FY2010 Budget Update

Dear colleagues,
Earlier this week, Gov. Tim Kaine released his proposal to balance Virginia’s operating budget for FY2010. According to his report, there is a statewide $3 billion deficit that elected officials must work to close in Virginia’s two-year, $77billion budget. The Governor shared with members of the General Assembly’s finance committees that he is proposing to cut more than $400 million in funding for the state’s public schools.

Our budget staff has spent the past two days reviewing the initial documents from the state. Early indications suggest an even deeper cut in state funding than was expected. Because of these state cuts, we expect that our overall funding gap now has increased to $52 million. As the Governor, General Assembly and locally elected officials continue to work, this funding gap could widen.

As I shared with you previously, cuts this large mean the entire school division will be affected. The Governor’s cuts mean that we definitely will be forced to increase pupil-teacher ratios, reduce support staff and services, and reduce administrative positions and other costs. The budget advisory committee and staff continue to study specific options. No final decisions have been made, but the impacts will be wide-reaching.

This information remains painful for me to share, especially right before the holidays. However, I am committed to keeping you informed so that you can help us educate the community about the realities that are ahead. We will continue to communicate as additional information is received and decisions are made.

Communities in Schools – Chesterfield

Communities In Schools of Chesterfield recently celebrated 16 years of helping students achieve success. Attendees brought children’s books as gifts to Communities In Schools of Chesterfield. The books will be used at Bellwood, Chalkley and Ettrick elementary schools.

Communities In Schools is a public-private partnership operating across the United States to help children succeed in school and prepare for life. Communities In Schools of Chesterfield supports five schools: Bellwood Elementary, Chalkley Elementary, Ettrick Elementary, Perrymont Middle and Chesterfield Community High.

Column for the Chesterfield County Public Schools employee newsletter

I want to share with you the recent column I wrote for our Chesterfield County Public Schools employee newsletter. My message discussed the tough choices ahead given the current economic climate.

Charles Dickens probably didn’t have us in mind when he penned in 1859 “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” But his words aptly describe modern day Chesterfield County Public Schools. Our school division, the largest in Virginia to have all of its schools fully accredited, now faces one of the worst financial crises in decades.

According to the most recent projections, Chesterfield County Public Schools stands to see a $40 million revenue shortfall in FY 2010, and the forecast seems to be getting worse by the day. If the numbers hold true, next year’s operating budget will be smaller than it was three years ago — even though we have nearly 1,000 more students and four additional schools.

School divisions across the commonwealth are moving toward unchartered territory as we face draconian cuts. Fairfax County Public Schools plans to close a $220 million funding gap by cutting more than 1,000 positions, while Loudoun County Public Schools will consider a 15 percent budget cut.

We face tough choices ahead. In reality, all expenditures are on the table. Some decisions already have been made. We still must eliminate another $20-plus million to balance the FY 2010 budget. In a people-intensive business with 80-plus percent of the budget devoted to salaries, we are forced to take a hard look at staffing models and efficiencies.

Though state and national expectations continue to grow and budgets continue to dwindle, we will maintain our focus and commitment to children. The vitality of our community rests on the shoulders of a strong public education system. So in the spirit of the holidays, let’s also remember that this truly is among the “best of times.” Our school division made adequate yearly progress for the third straight year, our students continue to outperform state averages on standardized tests, and our staff members continue to earn state and national recognition. Our children did not create this financial crisis, and we must work with citizens and elected officials to ensure that we provide the best education possible. We will overcome our challenges, much like the Pilgrims did almost 400 years ago.

Milken Award Winner

Grange Hall Elementary third-grade teacher Laura Marshall received a nice treat the day before Halloween. Mrs. Marshall was surprised during a schoolwide assembly with the announcement that she had been chosen to receive a $25,000 Milken Educator Award this year.

Mrs. Marshall was one of just 80 educators across America this year to win the Milken Award, dubbed “the Oscars of teaching.” This is the third time in four years that a Chesterfield County teacher has received a Milken Educator Award. James River High teacher Laura Lay won in 2005, and Chalkley Elementary teacher Joshua Cole won in 2006.

Chesterfield students honored for academics

Three national scholastic competitions have recognized Chesterfield County students: Chesterfield semifinalists in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program are Clover Hill High student Michael DeWitt, Cosby High student David Casalaspi and Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School students Matthew Henderson, Matthew Kluge, Caroline Martin, Megan O’Donnell and Carson Wang. This program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., annually recognizes as semifinalists about 16,000 academically talented high school seniors across the country.

Chesterfield semifinalists in the 2009 National Achievement Scholarship Program are Lloyd C. Bird High student Tolulope Omojokun, James River High student Brian Henry, Meadowbrook High student Osasumwen Benjamin, Monacan High student Tilghman Goldsborough and Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School student Kelly Diaz. Conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., this program recognizes outstanding African-American students throughout the nation.

Clover Hill High students Bethany May and Ian Teune were recognized in the 2009 National Hispanic Recognition Program. Operated by the College Board, this program honors outstanding Hispanic students throughout the nation. Each year, about 3,300 students are selected for outstanding scores on the PSAT.

Two more schools achieve AYP

Two more schools have been certified as making adequate yearly progress under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Davis Elementary and Gates Elementary achieved adequate yearly progress, bringing to 51 the total number of Chesterfield schools achieving AYP for 2008-09.

As a school division, Chesterfield County Public Schools made adequate yearly progress for the third straight year and the fourth time in six years.

RTD Article: Schools chief reflects on first two years

I recently visited with the Richmond Times-Dispatch (RTD) to reflect on my first two years as Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools.

I emphasized that while we have made great progress, our work continues. We must and we will remain focused on the five goals of our Design for Excellence strategic plan. Our focus on continuous improvement is central to our shared vision of every school as a thriving, dynamic and inspiring educational environment that produces self-directed learners with 21st-century skills.

To view the full article, please visit http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-19-0195.html. Here are some highlights from the article:

Chesterfield County Superintendent Marcus J. Newsome knows he has to make a good school system better. Taking it from good to great, he would say. He also knows that to improve the system requires change, and change often brings conflict, especially when the system is perceived to be successful, he said. "I just want people to understand that we can never be satisfied with our progress, and the greatest barrier to that is resistance to change," he said in a recent interview…

…Newsome said he's happy with the progress made during his two-year tenure. The 64 schools are fully accredited for the first time under the state's Standards of Learning, and the school division has made Adequate Yearly Progress, a federal No Child Left Behind measure of student progress, for the past three years. But he acknowledges that some areas need improvement. More students, especially minority students, need to take more rigorous courses, and the achievement gaps need to be closed. The Design for Excellence six-year strategic plan adopted last year lays out achievement goals and plans addressing the areas in need of improvement…

…Schools need to improve in a time when federal and state accountability systems are asking teachers and students to do more, Newsome said. But school districts are trying to do more with the same agrarian school calendar and the same number of instructional hours, he said. That needs to change, but some bold actions are hard for people to accept, Newsome said…

Note to the Chesterfield Schools Community

Recently the Chesterfield Observer contacted me about an article they decided to write regarding inappropriate student behavior at dances. I want to share with you the statement I sent the Chesterfield Observer for inclusion in their article:

“I am very disturbed by the inappropriate behavior of some of our students, and we are taking further actions to promote proper behavior and decorum at all school activities. My staff discussed with you in a number of previous conversations that our schools have been facing this issue for the past several years, as have many other school divisions across the country. As mentioned earlier this month, I have directed our principals to put together a new plan to address inappropriate student behavior at dances. We must work in partnership with the community in an effort to offset some of the negative influences of this generation’s entertainment world on our students. Schools are a reflection of our society and the communities we serve, but the type of dancing reported at some of our schools will not be tolerated. It is inappropriate and goes against the core values for which this school division and community stand. We will continue to work to ensure that this type of behavior does not cast a negative perception of the great majority of students whose behavior is acceptable.”

Thank you to the Chesterfield Schools Community

I would like to share with you a brief statement I released last week after the Chesterfield County School Board unanimously approved my new four-year contract. I was not able to attend the School Board meeting as I was in Lynchburg last week participating in the Virginia Association of School Superintendent’s legislative conference where I serve as the co-chair.

It is truly an honor to work with such a dedicated school board and the many talented team members of Chesterfield schools. I am proud of the accomplishments of our students, teachers and school system employees, and the support of our parents and the community. This long-term commitment by our School Board will ensure stability and continuous progress of our collaborative work over the next four years.

To view a copy of my statement, please visit http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/superintendent/files/statement.pdf.

Professional development for CCPS staff

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has written an article about our PD 360 Professional Development On-Demand program, which gives teachers and staff members the flexibility to take classes at times that are convenient to them, and they can access the system from school or home. Take a moment to review the article for more information about our ongoing professional development opportunities.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/community/chesterfield.PrintView.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-06-0015.html

Educating a Diverse Community

The increasing needs of a changing student enrollment provide us with the challenge of continually adapting our educational environment to best serve all students. Our strategic plan for continuous improvement, known as The Design for Excellence, is built to meet that challenge and support academic excellence for all students. As part of our initiative to provide opportunities for all students in Chesterfield, last week Chesterfield County Public Schools Board members held a public engagement session inviting the public to participate in a conversation about educating a diverse community of learners. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has written an article about the session, providing insight about our efforts from our School Board Chair Dianne Pettitt, as well as opinions and suggestions from others who attended.

I invite you to review this article to learn more about our objectives:http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-30-0097.html You can also view the new "Educating a Diverse Community" publication posted on our web site: http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/news/files/Educating%20a%20Diverse%20Community.pdf

Welcome Back Teachers!

The 2008-09 school year is off to a great start, and I want to take a moment to thank the teachers of Chesterfield County Public Schools!

A high-quality educational system is critical to the vitality of Chesterfield County; and, one of our School Board’s core beliefs is that effective teaching is the most essential factor in student learning. Our students cannot be successful workers and productive citizens by learning only reading, writing and arithmetic. The needs of a global economy are changing daily, and we must equip our students with skills required to achieve success. To do otherwise would put our community at risk.

We are fortunate to have some of the very best teachers in the country working right here in Chesterfield County. Nicole Winter is one example. Last week I was joined by Dr. Billy Cannaday, Virginia State Superintendent for Public Instruction, Board of Supervisors member, Marlene Durfee and School Board member U. Omarh Rajah as we interrupted Mrs. Winter’s AP U.S. History class at Cosby H.S. to inform her that she had been selected as Region I Teacher of the Year (see press release dated September 17, 2008). Eight of the last 12 Region I Teachers of the Year have been from Chesterfield County Public Schools.

To be considered “highly qualified” in the commonwealth of Virginia, a teacher must have obtained state certification and be teaching at the level and in the content for which he/she is endorsed. The Virginia Department of Education’s web site provides a searchable database the public can visit to determine a teacher’s license and/or endorsement area. The link to the site is
https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/tinfo/.

It is our charge to ensure that Chesterfield County students are prepared for success after high school. Thank you to our teachers for all you do on behalf of Chesterfield County’s children!

Help Us Prepare Your Child For Success

The U.S. Department of Education has posted information for parents interested in becoming more involved in their children’s education. One document is called, Key Things Parents Can Do To Make Sure Their Children Are Prepared For The 21^st Century. Some of the tips include:

• Make sure your child understands the importance of math in elementary school, and encourage your child to take more math, science and critical language courses in high school
  
  
• Encourage your child to take more Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school

• Find out if your child’s teacher is “highly qualified"

• Get involved in helping your child’s school improve

• Make sure you receive a report card on your child’s school and that it is easy to understand (if you don’t receive a school report card or if it is hard to decipher, contact your child’s school district)

In just the past two years we have implemented a number of initiatives to prepare our students for success in the 21^st Century: the Virginia Preschool Initiative for 4-year olds who may need a little extra preparation for school; allocation of 60 new reading teachers throughout the division; “safety net” and wellness grants; elementary school World Language Program; John Hopkins Reading Model; Algebra for all middle school students; enhanced security programs; and the Spring Forward and Chesterfield Academy alternative education programs.

Chesterfield County schools enjoy a strong reputation for excellence, and extraordinary support from school volunteers, business leaders, elected officials, and citizens throughout this region. Education is the great equalizer in America. Our schools provide students with the opportunity to achieve their unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For more information on preparing students for success in the 21st Century, parents can visit these web sites:

www.ed.gov/parents/academic/involve/prepared.html

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

www.nas.edu/21st/education/

We All Have a Role to Play

As parents and educators prepare for the new 2008-09 school year, we must be mindful of the profound impact of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), on the landscape of public education. This law demands accountability for public schools and highly qualified teachers. Many educators were looking forward to a new and improved version of this law. While there is broad consensus that the current law is flawed and needs to be reauthorized, Congress has not come to consensus about what needs to be done. Therefore, Chesterfield County Public Schools will continue to comply with the increasing standards of NCLB, building toward the 2013-14 school year when 100 percent of students are required to achieve at a high level on the state standardized tests.

Our school board envisions every Chesterfield school as a thriving, dynamic and inspiring educational environment that produces self-directed learners and stimulates citizens of all ages to trust in, invest in and benefit from public education. Our school system’s No. 1 goal is to help every student meet high expectations and reach his/her full potential. It is essential we keep that goal at the forefront of our work with students this year. Our Design for Excellence six-year strategic plan for continual improvement identifies four goals to support student achievement: safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments; a competent and knowledgeable workforce; community investment in schools; and effective and efficient operations.

Our greatest challenge is preparing students for the future. We don’t know what the world will look like when today’s students enter the workforce. Just imagine, today’s kindergarteners will graduate in 2021. We need to prepare them with life skills that will aid them throughout their lives. And we cannot do it alone. Involved parents can make a substantial difference in the academic life of their children and in our school and community. The entire school community has a role in play in supporting parental engagement in our schools. Please do all you can to maintain positive, regular and open communication with school officials throughout the year.

Transportation Department Excels at Road-eo

Bus drivers from Chesterfield County Public Schools earned the top awards at the recent regional Bus Road-eo.

The regional Bus Road-eo is a competition of bus driving knowledge and skill between drivers from Chesterfield, Richmond, Henrico and Hanover. Contestants are scored on their bus handling skills as they perform challenging maneuvers like parallel parking and turning in a small area. Drivers also have to take a written knowledge exam.

Chesterfield County bus drivers earned the Director’s Plaque for the highest overall combined score at the regional competition. Individually, Leslie Alderman received first place and Tina Smith received third place in the conventional bus driving competition. Marion Trent received first place and Michelle Davis received third place in the transit bus driving competition.

Adult GED celebrates graduation

More than 70 Chesterfield County residents recently took part in the annual Adult GED graduation exercise. The graduation ceremony was held earlier this month at Carver Middle School and was sponsored by the school division’s Adult Continuing Education Office.

These 70 graduates represented a small portion of the more than 600 county residents who have earned a GED during the past year.

State statistics indicate that earning a GED can help a person make between $7,000 and $12,000 more per year than an adult without a high school diploma. Not only is a GED a potential moneymaker, it is a career enhancer as well. A GED is accepted by 95 percent of U.S. employers and helps adults seek full-time employment or advance existing careers.

Chesterfield County Public Schools offers GED test preparation classes and practice tests as well as testing sessions for county residents. For more information, call 768-6140.

Celebrating change and success at Harrowgate

Last month, the faculty at Harrowgate Elementary School celebrated being one of only six schools in the county to earn the Panasonic National School Change Award.

The award recognizes schools that have achieved significant positive change, measuring them in 16 stringent criteria. Harrowgate was selected after submitting a detailed application that outlined the school’s progress from underperforming to outstanding achievement.

During the past five years, Harrowgate has implemented many programs that helped students achieve success. SOL test scores at Harrowgate, where 56 percent of the students receive free or reduced price lunches, have climbed steadily in all subject areas since 2002.

This is the second year in a row that a Chesterfield County school has won a National School Change Award! Chalkley Elementary won in 2007, and Bensley Elementary won in 2002.

We will bring the staff of Harrowgate Elementary before the board in the fall for a more official recognition of their efforts.

Winter a teacher for all seasons

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to recognize a Chesterfield County Public Schools teacher described as a humble leader and an effective teammate.

Nicole Winter recently was named the 2009 Teacher of the Year for Chesterfield County Public Schools. A National Board Certified Teacher, Mrs. Winter teaches history at Cosby High School, where she also founded and sponsors the Beta Club.

In noting that all of her students pass their history SOL tests, nominators said of Mrs. Winter: “She demonstrates strength of character and a genuine love of teaching.”

Mrs. Winter has taught at Cosby High since the school opened in September 2006. She taught at Manchester High from 1992 to 2006.

Congratulations to a wonderful role model for students and teachers!

SAT Readiness Academy

Chesterfield County Public Schools is a high-achieving, forward-thinking school division focused on equipping students with the 21st century skills they will need to achieve success after high school.
All schools are accredited and our Standards of Learning results exceed state averages in nearly every category. However, we have areas in need of improvement: our 2006-07 SAT scores trailed state averages in math, critical reading and writing.
With an eye on continuous improvement, Instructional Division leaders have developed an SAT Readiness Academy that will be held July 14-Aug. 7 at Clover Hill High School. Through this program, students will learn more about the SAT so that there are no surprises on test day.
Why are SAT scores important?
SAT scores can tell college admissions staff members how well prepared a student is for college-level academics.
The scores also allow colleges to compare a student’s college readiness with other students in a standardized way.

The two-part SAT Readiness Academy is spread over three weeks: lessons in week one and week two are identical, while week three is reserved for additional, more intensive preparation. By the end of the program, it is expected that students will understand their individual strengths and weaknesses identified by their PSAT results, know what to expect on SAT test day, review practice questions and learn valuable test-taking strategies.

Superintendent’s Summer Policy Institute

This week I joined many of my colleagues for the 2008 Superintendent’s Summer Policy Institute held at the University of Virginia Curry School of Education and Darden Business School. The session began with a presentation on drop-out rates and special education legislation by Dr. Billy Cannaday, Virginia State Superintendent for Public Instruction. Attorney Craig Wood of McGuire Woods led a discussion on legal issues facing public education.
Teachers and school-based administrators joined us on Wednesday for a session entitled, Performance Incentives: A Growing Impact on K12 American Education. Presenters included Dr. Lois Adams-Rogers, Deputy Executive Director for the Council of Chief State Officers; Dr. Grover Whitehurst, U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Services, and Dr. Linda Cavalluzzo, Senior Researcher for CAN Education.
These presenters prompted rigorous debate about the merits, benefits and challenges associated with teacher compensation reform. Dr. Lyle Evans and several members of our Human Resources Department as well as several CCPS educators attended this session.
As a result of this session, I have asked Dr. Evans to work with his team to draft recommendations for differentiated compensation for “hard to fill” positions to be consider for funding in FY 2011.