Graduation Rate Increases

The on-time graduation rate for Chesterfield County Public Schools improved to 87.8 percent in 2010, up from 85.9 percent the previous year, according to figures released today by the Virginia Department of Education. Chesterfield students continued to outperform their peers across Virginia; Virginia’s on-time graduation rate is 85.5 percent in 2010 and was 83.3 percent in 2009.

Students graduating on time is a key measure of success in Chesterfield County Public Schools’ Design for Excellence strategic plan, which includes strategies for increasing the percentage of students who graduate in four years with a standard or advanced diploma.

Students, teachers, parents and school leaders can all celebrate the fact that more Chesterfield students are graduating from high school in four years. Chesterfield’s rigorous curriculum prepares our graduates for their futures, while our support systems help students stay in school even when life gets complicated.

Principal for a Day

On Wednesday, the school division and the Chesterfield Business Council co-hosted the fourth annual Principal for a Day program. More than 30 local business leaders signed up to shadow a school principal. In participating, business leaders gain insights into what a principal experiences during a typical day by observing and participating in activities such as patrolling the building and grounds, bus duty, morning announcements, classroom walk-throughs, responding to crises, conferences and phone calls, team or faculty meetings, lunch duty and assemblies. This opportunity also affords the business community a chance to see 21st century skills in practice and to discuss with school leaders ways businesses and schools can work together to support student achievement.

What does the future hold for Chesterfield County Public Schools?

A series of forums featuring dynamic speakers will offer information, pose questions and seek answers. Invited to attend these forums on the future are community members, business leaders, parents, teachers, students and school administrators.

Taking place 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays this fall, the forums begin the process of updating the strategic plan of Chesterfield County Public Schools.

Admission to the forums is free; reservations are not required.

The schedule of speakers is available on the school division’s website, www.chesterfield.k12.va.us. The series kicks off on Oct. 20 with a presentation titled “A World Without Boxes.” A brick-and-mortar school isn’t the only place to learn. Online classes made it possible for Joel Erb to complete high school while running the marketing agency he founded when he was 15 and continues to lead today.

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/instruction/files/Educational%20Forum%20flier.pdf

Welcome Back to School!

I would like to welcome you and your family to a brand-new school year filled with opportunities and possibilities.

Academic success for every student is the top goal of our school system, and we are pleased that every Chesterfield school is again fully accredited.

Our teachers, staff members and community partners worked hard to prepare for the first day of school. When our 59,000 students entered their classrooms on Sept. 7, they were surrounded by positive energy and support. Our expectations for our children, our schools and our community are high.

Success depends on effort, and I am confident this will be a successful year if we all work together and live our core values of respect, responsibility, honesty and accountability.

Thank you for your support — have a terrific school year!

Thank you to our teachers!

Today is the first official workday for Chesterfield County Public Schools teachers and for countless teachers throughout the country. In my opinion, teaching is the most noble of professions. Professionals throughout our community deserve our praise and appreciation for their contributions in making the world a better place: police and law enforcement officers, doctors, firefighters, nurses, engineers, craftsmen, judges, therapists, ministers, managers, etc. But they all have one thing in common: All of their lives were touched by a teacher.

As our teachers ready their classrooms to receive more than 59,000 students next Tuesday, I join thousands of parents in Chesterfield County in saying thank you for being a teacher.

Here is a “Tribute to a Teacher”:

We held their hands the first day of school.
Our hearts were filled with pride.
There was an aura of fear and apprehension
As we stood close to their side.
We deposited our children at your door,
Our most precious and prized possessions.
We trusted that you would give them more
Than Reading and Writing lessons.
Our unspoken words were, give them self worth.
They are little children, respect their rights.
Teach them with love and remember compassion.
Use a firm hand to break up their fights.
As the years went by, you did us proud
With your guiding hand and understanding smile.
You gave much more than we expected.
That was your way, your undeniable style.
What higher tribute can we pay a teacher?
To what greater heights can he ascend?
Than to have his students praise his work,
And to say "He is my friend."
- by Myrna Beth Lambert

All Schools Fully Accredited for Third Year in a Row!

I am pleased to announce that all Chesterfield County schools are fully accredited for the 2010-11 school year, making Chesterfield the largest division in Virginia to have all schools fully accredited three years in a row. This academic achievement is a true credit to the hard work and focused determination of our students, parents and school employees. Virginia’s academic standards are the model for schools across the country and to have all of our schools fully accredited is an accomplishment in which we can all take pride. As we head into the new school year, we will build on our success and redouble our efforts to ensure continued academic success and progress for every student.

View a list of Chesterfield schools that are fully accredited here

Student Leaders Create New Leaders

One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is working with students. Throughout the course of this year I have taught several classes at the elementary and secondary levels, and have worked with an outstanding group of students who serve on the Superintendent’s Advisory Group on Education (SAGE). It is always a good feeling to be recognized by your colleagues and peers for accomplishments and success in the things you strive to do.

Recently I was honored by some of these wonderful students, who recognized me as the recipient of the 2010 Regional Community Leader of Education Award by LEAD UP!, the Midlothian High School Leadership Certificate Program. Two Midlothian High seniors, Khaki LaRiviere and Stacey LaRiviere, created this program that featured leadership training offered by community and business leaders, and small group activities led by students and guest speakers. The training was offered to all students in the school, and after each student attended three training sessions and participated in one community service project, I had the privilege of awarding the students with a certificate of completion.

Here is an excerpt of the invitation to speak at the program.

“During the past two years it has been wonderful getting to know you through the Superintendent’s Advisory Group for Education. Learning about effective student leadership in the Chesterfield County Public Schools inspired Stacey and I to extend that wonderful leadership opportunity to other students. We want every student to have equal access to leadership training that will help prepare them for jobs in the future. Now L.E.A.D. UP! has almost 40 members!”

This program was inspirational in that it was a program created and implemented by student leaders who desired to enable their fellow students to become leaders as well. The program had outstanding topics and speakers, and no doubt participants learned a great deal. I commend our student leaders, Stacey and Khaki, for starting the leadership program – and I am most grateful for their leadership, compassion, empathy and generosity. They are a model for our school division’s core values and service to others.

Remembering Art Linkletter

TV host Art Linkletter, who made the world a happier place just by asking children what they thought, died yesterday at age 97. As a tribute, I’d like to share a short video that always makes me laugh. I hope you enjoy Art Linkletter’s humor and way with children as much as I do.

CCPS Scenes of Success

I am again pleased to share with you the third in a series of presentations to the School Board that depict successes within our schools of students and staff. I enjoy compiling these visual presentations because reviewing these wonderful images, some of which I have snapped myself, reminds me of the dedication that our employees have to our students, and of the hard work our students put into learning and meeting their goals. Hope you enjoy the images.

CCPS Scenes of Success

Thanks to Our 2010 Retirees

Congratulations to all of the employees who are retiring this year. I would like to commend for your excellent service to this school system, in all of the varying capacities you have served. Of the 191 staff members retiring, I thank you for the 4,060 years total you have given to Chesterfield County Public Schools, and I applaud you for the 5,390 years total service to education you’ve given during your careers.

Yesterday we recognized many of the retiring employees at a reception held at Thomas Dale. I would like to share with you some comments that I made to our 2010 “graduating class.”

Retirement is a change – a big change. You are entering a new part of your journey, trying out your retirement wings, deciding what’s next in your life.

Those of us remaining in Chesterfield County Public Schools will also be entering a new phase: the phase of trying to get along without all of our talented and dedicated colleagues who are retiring this year. It will not be easy – we will miss you. Oh boy, will we miss you!

You may not miss us – at least not right away. But I believe that you will find your way back into our schools as volunteer mentors, reading buddies, coaches and more. After all, where would we be without you?

Your work and your vision and your energy have transformed Chesterfield County Public Schools into a high-achieving, award-winning school system. Our students are succeeding at high levels today because of you. Thank you. Thank you for your contributions in our schools, for our students and for this community. I am grateful for you.

Finally, I’d like to share one more quotation with you. This comes from Mark Twain and I think it is excellent advice for all of us, whether we are retiring or not retiring:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Joining the Bus Road-e-o

I drove a school bus for the first time yesterday, and my respect for the excellent job our bus drivers do is at an all-time high.

My turn at the wheel came during a bus rodeo sponsored by our Transportation Department. I was driving on a closed course — far away from obstacles, people and other vehicles. The course included cones to navigate through, corners to turn, tight spaces to park in, a cutout representing a child at a bus stop and other situations that bus drivers handle every day.

Only a few cones were flattened during my trip around the half-mile course, so I feel pretty good about my performance. Of course, my performance was aided by the experienced bus driver sitting right behind me, letting know how hard to cut the wheel and when to turn. Without the special assistance I received from Barbara Musick, I probably would have flattened all of the traffic cones!

Each year, our top scorers in the bus rodeo go on to compete regionally and statewide against bus drivers from other school systems. The top-scoring bus drivers for Chesterfield County Public Schools this year are Leslie Alderman, Marion Trent, Amy Ellington, Pamela Krueth, Jennifer Langford, Rose Moody, Annette Norwood, Linda Thacker, Bill Johnson and Barbara Jordan. Regional competition is next week, then state competition will take place June 22 at James River High School.

I congratulate our top drivers and all of our Chesterfield school bus drivers who navigate 8.5 million miles each school year safely transporting about 44,000 students to school.

Outstanding Youth Awards Program

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Outstanding Youth Awards program at Bird High, where youths and adults who have made differences in others’ lives in the community or at school were honored. I was so proud of the students who were recognized for the courage, compassion, leadership and service they exhibit in their daily lives.

Scenes from Chesterfield County Public Schools

Much of the conversation recently has been devoted to the budget. During my time in schools this past month, it has been refreshing to see in my classroom visits that our core business of teaching and learning continues. The slideshow below will give you a glimpse into instruction and community support of our schools.

CCPS Scenes

Recently I had the pleasure of co-teaching a math lesson with Mrs. Pattie Sutton to her first-grade students at Evergreen Elementary. We had a great time during the math lesson, and I enjoyed reading to them and playing a game of "Simon Says."

MGT Efficiency Review of Chesterfield County Public Schools

I would like to share with you a recent news report from WWBT Channel 12 on the MGT Efficiency Review of CCPS, which found that our school system is currently operating at 99.3 percent efficiency. Please click the link below to view the news coverage.

http://www.chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/news/video.php?v=http://gdata.youtube.com/feeds/api/videos/FJuSTGjQM84

If you would like more information about the audit and its results, please visit the CCPS web site here:
http://www.chesterfield.k12.va.us/CCPS/operations/budget/budget.htm

Scenes of Success from CCPS

Here is a video I would like to share that I presented to the School Board recently of sights and scenes of success in our schools. I am so proud of the students' accomplishments shown in the video, and of the various activities they participate in that show strong character and uphold our core values. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do.

February 2010 Comcast Interview — Community Service

Question
Education is more than what happens in the classroom, and every day students in our schools are reaching beyond the classroom to help other people.

This is the 10th anniversary of the core values of Chesterfield County Public Schools and living those values means looking beyond yourself to see how you can be of service.

Question
Sometimes, students are helping other students in Chesterfield schools.

For many years, our high school students have returned to middle schools and elementary schools to mentor or tutor younger students. And we have several examples of middle school students going back to their elementary schools to serve as reading buddies for elementary students.

In the past few years, we’ve seen some of our schools “adopt” other Chesterfield schools that might need extra support. For example, art students from Cosby High provided a lot of art supplies for one of our elementary schools. And several of our schools have reached out to other Chesterfield schools to provide books or warm clothing or holiday food baskets on an ongoing basis.

Question
Other community service efforts are more global. For example, students at many Chesterfield schools support U.S. military men and women by collecting helpful items for them or by writing letters.

Yes. Students bring in books and snacks, video games and blankets, and much more to send to military personnel who are stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan or somewhere else overseas.

Sometimes, the schools don’t know exactly who will receive the items, but sometimes the schools have a specific soldier they know about through a student or a staff member, and they send things to his or her unit.

For example, Woolridge Elementary just recently collected items to send to Peter Fritz, who has been deployed overseas. This was a personal connection for Woolridge because he was one of the first students to attend Woolridge and some of his teachers are still teaching there today. Woolridge Elementary’s mascot is the Wildcats, so the school said this outreach was “from one Wildcat to another.”

Question
I believe that many schools are helping raise money and personal items to help Haiti.

This is such a good example of how Chesterfield students are part of a larger world. Our students reacted quickly to the terrible earthquake that devastated Haiti earlier this year. They have been holding coin drives and other fund-raisers help the survivors in Haiti. Several of our schools have held Hats for Haiti days – students and staff members make a contribution of a dollar or more for the privilege of wearing a hat during school and the money goes to help Haiti.

Another time that Chesterfield schools quickly reacted to a major disaster was just a few years ago when our students did the same types of things to help Hurricane Katrina survivors in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Question
How does community service prepare Chesterfield students for their futures?

By encouraging our students to engage in strong community service, we are preparing them to become good citizens. This will enable them to be empathetic to others and help them create a strong community foundation for themselves and others around them. Being a good and caring individual is the basis of democracy in our country.

FY2011 Financial Plan

We have great students and great employees who deserve the best support available, even in a bad economy. On Jan. 26, I presented the Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2011 Financial Plan. The plan was the result of recommendations from the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee, which included business, parent, teacher and county representatives.

Over the past month, we have received comments and recommendations from the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors/School Board Budget Advisory Committee, school officials, teachers, parents and citizens. We have carefully considered all input and tonight I propose a revised plan that minimizes the impact of cuts on our students and on our employees.

In a difficult economy, the school division will endure its fair share of pain. However, I do not believe that cuts of $40-50 million, in addition to approximately $40 million in cuts and changes to the current budget, are fair or in the best interest of our children or community. Therefore, I am still presenting an FY 2011 operating budget that makes $26 million in cuts.

Changes in this revised proposal are aimed at

• lessening the financial burden placed on employees
• decreasing the number of positions eliminated

This proposal helps accomplish those goals by

• delaying some capital projects to lower the amount paid toward debt service
• reducing non-school division personnel costs such as grounds maintenance and reducing travel expenditures
• consolidating services through efficient use of space and resources
• increasing revenue through higher fees

There remains a need for additional funding, as the proposal’s expenditures still exceed the revenue projected to be available. We continue to seek additional resources from Chesterfield County and the Virginia General Assembly. We appreciate the commitment to public education demonstrated by our local and state government and remain hopeful that they will continue to provide adequate resources for public education as required by the Constitution of Virginia.

While these revisions save 105 jobs from the Jan. 26 proposal, we still must eliminate 200 positions (in addition to the approximately 250 positions eliminated in the FY 2010 budget). Our workforce, with growing demands, will be asked to work with fewer resources and for less pay.

We have worked hard to get where we are today. Now, we are at a crossroads. Do we want to seek continuous improvement, increased student achievement and a school division that benefits everyone in the community or will our community accept a cookie-cutter school division that offers much less for children? The choice is clear.

A very exceptional report

Chesterfield County Public Schools recently received a glowing exit interview from a team of auditors who visited the school division to review its exceptional education efforts. The review was for compliance with federal regulations and procedures. The visiting team of auditors held conferences, reviewed data and discussed 14 special education indicators from the commonwealth.

While a formal written report likely won’t be available until March, the exit interview yielded a great deal more positive comments than recommendations or findings. The team members noted that there is generally a limit on positive comments allowed in the report, so they would have to be selective and include the ones that were most powerful.

Among the comments

• The climates in all 10 schools visited was engaging and very inclusive.
• Inclusion was excellent throughout the school division.
• There was excellent organization in documentation and files.
• There were many outstanding programs ongoing within schools.

o Tomahawk Creek Middle’s Lunch and Learning
o Gates Elementary’s co-teaching and co-planning
o Bird and Manchester high schools’ transition focus

Overall, the review was excellent. This is extremely encouraging, as Dr. Kalkofen noted, considering the unusual amount of scrutiny from several parties in recent months.

Turning out the lights

Another group of employees seeking to make a difference with our available resources is our Facilities Department.

In April 2009, we raised the summer set point from 74 to 75 degrees. Statistics show that for each degree the set point is raised or lowered the potential savings is 2-3% of the schools energy usage.

Our proactive power management program involving Dominion Power's Schedule 132 also has been very successful. This is how the time-of-use schedule (132) is intended to be used. It reduces Dominion Power’s peak load on peak days, and it reduces our consumption significantly. On the cooling days that Dominion Power determined were peak demand days they would notify us, usually less than 12 hours in advance. We would then send a mass e-mail to all high schools and those middle schools that were on the schedule 132, informing them that we would be raising their set point from 75 degrees to 78 degrees. That change would last from 11 a.m. until 9 pm.

These are the reductions in usage we experienced from the schedule 132 conservation measures.
- June 2008 - August 2008 total kwh usage at (20) schools currently qualifying for 132 was: 11,968,000 kwh ($1,303,753 )
- June- 2009-August 2009 total kwh usage at (20) schools currently qualifying for 132 was 9,34400 kwh ($961,688)
According to our Energy Management Dept., that translated into an overall reduction in usage of 1,106,312 kwh for those 20 schools. That’s equivalent to $342,065.

In addition, Mike Evans began a team cleaning concept that completes cleaning by zones. The lights, and if necessary, heat or air are provided only for the zone being cleaned. Once that zone is cleaned the lights and air are turned off and the process is repeated as the team moves to the next zone. We do not have the impact on energy usage for this practice at this time, but anticipate that it will be significant.

As we look at next year’s budget, Facilities has shared that we also can find substantial savings by eliminating all personal electrical devices that may be in classrooms and offices. By eliminating lights, refrigerators and microwaves, we believe we can save between $400,000 and $500,000 in energy savings.

Thank you to our Facilities staff for working to help conserve energy and thus save money!

The Virginia Index of Performance Awards

Virginia last week honored 32 Chesterfield schools and the school division with Virginia Index of Performance awards, with 12 of those schools winning the highest honor, the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence.

Chesterfield schools earning the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence are Bettie Weaver Elementary, Bon Air Elementary, Elizabeth Scott Elementary, Evergreen Elementary, Gordon Elementary, Midlothian High, Midlothian Middle, Robious Elementary, Swift Creek Elementary, Swift Creek Middle, Winterpock Elementary and Woolridge Elementary. Statewide, 153 schools won this award. The Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence was first given in 2008, and three Chesterfield schools have won every year: Gordon Elementary, Swift Creek Elementary and Midlothian Middle.

To qualify for the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, schools must meet all state and federal achievement benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and achieve goals for elementary reading, enrollment in Algebra I by eighth grade, enrollment in college-level courses, high school graduation, attainment of advanced diplomas, increased attainment of career and industry certifications and participation in the Virginia Preschool Initiative. Schools and school divisions also earn bonus points for other performance measures, including the Governor’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Scorecard.

Fifteen Chesterfield schools earned the next highest award, the Board of Education Excellence Award: Alberta Smith Elementary, Beulah Elementary, Clover Hill Elementary, Crenshaw Elementary, Ecoff Elementary, Enon Elementary, Gates Elementary, Grange Hall Elementary, Greenfield Elementary, Harrowgate Elementary, Providence Elementary, Reams Road Elementary, Spring Run Elementary, Watkins Elementary and Wells Elementary. Statewide, 288 schools won this award.

Five Chesterfield schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools as a whole earned the next award, the Board of Education Competence to Excellence Award: Bailey Bridge Middle, Curtis Elementary, Cosby High, Hening Elementary and Jacobs Road Elementary. Statewide, 281 schools and 17 school divisions won this award.

How about a round of applause for these administrators and these schools!