yvonne.folkerts@acps.k12.va.us
Above you'll find the email of School Board Chairperson, Yvonne Folkerts. A friend that she and I have in common says that she sincerely believes that most teachers are in favor of the two day early beginning, the thirty minute daily extension and the myriad of programs that Sherman has foisted upon us. She (my friend) tells me that she is open to being convinced otherwise, but that to date no one has expressed any dissatisfaction with the state of our schools.
So, here's your chance! Send her an email, anonymous or not...let her know how you feel. Be respectful and articulate, be passionate and clear. Put a copy of your email here, on ACPS Underground.
I'll let you know in a day or two if my friend sees a shift in Yvonne's position, as a result.
Who knows?
Voltaire
"One great use of words is to hide our thoughts."
— Voltaire
Really?! Sincerely believes? Then why the opinion letter "in defense of" the thirty minute and extended year proposals? Sincerely believes? How about the results from last year's survey concerning the 30 minutes tacked on for the three month period? Sincerely believes? What about the current poll taking place on Alexandrianews.org? Sincerely believes? No idea that this blog even exists? Let's be clear, there is no feigning ignorance on this one. The school board hired the superintendent, the school board has to back the superintendent. Mrs. Folkerts and others know how teachers feel about what is being stacked upon their shoulders, but they don't much care. If you think they do, just have a listen to the questions they pose El Superintendente when examining each one of his proposals. I would have a plan B ready for this email thing.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that Ms. Folkerts has already made up her mind, but we might as well try. Here's my attempt:
ReplyDeleteExtended day, year for ACPS schools
From: Fanny Parker
To: yvonne.folkerts@acps.k12.va.us
Dear Ms. Folkerts,
I am writing to you in regard to your letter in the Alexandria news in which you defend the added thirty minutes for teachers and added two days to the school year for students and teachers. There are a great many teachers in our school district who are opposed to adding 7-8 percent more work to our already busy days and receiving only 2 percent more pay, in addition to having to pay more for our health insurance and retirement plans. Some teachers will, in fact, be taking a pay cut when all is factored in, all the while doing more after school tutoring, attending more meetings and be required to complete more staff development of questionable value, than ever before. Given the way that Superintendent Sherman has spoken to us and has often proceeded without our input, teachers (myself included) are afraid of speaking out, for fear that we will be painted as not supporting school reform, and that we will then be in danger of losing our jobs.
I very much want to make our schools in Alexandria even better than they already are, serving our various and diverse students in the best way possible. It is difficult, though, to imagine how I will be able to continue to meet students after or before school with any flexibility if we are to be occupied with more meetings, more committee duties, data chats, and yet more required professional development sessions. As a dedicated, concerned teacher, I must tell you this is not necessarily an effective use of my time, and will take away from valuable time I normally spend helping students with homework, projects, college applications, and in writing good recommendation letters for them, just a few of the many things I already come to school early, and often leave late, to accomplish. If, however, I am to do all that I already do, plus the added time and duties, I deserve to be paid appropriately, as do my colleagues. We are not asking for special treatment, just fair compensation for the very important work that we do for our schools.
Sincerely,
A concerned teacher at acps
So I wrote an email to Ms. Folkerts, and she writes back, real nice like and says she had no idea we teachers felt so put upon and so ignored. She says she'll have to reconsider if she finds this is the prevailing opinion!
ReplyDeleteThis was not my experience when writing Ms. Folkerts. She demanded that I reveal my identity. This is like the survey where they guaranteed anonymity but then asked so many questions that it does identify you.
ReplyDeleteAarrgghhh!
The results are in from the Alexandria News poll with only 16% of those polled supporting adding 30 minutes to teachers' days this fall. 84% of the respondents were opposed to the 30 minute addition. I believe these numbers are worth referring to in emails, meetings, and statements to the Board.
ReplyDeleteThe poll from Alexandria News is hardly scientific. Anyone with a little extra time and less no-how than most 8th graders could spoof it and vote as many times as they wanted to. I'd recommend something a little more solid.
ReplyDeleteFinally, someone has opened the jar and looked inside ACPS. This Sherman march has been going on for the past 3 years. The parents and community allowed this incompetent school board and Mort destroy ACPS from support staff upward. His words to all ACPS employees if you don't like get the next bus to FCPS. He started out email mailing Admin staff all night long and expecting a speedy response. He does not sleep at night. Sounds like a vampire to me and he along with his assist supt. Margaret Byess who came from FCPS to ACPS as supervisor in the budget department and moved up the ladder in 3 years to reach the asst.supt. of Budget dept. The Bonnie and Clyde couple are and have sucked the blood/money from the ACPS their staff who came to work for the good of students, parents and community of Alexandria. The fun bunch school board members are on board with the Sherman march and agree with whatever he decides. He has a gift for gab! He and Margaret B. are robbing ACPS blind.
ReplyDelete1. Separating two middle schools into 2 and 3 schools in one who heard of such (Mort Sherman)! AYP not accredited!
2. RIF competent Administrators, Support staff.
3. Purchasing these fly by night programs.
Just to name a few of his bright 2 a.m. ideas.
If the community and city govt. look close all of these new people are somehow connect the King Mort as he thinks he is. He is only here for his own agenda, he has NO regards nor respect for the students, schools staff, close community involvement, ACPS once had and neither does anyone he has marching to his drum.
ACPS has become a plantation and you do what he says and he has spread his ignorance to the principles disrespecting staff etc.
How can teachers teach when the have an supt., administrators and school staff who are unorganized and clueless to education or educating. All the teachers and support staff can and will do is what they are told by the Mort and his force.
If you speak out you are OUT! He he or his flock do not like you your OUT as well! This is the Mort way! You will not get anyone to say anything because they know they will be eliminated. You do what they say and no talk back if you want your job.
ACPS needs to clean out from the top and all new school board members.
Do a survey and you will see ACPS has gone down hill rapidly since 2008 to present!
All the money is in Mort Sherman and Margaret Byess' pocket! He cut the fat has he said he would do, however the fat he cut were competent hard working employees with extensive experience. While he and Margaret B. put the money in thier pockets (consultants, friends and family).
Get rid of Mort, Margaret B, and all they hired including but not limited too, Stephen Wilkins, Besty Shays, John Brown, John Cena, David Temple, (Stephanie in budget dpt.), Director of Technology Services, Director of Student Services, Director of Finance, all consultants,and the school board members.They and many others have the Morton mentality and no experience other than what they have learned in there current positions.
Hire NEW staff and school board members with experience in education and have excellent track records that can be verified. Making sure they establish a community base relationship with Alexandria and the students, parents, teachers, support staff.
If you look back at the mess Mort did in New Jersey and how the school(s) he was in authority over all had to clean out what he hired, eliminate the programs he implemented that did not work etc and this board "the fun bunch" hired him. This speaks a lot for the school board as well. Mr. Gift for Gab and all his flock need to GO!
Alexandria Take back your school system, it is under water!
Remember Rebecca Perry the parents and community had her on the radar and she was good!
How could you allow this jerk come in and destroy ACPS like he has?
GET STRONG AND STEP UP ALEXANDRIA your children need YOU!
174 people responding to a community poll is not something worth mentioning? I am willing to bet that same poll would be cited as "community support" had the results favored the proposal.
ReplyDeleteTo the blogger that wanted to know more about Mr. Hilburg and the Discovery Bridge survey.
ReplyDeleteHere is the spin straight from Ms. Folkerts mouth:
"Mr. Alan Hilburg, who was overseeing the surveys and was compiling the data, took it with him when his contract was cancelled. Central Office has made numerous requests to retrieve it and I am hopeful we will see it soon and will make it available soon."
They are spinning it. I again state-- Your saying that Mr. Hilburg, a well known, well reviewed PR guy took the results. That he was "cancelled" within two days of the survey being completed because that was when participants were told they could expect it in their hands for review. There is something very fishy going on here. Participants know what the results were for Mort. It was not good. I wonder which trash can he filed it in?????
The WaPo ran a pretty lengthy article on the Hilburg hire and the proposed branding of ACPS. They may be interested in this information. Those with specifics, pass them along to Kevin Sieff (he was the WaPo reporter who wrote the article on Hilburg) at sieffk@washpost.com
ReplyDeleteWhy couldn't the EAA rep from each school take a poll of their school's staff, and share the info at the board meeting? Or would that not be reliable enough either?
ReplyDeleteHere is my email:
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
I am a parent, a taxpayer, a teacher and I vote. I am absolutely not in favor of adding extra days to the school year, or extra time to the days we currently work. If you remember, we added extra time to the days last year to make up for time lost to snow. The teachers were exhausted, the students were exhausted, and no discernible progress towards AYP or any other measurable improvement was made. As for a mandatory extension of a teacher's work day, I and most of my colleagues already spend more than that 30 minutes daily doing school-related work. In fact, the World Language teachers are expected to attend 2-hour monthly city-wide meetings, during which little is accomplished, for no compensation other than a few recertification points, which I do not need.
I suggest that the time we already spend during the school day be put to better use: i.e., fewer unproductive meetings and more time in the classroom especially at the beginning of the year.
Respectfully yours,
QUOTE; 'The WaPo ran a pretty lengthy article on the Hilburg hire and the proposed branding of ACPS. They may be interested in this information. Those with specifics, pass them along to Kevin Sieff (he was the WaPo reporter who wrote the article on Hilburg) at sieffk@washpost.com'
ReplyDelete^^^ This needs to be done by anyone in the know. PLEASE!
QUOTE; 'To the blogger that wanted to know more about Mr. Hilburg and the Discovery Bridge survey.
Here is the spin straight from Ms. Folkerts mouth:'
"Mr. Alan Hilburg, who was overseeing the surveys and was compiling the data, took it with him when his contract was cancelled. Central Office has made numerous requests to retrieve it and I am hopeful we will see it soon and will make it available soon."
^^^ Where and when did she say this? Citation needed. If you know when this was said, please write a letter* to the ACPS School Board requesting followup. Don't let it drop. That's what they want us to do, or the Board itself would come clean with the community on this matter.
QUOTE: "So I wrote an email to Ms. Folkerts, and she writes back, real nice like and says she had no idea we teachers felt so put upon and so ignored. She says she'll have to reconsider if she finds this is the prevailing opinion!"
^^^ This. It's time Chairwoman Folkert take off her self-referenced blinders if stated as above. The unrest amongst teachers and parents alike about the last two years of the ACPS School Board's rubber stamping of our Superintendent is hardly a secret. There has been minimal serious questioning/discussion/expounding of the far reaching proposals. This comes at great expense in so many ways (trust, taxpayer money, the students on whom the untested platitudes of future academic success are being potentially foistered), as well as loss of respect over the duty/purpose of the School Board.
*On Anonymity: with the stakes Super high, ACPS and the School Board need to recognize why people aren't using their names. Jobs and student protection is vital in a climate where surveys disappear, firings or suggestions to retire abound, and public words of parents may indirectly in the short or long term haunt their kids, some who may have teachers who are more pro-administration and could use words as a way up the ladder. We all know this happens when serious questions as these are raised. Given these circumstances, I see anonymity as a much needed shield. A harsh reality but a true and smart one. The School Board needs to recognize this and get over it until a more open, productive ACPS climate is welcomed and obtained.
If whoever runs this site would like to speak with the Alexandria Times for an article, please email dsachs@alextimes.com.
ReplyDeleteText of email (in 4 installments) sent to all School Board members:
ReplyDeleteDear Members of the School Board,
I have heard that you all have not heard from teachers concerning the proposed additional 30 minutes and 4 days. I am an ACPS teacher and citizen of, and voter in, Alexandria.
I oppose the proposals for the following reasons:
1.These increases are approximately an 8% increase in time and the proposed increase in pay is 2%. This math just makes no sense to me.
2. When this proposal was first made, the 2% was for the the extra 4 days and not for the additional 30 minutes. The extra 4 days is approximately a 2% increase over the current teacher contract so 2% for 2% makes sense. It was repeatedly stated by the Superintendent to PTA Council members and PTAs that he did not want to deal with minutes and that the 2% was just for the 4 additional days and there would be no additional pay for the 30 minutes. But those 30 minutes add up to a lot of unpaid hours. Parents came to the School Board in opposition to the longer school day and the strategy changed.
Part 2
ReplyDelete3. Now the 2% is supposed to be giving teachers credit for what they are already doing and teachers would be doing what they are doing now. But that is not the whole picture because principals are being told that the time would/could be used for such things as staff development and that the 2.5 hours a week could be all on one day each week. Last Wednesday night at the PTA Council meeting, the phrase "structure that time" was used. That does not sound like I will be using my time as I am using it now. When educators use the term "structure" that means we, as teachers, are going to set up and run the classroom in the way we know it should be organized, not the way the students think it should be. I know I do not need my time "structured." I know how to use and structure my after-school time (or BEFORE-school time, which is my preferred time to put in my extra time in the school building) nor is the way other teachers need to have their time "structured." As professionals fully capable of determining what we must do, we use that time to do what is essential -- to do what must be done for our individual students and for our classrooms to be fully ready for the next day's instruction. We do this because we are professionals and it is a priority. It has to happen every day. It cannot take place on one day a week. It will suffer if one or more days a week we have to attend staff development or meetings. Taking away my professional judgment and decisions as to what is the most important tasks to accomplish after school and not fully compensating me is the direct opposite of giving me credit for what I already do. It is another insult to my professionalism and years of dedication.
Part 3
ReplyDelete4. I wholeheartedly believe that our at-promise students need extra instruction. Unfortunately these students generally do not flourish in traditional school settings which is evidenced by their difficulties with SOL tests and other assessments, graduation and dropout rates, etc. We need to develop better and DIFFERENT ways of reaching these students - ways that differ from what they are already getting that is not meeting their needs. I do not understand how continuing to do the same things but for a longer time makes sense. Let's figure out ways that would EFFECTIVELY extend the instructional time for those needing it. One idea would be to have teachers paid a stipend to work with small groups of 2 - 5 at-promise students after school so the instruction could truly be individualized and tailored to the students' SPECIFIC needs and personalities. Let's spend the 2% wisely and effectively. Just adding time without specifically planning how that time and money can be best spent is not logical, nor is it good educational policy or pedagogy. I oppose adding or lengthening student days until there is a clear, well-communicated public plan that has gone through careful review and meaningful input from teachers and parents.
Part 4
ReplyDelete5. Teacher morale is extremely low. It is the lowest I have seen it since I began teaching in ACPS in 1990. Teachers are angry, discouraged, and fed up with the barrage of disconnected tasks and staff development that is mandated. When you say you haven't heard from teachers opposed to the proposals, we feel strongly that you have not been listening. EAA may not officially represent all ACPS teachers but all the teachers I know, including those who are not EAA members, strongly feel that EAA's statements and communications to the School Board very accurately represent what we think and feel. More and more excellent teachers are talking about leaving ACPS and/or teaching. You will not find this in the responses to the Intent to Return form. They will not go public until they have other jobs secured. We cannot afford this. These teachers are our children's and ACPS's future. This proposal is another one that does not have a clearly defined and clearly stated public plan that shows the benefits to student achievement. To teachers, it looks very much like a plan to extend the teachers' day this year so the student day can be expanded the following year without adequately paying for it. Morale this low very adversely affects learning.
I would also like to make a proposal that would benefit at-promise students this school year. I invite Central Office employees and School Board members to tutor ACPS at-promise students 2 - 3 times every week for 30 minutes after school. There is an abundance of experience and knowledge available -- you and the Central Office staff would make a meaningful difference for our students. Come walk with us every week.
For those of you who intended to go to the school board meeting this Thursday, Feb 17th, they've changed their schedule. It's now a work session, and is closed. Thursday, Feb 24th is the day to go, according to the latest EAA update below:
ReplyDeleteDear EAA Membership,
In my last update I suggested that EAA members should attend the work session on Compensation and Salary this Thursday, February 17, 2011. The school board has changed the agenda. It is now a work session on the CIP budget. The regular school board meeting, and work session on February 24, 2011 at 7:00pm will be the meeting to attend. There will be a public hearing at this school board meeting and the school board will be considering compensation scenarios in the work session.
We are asking that each building have a speaker come and convey the perspective of their staff. We would like several EAA members from each building to stand with their speaker as a show of strength. Our specific message to the school board is yet to be determined. It could be either one of support for the Superintendent’s new compensation package or rejection of the plan proposed. We are in the midst of talks with Dr. Sherman about the proposed salary, benefits and additional time for 2011 and 2012. Our position remains the same: any additional time must be compensated. We are meeting with Dr. Sherman later this week and will send information out as soon as possible following the meeting so you can tailor your school’s public hearing speech. If you have questions or would like help with your speech, please feel free to email me or Lisa Staib (lstaib@veanea.org, (703) 370-1121) for help.
There is a new poll on Alexandria News about starting the school year before Labor Day. Let your voice be heard. http://www.alexandrianews.org/
ReplyDeletehere is how change happens elsewhere and without the pressure of retribution by appearance, develop 2 or 3 letters as a templete and post on this site so people can download, sign and send to the news, school board, VDOE, Unions and sherman in GREAT numbers. this is how educators get legislators to back off or join a cause....meet the objective of a collective voice representation.
ReplyDeleteI just submitted this FOIA request:
ReplyDeleteMs. Alexander, Ms. Byess
I am a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia and a resident of the City of Alexandria. This is a FOIA request for a copy of the contract between Alan Hilburg and the City of Alexandria Public Schools (ACPS), as well as any and all deliverables provided by Mr. Hilburg to ACPS or otherwise in the possession of ACPS pursuant to Mr. Hilburg's contract. In addition, I request the following:
1. Any and all materials and/or records to, from, discussing or any in way related to Mr. Hilburg's employment (as a consultant or otherwise) by ACPS.
2. All personnel records of Mr. Hilburg. Note that pursuant to ACPS policy KBA as adopted June 1, 2006,
"When practicable, the following records shall be available on demand
at the central
office:
General Correspondence
**Personnel and Employment Records** (emphasis mine)
Press Releases
Procurement Records
Reports and Studies
School Board Meeting Minutes
Testing Data"
Personnel records have previously been denied to me under FOIA requests. I trust there won't be a problem this time.
You may direct your response to me as follows:
XXXXX