Know wonder no one wants to go to South Lakes.

High school level of performance for SL.

Rank Math Science English Social Studies GPA

# 22 C+ C B+ B 2.45


Stu Gibson should be removed based on these results and his forced RD.

South Lakes fails Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Know wonder no one wants to go to South Lakes.
>
> High school level of performance for SL.
>
> Rank Math Science English Social
> Studies GPA
>
> # 22 C+ C B+ B
> 2.45
>
>
> Stu Gibson should be removed based on these
> results and his forced RD.

What he is trying to do is hide the problem by infusing middle class students into the school. Unless they address this problem at elementary and middle school levels this will continue.

Exactly, the real goal of the RD was to cover the problem. If the status quo was allowed to continue at SL, they would be in danger of not meeting performance goals set forth by NCLB. If this happened students would automatically be given an option to attend other surrounding successful schools. All the good students would leave, and SL would be teeming with derelicts... heading into a death spiral. This dynamic already exists at some of the elementary schools (eg Dogwood). In my opinion, Hughes is very close to the brink right now.

different opinions Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Different people will have different reasons for
> not going to SL. They made their choice when
> buying their houses, just as the people who bought
> into SL area. All they want is to left alone.
>
This type of argument does not help the anti-RD crowd.

You simply can't buy a house in this county and not take into account the possibility of an RD within a county-wide school system.

On the other hand, RDs should only occur for legitimate reasons, following a fair, well-reasoned and transparent process - judged by that criteria, this RD flunks the test.

It reeked of favoritism - Stuart Gibson doing the bidding of one school, and one set of Reston parents, when he owed an overarching duty under the School Board's charter to all the students and all his Hunter Mill constituents. Perhaps this has been "business as usual" for the School Board for a long time, but this time they got called on it.

It was manifestly unfair - How can the SB defend excluding North Reston/Langley from the boundary study when other areas such as Floris and Fox Mill, some of which had been RD'd repeatedly were included.

The logic is suspect - why is increasing head count at South Lakes a goal unto itself when there are smaller schools whose lines weren't redrawn (Falls Church, Marshall) and which, at least in Marshall's case according to the recent CAPS study, are doing well? If there is a segment of students at SL who are struggling, why wouldn't they benefit if the school remains smaller and they receive extra resources and attention? And why was reducing head count at Westfield and Chantilly a goal unto itself when those most affected by the current conditions expressed few, if any, complaints?

The impact wasn't fully addressed - In response to the questions raised by parents, why wasn't more thought given to the AP vs. IB issue? Some may say that the distinction is overblown, but a strong case was made that the IB program isn't well-suited for many strong students (going for the full diploma is the equivalent of getting an academic Eagle Scout badge) and AP courses serve many students' interests better.

At this point, it may all be in the hands of the courts, but many of us are now watching the SB far more carefully - to the extent there was ever a presumption that the SB would act in the best interests of all the county's students, it has now gone out the window.

Not So Obvious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> different opinions Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Different people will have different reasons
> for
> > not going to SL. They made their choice when
> > buying their houses, just as the people who
> bought
> > into SL area. All they want is to left alone.
> >
> This type of argument does not help the anti-RD
> crowd.
>
> You simply can't buy a house in this county and
> not take into account the possibility of an RD
> within a county-wide school system.
>
> On the other hand, RDs should only occur for
> legitimate reasons, following a fair,
> well-reasoned and transparent process - judged by
> that criteria, this RD flunks the test.
>
> It reeked of favoritism - Stuart Gibson doing the
> bidding of one school, and one set of Reston
> parents, when he owed an overarching duty under
> the School Board's charter to all the students and
> all his Hunter Mill constituents. Perhaps this
> has been "business as usual" for the School Board
> for a long time, but this time they got called on
> it.
>
> It was manifestly unfair - How can the SB defend
> excluding North Reston/Langley from the boundary
> study when other areas such as Floris and Fox
> Mill, some of which had been RD'd repeatedly were
> included.
>
> The logic is suspect - why is increasing head
> count at South Lakes a goal unto itself when there
> are smaller schools whose lines weren't redrawn
> (Falls Church, Marshall) and which, at least in
> Marshall's case according to the recent CAPS
> study, are doing well? If there is a segment of
> students at SL who are struggling, why wouldn't
> they benefit if the school remains smaller and
> they receive extra resources and attention? And
> why was reducing head count at Westfield and
> Chantilly a goal unto itself when those most
> affected by the current conditions expressed few,
> if any, complaints?
>
> The impact wasn't fully addressed - In response to
> the questions raised by parents, why wasn't more
> thought given to the AP vs. IB issue? Some may
> say that the distinction is overblown, but a
> strong case was made that the IB program isn't
> well-suited for many strong students (going for
> the full diploma is the equivalent of getting an
> academic Eagle Scout badge) and AP courses serve
> many students' interests better.
>
> At this point, it may all be in the hands of the
> courts, but many of us are now watching the SB far
> more carefully - to the extent there was ever a
> presumption that the SB would act in the best
> interests of all the county's students, it has now
> gone out the window.


I agree. If you have to redistrict, it has to be fair.

The Herdon-Reston-Langley traingle and their underhand dealings with this SB definitely needs to be scrutinized.

Why is Langley bussing kids from north Herndon neighbourhoods?

Why does Herndon high get a couple of north Reston elementary schools?

cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head. Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace. Great exemple:

If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which is in the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11 minutes from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23 minutes from Langley. If ever there is a school that needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley. It kinda throws the efficiency argument out the window also. Not to mention the "danger" of traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown Pike to get to school.

Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out to the woodshed.

This school board reeks of corruption and dishonesty.

Word - you have pointed out a fascinating phenomena with NCLB as it operates in well off suburbs with pockets of challenging students or schools. If a school in such a jurisdiction doesn't meet NCLB standards, invariably the better students - i.e., most often students with parents that are involved and care about the education of their kids, have some socio-economic status and who are well above SOL standards, leave that school. Some have yelped that NCLB was designed to help poor or lesser well off students who are stuck in bad schools and not better off students in the suburbs, but the statute works as it works, irrespective of whether it is suburban or urban jurisdiction. This phenomena means the NCLB challenged school becomes mired in permanent demographic hell, so to speak, with, absent a significant redistricting or other form of redistributionist forced march (and even then, this may not work), very little realistic means to improve. I say this with some trepidation because fatalism is something that should generally be avoided, and that the NCLB was passed with good intentions. And it is troubling that the number of schools in NCLB danger in the SL Pyramid is susceptible to growth. I am not sure that there is any good answer - query what form of open debate and discussion the school board would countenance in terms of fixing this problem. But I would think it would be in everyone's interest to make certain Hughes avoids this fate.

court date for the caps suit is June 3rd http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=314677&paper=71&cat=104

court date Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> court date for the caps suit is June 3rd
> http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?ar
> ticle=314677&paper=71&cat=104

Funny how the SB rejected EVERYTHING as mentioned in this article. Even
"that members knew the process for changing boundaries was flawed...".

LOL, several SB members said EXACLY that the evening they made the 10-2 vote in favor of the RD.

That the SBMs are currupt was know, Now they are lying that they new nothing.

"
In a legal response filed with the court April 29, the school board said the court lacks jurisdiction to review the school board’s boundary decisions and that the parent group lacks standing to challenge the school board in court. It also rejected many of the allegations made by the parent group.

The board denied statements that members knew the process for changing boundaries was flawed; that the public had lost confidence in the process; and that the process could have been improved by expanding the number of schools included. It is also rejected allegations that members knew extra capacity at South Lakes could be filled by making programmatic enhancements at the school.

The school board also rejected the notion that its decision was "arbitrary and capricious" as the parent group had claimed in its filing.

The parent group has also stated that the school board did not have the authority to consider socioeconomic factors when making boundary changes, an argument the school board rejects.
"

All your kids are yelling at each other on the other thread...

Amazing that these SBMs stoop to newer lows every day. Regular full time politicians look like saints when compared to this SB.


SBS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> court date Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > court date for the caps suit is June 3rd
> >
> http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?ar
>
> > ticle=314677&paper=71&cat=104
>
> Funny how the SB rejected EVERYTHING as mentioned
> in this article. Even
> "that members knew the process for changing
> boundaries was flawed...".
>
> LOL, several SB members said EXACLY that the
> evening they made the 10-2 vote in favor of the
> RD.

court date Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> court date for the caps suit is June 3rd
> http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?ar
> ticle=314677&paper=71&cat=104


I recall at the final boundary meeting some of the SB members admitted the process was very flawed and would vote for it anyway and yet they denied according to the article they did not make such statements about the process being flawed?

oh boy...

liars Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That the SBMs are currupt was know, Now they are
> lying that they new nothing.
>
> "
> In a legal response filed with the court April 29,
> the school board said the court lacks jurisdiction
> to review the school board’s boundary decisions
> and that the parent group lacks standing to
> challenge the school board in court. It also
> rejected many of the allegations made by the
> parent group.
>
> The board denied statements that members knew the
> process for changing boundaries was flawed; that
> the public had lost confidence in the process; and
> that the process could have been improved by
> expanding the number of schools included. It is
> also rejected allegations that members knew extra
> capacity at South Lakes could be filled by making
> programmatic enhancements at the school.
>
> The school board also rejected the notion that its
> decision was "arbitrary and capricious" as the
> parent group had claimed in its filing.
>
> The parent group has also stated that the school
> board did not have the authority to consider
> socioeconomic factors when making boundary
> changes, an argument the school board rejects.
> "


Somebody ought to send the footage of the boundary meeting to the court and let the judge watch the results of the boundary meeting and hopefully the SBMs will squirm when they have denied everything according to the article. The judge will probably need ear plugs when listening to Gibson's amplified speech about why the redistricting must happen.

The RD has nothing to do with educational issues. It was all Gibsons oversized ego and his goal of punishing FM and Floris, to favor SL. All the rest was a coverup to do the above

>
> The logic is suspect - why is increasing head
> count at South Lakes a goal unto itself when there
> are smaller schools whose lines weren't redrawn
> (Falls Church, Marshall) and which, at least in
> Marshall's case according to the recent CAPS
> study, are doing well? If there is a segment of
> students at SL who are struggling, why wouldn't
> they benefit if the school remains smaller and
> they receive extra resources and attention? And
> why was reducing head count at Westfield and
> Chantilly a goal unto itself when those most
> affected by the current conditions expressed few,
> if any, complaints?
>
> The impact wasn't fully addressed - In response to
> the questions raised by parents, why wasn't more
> thought given to the AP vs. IB issue? Some may
> say that the distinction is overblown, but a
> strong case was made that the IB program isn't
> well-suited for many strong students (going for
> the full diploma is the equivalent of getting an
> academic Eagle Scout badge) and AP courses serve
> many students' interests better.
>
> At this point, it may all be in the hands of the
> courts, but many of us are now watching the SB far
> more carefully - to the extent there was ever a
> presumption that the SB would act in the best
> interests of all the county's students, it has now
> gone out the window.

lower depths Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amazing that these SBMs stoop to newer lows every
> day. Regular full time politicians look like
> saints when compared to this SB.
>
>
> SBS Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > court date Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > court date for the caps suit is June 3rd
> > >
> >
> http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?ar
>
> >
> > > ticle=314677&paper=71&cat=104
> >
> > Funny how the SB rejected EVERYTHING as
> mentioned
> > in this article. Even
> > "that members knew the process for changing
> > boundaries was flawed...".
> >
> > LOL, several SB members said EXACLY that the
> > evening they made the 10-2 vote in favor of the
> > RD.


I believe the reporter is incorrect on the date of the hearing. It's July 3 not June 3. Yes, it is funny that the SB now says that none of its members said the process was flawed. Besides Hone and Raney, Mr. Hyphenation said exactly that. Thankfully several hundred people taped the entire meeting. Ah, the power of playback.

something is rotten in Denmark Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head.
> Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace.
> Great exemple:
>
> If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which is in
> the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11 minutes
> from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23 minutes
> from Langley. If ever there is a school that
> needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley. It
> kinda throws the efficiency argument out the
> window also. Not to mention the "danger" of
> traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown Pike
> to get to school.
>
> Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out to
> the woodshed.
>
> This school board reeks of corruption and
> dishonesty.


How about those families that live in Wyndham Hills (off Reston Parkway) in Reston? They go to Langley and are closer to South Lakes, Herndon, Madison...and who knows maybe even Oakton Westfields and Chantilly. It is ridiculous and shameful that the SB talks about "efficiency" and they bus these kids all the way to Langley.

Huh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> something is rotten in Denmark Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head.
> > Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace.
> > Great exemple:
> >
> > If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which is
> in
> > the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11
> minutes
> > from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23
> minutes
> > from Langley. If ever there is a school that
> > needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley.
> It
> > kinda throws the efficiency argument out the
> > window also. Not to mention the "danger" of
> > traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown
> Pike
> > to get to school.
> >
> > Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out
> to
> > the woodshed.
> >
> > This school board reeks of corruption and
> > dishonesty.
>
>
> How about those families that live in Wyndham
> Hills (off Reston Parkway) in Reston? They go to
> Langley and are closer to South Lakes, Herndon,
> Madison...and who knows maybe even Oakton
> Westfields and Chantilly. It is ridiculous and
> shameful that the SB talks about "efficiency" and
> they bus these kids all the way to Langley.

It is TIME !!

Shameless and boot licking politicians. Thats all they are.

Huh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> lower depths Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Amazing that these SBMs stoop to newer lows
> every
> > day. Regular full time politicians look like
> > saints when compared to this SB.
> >
> >
> > SBS Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > court date Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > court date for the caps suit is June 3rd
> > > >
> > >
> >
> http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?ar
>
> >
> > >
> > > > ticle=314677&paper=71&cat=104
> > >
> > > Funny how the SB rejected EVERYTHING as
> > mentioned
> > > in this article. Even
> > > "that members knew the process for changing
> > > boundaries was flawed...".
> > >
> > > LOL, several SB members said EXACLY that the
> > > evening they made the 10-2 vote in favor of
> the
> > > RD.
>
>
> I believe the reporter is incorrect on the date of
> the hearing. It's July 3 not June 3. Yes, it is
> funny that the SB now says that none of its
> members said the process was flawed. Besides Hone
> and Raney, Mr. Hyphenation said exactly that.
> Thankfully several hundred people taped the entire
> meeting. Ah, the power of playback.

I don't remember, but where did you get the information that the hearing is scheduled for July 3rd? Thanks.

If you are in favor of stopping the RD--and want to support the Caps lawsuit--now is a good time to contribute to the Caps legal fund. (www.Fairfaxcaps.org) As most people know, the FM and Floris communities are not wealthy, so any contribution will be valued.

I think the May 8th Connection article shows a lot of inconsistencies in what the SB says were the goals of the RD and what actually happened. Support Caps and make the SB ACCOUNTABLE.

As arrogant and incompetent this SB is, I can't believe they would deny saying that the boundary process was flawed.

Per minutes of 2/28/08 meeting page 4, paragraph 6, "Comments and discussion inculded: the western boundary study was flawed because the scope of the study had substantial inequities in it, undermining the credibility of the study..."

This wasn't the audience talking. I think it was Hone who said it.

I was at the meetings and more then one SB member stated that the process was flawed.

They lie and we should have zero tolerance with this group of corrupt ass holes.



Couldn't be Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As arrogant and incompetent this SB is, I can't
> believe they would deny saying that the boundary
> process was flawed.
>
> Per minutes of 2/28/08 meeting page 4, paragraph
> 6, "Comments and discussion inculded: the western
> boundary study was flawed because the scope of the
> study had substantial inequities in it,
> undermining the credibility of the study..."
>
> This wasn't the audience talking. I think it was
> Hone who said it.

This SB is setting a fine example for the FCPS students.

We always tell our kids, DO NOT lie, yet the SB says no one from SB said that the process was Flawed. Well I know at least 3 board members said the process was flawed.

We always tell our kids, treat everyone equally, yet the SB says in their court papers that parent group lacks standing to challenge the school board in court.

This school board is drunk with power, unlimited power that they have !!

This SB announced that they were tweaking the goals and sustituting "honesty" with "morality" since honesty is easier to measure.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! Are they kidding???

These people are going to judge our kids on honesty....

Let's review the last year-

SB denys saying that they said the boundary study was flawed.

Stu Gibson knowingly violates the privacy of a SPED child for political gain. He never apologizes and cost school system $13,000 in legal fees and gets bitch slapped by VA DOE.

Kathy Smith calls Westfield parent "vile and toxic". She never apologizes to parent for saying it-only that the parent saw the email. Smith lies to WASH POST reporter Marc Fischer by stating that she apologized to the parent.

Dan Storck and Liz Bradsher receive virtually all their political donations from SOCO people and are pushing for middle school construction.

And of course, don't forget all the SB members who constantly tell us how "excellent" ALL of FCPS schools are. Some schools have 70% failure rates on their SOLs. Define excellent, please.

These people are the LAST ones who should judge kids on honesty and integrity.

Morality Report to be modified Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This SB announced that they were tweaking the
> goals and sustituting "honesty" with "morality"
> since honesty is easier to measure...


Is there a link to that? They've gone from the concept of good school -community - adult citizenship to some bizarre and time consuming discourse. At the same time they should have been working on this budget to equitably allocate resources. they can't retool that in 1 or 2 work sessions.

I guess they don't like the word citizenship. I like it - I've noticed that certain buzzwords like working, community are only applied to lower income or ESOL.

Before Redistricting - Langley is overcapacity and it costs alot to bus kids far away. South Lakes is under capacity, Herndon had some room. Lets look at some facts. I picked a neighborhood in which I know kids spend a rediculous amount of time on the bus.

Address: 12200 Windsor Hall Way

Herndon HS - 2.44 miles / 4 minutes
South Lakes - 8.16 miles / 14 minutes
Chantilly - 10.1 miles / 15 minutes
Madison - 13.08 miles / 22 minutes
Westfield - 13.9 miles / 20 minutes
Langley - 14.9 miles / 21 minutes
Oakton HS - 17.69 miles / 25 minutes

And the kids go to Langley

I cornered DT at the first open house and asked him about this, and he said it didn't matter because Langley was not in the study. I asked him why not and why Oakton was ... his face turned bright red, he said Oakton was included just to deal with "overflow" (whatever that means). I again asked him about Langley, his faced turned bright red, and his answer was that it was determined that they should not be part of the study as it would add no value. Gee, do you think it was predermined!

Finally, someone is shinning a bit of sunlight on why folks were upset about being redistricting from Madison, Oakton, Westfields and Chantilly.

court date Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> court date for the caps suit is June 3rd
> http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?ar
> ticle=314677&paper=71&cat=104

Isn't the court date July 3rd?

Couldn't be Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As arrogant and incompetent this SB is, I can't
> believe they would deny saying that the boundary
> process was flawed.
>
> Per minutes of 2/28/08 meeting page 4, paragraph
> 6, "Comments and discussion inculded: the western
> boundary study was flawed because the scope of the
> study had substantial inequities in it,
> undermining the credibility of the study..."
>
> This wasn't the audience talking. I think it was
> Hone who said it.


Didn't Phil N....E....also say before he cast his vote..."A flawed vote for a flawed process." Maybe someone has this on tape.....

Even all anti RD crowd should have to admire how Stu Gibson pulled and kept together the SB in his control while he drove the SL bus where SL PTA wanted. All the other SBMs were like puppets in his hands.

Admire? Stu single handedly destroyed all public trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.

amazing power Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Even all anti RD crowd should have to admire how
> Stu Gibson pulled and kept together the SB in his
> control while he drove the SL bus where SL PTA
> wanted. All the other SBMs were like puppets in
> his hands.

amazing power Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Even all anti RD crowd should have to admire how
> Stu Gibson pulled and kept together the SB in his
> control while he drove the SL bus where SL PTA
> wanted. All the other SBMs were like puppets in
> his hands.


You don't get it. School board members do not interfere in other member's territory. In this case Kathy Smith, Jeanie and Stu made a back room deal and everyone went along. It was only 2 at large members Hone and Raney who opposed it. It was all a set up. What motions and amendments were going to be advanced and how the vote was going to be was planned at least 2-3 days in advance.

People from Navy area are terribly upset that they were used as pawns by Stu and Kathy in this whole drama.

If you ask me, there is a significant overhaul needed in the whole process. We also need watchdog organizations to keep an eye on these crooks.

STU_POWER? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> amazing power Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Even all anti RD crowd should have to admire
> how
> > Stu Gibson pulled and kept together the SB in
> his
> > control while he drove the SL bus where SL PTA
> > wanted. All the other SBMs were like puppets in
> > his hands.
>
>
> You don't get it. School board members do not
> interfere in other member's territory. In this
> case Kathy Smith, Jeanie and Stu made a back room
> deal and everyone went along. It was only 2 at
> large members Hone and Raney who opposed it. It
> was all a set up. What motions and amendments
> were going to be advanced and how the vote was
> going to be was planned at least 2-3 days in
> advance.
>
> People from Navy area are terribly upset that they
> were used as pawns by Stu and Kathy in this whole
> drama.
>
> If you ask me, there is a significant overhaul
> needed in the whole process. We also need watchdog
> organizations to keep an eye on these crooks.


Yes and yet it was Bradsher who told everybody that these schools belonged to the SB and she represented the Springfield district. I personally did not agree with Bradsher's notion of the schools belonging to the SB. It is for everyone. I would be cautious with the word of "interferring" because these sbms talked privately in advance about the boundary decision and made back room deals. On another note of the word "public", I looked up the dictionary..anybody who would care, go look it up and see the meaning, it means open to everyone. Well, think of this way, there are thousands and thousands of public restrooms and we can choose any public restroom to use, well why can't this be the same way with public schools? These public schools do not only belong to the SB, it is for everyone and everyone has the right to choose which schools to go to!

By that logic Stu Gibson cannot be stopped in Hunter Mill. Looking at the RD hearings, he really hates the Floris Asian community that spoke out at the hearing. He snikered, shook his head , looked down upon these speakers with asian accent. He will get back at them using the next RD due for the new elementary in that area. Things are going to get even nastier in this Gibson nightmare.

STU_POWER? Wrote:

> You don't get it. School board members do not
> interfere in other member's territory. In this
> case Kathy Smith, Jeanie and Stu made a back room
> deal and everyone went along. It was only 2 at
> large members Hone and Raney who opposed it. It
> was all a set up. What motions and amendments
> were going to be advanced and how the vote was
> going to be was planned at least 2-3 days in
> advance.
>
> People from Navy area are terribly upset that they
> were used as pawns by Stu and Kathy in this whole
> drama.
>
> If you ask me, there is a significant overhaul
> needed in the whole process. We also need watchdog
> organizations to keep an eye on these crooks.

What a bitter and cynical thread full of a bunch of 'victim status' whiners. Please move!

When you put everything together we have a corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate group of unprofessional School board members.

They need to go.

See these comments;

By that logic Stu Gibson cannot be stopped in Hunter Mill. Looking at the RD hearings, he really hates the Floris Asian community that spoke out at the hearing. He snikered, shook his head , looked down upon these speakers with asian accent. He will get back at them using the next RD due for the new elementary in that area. Things are going to get even nastier in this Gibson nightmare.


Yes and yet it was Bradsher who told everybody that these schools belonged to the SB and she represented the Springfield district. I personally did not agree with Bradsher's notion of the schools belonging to the SB. It is for everyone. I would be cautious with the word of "interferring" because these sbms talked privately in advance about the boundary decision and made back room deals. On another note of the word "public", I looked up the dictionary..anybody who would care, go look it up and see the meaning, it means open to everyone. Well, think of this way, there are thousands and thousands of public restrooms and we can choose any public restroom to use, well why can't this be the same way with public schools? These public schools do not only belong to the SB, it is for everyone and everyone has the right to choose which schools to go to!


Admire? Stu single handedly destroyed all public trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.

Looks like you are from SL IB Dimploma group of twenty or so each year, who will get benifit from this RD. Thousands other lost big time here.

Tsk, Tsk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What a bitter and cynical thread full of a bunch
> of 'victim status' whiners. Please move!

Tsk, Tsk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What a bitter and cynical thread full of a bunch
> of 'victim status' whiners. Please move!

I have come full circle on my views on the RD. I started out looking at this situation from a distance with a great deal of sympathy for the SB's decision to RD. When I actually spent time studying the process and reflecting on how this decision matched up against other decisions taken by the SB in the past, I was appalled. I don't like all the rhetoric on this board by the anti-RD crowd, but people are bitter and cynical for good reason.

I suggest that you spend some time listening to the comments of the SB member at the February 28 meeting - it was clear that Stuart Gibson pushed this RD through with only South Lakes in mind, for reasons which - if taken at face value - clearly should have supported RDs at the same time at other schools, such as Falls Church and Marshall, that were completely omitted from the process. He was a total self-centered jerk and know-it-all at the final meeting, droning on and on about how great South Lakes is compared to Westfield and TJ, stories involving Russian peasants, etc. Some of Gibson's supporters on the SB, such as Kory, Wilson and Strauss, came across as totally brain-dead (Kory and Wilson) or completely hypocritical (Strauss).

Conversely, if you listened to the opponents of the RD on the Board, Hone and Raney, it was clear that they were looking at the bigger picture and thinking about what was in the best long-term interests of all the students in the county. Niedzelski-Eichner was the only other member who came across with credibility: he acknowledged that the process was flawed and acknowledged the need for a broader study. To me, this was a real wake-up call, and I'm glad the opponents of the RD haven't gone away quietly.

are you sl ? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks like you are from SL IB Dimploma group of
> twenty or so each year, who will get benifit from
> this RD. Thousands other lost big time here.
>
It won't help those kids either. In fact, it will not help ANY students on any individual level. The only benefit will be that SL test scores show an improvement.

Not So Obvious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I suggest that you spend some time listening to
> the comments of the SB member at the February 28
> meeting - it was clear that Stuart Gibson pushed
> this RD through with only South Lakes in mind, for
> reasons which - if taken at face value - clearly
> should have supported RDs at the same time at
> other schools, such as Falls Church and Marshall,
> that were completely omitted from the process. He
> was a total self-centered jerk and know-it-all at
> the final meeting, droning on and on about how
> great South Lakes is compared to Westfield and TJ,
> stories involving Russian peasants, etc. Some of
> Gibson's supporters on the SB, such as Kory,
> Wilson and Strauss, came across as totally
> brain-dead (Kory and Wilson) or completely
> hypocritical (Strauss).
>
Gibson's performance at the last meeting was not an aberration - he was a jerk from beginning to end. N-E called Gibson an "embarassment" to the School Board
at the 2/28 meeting, with good reason.

If you want to stop this out of control SB, I suggest that you contribute now to the Fairfaxcap legal fund. There are lots of issues that FFcaps needs to take the SB on, such as NCLB,SAT scores, drop out rates, boundary issues and more. Everyone needs to be a watchdog,and be willing to support any group that will take on this corrupt SB.

FYI, I gave $500 and do not have children in FCPS.


Huh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you are in favor of stopping the RD--and want
> to support the Caps lawsuit--now is a good time to
> contribute to the Caps legal fund.
> (www.Fairfaxcaps.org) As most people know, the FM
> and Floris communities are not wealthy, so any
> contribution will be valued.
>
> I think the May 8th Connection article shows a lot
> of inconsistencies in what the SB says were the
> goals of the RD and what actually happened.
> Support Caps and make the SB ACCOUNTABLE.

Not So Obvious Wrote:
> I have come full circle on my views on the RD. I
> started out looking at this situation from a
> distance with a great deal of sympathy for the
> SB's decision to RD. When I actually spent time
> studying the process and reflecting on how this
> decision matched up against other decisions taken
> by the SB in the past, I was appalled. I don't
> like all the rhetoric on this board by the anti-RD
> crowd, but people are bitter and cynical for good
> reason.

Um...I think you mean you've come a *half* circle, or 180 degrees. If you'd come full circle, you'd be back where you started, with most geometries...

Which doesn't obviate your point.

The voters are asleep at the controls. How else would the most corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate group of people in ffx county make it to our children's school board?
I met 2 parents of rising 9th graders during the hearings who were really upset with RD, but had actually voted for Stu Gibson - they said they had no info on RD during elections. Granted Stu Gibson cleverly tricked a lot of people by doing this just after the elections, the RD was on the school board minutes, before the elections too. So we as the voters are to blame too ( That includes me, I did not even go to vote ). I heard Stu's speech on Feb 28 - that a person like Stu Gibson can get elected, is a disgrace for ffx county voters.



The enemy within FCPS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When you put everything together we have a
> corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate
> group of unprofessional School board members.
>
> They need to go.
>
> See these comments;
>
> By that logic Stu Gibson cannot be stopped in
> Hunter Mill. Looking at the RD hearings, he really
> hates the Floris Asian community that spoke out at
> the hearing. He snikered, shook his head , looked
> down upon these speakers with asian accent. He
> will get back at them using the next RD due for
> the new elementary in that area. Things are going
> to get even nastier in this Gibson nightmare.
>
>
> Yes and yet it was Bradsher who told everybody
> that these schools belonged to the SB and she
> represented the Springfield district. I personally
> did not agree with Bradsher's notion of the
> schools belonging to the SB. It is for everyone. I
> would be cautious with the word of "interferring"
> because these sbms talked privately in advance
> about the boundary decision and made back room
> deals. On another note of the word "public", I
> looked up the dictionary..anybody who would care,
> go look it up and see the meaning, it means open
> to everyone. Well, think of this way, there are
> thousands and thousands of public restrooms and we
> can choose any public restroom to use, well why
> can't this be the same way with public schools?
> These public schools do not only belong to the SB,
> it is for everyone and everyone has the right to
> choose which schools to go to!
>
>
> Admire? Stu single handedly destroyed all public
> trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS
> than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.

What happened to recalling Stu Gibson?

It is imperative that parents take control of the school system. We have trusted too much and have been violated. They cannot be trusted to do what is in our best interest.

I support CAPS fully and I want to see them continue to reach out to other communities to broaden their support base.

Everyone take note how these SB members always campaign on a "teacher endorsed" platform. We need "parent and student" endorsed candidates. We must force change. The time is now.

Another Lurker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Um...I think you mean you've come a *half* circle,
> or 180 degrees. If you'd come full circle, you'd
> be back where you started, with most
> geometries...
>
> Which doesn't obviate your point.

Another Lurker - Right you are. I lost track of geometry shortly after Stuart Gibson labeled everyone who opposed the RD as a racist and right before he started comparing himself to Edmurd Burke and other luminaries of centuries past during the February 28 meeting.

Watchdog - I would give to CAPS, but only if their efforts were focused on monitoring and advocacy rather than litigation. I think it will be very hard to overturn the SB's actions in the courts (a process that is acknowledged to be "flawed" is not necessarily one that a court is required to find "arbitrary and capricious"), and it's not pleasant to anticipate Gibson celebrating his "vindication" this summer.

FFX Voters - Sad but true. Few pay attention to the School Board unless and until they do something that affects them directly. I've known for years that people had mixed feelings about Gibson (similar to how some feel about Jim Moran) but didn't know until recently why. We really have to ask whether it makes sense to vest so much power over the schools in individuals whose motivations are, in far too many instances, intensely personal and narrow.

From now on we must not be asleep at the controls, rather we need to be up to speed with all issues. Stu Gibson and the rest of the SB out foxed the FFX voters this time, but never again. Our goal must be in three years to elect honest, ethical and morally correct SB members who will have the interest of all students in the FCPS system.

No more games, no more special interest and no more political favors.


ffx voters Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The voters are asleep at the controls. How else
> would the most corrupt, evil,unethical and morally
> degenerate group of people in ffx county make it
> to our children's school board?
> I met 2 parents of rising 9th graders during the
> hearings who were really upset with RD, but had
> actually voted for Stu Gibson - they said they had
> no info on RD during elections. Granted Stu Gibson
> cleverly tricked a lot of people by doing this
> just after the elections, the RD was on the school
> board minutes, before the elections too. So we as
> the voters are to blame too ( That includes me, I
> did not even go to vote ). I heard Stu's speech on
> Feb 28 - that a person like Stu Gibson can get
> elected, is a disgrace for ffx county voters.
>
>
>
> The enemy within FCPS Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When you put everything together we have a
> > corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate
> > group of unprofessional School board members.
> >
> > They need to go.
> >
> > See these comments;
> >
> > By that logic Stu Gibson cannot be stopped in
> > Hunter Mill. Looking at the RD hearings, he
> really
> > hates the Floris Asian community that spoke out
> at
> > the hearing. He snikered, shook his head ,
> looked
> > down upon these speakers with asian accent. He
> > will get back at them using the next RD due for
> > the new elementary in that area. Things are
> going
> > to get even nastier in this Gibson nightmare.
> >
> >
> > Yes and yet it was Bradsher who told everybody
> > that these schools belonged to the SB and she
> > represented the Springfield district. I
> personally
> > did not agree with Bradsher's notion of the
> > schools belonging to the SB. It is for everyone.
> I
> > would be cautious with the word of
> "interferring"
> > because these sbms talked privately in advance
> > about the boundary decision and made back room
> > deals. On another note of the word "public", I
> > looked up the dictionary..anybody who would
> care,
> > go look it up and see the meaning, it means
> open
> > to everyone. Well, think of this way, there are
> > thousands and thousands of public restrooms and
> we
> > can choose any public restroom to use, well why
> > can't this be the same way with public schools?
> > These public schools do not only belong to the
> SB,
> > it is for everyone and everyone has the right
> to
> > choose which schools to go to!
> >
> >
> > Admire? Stu single handedly destroyed all
> public
> > trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS
> > than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.

Does anyone have a link to the complete response of SB to the lawsuit?

something is rotten in Denmark Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head.
> Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace.
> Great exemple:
>
> If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which is in
> the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11 minutes
> from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23 minutes
> from Langley. If ever there is a school that
> needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley. It
> kinda throws the efficiency argument out the
> window also. Not to mention the "danger" of
> traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown Pike
> to get to school.
>
> Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out to
> the woodshed.
>
> This school board reeks of corruption and
> dishonesty.

Why should Straus be in trouble? She protected her people. No one in her district had to go to South Lakes! Mrs. Straus is an awesome rep. She did what she was elected to do. She protect us. Don't think we don't appreciate what she does for us. Don't think we wouldn't vote for her again. She's awesome.

I am sorry that some of you don't have school board reps who care about you like Straus cares about her constituents.

>>>Stu single handedly destroyed all
> public
> > trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS
> > than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.<<<<

Can't argue with that. No one trusts them now, not a one of them.

Since all SB members only care about their constituents and what they can do for them, then we have to change the system. We need to have a SB that makes decisions for all students, not just a few so that they can get reelected.

Politics, Politics and more Politics is not the way to run the school system.

If they want the politics we might as well divide fairfax county into the nine Magisterial district and split the budget money by how many schools are in each district.



Straus is a great rep Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> something is rotten in Denmark Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head.
> > Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace.
> > Great exemple:
> >
> > If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which is
> in
> > the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11
> minutes
> > from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23
> minutes
> > from Langley. If ever there is a school that
> > needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley.
> It
> > kinda throws the efficiency argument out the
> > window also. Not to mention the "danger" of
> > traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown
> Pike
> > to get to school.
> >
> > Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out
> to
> > the woodshed.
> >
> > This school board reeks of corruption and
> > dishonesty.
>
> Why should Straus be in trouble? She protected
> her people. No one in her district had to go to
> South Lakes! Mrs. Straus is an awesome rep. She
> did what she was elected to do. She protect us.
> Don't think we don't appreciate what she does for
> us. Don't think we wouldn't vote for her again.
> She's awesome.
>
> I am sorry that some of you don't have school
> board reps who care about you like Straus cares
> about her constituents.

Straus is a great rep Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> something is rotten in Denmark Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head.
> > Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace.
> > Great exemple:
> >
> > If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which is
> in
> > the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11
> minutes
> > from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23
> minutes
> > from Langley. If ever there is a school that
> > needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley.
> It
> > kinda throws the efficiency argument out the
> > window also. Not to mention the "danger" of
> > traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown
> Pike
> > to get to school.
> >
> > Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out
> to
> > the woodshed.
> >
> > This school board reeks of corruption and
> > dishonesty.
>
> Why should Straus be in trouble? She protected
> her people. No one in her district had to go to
> South Lakes! Mrs. Straus is an awesome rep. She
> did what she was elected to do. She protect us.
> Don't think we don't appreciate what she does for
> us. Don't think we wouldn't vote for her again.
> She's awesome.
>
> I am sorry that some of you don't have school
> board reps who care about you like Straus cares
> about her constituents.

Overall the school division would have increased it's operational efficiency if some from Langley [Dranesville District] went to Herndon [Dranesville District] and South Lakes [Hunter Mill]. That's not a goal of this board - who cares about money for class sizes and instruction?

As the economy worsens and the budget tightens I suppose school board members might be rethinking privately what they have done or votes they have sold/traded over the years. Truth be told I don't think at-large school board members have been doing their job in quite awhile on many issues.

As a constituent of Janie's who was recently redistricted I can tell you that Jane Strauss doesnt give a damn about all of her constituents. She will happily sacrifice pieces of her district to serve her personal agenda. So if you are in Northwest Great Falls, Look out. Herndon High is every bit as much her baby as Langley is. Herndon may need a little socio-economic balance soon and where do you think the SB will look for that balance? The northwestern portion of GF does not represent a threat for her and is not a big chunk of votes, in fact it is not so different at all from the Madison Island.

I see the minutes from July 16th 2007 when the SB first introduced the West County Boundary Study. There is an Exhibit A which lists 4 primary considerations for the study.

1. Projected enrollment and capacity-says they are out of balance and refers to all the empty seats at South Lakes.

Why no mention of capacity issues at Langley and empty seats at Falls Church and Mt Vernon???

2. Distribution of programs and resources-restriction on extra curricular opportunities for large schools and program issues with low capacity schools.

Why no mention of program issues for Falls Church, Marshall or Mt Vernon??
Why do we build schools that hold 3200 students if we are worried about someone not making the basketball team??

3. Socioeconomic characteristics of school populations-says there are significant disparities.

WHAT ABOUT LANGLEY??? The last bastion of whiteness in FCPS????? You can hear a pin drop can't you????

4. Contiguous attendance areas-eliminate islands.

Why is noone bothered by the island within Robinson that attends Woodson???? Isn't Woodson overcrowded?

I have a really hard time reconciling these objectives with all the existing consistencies throughout the county.

In the beginning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see the minutes from July 16th 2007 when the SB
> > 2. Distribution of programs and
> resources-restriction on extra curricular
> opportunities for large schools and program issues
> with low capacity schools.
>
> Why no mention of program issues for Falls Church,
> Marshall or Mt Vernon??
> Why do we build schools that hold 3200 students if
> we are worried about someone not making the
> basketball team??
>
Marshall seems to be coming up a lot repeatedly in this thread so I will offer a perspective as a Marshall parent.

Marshall has done a good job of making lemonade out of lemons. It has a small enrollment, because much of its attendance area consists of the core Tysons Corner business district. In addition, a portion of our attendance area was rezoned to McLean in the early 90s, not because Marshall was overcrowded or McLean was undercrowded, but because Jane Strauss and her friends decided to cater to some of the wealthier parents who wanted their kids to go to McLean. Later on, when others suggested that some Langely students should be sent to Marshall after a new elementary school was built near Route 7, Strauss immediately ruled that out and went out of her way to insult the school again. Even so, the school has rebounded quite nicely, with an influx of students from new housing in the Tysons/Vienna area and an excellent principal. Enrollment is increasing, and test scores are solid (5th in county SOLs, top 1/2 of county on SATs). Obviously, the same cannot be said of all of the smaller schools in the county.

Marshall's small size does not help the school in athletics, but is neutral or positive for most academic purposes. The inability to offer some of the fringe electives that Betsy Goodman complained that South Lakes could not provide during the redistricting meetings really is not such a big deal. I don't know all the dynamics at South Lakes, but it seems to me that the school community there would fare better had the South Lakes supporters and Stuart Gibson concentrated on improving the performance of its current students, rather than trying to increase test scores by importing students from other schools. [Ironically, while many of Marshall's students live in Gibson's Hunter Mill district, he seems to treat Reston as his political base and ignore us.]

If the School Board decided that it wanted to redistrict to increase Marshall's enrollment slightly, that would be fine. I would much prefer, however, that the School Board simply leave us and our neighbors alone than launch a further, divisive RD process that leads to insults when the school is actually doing well. Also, if the School Board were to start down the RD path, I would hope that the potential replacement of the IB program with AP courses would be part of the discussion from the very beginning, so that any parents whose children were being redistricted were satisfied on that front.

MB - thanks very insightful.

In regard to SL, the dirty secret is that it had nothing to do with electives. It had everything to do with propping up the school so it would not fail NCLB. The better students were already either going to TJ, pupil placing, or moving out of the district to avoid it, hence the low enrollment. I guess two years at Hughes was enough convincing, nevermind the dreadful elementary schools.

If SL had failed NCLB, everyone would be able to pupil place, and there wouldn't be anything the SB could do about it. It's a trend in Reston that is migrating from the elementary schools to the middle and high school levels.

You are right, there was one set of rules in the beginning and other set of rules at the end.

This proves that when you put everything together we have a corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate group of unprofessional School board members


In the beginning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see the minutes from July 16th 2007 when the SB
> first introduced the West County Boundary Study.
> There is an Exhibit A which lists 4 primary
> considerations for the study.
>
> 1. Projected enrollment and capacity-says they are
> out of balance and refers to all the empty seats
> at South Lakes.
>
> Why no mention of capacity issues at Langley and
> empty seats at Falls Church and Mt Vernon???
>
> 2. Distribution of programs and
> resources-restriction on extra curricular
> opportunities for large schools and program issues
> with low capacity schools.
>
> Why no mention of program issues for Falls Church,
> Marshall or Mt Vernon??
> Why do we build schools that hold 3200 students if
> we are worried about someone not making the
> basketball team??
>
> 3. Socioeconomic characteristics of school
> populations-says there are significant
> disparities.
>
> WHAT ABOUT LANGLEY??? The last bastion of
> whiteness in FCPS????? You can hear a pin drop
> can't you????
>
> 4. Contiguous attendance areas-eliminate
> islands.
>
> Why is noone bothered by the island within
> Robinson that attends Woodson???? Isn't Woodson
> overcrowded?
>
> I have a really hard time reconciling these
> objectives with all the existing consistencies
> throughout the county.

Years ago (approximately 1997) I wrote a letter (snail mail back then) to Stu Gibson lamenting my daughter's LONG trek, on dangerous roads, to Oakton High School. Yes, Floris went to Oakton back then. We live about 13.5 miles from Oakton, and we all know that the roads are bad getting there. Anyway I asked Stu at that time why a high school couldn't be built in our area. It was needed so badly, or why we couldn't attend Chantilly or Herndon HS, which geographically are very close to Floris. He responded that Chantilly and Herndon could not take any new students, and that South Lakes was "a Reston School," but that hope was on the way for our area in the name of the new West County High School (which became Westfield) which would serve our area. How I wish I had kept that letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Straus is a great rep Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > something is rotten in Denmark Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > cover-the-problem hit the nail on the head.
> > > Langley's exemption is an absolute disgrace.
> > > Great exemple:
> > >
> > > If you live back on Rich Meadow Drive- which
> is
> > in
> > > the Langley District, you are 6 miles/ 11
> > minutes
> > > from Herndon High School and 15 miles/23
> > minutes
> > > from Langley. If ever there is a school that
> > > needs "socio-economic" purging it is Langley.
>
> > It
> > > kinda throws the efficiency argument out the
> > > window also. Not to mention the "danger" of
> > > traveling along that windy 2 lane Georgetown
> > Pike
> > > to get to school.
> > >
> > > Strauss is a disgrace-she should be taken out
> > to
> > > the woodshed.
> > >
> > > This school board reeks of corruption and
> > > dishonesty.
> >
> > Why should Straus be in trouble? She protected
> > her people. No one in her district had to go
> to
> > South Lakes! Mrs. Straus is an awesome rep.
> She
> > did what she was elected to do. She protect us.
>
> > Don't think we don't appreciate what she does
> for
> > us. Don't think we wouldn't vote for her again.
>
> > She's awesome.
> >
> > I am sorry that some of you don't have school
> > board reps who care about you like Straus cares
> > about her constituents.
>
> Overall the school division would have increased
> it's operational efficiency if some from Langley
> went to Herndon and South Lakes . That's not a
> goal of this board - who cares about money for
> class sizes and instruction?
>
> As the economy worsens and the budget tightens I
> suppose school board members might be rethinking
> privately what they have done or votes they have
> sold/traded over the years. Truth be told I don't
> think at-large school board members have been
> doing their job in quite awhile on many issues.


To Taxpayer....You are correct. Straus protected Langley and Herndon. People in North Madison were betrayed. She did not care about those folks and they are in her district. How are they supposed to feel?

I've submitted a form to pupil place into oakton, but its been 2 weeks and still no reply. is this normal?

Floris Mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Years ago (approximately 1997) I wrote a letter
> (snail mail back then) to Stu Gibson lamenting my
> daughter's LONG trek, on dangerous roads, to
> Oakton High School. Yes, Floris went to Oakton
> back then. We live about 13.5 miles from Oakton,
> and we all know that the roads are bad getting
> there. Anyway I asked Stu at that time why a high
> school couldn't be built in our area. It was
> needed so badly, or why we couldn't attend
> Chantilly or Herndon HS, which geographically are
> very close to Floris. He responded that Chantilly
> and Herndon could not take any new students, and
> that South Lakes was "a Reston School," but that
> hope was on the way for our area in the name of
> the new West County High School (which became
> Westfield) which would serve our area. How I wish
> I had kept that letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Floris Mom

You should consider yourself very very lucky. Stu at least responded to you .....

Betrayed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To Taxpayer....You are correct. Straus protected
> Langley and Herndon. People in North Madison were
> betrayed. She did not care about those folks and
> they are in her district. How are they supposed
> to feel?

According to Gibson and Strauss, they are supposed to be relieved about the shorter commutes to Hughes and South Lakes, just like North Reston and Great Falls are supposed to feel burdened by their long commutes to Cooper and Langley.

I would say follow up with calls to the FCPS office. They will make every effort to herd you into SL. You have to make your stand

tian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've submitted a form to pupil place into oakton,
> but its been 2 weeks and still no reply. is this
> normal?

Madison parents are more concerned about the academic programs at South Lakes and Hughes than they are the long commute.

formerhick76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How could a lawsuit succeed?
>
> Could a lawsuit be brought alleging malfeasance in
> the pupil placement?
>
> Also, if every i wasn't dotted and every t wasn't
> crossed, there may be some justification for a
> lawsuit or an injuction forcing FCPS to go back to
> the drawing table.
>
> As for going to Herndon -- if I were that anxious
> to get my daughter out of SL, I'd just get up 20
> minutes earlier.
>
> Anyway, I moved to Vienna (hi Neen!), so no RD
> worries for me ever. Go Warhawks! (Correction, I
> might get rezoned into Oakton or Marshall.)

If you live in Vienna it would seem that any possible redistricting would send you to EITHER Oakton or Marshall, since they are at opposite ends of Vienna. But I wouldn't worry about it. I seriously doubt that the school has the stomach to do another redistricting in this end of the county any time soon. Stu won't mess with the Warhawks! He knows better.

STU_POWER? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> amazing power Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Even all anti RD crowd should have to admire
> how
> > Stu Gibson pulled and kept together the SB in
> his
> > control while he drove the SL bus where SL PTA
> > wanted. All the other SBMs were like puppets in
> > his hands.
>
>
> You don't get it. School board members do not
> interfere in other member's territory. In this
> case Kathy Smith, Jeanie and Stu made a back room
> deal and everyone went along. It was only 2 at
> large members Hone and Raney who opposed it. It
> was all a set up. What motions and amendments
> were going to be advanced and how the vote was
> going to be was planned at least 2-3 days in
> advance.
>
> People from Navy area are terribly upset that they
> were used as pawns by Stu and Kathy in this whole
> drama.
>
> If you ask me, there is a significant overhaul
> needed in the whole process. We also need watchdog
> organizations to keep an eye on these crooks.

Thank you for telling them again. Stu knew what he wanted and got Kathy to go along with it. Janie, being the good representative that she is, made sure that her people were not involved. We should all be so lucky as to have a rep like her who protects her district. She cares about her people, all of them. Stu and Kathy don't.

taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Overall the school division would have increased
> it's operational efficiency if some from Langley
> went to Herndon and South Lakes . That's not a
> goal of this board - who cares about money for
> class sizes and instruction?
>
> As the economy worsens and the budget tightens I
> suppose school board members might be rethinking
> privately what they have done or votes they have
> sold/traded over the years. Truth be told I don't
> think at-large school board members have been
> doing their job in quite awhile on many issues.

Why would they care about increasing efficiency? They have no incentive to care.

tian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've submitted a form to pupil place into oakton,
> but its been 2 weeks and still no reply. is this
> normal?

Yes. But it doesn't hurt to call and ask when you might hear something.

Janie's Constituent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a constituent of Janie's who was recently
> redistricted I can tell you that Jane Strauss
> doesnt give a damn about all of her constituents.
> She will happily sacrifice pieces of her district
> to serve her personal agenda. So if you are in
> Northwest Great Falls, Look out. Herndon High is
> every bit as much her baby as Langley is. Herndon
> may need a little socio-economic balance soon and
> where do you think the SB will look for that
> balance? The northwestern portion of GF does not
> represent a threat for her and is not a big chunk
> of votes, in fact it is not so different at all
> from the Madison Island.

What makes you think Janie will ask that there be redistricting at Herndon? She won't take students out of Langley to fill Herndon. If she were going to do that there would not have been an addition built on Langley.

Madison Island kids went to Madison, STU'S school. Yes, the voters there are in Dranesville, but the schools they attended were not in Janie's district. That made them vulnerable to Stu's grab. They were moved from one Stu school to another. Janie's schools were not involved.

That's my take on why Janie let the MI go to SL.

In the beginning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see the minutes from July 16th 2007 when the SB
> first introduced the West County Boundary Study.
> There is an Exhibit A which lists 4 primary
> considerations for the study.
>
> 1. Projected enrollment and capacity-says they are
> out of balance and refers to all the empty seats
> at South Lakes.
>
> Why no mention of capacity issues at Langley and
> empty seats at Falls Church and Mt Vernon???
>
> 2. Distribution of programs and
> resources-restriction on extra curricular
> opportunities for large schools and program issues
> with low capacity schools.
>
> Why no mention of program issues for Falls Church,
> Marshall or Mt Vernon??
> Why do we build schools that hold 3200 students if
> we are worried about someone not making the
> basketball team??
>
> 3. Socioeconomic characteristics of school
> populations-says there are significant
> disparities.
>
> WHAT ABOUT LANGLEY??? The last bastion of
> whiteness in FCPS????? You can hear a pin drop
> can't you????
>
> 4. Contiguous attendance areas-eliminate
> islands.
>
> Why is noone bothered by the island within
> Robinson that attends Woodson???? Isn't Woodson
> overcrowded?
>
> I have a really hard time reconciling these
> objectives with all the existing consistencies
> throughout the county.

The answer is that Stu wanted more students put into SL. The other SB members did not want a redistricting process for their schools. Stu wanted more students in SL. It was staff's job to come up with reasons and rules. Simple as that. It had nothing to do with any other districts because no other school board members were requesting redistricting.

word Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MB - thanks very insightful.
>
> In regard to SL, the dirty secret is that it had
> nothing to do with electives. It had everything to
> do with propping up the school so it would not
> fail NCLB. The better students were already either
> going to TJ, pupil placing, or moving out of the
> district to avoid it, hence the low enrollment. I
> guess two years at Hughes was enough convincing,
> nevermind the dreadful elementary schools.
>
> If SL had failed NCLB, everyone would be able to
> pupil place, and there wouldn't be anything the SB
> could do about it. It's a trend in Reston that is
> migrating from the elementary schools to the
> middle and high school levels.


That is the reality. Imagine if they had to close SL in a few years, after that expensive remodeling. Unfortunately, the redistricting will not get enough high performing students to make any difference. The high performing students will continue to bail. But they might get enough students for another drama class and piano 4.

Does anyone know how close did South County come to failing NCLB.

What about Hayfield, Mt. Vernon and West Potomac? Were they close to failing NCLB?


Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> word Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > MB - thanks very insightful.
> >
> > In regard to SL, the dirty secret is that it
> had
> > nothing to do with electives. It had everything
> to
> > do with propping up the school so it would not
> > fail NCLB. The better students were already
> either
> > going to TJ, pupil placing, or moving out of
> the
> > district to avoid it, hence the low enrollment.
> I
> > guess two years at Hughes was enough
> convincing,
> > nevermind the dreadful elementary schools.
> >
> > If SL had failed NCLB, everyone would be able
> to
> > pupil place, and there wouldn't be anything the
> SB
> > could do about it. It's a trend in Reston that
> is
> > migrating from the elementary schools to the
> > middle and high school levels.
>
>
> That is the reality. Imagine if they had to close
> SL in a few years, after that expensive
> remodeling. Unfortunately, the redistricting will
> not get enough high performing students to make
> any difference. The high performing students will
> continue to bail. But they might get enough
> students for another drama class and piano 4.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Thank you for telling them again. Stu knew what
> he wanted and got Kathy to go along with it.
> Janie, being the good representative that she is,
> made sure that her people were not involved. We
> should all be so lucky as to have a rep like her
> who protects her district. She cares about her
> people, all of them. Stu and Kathy don't.

Kathy was almost crying (or at least pretending to cry) during the February meeting when she talked about "how hard" the Navy decision was for her. Pathetic and unprofessional. Does she really think people care about HER pain at this point?

In the beginning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see the minutes from July 16th 2007 when the SB
> first introduced the West County Boundary Study.
> There is an Exhibit A which lists 4 primary
> considerations for the study.

<snippage of Boundary Study goals, followed by counter-instances>

While of course you're right about these inconsistencies, I hope nobody thinks they're going to be useful in court. All the SB has to say is "We can't fix everything at once" and that argument is dead, alas.

I agree since she didn't move a neighborhood that is attached to a Forest Edge neighborhood. While reading boarddocs I saw as 5-8 new business "slope remediation" at Langley. How much is that project which appears to be the result of this scheme hatched by the Langley administrators and boosters:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=247156&paper=68&cat=104

I don't understand why papers like the Washington Post don't cover such an environmental issue. Isn't that the potomac watershed? How does it interract with the penny for stormwater?

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Janie's Constituent Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > As a constituent of Janie's who was recently
> > redistricted I can tell you that Jane Strauss
> > doesnt give a damn about all of her
> constituents.
> > She will happily sacrifice pieces of her
> district
> > to serve her personal agenda. So if you are in
> > Northwest Great Falls, Look out. Herndon High
> is
> > every bit as much her baby as Langley is.
> Herndon
> > may need a little socio-economic balance soon
> and
> > where do you think the SB will look for that
> > balance? The northwestern portion of GF does
> not
> > represent a threat for her and is not a big
> chunk
> > of votes, in fact it is not so different at all
> > from the Madison Island.
>
> What makes you think Janie will ask that there be
> redistricting at Herndon? She won't take students
> out of Langley to fill Herndon. If she were going
> to do that there would not have been an addition
> built on Langley.
>
> Madison Island kids went to Madison, STU'S school.
> Yes, the voters there are in Dranesville, but the
> schools they attended were not in Janie's
> district. That made them vulnerable to Stu's
> grab. They were moved from one Stu school to
> another. Janie's schools were not involved.
>
> That's my take on why Janie let the MI go to SL.

...not Neen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received this note today from FCPS. Check out the first item under "Updates." Does anyone else find this strange?


Dear ,

The School Board meeting calendar has been updated: http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/calendar.htm


Updates:

May 15 Budget public hearing not needed

May 15 Facilities work session added at 6 p.m. – School Board bus tour of Graham Road ES
and Devonshire


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell a friend about this service! Go to http://www.fcps.edu/ocr/tellafriend.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This list is hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools, 8115 Gatehouse Rd., Falls Church VA 22042. If you have technical problems with this service, contact fcpsinfo@fcps.edu.

Update your profile or unsubscribe: https://fcps.medianext.com/fcps/signup.html

It was probably dropped due to lack of interest. I think they had set aside 2 days for public comment-maybe they only need one.

By now it is a done deal anyway-why bother??

Why bother?

WHY BOTHER?

$60 million for a new administration building but no full-day kindergarten for schools with the poorest kids!

Increasing class sizes and cutting of instructional assistants!

Cuts to transportation!

Thousans of deferred maintenance projects and millions for Langley, South Lakes and now new construction for schools not overcrowded while trailers expand at others!

WHY BOTHER?

Do you care about your kids? Your money? Your County?

It was dropped because not enough people signed up to speak for two nights. Now, where was CAPS? Certainly they could have rallied enough people for a second night of public hearings?

If you care so much, did you sign up to speak?

You said,

"It was dropped because not enough people signed up to speak for two nights. Now, where was CAPS? Certainly they could have rallied enough people for a second night of public hearings?

If you care so much, did you sign up to speak?"

I didn't know about it, which is why I posted the note earlier this morning. Had I known, I might well have signed up to speak. I have spoken before the school board before during the redistricting fight.

It was also my intention to call attention to the fact that the School Board might well intend to debate and decide this matter out of the public eye. They have already proven that they have no regard for the public's view--SB is to our community as George Bush is to the US public when it comes to opinion, polls, etc. (ie. "we know better than you").

CAPS is trying to spread its thin ranks to a number of issues beyond the scope of the redistricting battle. There are no community organizers per se in its ranks who could pull a big group into something like that. However, if you believe CAPS is a good vehicle for involvement in such matters, I would STRONGLY encourage you to go to their site, sign up on their list, offer to volunteer and make a contribution.

My question is to everyone on this list: When are we going to start demanding accountability in our $2 billion school system?

As far as speaking at the budget-go ahead. It just seems that you can't squeeze water from a rock. Until we either freeze salaries or cut the workforce, there is not a lot of wiggle room for discretionary spending.

We can't even properly maintain our schools. The workorder backlog is 2.4 years. Do you think there is any money for fancy textbooks and computers??

I honestly think we need to increase instructional assistants and decrease the high paid teachers. We get what we need out of IAs 80% of the time. We can keep the higher level teachers, but for the basics, like the electives, do we really need to pay someone $80k to run a school library or be a guidance counselor? We can find competent people to do a lot of these jobs for a lot less than we are paying.

We have to run our schools like we would run a business.

Well then, the big question is why you didn't know about it? It is a part of the budget process each year and not a secret, by any means! You obviously need to educate yourself about the budget cycle and the associated meetings.

Oh yes, CAPS does need our money doesn't it? Give, give, give but they certainly aren't producing if they failed someone in their own group to know about the budget process.

If you want accountability you better start doing some learning about what you are spouting off on.



<>>

You people should be doing something other than posting on an anonymous forum.

Jesus Christ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You people should be doing something other than
> posting on an anonymous forum.

How about you? You just made a post.

I am not indifferent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > I honestly think we need to increase instructional
> assistants and decrease the high paid teachers.
> We get what we need out of IAs 80% of the time.
> We can keep the higher level teachers, but for the
> basics, like the electives, do we really need to
> pay someone $80k to run a school library or be a
> guidance counselor? We can find competent people
> to do a lot of these jobs for a lot less than we
> are paying.
>
> We have to run our schools like we would run a
> business.

A business would hire qualified people, while IA's are wonderful, they don't have the skills and training to be a librarian or a guidance counselor, or to teach electives. The issue isn't that some positions are paid too much, but that IA's are paid too little. In addition there is a glut of people: administrators, instructional coaches, and other assorted specialists that don't work with children at all (librarians do teach, and clearly guidance counselors interact with children). Cutting the positions that don't involve teaching or working with children would make much more sense than promoting unqualified IA's into other roles.

So did you hear that more than 30 SLHS students were admitted to UVA?...that's 1% of UVA's First Year class. Also, numerous students were admitted to Willim and Mary as well. How'd your school do?

Right, are you kidding? You do know why those kids might have gotten into UVA and W&M don't you? I was just talking to my UVA grad nephew over Mother's day and he said, "yeah, we knew some of those kids from South Lakes that went to UVA and they were nice guys but everyone knows the only reason they got in was because when UVA looks at their school as a group it's so bad they take the top students, but they sure wouldn't be the top at any other school!" Great. Is that how you want your kids from SL to be looked at? You only got into this school because everyone else at your school sucks?

No Budget Meeting Needed? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why bother?
>
> WHY BOTHER?
>
> $60 million for a new administration building but
> no full-day kindergarten for schools with the
> poorest kids!
>
> Increasing class sizes and cutting of
> instructional assistants!
>
> Cuts to transportation!
>
> Thousans of deferred maintenance projects and
> millions for Langley, South Lakes and now new
> construction for schools not overcrowded while
> trailers expand at others!
>
> WHY BOTHER?
>
> Do you care about your kids? Your money? Your
> County?


I whole-heartedly agree with you, and your mention of the "poorest kids" brought my situation to mind. Seven years ago I was a single mom with the "poorest kids" and I lived in Reston and still didn't let my kids go to Reston schools (Begged and pleaded at private schools and to my family). After 24/7 of working my tail off I was finally able to move out and buy a house in, you guessed it, FME. Not my best move, in the end.

Now, my oldest is graduating from Oakton HS and my 7th grader won't get into Oakton because "it's not the closest AP school". My youngest doesn't have a prayer. They won't know a soul if they go to Madison. But no matter, I got away from SL once and I'll find a way to do it again.

The things you have to do to dodge the wacky game of FCPS hardball...

Wow the response from all the anti-SL people is deafening.

to suestu:

Gee ya think it's the SAT scores 1400 and above?

UVA admissions know the South Lakes students do great there...at least that is what they told us when we went there for accepted student day.

suestu Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Right, are you kidding? You do know why those
> kids might have gotten into UVA and W&M don't you?
> I was just talking to my UVA grad nephew over
> Mother's day and he said, "yeah, we knew some of
> those kids from South Lakes that went to UVA and
> they were nice guys but everyone knows the only
> reason they got in was because when UVA looks at
> their school as a group it's so bad they take the
> top students, but they sure wouldn't be the top at
> any other school!" Great. Is that how you want
> your kids from SL to be looked at? You only got
> into this school because everyone else at your
> school sucks?


Yes, in a time of truly tough admissions they take the top students from schools that suck. How idiotic. I am sure you just happened to be chatting with your nephew about "those SL students" Did you even know how many got in when you chatted with him? How on earth would he know admission stats simply because he "knew those nice kids"?

Even if they got in because, "everyone else sucks" they still have to meet the tough admission standards.

So what do you think they're going to tell you? Your SAT scores blew us away but when we experienced the shrimp scampi you made in Culinary class we just knew we had to have you, and when we heard you play Kum-bah-ya on the cymbals we knew our first year class would be led to greatness with you? Is that what you heard?

Just trying to make a point with you, I'm sure you earned your spot at UVA. However, you need to acknowledge that there are a ton of parents out here that did not choose SL for their children and frankly don't care how many of your grads went to UVA.

Be true to your school and all that, but please know that there are hundreds of kids that CANNOT be true to their school becuase they were torn away from it with barely any warning and absolutely no reason.

Yes, simply by attending the wonderful SLHS you have a better shot at UVA, WM and all other high-end VA Univ. What a load of crap! If that were true they would be breaking down the doors... not running away.

Earlier, CAPS did speak against the budget allocation. The FCSB voted anyway to increase class size. The board members will just pretend to be attentive...but watch their eyes and lips while someone is testifying. They are reading their emails.

Casting Director Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>>>>Kathy was almost crying (or at least pretending to
> cry) during the February meeting when she talked
> about "how hard" the Navy decision was for her.
> Pathetic and unprofessional. Does she really
> think people care about HER pain at this point?<<<<

You don't care that Kathy is so sensitive? That she cries often and easily? Me neither. She should put on her big girl panties and learn to cope like a real adult. She could never make it in the real world, in a real job. She'd be boo-hooing all the time.

so did you hear Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow the response from all the anti-SL people is
> deafening.
>
> to suestu:
>
> Gee ya think it's the SAT scores 1400 and above?
>
> UVA admissions know the South Lakes students do
> great there...at least that is what they told us
> when we went there for accepted student day.

What else would they say? Of course they are going to tell prospective students that they will do great at UVA. With the right major, some of them may do very well. Some will do less well.

May 13, 2008 - 7:17am

Patricia Guadalupe , WTOP Radio

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Fairfax County's school board is tabling a report that grades moral character by race, one school board member tells WTOP.

"I cannot speak for the entire board but the sense of the governance committee is that we postpone or postpone indefinitely," says School Board Member At-Large Ilryong Moon.

The board hasn't made the decision formal yet.

The subjective scoring system caused quite a stir last month because it concludes white and Asian students score higher than black and Hispanic students on moral issues and ethical judgment.

Report Ranks High School Performance
May 13, 2008 - 6:53pm

High schools in southeastern Fairfax County have lower scores on standardized tests than schools in other areas of the county, according to a “report card” published last week by the Fairfax County Coalition of Advocates for Public Schools.

The report, which was based on 2007 Virginia Standards of Learning scores, also indicates higher pass rates at schools offering Advanced Placement courses versus those offering the International Baccalaureate program. Eight of the county's 25 high schools have the program, and five of those eight schools are located in the southeastern part of the county.

Despite the report's focus on AP versus IB schools – a major point of contention during last year's redistricting of high schools in western Fairfax – this initial effort by FairfaxCAPS is not intended to answer the “why” of test score disparities, according to communications director Scott Chronister. He said the report is just using existing data to point out differences that the School Board tends to gloss over.

“They try to make it sound like the school system is a homogeneous institution – if you get an education in one school you're getting the same education as you would anywhere,” he said. “I think it would really strain credulity to think that there aren't differences.”

FairfaxCAPS, which was initially formed to oppose the west county redistricting and is also suing the school system over the boundary changes, hopes to continue to look at these issues and present them to the public in an easily digestible manner, Chronister said.

The report card takes the average SOL test scores in the four core subjects for each high school and converts them to a letter grade. Those grades were then averaged into a “GPA” for each school and magisterial district. Eighteen schools earned a “B” average or higher.

School Board member Stuart Gibson (Hunter Mill) said, given that FairfaxCAPS is known to oppose the IB program, it is not surprising that their methodology produced a result supporting the group's beliefs. Gibson, whose oldest daughter “was basically transformed” by her experience in South Lakes High School's IB English classes, has been a staunch defender of the program.

Judging a high school based on average SOL scores doesn't tell the full story, Gibson said, and there are many other indicators that show that the county is doing well. Socioeconomic factors are the single greatest predictors of performance on standardized tests, he said.

“If you have a high-achieving student, that student is going to succeed at any high school in Fairfax County,” Gibson said. “The challenge that we have is where the student is not getting help at home; where the parents might not even speak English.”

Copyright 2008 Fairfax County Times. All rights reserved.

by Kali Schumitz @ Fairfax County Times

High schools in southeastern Fairfax County have lower scores on standardized tests than schools in other areas of the county, according to a “report card” published last week by the Fairfax County Coalition of Advocates for Public Schools.

The report, which was based on 2007 Virginia Standards of Learning scores, also indicates higher pass rates at schools offering Advanced Placement courses versus those offering the International Baccalaureate program. Eight of the county's 25 high schools have the program, and five of those eight schools are located in the southeastern part of the county.

Despite the report's focus on AP versus IB schools – a major point of contention during last year's redistricting of high schools in western Fairfax – this initial effort by FairfaxCAPS is not intended to answer the “why” of test score disparities, according to communications director Scott Chronister. He said the report is just using existing data to point out differences that the School Board tends to gloss over.

“They try to make it sound like the school system is a homogeneous institution – if you get an education in one school you're getting the same education as you would anywhere,” he said. “I think it would really strain credulity to think that there aren't differences.”

FairfaxCAPS, which was initially formed to oppose the west county redistricting and is also suing the school system over the boundary changes, hopes to continue to look at these issues and present them to the public in an easily digestible manner, Chronister said.

The report card takes the average SOL test scores in the four core subjects for each high school and converts them to a letter grade. Those grades were then averaged into a “GPA” for each school and magisterial district. Eighteen schools earned a “B” average or higher.

School Board member Stuart Gibson (Hunter Mill) said, given that FairfaxCAPS is known to oppose the IB program, it is not surprising that their methodology produced a result supporting the group's beliefs. Gibson, whose oldest daughter “was basically transformed” by her experience in South Lakes High School's IB English classes, has been a staunch defender of the program.

Judging a high school based on average SOL scores doesn't tell the full story, Gibson said, and there are many other indicators that show that the county is doing well. Socioeconomic factors are the single greatest predictors of performance on standardized tests, he said.

“If you have a high-achieving student, that student is going to succeed at any high school in Fairfax County,” Gibson said. “The challenge that we have is where the student is not getting help at home; where the parents might not even speak English.”

"Socioeconomic factors are the single greatest predictors of performance on standardized tests, he said."

Seems to me that is one of the biggest goals Stu Gibson wanted... more top performing students to SL. Also why did he think socioeconomic factors was the single greatest predictors of performance? Why single?

I think it is great that SLHS had 30 acceptances (or is it matriculations?) to UVa. And to some limited extent it is probably helpful for the average applicant that fewer (proportionately) SLHS applied to the school than at, let's say, Oakton, Madison or Langley. But the problem I have with these statistics is that they don't reflect the very significant admissions advantage that goes to so-called under-represented minorities. At Uva - the gap for black students is almost 200 points on the "old SAT" - a very significant gap that is far more than a thumb on the scale. And that "gap" is understated in terms of Northern Virginia - because the score and grade requirements to get in UVa from Northern Virginia are much higher than they are for downstate students. So unless an applicant fits within a relevant "URM" category - the statistics regarding UVa and SLHS are likely not very meaningful to a non-minority student, other than to say one better really perform well - as in near or at the TJ means - to get into UVa - a corollary that would apply to every non-minority student in the county (save for highly recruited athletes).

It is not my intent to attack or defend affirmative action programs - but it is the case that amount of preference provided at competitive schools is very significant, and any analysis of a school such as SLHS (which thankfully does have some high achieving minority students) does need to take that into account.