folks at Haycock have been screaming for years that they're overcrowded, they're being ignored, the situation is intolerable, etc. etc. Not until this year when conditions have truly deteriorated does the SB take action.

Why must we wait for a school to have a MOD and 19 trailers before somebody pays attention and takes action? Do people really prefer that the SB do nothing unless there's a crisis? Schultz and Reed were vocal and derisive about the idea that FCPS has a "culture of trailers" (okay, I may not be directly quoting, but I'm paraphrasing), and yet these were the two most vocal voices against new AAP Middle School centers. Seems like they're all about complaining and not about solutions. Why not start a center before we need to ship more trailers into Kilmer & Longfellow?

Your post makes perfect sense if you assume the current model for delivering AAP services will be carried forward for years to come. But FCPS may conclude that too many students are currently being identified as center-eligible. If that happen, it will have a big impact on the enrollments at crowded schools like LJ and Kilmer and drive up the enrollments at schools like Thoreau an Cooper.

Why not start a center before we need to ship more trailers into Kilmer & Longfellow?

Did you listen to Ms Kaufax? FCPS needs to seriously look at the whole AAP program before they expand it even more. Strauss may think it is a "good thing" that it has grown so big--but it is a joke.

When decisions are made on subjective data and parents send their kids to prep courses for IQ tests, the identification procedure is seriously flawed.

Anonymous wrote:Basically what you saw was that most of the new School Board members, except Hynes, don't feel they understand the current AAP program well enough to support its further expansion at this point. South County MS was an exception because board members felt that community had been promised a center when the school was opened. There wasn't much concern expressed that, if needed, schools like Cooper could be ready to offer AAP this fall.

All in all, not a bad outcome for now. Of course, if the SB does not change current AAP eligibility and does nothing, it will be faced with severe overcrowding at Kilmer and some overcrowding at Longfellow in a few years, but right now both schools have been renovated and neither currently faces a Haycock-like crisis.

Is it just me, or does anybody else see the contradiction, here... Folks at Haycock have been screaming for years that they're overcrowded, they're being ignored, the situation is intolerable, etc. etc. Not until this year when conditions have truly deteriorated does the SB take action.

Why must we wait for a school to have a MOD and 19 trailers before somebody pays attention and takes action? Do people really prefer that the SB do nothing unless there's a crisis? Schultz and Reed were vocal and derisive about the idea that FCPS has a "culture of trailers" (okay, I may not be directly quoting, but I'm paraphrasing), and yet these were the two most vocal voices against new AAP Middle School centers. Seems like they're all about complaining and not about solutions. Why not start a center before we need to ship more trailers into Kilmer & Longfellow?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kaufax motion to put a moratorium on new AAP centers pending study will fail.

No new AAP Center at Cooper, Herndon, or Thoreau. Pretty much gets done what Kaufax proposed.

But... not the same. South County got a new center last night. I assume Kaufax's amendment failed, yes? Anyone who stayed up late last night know?

South County got a "new" Center last night as their situation is quite unique. I suggest watching the video. (I'm tired as it did not wrap up until 1:20 a.m.)

South County was a Local Level for AAP. The only one in the county for grades 7 and 8. Seems rather unfair that one school has that especially when Herndon and Thoreau have so many that do not attend the centers.

As you know, there was a communication issue with the community when the South County AAP program opened last year. This was shared by School Board member Dan Storck at last night's meeting (and has been shared in the past). That's what makes this situation different.

See the video from the 1/24/13 Meeting -- Mr. Storck's explanation of his motion starts at about the 06:05:25 mark.

http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/streaming/01-24-13_schoolboardmeeting.asx

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kaufax motion to put a moratorium on new AAP centers pending study will fail.

No new AAP Center at Cooper, Herndon, or Thoreau. Pretty much gets done what Kaufax proposed.

But... not the same. South County got a new center last night. I assume Kaufax's amendment failed, yes? Anyone who stayed up late last night know?

South County got a "new" Center last night as their situation is quite unique. I suggest watching the video. (I'm tired as it did not wrap up until 1:20 a.m.)

South County was a Local Level for AAP. The only one in the county for grades 7 and 8. Seems rather unfair that one school has that especially when Herndon and Thoreau have so many that do not attend the centers.

Basically what you saw was that most of the new School Board members, except Hynes, don't feel they understand the current AAP program well enough to support its further expansion at this point. South County MS was an exception because board members felt that community had been promised a center when the school was opened. There wasn't much concern expressed that, if needed, schools like Cooper could be ready to offer AAP this fall.

All in all, not a bad outcome for now. Of course, if the SB does not change current AAP eligibility and does nothing, it will be faced with severe overcrowding at Kilmer and some overcrowding at Longfellow in a few years, but right now both schools have been renovated and neither currently faces a Haycock-like crisis. It goes without saying, however, that while FCPS looks at this, it also should not be changing the Cooper/Langley base boundaries, either. They should reassess their instructional model, double-check their enrollment projections and methodology, and make sensible decisions when they have all that information in hand.

Anonymous wrote:Votes are on BoardDocs as well.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=943RXE701BA8

I move that the School Board authorize the establishment of new advanced academic program (AAP) centers in fall 2013 at Lemon Road, Westbriar, and Navy Elementary Schools, for the purpose of relieving severe overcrowding at Haycock, Louise Archer, and Hunters Woods Elementary Schools; and further move that the new center placements for AAP Center eligible students begin at grade 3, and the rising 4th, 5th and 6th graders will stay at their current AAP centers (“grandfathered”), with the following exception: The new AAP Center at Lemon Road Elementary School will open with all rising 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade AAP Center eligible students from Lemon Road, Westgate and Shrevewood Elementary Schools, and with all rising 6th grade AAP Center eligible students remaining at their current Haycock AAP Center for the 2013-2014 school year with transportation provided. For the 2014-2015 school year, all AAP Center eligible students from Lemon Road, Westgate and Shrevewood will attend the AAP Center at Lemon Road with transportation provided. The Cluster 2 Assistant Superintendent and the Lemon Road staff will work on a transition plan with the new families coming to Lemon Road to insure a smooth opening of new Lemon Road AAP Center.

Motion by Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, second by Theodore Velkoff.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Tamara D Kaufax, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Sandra S Evans, Theodore Velkoff, Kathy L Smith
No: Patricia S Reed, Elizabeth Schultz

I move to amend the motion by adding the following language: “With the following exception: The new AAP Center at Lemon Road Elementary School will open with all rising 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade AAP Center eligible students from Lemon Road, Westgate and Shrevewood Elementary Schools, and with all rising 6th grade AAP Center eligible students remaining at their current Haycock AAP Center for the 2013-2014 school year with transportation provided. From the 2014-2015 school year, all AAP Center eligible students from Lemon Road, Westgate and Shrevewood will attend the AAP Center at Lemon Road with transportation provided. The Cluster 2 Assistant Superintendent and the Lemon Road staff will work on a transition plan with the new families coming to Lemon Road to insure a smooth opening of new Lemon Road AAP Center.”

Motion by Jane K Strauss, second by Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman.
Motion Carries
Yes: Tamara D Kaufax, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Sandra S Evans, Theodore Velkoff, Kathy L Smith
No: Patricia S Reed, Elizabeth Schultz

I move to amend the amendment by moving all rising 4th and 5th grade Haycock ES AAP Center eligible students to the newly-established Haycock Annex at Pimmit Center for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years.

Motion by Elizabeth Schultz, second by Patricia S Reed.
Motion Fails
Yes: Patricia S Reed, Elizabeth Schultz
No: Tamara D Kaufax, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Sandra S Evans, Theodore Velkoff, Kathy L Smith

I move that the School Board direct the Superintendent to conduct an analysis of the FCPS Continuum of Advanced Academic Services to ensure that current practices are aligned with the best practices in K-12 gifted education and then present the report to the Board by June 30, 2013. (substitute motion passes as main motion)

Motion by Tamara D Kaufax, second by Theodore Velkoff.
Motion Fails
Not Present at Vote: Tamara D Kaufax, Patricia S Reed, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Theodore Velkoff, Kathy L Smith

I move to amend the main motion by offering the following substitute motion: that the School Board direct the Superintendent to conduct an analysis of the FCPS Continuum of Advanced Academic Services to ensure that current practices are aligned with the best practices in K-12 gifted education; further move that the scope of the analysis be presented to, and decided by, the Board by February 28, 2013, and the report on the analysis be completed by June 30, 2013.

Motion by Tamara D Kaufax, second by Ryan McElveen.
Motion Carries
Yes: Tamara D Kaufax, Patricia S Reed, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Theodore Velkoff
No: Kathy L Smith

I move that other than providing overcrowding relief at the AAP centers at Haycock, Louise Archer, and Hunters Woods Elementary Schools, the School Board shall not proceed with opening any new AAP centers until this analysis is completed.

Motion by Tamara D Kaufax, second by Megan McLaughlin.
Motion Fails
Yes: Tamara D Kaufax, Patricia S Reed, Megan McLaughlin, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Theodore Velkoff
No: Ryan McElveen, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Kathy L Smith

I move that a new AAP Center be opened at Cooper Middle School in the fall of 2013 with rising 7th grade AAP Center eligible students currently residing in the Langley High School attendance area. Rising 7th grade AAP Center students wishing to attend the AAP Centers at Kilmer or Longfellow MS may apply for liberal pupil placement and transportation will be provided. Rising 8th grade AAP Center students currently attending the Kilmer or Longfellow AAP Centers may finish their program at Kilmer or Longfellow and transportation will be provided. Newly identified 8th grade AAP Center students will be allowed to attend Kilmer or Longfellow with transportation provided. If a rising 7th grade AAP Center student opts to apply for pupil placement at Kilmer or Longfellow and wishes to continue at Kilmer or Longfellow for 8th grade, he/she may again apply for liberal pupil placement for 8th grade for the 2014-2015 school year and transportation will be provided. This liberal pupil placement option will not be available for rising 7th grade AAP Center students beyond the 2013-2014 school year and rising 8th grade AAP Center students beyond the 2014-2015 school year.

Motion by Jane K Strauss, second by Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman.
Motion Fails
Yes: Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Kathy L Smith
No: Tamara D Kaufax, Patricia S Reed, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Theodore Velkoff

I move that a new AAP Center be opened at Herndon Middle School in the fall of 2013 with rising 7th grade AAP Center eligible students currently residing in the Herndon High School attendance area. Rising 7th grade AAP Center students wishing to attend the Hughes MS AAP Center may apply for liberal pupil placement and transportation will be provided. Rising 8th grade AAP Center students currently attending the Hughes AAP Center may finish their program at Hughes and transportation will be provided. Newly identified 8th grade AAP Center students will be allowed to attend Hughes with transportation provided. If a rising 7th grade AAP Center student opts to apply for pupil placement at Hughes and wishes to continue at Hughes for 8th grade, he/she may again apply for liberal pupil placement for 8th grade for the 2014-2015 school year and transportation will be provided. This liberal pupil placement option will not be available for rising 7th grade AAP Center students beyond the 2013-2014 school year and rising 8th grade AAP Center students beyond the 2014-2015 school year.

Motion by Jane K Strauss, second by Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman.
Motion Fails
Yes: Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Kathy L Smith
No: Tamara D Kaufax, Patricia S Reed, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Theodore Velkoff

I move that a new AAP Center be opened at Thoreau Middle School in the fall of 2013 with rising 7th grade AAP Center eligible students currently residing in the Thoreau MS attendance area. Rising 8th grade AAP Center students currently attending Luther Jackson MS AAP Center may finish their program at Luther Jackson and transportation will be provided. Newly eligible 8th grade AAP Center students will be allowed to attend Luther Jackson with transportation provided.

Motion by Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, second by Jane K Strauss.
Motion Fails
Yes: Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Kathy L Smith
No: Tamara D Kaufax, Patricia S Reed, Ryan McElveen, Megan McLaughlin, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Theodore Velkoff

I move that a new AAP Center be opened at South County Middle School in the fall of 2013 with rising 7th grade AAP Center eligible students residing in the South County MS attendance area. Rising 8th grade AAP Center students currently attending the Lake Braddock Secondary AAP Center may finish their program at Lake Braddock and transportation will be provided. Newly eligible 8th grade AAP Center students will be allowed to attend Lake Braddock with transportation provided.

Motion by Daniel G Storck, second by Elizabeth Schultz.
Motion Carries
Yes: Ryan McElveen, Daniel G Storck, Patricia Hynes - Vice Chairman, Ilryong Moon - Chairman, Jane K Strauss, Sandra S Evans, Elizabeth Schultz, Kathy L Smith
No: Tamara D Kaufax, Megan McLaughlin, Theodore Velkoff
Not Present at Vote: Patricia S Reed

Votes are on BoardDocs as well. They do not have the specifics about the Kaufax motion that passed -- the study scope is due February 28 and plans are to have an item on the 2/11 work session agenda as well as most (all?) of the 2/28 work session agenda to be dedicated to the scope of the study. The study itself is due June 30.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=943RXE701BA8

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kaufax motion to put a moratorium on new AAP centers pending study will fail.

No new AAP Center at Cooper, Herndon, or Thoreau. Pretty much gets done what Kaufax proposed.

But... not the same. South County got a new center last night. I assume Kaufax's amendment failed, yes? Anyone who stayed up late last night know?

South County got a "new" Center last night as their situation is quite unique. I suggest watching the video. (I'm tired as it did not wrap up until 1:20 a.m.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kaufax motion to put a moratorium on new AAP centers pending study will fail.

No new AAP Center at Cooper, Herndon, or Thoreau. Pretty much gets done what Kaufax proposed.

But... not the same. South County got a new center last night. I assume Kaufax's amendment failed, yes? Anyone who stayed up late last night know?

Anonymous wrote:Kaufax motion to put a moratorium on new AAP centers pending study will fail.

No new AAP Center at Cooper, Herndon, or Thoreau. Pretty much gets done what Kaufax proposed.

Kaufax motion to put a moratorium on new AAP centers pending study will fail.

Anonymous wrote:And another article - which is interesting for a number of reasons (and points out that another internal FCPS email obtained under FOIA predicts overcrowding at Cooper under the plan - you can see it for yourself at citation above).

http://reston.patch.com/blog_posts/2013-fcps-aap-expansion-a-rush-to-failure

No one is saying that there should not be more AAP centers, or even one at Cooper. There simply is no reason to throw students and money at a makeshift one by September 2013, when the Board could take more time and think about where the resources should best be provided. It may be for an AAP program in some other part of FFX County, as the author suggests. There is no magic in the date of September 2013 and we should not encourage our elected officials to press forward on plans for which they have no budgetary information (seriously, this will cost money - no one knows how much yet) ... or teacher certification plan (circumvention of the certification requirements on the teachers should not be encouraged or the norm) ... or confidence that any of the population projections are valid. GE will suffer too ...

Pat Hynes responded to Scott's opinion piece by disagreeing with most of what he wrote and confirming that she also supports the proposal to expand AAP to Cooper.

My DS is at Longfellow in AAP. The Honors and AAP classes are not the same and we have never heard the Principal of Longfellow say that. They may start at the same place -- i.e., everyone in 7th grade is studying the same type of Science -- and they all take SOLs, so all students cover that material, but the point of AAP is to provide further differentiation beyond Honors. That wouldn't happen if Honors = AAP. I assumed PP was talking about Cooper principal, because she has said that. If Longfellow principal is saying it now, it would just be a matter of expedience to support moving AAP kids out of her school.