The School Board held an interesting but lengthy meeting. The topics covered ranged from awards to a briefing on Head Start to legal and political battles over classroom trailers. In particular, this meeting highlighted the continuing disputes between the Board of County Supervisors and the School Board.
Presentation by the Montclair Elementary School Chorus
The students sang a simple tunes but with surprising clarity. I enjoyed listening.
Recognition of Visiting International Faculty Program and Educator of the Year
Recognized Ms. Sarah Chaplin, eighth-grade science teacher at Woodbridge Middle School, as the National Cultural Educator of the Year by the Visiting International Faculty (VIF) Program. Ms. Chaplin, a VIF teacher from the United Kingdom, was selected among 1700 VIF teachers in eight states based on her exemplary performance, letters of recommendation, and dedication to sharing her culture.
Business Partnership Award Winners
Recognized the winners of the fourth annual Business Partnership of the Year Awards. The following three partnerships were recognized this year as the winners of the Business Partnership of the Year Awards: Micron and Mountain View Elementary School; The Kennedy Center and the Office of Media Production Services; and the Reality Store partners (Synergy One Federal Credit Union, George Mason University, Prince William-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce, and Virginia Cooperative Extension) and Brentsville District High School.
Consent Agenda
Approved the Consent Agenda by a unanimous vote. This included the following interesting items.
- April 2007 payroll of $40,010,816.2.
- Confirmation of School Board Poll of May 3, 2007, Brentsville Trailers. Voted to appeal the decision of the Planning Commission regarding the use of trailers at Brentsville High School. Authorized the Chairman and the School Board Attorney to take all measures required to pursue the appeal (with the BOCS).
Citizen Comments
Usually only a few citizens use citizen comment time. However, because the dispute over trailers at Brentsville District High School, citizens turned out. About 15 people spoke.
These speakers included Sharon Pandak, recent candidate for Chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, and Jean Gehlsen, candidate for Brentsville District’s member on the School Board in the last election. Pandak promised to give the School Board adequate funding. Gehlsen went over the issues in detail and supported the School Board’s decision to install the trailers at Brentsville District High School.
Most of the other speakers, however, were clearly upset and blamed the School Board for poor planning. They chided the School Board for misplaced priorities. They asked the School Board to work more closely with the Planning Commission and the Board of County Supervisors.
Some citizens complained about the cost of the new administration building, and others complained that the trailers were unsafe or did not come with the proper amenities, toilets, hall space in the main building, cafeteria space, etc. Others complained that the School Board needed to do a better notifying the community when trailers were planned. One child pointed out that the only notification that trailers were coming was small signs put up by the county.
Overall, this could not have been a pleasant time for the School Board. Nonetheless, most citizens tried to sound calm rather than angry. They recommended specific changes and promised to support the board if those changes were made.
Revisions to the Code of Behavior for 2007-08
This passed without controversy. For information, see this post.
Head Start Report
This was an information briefing on a federally funded pre-school program for the poor sponsored by the School Board. By Prince William County standards, these students come from very poor families. A family of four, for example, would have under $20,000/year.
With a budget of 2.1 million program supports 289 students. The briefing emphasized the cost benefits of the program, citing the benefits of early intervention. The report includes an analysis that purports to show that this early intervention saves money.
Author’s Comment. During the question and answer period, two board members, Dr. Otaigbe and Betty Covington, used the Head Start Report to justify expanding the all-day kindergarten program. During the question and answer period, Betty Covington expressed shock that over a 1000 children in Prince William County qualify for Head Start. I wonder to what extent this is due to the influx of illegal immigrants. In addition, I also wonder to what extent the advantages provided this program just come from an earlier opportunity to learn English.
Briefing – Brentsville District High School Trailers
This briefing made the case for trailers. The briefing showed that the school division takes considerable effort to plan the installation of trailers. The trailers satisfy building codes, and that, when the trailers are added, some effort is made to supplement the associated amenities. For example, with the installation of the trailers, the school division does intend to add more toilets.
Each of the School Board members then used this opportunity to add some comments.
Milt Johns spoke up first. He noted the absence of a preferable choice.
- Insufficient funds are available for permanent structures.
- The alternative is boundary changes or subdividing the library and auditorium into classroom space.
In addition, Johns suggested the possibility of voluntary transfers to other schools and meetings to better inform the public. Apparently, Johns thinks much of this controversy is due to misinformation.
Don Richardson noted that boundary changes would cause more heartburn than the trailers. Historically, boundary changes cause more grief than anything else.
Julie Lucas noted that the school division has been responsive to issues concerning trailers. She noted that at one school in the Neabsco District there are 14 trailers. When the need was recognized, a bathroom trailer was added. She also noted that the school division has an aggressive building plan and that 5 – 6 schools were built a year earlier in the west end of the county than originally planned.
Betty Covington chided the Planning Commission and the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS). She expressed unhappiness that the Planning Commission took it upon itself to overturn the decision of an elected body. Since the members of the Planning Commission are BOCS appointees, she felt the BOCS was responsible for decisions taken by the Planning Commission. She also gave the opinion that since the Planning Commission and the BOCS approved all the developments in the county, they were responsible for the problem.
Covington also noted that the trailers are not a new development. The west end of the county is just now going through what the east end suffered for years. Then, in response to rapid growth, schools had split shifts, subdivided auditoriums into classrooms, and installed trailers.
Denita Ramirez expressed her unhappiness with the Planning Commission and the BOCS.
Grant Lattin noted that overcrowding is not a new problem. He pointed out one his own children is using a trailers and still getting a decent education. He emphasized the importance of keeping children in neighborhood schools and that we need to work together to get pass this problem.
Dr. Otaigbe emphasized the need to work together.
Lucy Beauchamp put the focus on the needs of the children, and she lauded the School Board because its members have worked together for the benefit of the children. She criticized the Planning Commission and the BOCS, stating that these bodies had suggested boundary changes as an alternative to trailers. Further she complained about the shortage of funds and noted that over the last 16 years (her time on the school board) the number of trailers had note significantly increased even though the school population had doubled.
Additional Agenda Item: Public Facilities Reviews; Installation and Relocation of Trailers
Milt Johns made the point that as things stand, trailers will not be installed at Brentsville District High School; he asked citizens to contact their member on BOCS and request that that member support the installation of trailers. The BOCS will meet on June 5, 2007 to consider this issue.
Johns also noted that the Planning Commission, though well intentioned, had stepped beyond its authority. Johns moved that the school board take the matter of trailers at Brentsville District High School to court and challenge the Planning Commission’s authority to regulate trailers. Grant Lattin and Don Richardson concurred noting that the Planning Commission’s authority in this matter needed clarification. The School Board approved this motion 8 – 0.
Author’s note: Although the School Board often votes 8 – 0, there is a clear division. While most of the members were clearly upset with the Planning Commission’s decision, most of them also wanted to put the matter behind them and get on with business. Lucy Beauchamp, Betty Covington, and Denita Ramirez, on the other hand, attacked the Planning Commission and the BOCS, treating these groups as adversaries rather than as well intentioned folks with whom they have some disagreements.
What conservatives should note is that this division falls along party lines. Republicans have majorities on both the BOCS and on the School Board. Instead of continuing to work at crossed purposes, Republicans should do as voters have requested and get their act together. Voters liked the tax cut, but they also want the school division to work, and they will accept trailers. So the solution here is obvious; the BOCS should acknowledge the School Board has its act together and approve the trailers. In addition, the BOCS and the School Board should work out a compromise with respect to the regulation of trailers by the Planning Commission. The county should not be wasting money in court suing itself. Instead, Republicans on both bodies should commit themselves to working more closely together. While there is nothing wrong with having disagreements, there is no reason to allow Democrats to make a spectacle of these disagreements.
Board Time
During Citizen Time, several citizens noted the difficulty of getting on the School Board’s agenda. Apparently, the BOCS and the Planning Commission make this relatively easier. Several members agreed that at a future meeting they would change the rules to make it easier for citizens to get on the agenda.
