KH
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Comments
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On the article Of 3,121 Who Applied, 480 Students Admitted to Thomas Jefferson Class of 2017
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On the article Second Chance, Parental Notification Still Hurdles in Fairfax Discipline Reform
KH
11:09 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
ReplySo incredibly disappointed in this process. Parental notification was ready to be voted on last June until a last-minute plea from the principal's group delayed this for almost a whole year. Then, with so many at the table - conceivably every voice represented, still nothing? Did FCPS ever produce the data on the disproportionate numbers of minorities going through this ordeal? It’s that group I worry about most. Most parents who have heard anything about this have already instructed their kids not to say a word or write anything down until they’ve been called. If you haven’t had this conversation with your child, I suggest you to do so.
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On the article 'Second Chance' Program, Parental Notification Discussed at Fairfax Discipline Meeting
KH
12:26 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
ReplyCurious if the West Springfield student arrests were done at the school for this very reason. No need for Miranda rights, etc. Was anything searched there? No need for a warrant. Thank you for bringing student rights into focus.
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On the Blog Post In Rush to Innovate, FCPS Dropped the Ball
KH
9:00 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
ReplyThank you for looking more into these problems. The online textbooks and lack of enough hard copies as an option are big problems and can't believe more research wasn't done on this decision.
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On the article Letter to the Editor: New Online Math Program 'A Model for a 21st Century Disaster'
KH
10:03 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012
ReplyI have difficulty with computer sharing for three children from an affluent family with 2 computers trying to each get their time on the computer for homework and can't imagine how challenging it is for larger families with only one (or no) reliable computer in the home. We learned that borrowing a hard copy of the book was an option at BTSN but there weren't enough for everyone. I will write to the SB.
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On the article Letter to the Editor: Consider All Sides of School Discipline
KH
12:30 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
ReplyI am not overly optimistic about a 40 person panel after trying to see 12 School Board members try to make decisions. I liked the idea of eliminating the Gatehouse hearing office and giving the principals more discretion about punishments. To think children will not make a mistake is ludicrous. Some are bigger than others but people learn from mistakes. To not learn that this system needs changing after two student suicides tied into this is appalling. It would be helpful to keep a child in their familiar surroundings where teachers who know them can keep a watchful eye on them. Should it be an instance where there has been a physical threat, then it would make sense to remove the bully/threatening child. Each case is not black and white so therefore the rules can't be either. I was saddened to see the principals make a last second stance on parental notification last spring. If the principals don't have the guts to make tough calls on discipline, they shouldn't be a principal. It is they who know these students best and can get their teachers and other students input on each infraction/scenario.
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On the article School Officials to Consider Moving Students from Fairfax, Lanier to Other Schools
KH
10:47 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
ReplyAfter attending Monday's work session, I can't tell you how disappointed and frustrated I was to hear Falls Church HS mentioned as an afterthought in the potential Fairfax High school boundary change. We are the Rodney Dangerfield of Fairfax County. Falls Church is under enrolled by approximately 300 students, yet all we heard Monday was the problem of severe and immediate over crowding. Why does the only under enrolled high school school in FCPS not get invited to this discussion? How can the SB even consider adding to these already renovated schools to accommodate additional students when Falls Church has room right down road and has been waiting for renovation since 1960? Boundaries need to be re-adjusted across the county. Long bus rides are ridiculous as noted above. Fed up.
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On the Blog Post Fairfax Leadership Academy
KH
1:23 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
ReplyThis should be read by all parties for a more clear picture of UPROAR's views:
http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-fairfax-leadership-academy-and.html
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On the Blog Post Fairfax Leadership Academy
KH
10:48 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
ReplyGreg, being an idealist is great but I'm a realist and see that this is duplicative of current programs such as AVID and Dual Enrollment. I am a realist and feel if this charter does sound appealing to parents, it will not target the groups FLA says it will target and overachiever-type parents will apply and there is no way to change that. The reality is if a longer school day/year works, FCPS already realizes it cannot swap bus schedules with ES kids as already studied. If it's smaller class sizes that work, FCPS will not change that either. So this charter as a model for what other schools can do in the county is a farce. That's the reality.
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On the Blog Post Fairfax Leadership Academy
KH
9:03 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
ReplyIf she is on his side, I'd hate to see what the building would look like and how our students would be treated if she wasn't. Parents and faculty pleaded at the CIP hearing, explained how we had NO representation in their report, pointed out flaws in their criteria and Dean had the nerve to "take umbrage" that we were trying to put our needs ahead of all of the others on the queue. Yes, a 50 year old building needs attention - NOW. The new School Board, who campaigned to listen to parents needs voted unanimously, to approve that flawed report so there's fault all around. Now we also have to deal with this charter mess getting in the way of any sort of progress. Politicians trying to appease the governor and inflate a family member's local real estate value at the expense of the tax payers. Please. Enough already.
KH
1:27 pm on Friday, April 12, 2013
So WHY is FCPS planning to spend over $100 million on this school and choosing to ignore the legacy high schools that have been languishing for YEARS serving thousands of our students with Fairfax County tax paying parents? Tax payors want to know.