CCPTA meeting at Patrick
Henry Elementary School. 21October2013
Into by Ted, then a
quick tour around the School with Hector Ruiz, the PTA president of this
school.
Good evening from Ted;
There are index cards on
table so people have the ability to anonymously ask questions.
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In attendance were;
Gunston, Ashlawn, Carlin
Springs, Patrick Henry, Hoffman Boston, Williamsburg, Barcroft, Kenmore,
Barrett, Claremont, Long Branch, Nottingham, McKinley, Tuckahoe,
Jamestown, Washington & Lee, Abington, Jefferson, Randolph, Special Ed PTA
of Arlington, Yorktown, and Science Focus
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Special Ed information
night at Key on the 24th of October at 7pm (doors open at 6:30)
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Sally Baird: http://www.apsva.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=3059
(School
Board) thank you for coming tonight,
Next phase of more seats
for more students. CIP (capital improvement plan) over next ten years, there was
talk of perhaps a fourth high school, reality is there are no funds or space to
create another comprehensive high school in the county.
How to meet growing
capacity? Wakefield is 350 seats below capacity. They are not looking at
shifting High School boundaries, Wakefield will hit capacity on its own. Elementary
School #2 will probably be scrapped as the school board is looking at the most acute
need, it appears that next acute need is going to be at the middle school level.
1000 more students enrolled at APS this year than last.
QQ Arlington Mill space
QQ HB capacity
QQ CIP process
QQ Rumors for National
Guard readiness center and the space available there.
Public Facilities review
commission is looking at the plans around the new schools. Permission to get use
permit from county as APS tries to get approval to build schools. County is
asking APS to pay the same way that they ask developers to pay for community improvements. We are
entering budget season. Fairfax County School Announced that they are dropping
their FLES program.
Multimodal
transportation, moving beyond buses and getting minds wrapped around budget
requirements.
QQ county has biggest
budget cash bubble ever (32M.) There was a following discussion around budget and how
to perhaps approach County Board members to communicate the priorities.
This year there will be
a BIG conversation around FLES.
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Kristin Haldeman, chair
of Multi Modal Student Safety & Transportation Committee.
Committee members would
like to go to PTA meetings to take pulse of community to see what issues are
out there. They would like to have a liaison from each school if possible. They
are trying to create an integrated transportation system for students and
staff. Also trying to relieve congestion around schools in pick up and drop
off. Wants help getting Kyle’s survey spread broad and wide to see that the
people that have the least ability to communicate have their needs met.
QQ how many schools have
liaisons currently?
QQ are you considering
special ed transport needs? Talked in a circle and answerd overall system
improvement is their goal
QQ how to contact-
mmtsssc@yahoo.com
Parent survey is now to
November 1st
She is eager to go to
PTA meetings and communicate with everyone.
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Info-graphic about
graduation rates. 97.5% graduation rate!!!
Enrollment update,
projection was within 2% of actual.
Safe routes to school,
walking school bus initiative.
Walk and Bike to school
day. Wrapping in instruction in every way they could,
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Kyle Lukacs (APS Transportation)
APS GO! Transportation Management
Plan. Long term transportation plan, smart routes and smart choice. Access
Assessment. Student surveys, staff surveys, parent surveys. 30 questions, takes
about ten minutes. Goal is to find barriers to public transport, biking and
walking. How can they encourage people to travel in a different way? The
more information they have the better they will be able to plan for the future.
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Marcia Jackson (Student Services) and Gladis Bourduoane (School and Community Relations)
Aspire2Excellence
building a path to college and career
There is awareness that
there is an abundance of information and it is hard to find resources. They are
now creating an academic planning map that consolidates a path. They survey
seniors every year to find out what they wish they had learned earlier. Here is the map with
hyperlinks:
66% of APS kids are
taking advanced diploma path. APS wants to have everyone at least aware of the
advanced path.
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Donna Snyder http://www.apsva.us/page/2186
Summer reading program,
summer mail box books.
Traveling trolley pre-k
through grade 2 to keep kids engaged in reading through the summer.
Abington has a read and
roll bus. Loaded with 1500 books that kids can check out. Books were matched to
students reading level and interest.
Schools libraries were
open at various times through the summer to keep kids reading.
To maintain momentum
they have a camping out, reading in program.
Look to engage
families and give kids choices that are tailored to kids reading/
learning level.
QQ how does that effect
RIF and our loss of that program? Many RIF program schools are cut back. Summer
initiative is primarily targeted to title one schools.
QQ funding is always an
issue. Is APS taking advantage of corporate sponsorship? If you have contacts,
let them know.
QQ middle school also
has lost RIF funding, how are they being helped? Strong collaboration to
secondary schools, and attempt to encourage middle schools.
QQ are you just for
title 1? Is trying to grow all current programs to
go further and into higher grades, did not say how.
QQ approximate cost of
the trolly? Cost of trolley was rolled into cost of books
and everything else, no immediate answer.
PTA’s want to know how much they would have to raise to
get their own trolley?
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Questions to APS reps:
QQ how can Barcroft get
an academic planning session? Send an email
QQ what is the real
number around on time graduation (not asked by me)
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Chris Didden, Tech advisory committee
–
is meeting with county tech advisory committee
Joint school and county
rec facilities
Tech pilot happening in
every school this year. Chrome books, Ipads and laptops. Every school has been
asked to participate. 1 to 1 technology ratio is going to happen. Which devices,
what security, who owns, who charges, who is aware of radiation and safety
around it?
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Ted Hayes:
is talking to
people from different schools, wants to make sure the CCPTA is doing what it
can for everyone. If you have a suggestion, he wants to know about it.
Currently there is a Draft APS policy on
gifts to teachers is out and will be published. Also a Draft policy on
Enrichment is also floating around and will be published soon.
Reflections chair is mswisher23@gmail.com assistance is still
needed for awards ceremony on the 15th of January.
Next month CCPTA meeting
is November 18th at the ed center. There will be a PTA president pre session.
If we don't change the direction we are
headed, we will end up where we are going.