Thread by @FFXParentsAssoc

SB Mtg 🧵

"I would urge going forward that when you solicit support for this important subject, that we stay focused on that proclamation"

@Karen4Schools criticizes Abrar Omeish for repeatedly raising the Arab-Israeli conflict during a resolution honoring Native Americans.

Ms. Derenak Kaufax also criticizes Ms. Omeish for having the "poor taste" to "use this proclamation to divide rather than bring people together."

One frustrated parent messages us to suggest that the school board needs an elf on a shelf during these meetings to make sure they mind their p's and q's.

During the academic matters segment, Dr. Reid shares results from the 2022-2023 youth survey, which shows improvements in mental health & substance abuse statistics, relative to 2021 historic worsts (that resulted from the decision to close schools).

Ms. McLaughlin says "this is encouraging news, but not good news," referring to the fact that, while the numbers have improved, they are still concerning, such as the fact that 1 in 9 students considered suicide in the previous year.

Dr. Reid mentions the burgeoning absenteeism problem at FCPS, again blaming it in part on food insecurity, an explanation that doesn't explain why the problem has exponentially increased in recent years.

A recent @The74 article analyzed this problem & came to a more coherent explanation: prolonged school shutdowns & remote learning sent the clear message to children & parents that school doesn't matter, causing record levels of disengagement & absenteeism. news.yahoo.com/confronting-ch…

Dr. Reid mentions that Dr. Gadley, the principal of Dranesville ES is here on her birthday, to assist Dr. Reid.

The SB mtg, which earlier included 1.5 hours of proclamations, was delayed for 10 minutes when the YouTube feed went out. It's now past 10 pm #worstbirthdayever

Dr. Reid discusses efforts in the Dranesville district to implement school improvement plans furthering academic growth goals.

Under questioning from Dr. Anderson, @FCPSSupt concedes that teacher evals are not aligned to the plans & some time has been wasted "planning to plan."

@FCPSSupt Dr. Reid delivers the Goal 3 report, showing some improvement in 3rd grade literacy, 8th grade Algebra participation, & completion of advanced coursework by HS students-but still well short of FCPS's 90% targets, particularly when subgroups like English learners are analyzed.

@FCPSSupt FCPS's CFO delivers a presentation on midyear budget adjustments.

FCPS plans to use excess sales tax & IDEA funds to pay for ES security cameras, background checks, the Woodson renaming & restorative justice trainings.

@FCPSSupt Kent Gardens ES boundary change: The SB considers adopting Scenario B, relocating an estimated 380 students at 5 elementary schools.

SB members assert that they tried to accommodate concerns from the community, including splitting siblings & issues w the French immersion prgrm.

@FCPSSupt Dr. Anderson suggests that future boundary changes be handled by FCPS operational staff, rather than being "schoolboard member led."

Ms. McLaughlin worries about the costs from & precedent set by grandfathering so many, all the way down to rising 2nd graders.

@FCPSSupt The SB votes to pass Scenario B

@FCPSSupt The SB votes to pass a state & federal legislative program, which will use a recent Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission report to push for more state funding & will also lobby Congress for more funding for IDEA & Title I schools.

@FCPSSupt The meeting adjourns at midnight.

Once again the SB pushes important business into the late hours, when the public has tuned out, to accommodate a compulsion for lengthy speechifying & endless, nonbinding proclamations.

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