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ACPS Superintendent Morton Sherman Resigns

FROM ALEXANDRIANEWS.org

Staff Report
alexandrianews.org

Superintendent Morton Sherman (Photo: Wayne Hulehan)

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Morton Sherman resigned today ending months of speculation about when and how Sherman and the new Alexandria School Board would part ways. The School Board has scheduled a special meeting tonight at which they were expected to ratify an agreement with Sherman about his departure.

Sherman announced his resignation to ACPS principals and senior staff in an email earlier this afternoon. The entire letter follows:

August 29, 2013

Dear Colleagues, Students, Friends, and Neighbors,

I have had the good fortune to be a public school superintendent for over 25 years in some of the most wonderful school districts in our country. And, I have enjoyed nearly every minute of that time serving the children of America.

My five years here in ACPS are among the most rewarding and emotional I have ever experienced. Some of you have poked fun at me for sending emails at 3 am, others have embraced (physically, emotionally, and intellectually) the sacred cause we have shared, and others have engaged in lively conversations about the work we have taken on. To all of you, thank you.

For personal and professional reasons, it is time for me to move on from ACPS. As a young man, I listened often to the Byrd’s rendition of a bit of Ecclesiastes and have long recognized its wisdom:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Our work together has been exhilarating and challenging. We have accomplished a great deal. Most importantly, we have grown and learned together how better to educate the remarkable students of Alexandria.

The list of accomplishments is long as is the work remaining to be addressed. There is a short list at the end of this note of what has been achieved, but lists of programs and data do not capture the essence of what makes ACPS so wonderful. For behind every program or piece of data there are caring and dedicated staff members who work tirelessly to assure the success of each and every student. What I believe, in fact what I know, is that we have put in place systems and programs so that our students will benefit because of the work of the staff who breathe life into written proposals and data charts.

I look forward to volunteering my time in the months ahead to national organizations, foundations, universities, and other areas which are so much a part of my passion to serve children and their families.

Even more important, I expect to spend more time with our four grandchildren because as you know, family is always first.

Wishing all of you lifetimes of happiness, good health, peace, and love.

Mort Sherman
A brief list of accomplishments as we have worked together:
- developed comprehensive strategic plan (received NSBA Magna Award)
- created K – 12 curriculum
- revised teacher and administrator evaluation sytems
- renewed T.C. Williams High School from persistently lowest achieving to nationally ranked on Washington Post Challenge Index
- increased preschool classes sevenfold
- implemented AVID and IB
- created new systems of accountability
- aligned strategic plan with School Education Plans and Professional Learning Plans
- created Individual Career and Academic Plans for all secondary students
- lowered and maintained low elementary class sizes
- developed and implemented inclusion and autism plans
- teachers received raises each year of the recession
- implemented High School Satellite program at one of the local shopping malls
- revised secondary alternative education model
- created new middle school model
- managed nearly 30% student enrollment increase
- restructured adult education so that emphasis is on a high school diploma; for those who wish to receive a GED, we received a grant to connect their learning to job preparation
- personalized and customized approaches have been introduced through STEM and an International Academy
- added over 25 classrooms to existing facilities
- created the lowest high school student/counselor ratio in the region, perhaps the country
- moved the health clinic on campus at T.C.
- started new school building at Jefferson-Houston
- implemented senior experience, student advisory committee, student representative to school board
Sherman’s relationship with the Alexandria School Board has been rocky since the Board took office in January, 2013. At the first meeting the Board questioned Sherman about his decisions regarding the education of students in the City’s Sheltercare Program and Sherman’s creation of The Alexandria City Public School’s Educational Foundation. The Board ultimately reversed Sherman’s changes to the Shelter Care’s education model and tabled all discussion about the Foundation.

The previous School Board extended Sherman’s contract through June, 2015. That contract guaranteed a buy-out worth $750,000. Sources tell AlexandriaNews.org that, after months of negotiations, they will pay Sherman around $325,000, which includes salary, deferred compensation and payment for unused leave.

The Board will appoint an short-term acting superintendent from among ACPS senior staff immediately while they search for a more long-term interim superintendent.

March on Washington 50th Anniversary Commemoration Film Screening and Walking Tours

FROM THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA: 

2013 marks two major milestones in Alexandria’s African American heritage: the 50th anniversary of the “March on Washington” on August 28, 1963, and the 100th birthday of attorney/Civil Rights activist Samuel Tucker on June 18, 1913. Commemorate these events at two special programs that recognize Alexandria’s early prominence in the Civil rights movement. 

On Wednesday, August 28, the actual anniversary of the Washington march, the Alexandria Black History Museum will present several screenings of the full version of the 50-minute film Out of Obscurity that highlights the August 1939 peaceful sit-in demonstration, organized by Samuel Tucker at the Alexandria Library.  The film will be shown hourly at 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m., and there is no admission charge to the museum. Videotape copies of the film will also be available for purchase at the special reduced price of $1

On Thursday, August 29 the Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs and Alexandria Black History Museum will co-sponsor a special walking tour of important Alexandria sites associated with attorney Samuel Wilbur Tucker, a local Civil Rights hero who changed Alexandria and helped transform American Democracy. Join Virginia Tech Associate Professor Matthew Dull for a one-hour tour that traces Tucker’s lifetime fight for equality in the city, based on his statement “I became involved in the Civil Rights movement in Alexandria on June 18, 1913.  I was born black!” The tour will be offered twice, at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 29 and is free of charges.  Participants should meet in front of the Alexandria Library, Kate W. Barrett Branch, 717 Queen Street, Alexandria to begin the tour, which will end several blocks away at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe Street. 

(Please note: The Museum will NOT be open after the 7 p.m. tour).

For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org or call 703.746.4356.

First day of....

We love this song!


Lyrics to Billy Joe Mcguffrey (From Jonah: A Veggietales Movie) :

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the first day of first grade, I'll tell you what he did
He tripped over a pencil box, flew up in the air
Landed on a kangaroo who pulled out all his hair

First aid in the first grade
First aid in the first grade
First aid in the first grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the second day of second grade, I'll tell you what he did
He slipped on a banana peel, flew up in the sky
Landed on a chimpanzee who poked him in the eye

First aid in the second grade
First aid in the second grade
First aid in the second grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the third day of third grade, I'll tell you what he did
He fell out of a fishing boat, splashed into the sea
Landed on a moray eel who bit him on the knee

First aid in the third grade
First aid in the third grade
First aid in the third grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the fourth day of fourth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He went out on a tadpole hunt, slipped into the creek
Landed on a large-mouth bass who bit him on the cheek

First aid in the fourth grade
First aid in the fourth grade
First aid in the fourth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the fifth day of fifth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He went into the garden shop looking for a rose
Sniffed a baby's breath and got a bee caught up his nose

First aid in the fifth grade
First aid in the fifth grade
First aid in the fifth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the sixth day of sixth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He went out on a field trip, the first one of the year
Backed into a sabertooth and pierced both of his ears

First aid in the sixth grade
First aid in the sixth grade
First aid in the sixth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the seventh day of seventh grade, I'll tell you what he did
He tried out for the talent show to show how well he sung
Cracked a grin, a wasp flew in, and stung him on the tongue

First aid in the seventh grade
First aid in the seventh grade
First aid in the seventh grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the eighth day of eighth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He tried to play some basketball went up for a dunk
Landed in the bushes and got squirted by a skunk

First aid in the eighth grade
First aid in the eighth grade
First aid in the eighth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the ninth day of ninth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He fed the pigs on grandma's farm, two piglets and a sow
Slipped on their slop and then got stepped on by a cow

First aid in the ninth grade
First aid in the ninth grade
First aid in the ninth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the tenth day of tenth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He went out on some water skis and hit a sunken log
Wiped out all the lily pads, got spit on by a frog

First aid in the tenth grade
First aid in the tenth grade
First aid in the tenth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the eleventh day of eleventh grade, I'll tell you what he did
He swept and missed an alley cat while taking driver's ed
Ran into a tree and bumped the dashboard with his head

First aid in the eleventh grade
First aid in the eleventh grade
First aid in the eleventh grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid

Now... Billy Joe McGuffrey was a really clumsy kid
On the twelfth day of twelfth grade, I'll tell you what he did
He walked into financial aid, fell and broke a bone
Showed them all his bills and got a great big college loan

First aid in the twelfth grade
First aid in the twelfth grade
First aid in the twelfth grade
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid
You could buy a zoo with all the doctor bills he paid!

ACPS Interim Education Program to Move to Old Town Location

FROM ACPS:

ACPS Interim Education Program to Move to Old Town Location

 

Alexandria, Va. - The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Interim Education Program soon will move to a two-story, 10,010-square-foot building at 216 S. Peyton St. in Old Town Alexandria. The Alexandria City School Board on Aug. 22 approved the relocation based on a recommendation by the ACPS Educational Facilities Department and T.C. Williams High School administrators who will oversee the program. The facilities department worked with the commercial real estate services firm CBRE to assist in relocation options and secure a 10-year, four-month lease agreement. Occupancy is scheduled for mid-October. The initial enrollment will include 50 to 60 students.

“This stand-alone building will provide a more suitable learning environment,” said School Board Chair Karen A. Graf of the new location. The lease recently expired at the program’s previous location in the Stonewall Jackson Building at 25 S. Quaker Lane.

“The new site will enable us to expand the program and provide wrap-around services and more community service opportunities for the students,” Graf said. “The location also is convenient to public transportation.”

The Interim Education Program will be transformed into more of an alternative education program rather than simply a transitional program for students receiving discipline referrals. T.C. Williams High School Dean Fulton Vinson and Assistant Principal Kennetra Wood will oversee the program, which remains a part of T.C. Williams.

 

View the board memo and lease agreement.

Change in Kiss & Ride and Traffic Pattern at Jefferson Houston School

FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD LISTSERVE: 

There is a change in the hours of the Kiss & Ride parking in front of Jefferson-Houston (North side of Cameron St from West St to the Durant Center) for this coming school year.  

In addition to 7:30-8:30 am, there will be afternoon Kiss & Ride hours from 2:30-4:15.  

The reason for this change is that, for safety reasons and site constraints, only busses will be allowed through the site during drop-off and pick-up.  Personal cars will not be allowed to drop off or pick up students behind the school. This restriction will increase the number of parent drop-offs and pick-ups on Cameron St.  Afternoon Kiss & Ride hours will help minimize the double-parking on Cameron St in the afternoon.

In addition to the new Kiss & Ride hours, Jefferson Houston staff will be directing traffic to minimize back-ups on Cameron St.

Replacement

Ok, so this tree replaced the one cut down near the Giant on Duke St.

I'm happy they replaced it!