David Jeck

I was tempted to include a not so uplifting budget update for you, but I've changed my mind. Based on the news out of Richmond, I think we all need some uplifting news. (Plus, I will be visiting schools next week in order to provide budget updates.)

There are a few new programs going on in Greene County Schools that are excellent examples of the great things that YOU are doing to help kids. I'd like to highlight them for you:

The Little Dragons Program: hoping initially for a handful of student participants in this program, the WMHS "Home, School, and Community" correlate recruited SCA members and many student athletes to serve as mentors for K-5 students. Instead of a handful, the Little Dragons group quickly grew to about 130 students. Amazing! This is an excellent example of what the Effective Schools program is all about!

The NGES Book Club: is designed with a goal of having a diverse range of readers understand that reading is something that should be both cherished and loved. Reading exercises, grammar, and vocabulary memorization are all secondary to allowing these students to enjoy a good piece of literature. This goal is accomplished by creating a laid back environment after school where students enjoy snacks, lounging, open and honest discussion, and of course a great book. Stephen Peters, the founder of the program wrote: "Watching the book club students anxiously read the selected book at recess or listening to students discuss a difference of opinions about the book at lunch have been the most successful method of getting other students believing that reading is a great way to spend time outside of school." Wow! Another tremendous program designed to reach all students!

Rachel's Challenge:It is so nice to see the positive impact of the Rachel's Challenge program in our schools. The program is making a difference with our kids and, as it expands, will reach and influence students at all grade levels. Thanks to all who have made this program a success and kept the momentum going.

Again, we have a lot to be very proud of. Your hard work and commitment to ALL kids is paying dividends. Thank you for all the great things that you are doing.

Dave

Good Morning!

Upcoming Events:

January 23, end of first semester

January 30-Feb. 3, Dr. Jeck presents a budget update at each school (3:15)

February 1, report cards issued

February 6, parent/teacher conferences

Rising Tide Awards Recipient: this weeks recipient is Denise Shifflett, Nurse Assistant, NGES. One of Denise's colleagues wrote the following:

I would like to nominate Denise Shifflett for the Rising Tide Award.

Denise has been a real team player in the absence of Kelly Shifflett. For the past two months, she has been the nurse at NGES while continuing her duties as secretary for medical services for the division. I have relied on her for state reports, scheduling of substitutes for other buildings, monthly division reports and general administration of medical services. She always has a smile and a positive attitude. She has established a great rapport with students and staff. Denise is always willing to lend a helping hand with no expectations for something in return. She permeates loyalty and dedication.

Thank you for your hard work, Denise!!

Budget News

Dear Colleagues,

I presented the following information to the Greene County School Board last night during the Budget Workshop. The figures are based on the Governor's proposed budget which was released on December 19. The proposed budget will likely change as it makes its way through the general assemblies, but for now this is the information we have. The entire presentation is contained on our web site under "2012-2013 Budget" along with a ten minute video summarizing the information that was presented last night.

Revenue Losses:

Local composite Index of Ability to Pay increase (from ~35% to ~37%) = $549,636.00

Federal Jobs Bill Funding = $505,000

Additional Contributions:

State increase in VRS costs (11.66%) = $1,154,872.89

Total lost state funding and additional VRS contribution:over$2.2 million

Additional Points to consider:

• The LCI changed because the state has determined that Greene County's ability to pay has again improved over the past two years. So, even though our enrollment has increased by about 150 students, our state funding will actually decrease by over $550,000
• The vast majority of the $438 million in proposed additional spending on education over the next two years will be going to help fully fund VRS. The state has borrowed from VRS fund over the past several years and now they are trying to pay the fund back. Very little of the $438 million will find its way to classrooms
• The $2.2 million shortfall that we are facing DOES NOT include the likely increase in health insurance costs, the addition of staff based on enrollment, a pay increase, maintenance needs, increased fuel costs, an increase in school-based funds (materials and supplies), etc.

Again, these figured are based on the Governor's proposed budget, not the actual approved budget that will not be produced until May. I know I've sounded like a broken record the last few years, but we will face a budget crisis the likes of which we have not seen if the Governor's budget is approved as presented.

Thank you for considering this information and for your continued hard work and commitment to our students.

Dave

Great stuff from Jamie Vollmer. An absolute must read and must share:

The Ever Increasing Burden on America’s Public Schools

BY JAMIE ROBERT VOLLMER

America’s public schools can be traced back to the year 1640. The Massachusetts Puritans established schools to: 1) Teach basic reading, some writing and arithmetic skills, and 2) Cultivate values that serve a democratic society (some history and civics implied).

The founders of these schools assumed that families and churches bore the major responsibility for raising a child. Gradually, science and geography were added, but the curriculum was limited and remained focused for 260 years.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, however, politicians, academics, members of the clergy, and business leaders saw public schools as a logical site for the assimilation of immigrants and the social engineering of the citi­zens—and workers—of the new industrial age. They began to expand the curriculum and assign additional duties. That trend has accelerated ever since.

From 1900 to 1910, we shifted to our public schools responsibilities related to

• Nutrition

• Immunization

• Health (Activities in the health arena multiply every year.)

From 1910 to 1930, we added

• Physical education (including organized athletics)

• The Practical Arts/Domestic Science/Home economics (including sewing and cooking)

• Vocational education (including industrial and agricultural education)

• Mandated school transportation

In the 1940s, we added

• Business education (including typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping)

• Art and music

• Speech and drama

• Half-day kindergarten

• School lunch programs (We take this for granted today, but it was a huge step to shift to the schools the job of feeding America’s children one third of their daily meals.)

In the 1950s, we added

• Expanded science and math education

• Safety education

• Driver’s education

• Expanded music and art education

• Stronger foreign language requirements

• Sex education (Topics continue to escalate.)

In the 1960s, we added

• Advanced Placement programs

• Head Start

• Title I

• Adult education

• Consumer education (purchasing resources, rights and responsibilities)

• Career education (occupational options, entry level skill requirements)

• Peace, leisure, and recreation education [Loved those sixties.]

In the 1970s, the breakup of the American family accelerated, and we added

• Drug and alcohol abuse education

• Parenting education (techniques and tools for healthy parenting)

• Behavior adjustment classes (including classroom and communication skills)

• Character education

• Special education (mandated by federal government)

• Title IX programs (greatly expanded athletic programs for girls)

• Environmental education

• Women’s studies

• African-American heritage education

• School breakfast programs (Now some schools feed America’s children two-thirds of their daily meals through­out the school year and all summer. Sadly, these are the only decent meals some children receive.)

In the 1980s, the floodgates opened, and we added

• Keyboarding and computer education

• Global education

• Multicultural/Ethnic education

• Nonsexist education

• English-as-a-second-language and bilingual education

• Teen pregnancy awareness

• Hispanic heritage education

• Early childhood education

• Jump Start, Early Start, Even Start, and Prime Start

• Full-day kindergarten

• Preschool programs for children at risk

• After-school programs for children of working parents

• Alternative education in all its forms

• Stranger/danger education

• Antismoking education

• Sexual abuse prevention education

• Expanded health and psychological services

• Child abuse monitoring (a legal requirement for all teachers)

In the 1990s, we added

• Conflict resolution and peer mediation

• HIV/AIDS education

• CPR training

• Death education

• America 2000 initiatives (Republican)

• Inclusion

• Expanded computer and internet education

• Distance learning

• Tech Prep and School to Work programs

• Technical Adequacy

• Assessment

• Post-secondary enrollment options

• Concurrent enrollment options

• Goals 2000 initiatives (Democrat)

• Expanded Talented and Gifted opportunities

• At risk and dropout prevention

• Homeless education (including causes and effects on children)

• Gang education (urban centers)

• Service learning

• Bus safety, bicycle safety, gun safety, and water safety education

In the first decade of the twenty-first century, we have added

• No Child Left Behind (Republican)

• Bully prevention

• Anti-harassment policies (gender, race, religion, or national origin)

• Expanded early childcare and wrap around programs

• Elevator and escalator safety instruction

• Body Mass Index evaluation (obesity monitoring)

• Organ donor education and awareness programs

• Personal financial literacy

• Entrepreneurial and innovation skills development

• Media literacy development

• Contextual learning skill development

• Health and wellness programs

• Race to the Top (Democrat)

This list does not include the addition of multiple, specialized topics within each of the traditional subjects. It also does not include the explosion of standardized testing and test prep activities, or any of the onerous reporting require­ments imposed by the federal government, such as four-year adjusted cohort graduation rates, parental notification of optional supplemental services, comprehensive restructuring plans, and reports of Adequate Yearly Progress.

It’s a ponderous list.

Each item has merit, and all have their ardent supporters, but the truth is that we have added these responsibilities without adding a single minute to the school calendar in six decades. No generation of teachers and administrators in the history of the world has been told to fulfill this mandate: not just teach children, but raise them!

2011 Jamie Vollmer | To purchase this list in poster form or to invite Jamie to speak visit www.jamievollmer.com

My mother tells a story semi-regularly about an event that took place before I was born. My father came down with Hepatitis and was hospitalized for six months. My mother had six small children at home and did not work. My dad, at the time, was a swimming pool installer.Bottom line: they were broke.

As the story goes, my mother was desperate. There was no food in the house and the kids needed shoes, clothing, etc. She was relying on public assistance and charity to make ends meet. “We were down to one little piece of bar soap, which is what I used to bathe the kids AND hand wash clothes.” She tells the story the same way each time, with tears in her eyes.

Unbeknownst to my mother, my sister Patti had written a letter to a radio station that was holding a contest. It was around the holidays and they were offering help to a needy family with the most compelling story. Long story short, they picked my sister’s letter. A large truck showed up one day, unannounced, filled with food, clothing, shoes, new bicycles, etc. My mother explains that the house was so full of boxes, that it was nearly impossible to walk through.

Why the sob story? Well, a couple of reasons. This all happened before I was born, but my brothers and sisters, to this day, don’t let me forget about it.After I was born, our family’s situation improved greatly, so I didn’t experience the hard times. Now, nearly 50 years later, my family still becomes emotional as they reflect on the kindness and generosity of the strangers who helped my family through a very difficult time.

My other reason for telling this story has to do with an observation I’ve made over the last six years: Greene County teachers and staff are very generous and caring people. The help and support that you provide for one another and the community, in general, is very unusual. You reach out and help others, unconditionally, and expect nothing in return. It’s a real honor to be associated with such of fine group of professionals.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Hello!

Upcoming Events:

Boy's and Girl's Varsity basketball away at C-ville HS (6:00 pm and 7:30 pm)

Parade of Lights: tomorrow night, December 3, Main Street in Stanardsville (6:00 pm)

Progress Reports, December 5

WMHS Christmas Concert, Dec. 8 at 7:00 pm

December School Board Meeting, Dec. 14 at 7:00 pm, NGES

Winter Break: December 19-30

Rising Tide Award Winner: This week's recipient is Cindy McGlothlin, GCPS. One of Cindy's colleagues wrote the following:

I have worked with Cindy McGlothlin for going on 6 years. During this time I have learned so much about her. Cindy puts the needs of others before her own in order to provide them with the best opportunities. She is kind, nurturing, and patient with the students that she works with. When I think of an assistant I think of a person who truly assists the teacher to provide his/her students with the best possible education and Cindy fulfills this. Cindy has great intuition to know what needs to be done in the classroom to make things run as smoothly as possible. I find her to be a wonderful resource when I am frustrated or just need a second opinion. Cindy has been a life saver for me on many occasions, but truly became a hero this past week. While assisting the students during lunch time she noticed that a student was choking. When Cindy got to the boy his face had already turned blue from the lack of oxygen. She quickly picked the student up and began the Heimlich maneuver. After several attempts, Cindy was successfully able to dislodge the food. Though visibly upset, the student was fine. All of this happened while I was out with my sick child. Being the compassionate person that Cindy is, she waited until I returned to school before telling me for fear that I would be worried about being out and away from the class. Cindy is truly a remarkable person and I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with her.

A genuine life saver. Wow!! Thank you , Cindy!

Superintendent's Winter Newsletter: is being mailed to parents today and is available on our website.

Have a great weekend!

Dave

Good Morning!

Upcoming Events:

Nov. 19 @ 7 pm: Alumni basketball game, WMHS vs. Madison. The game is being played in honor of Randy Michie. The floor will be named in Randy's honor and a scholarship fund launched. We hope that you can make it. There will also be a celebration of life for Randy on November 25 @ 7:00 pm in the PAC. All are welcome to attend.

Nov. 22 @ 3:30 pm in Jennifer Lamm's room, NGES: SAC meeting.

November 23-25: Thanksgiving Break

Rising Tide Award: This week's RT award recipient is Allison Mundie, Teacher, GCPS. One of Allison's parents wrote the following (paraphrase):

"I think Allison Mundie should receive the Rising Tide Award. Allison has basically taken care of Lisa Weakley's granddaughter while Lisa has been in the hospital. This has been a major undertaking on her part. I don't want to embarrass Allison, but this kind of deed should certainly be recognized."

This is a difficult time at GCPS, but these kind acts seem to lift everyone's spirits. Thank you, Allison!

Budget Updates: are now being posted on the web-site. Just click the "2012-2013 Budget" button in order to view the periodic updates.

Anonymous Correspondence: I will no longer read nor consider anonymous correspondence. It will be placed in the recycling bin. I continue to greatly respect and appreciate those who are willing to affix their names to correspondence.

Have a great weekend!

Dave

Upcoming:

Tonight, Varsity Football, home, vs. Manassas Park @ 7:30 pm (Chili Cook off, Pumpkin Carving Contest)

Nov. 1: called School Board meeting

Nov. 7: Instructional Fair

Nov. 8: Parent/Teacher Conferences

Nov. 9: regularly scheduled School Board meeting

Rising Tide Award: this week's recipient is Greg Williams, teacher, WMMS. One of Greg's colleagues wrote the following:

"Mr. Williams is a quiet spoken person that gets right to the point of what his job is. He went out of his way to help a student in our building who is not one of his regular students. Because of his act of kindness the quality of this students life has been improved."

Congrats, Greg. Thank you for reaching out and helping students!

Blueprint: you may have heard or read about the Legislative Blueprint that all 132 of Virginia's superintendents have approved. I have attached it for your review. Yesterday many of us attended the state school board meeting and presented the document. The Blueprint is lofty and sets the bar very high for schools, DOE, and the state legislature. I was honored to chair the Human Capital Committee and present the final report to state superintendents at the state legislative conference. I suspect that you will be hearing more about the Blueprint, but I wanted to give each of you a "heads up." I would be interested in hearing your thoughts about the document.

Have a great weekend!

Dave

Upcoming Events:

Tonight: Dragonfest (5 pm) and Varsity Football vs. Madison (7:30 pm)

October 18: SAC at RES (3:30 pm)

October 27: End of First Nine Weeks

November 7: Instructional Fair

Rising Tide Award: This week's recipient is Therese Eckenrode, Teacher, Greene County Primary School. One of Therese's colleagues wrote the following:

Upcoming Events:

Greene County Chili Cook off: Tomorrow, October 8 beginning at 11 am. Located at the former location of the Battle of Stanardsville on Rt. 33

School Board Meeting: October 12 at 7 pm in the PAC (WMHS)

Candidates Forum: October 13 at 7 pm in the PAC

Dragonfest: October 14 beginning at 5 pm (varsity football vs. Madison at 7:30 pm)

Rising Tide Award: so sorry...again. I can't present the award until Monday. Please stay tuned!

Greene Education Foundation: needs you! Please visit the GEF website and learn how you can volunteer, contribute, etc. (http://www.greeneeducationfoundation.org/whatsnew.htm). Funds raised are used for teacher grants and scholarships. You can learn more about GEF through your school based rep:

Instructional Fair: I'm fired up about the fair! It is still a long way off (Nov. 7), but I have read the submissions from our staff and I am so proud of the great sessions that have been proposed; very exciting.

Pacing Guides:thanks to all who helped revise the pacing guides. I know it was a lot of work, but your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Thanks, again, for putting the finishing touches on this very important work.

Candidates Forum: NHS and the League of Women Voters will be sponsoring a candidates forum on October 13 beginning at 7 pm. The event will take place in the PAC and our students will be directly involved. I am very proud of the students, teachers, and administrators who took the initiative to make this very important event a reality. Our kids submitted many school related questions and I am very, very interested to hear how the candidates answer them. Should be interesting.

Have a great weekend. Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Dave