Superintendent’s Report
August 15, 2000

Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, and citizens of our community, my report this evening highlights information on school system initiatives and many noteworthy honors and achievements of staff and students.

First, let me begin by sharing progress on the Schools Administrative Student Information training team, otherwise known as SASI. Since January, 1,428 employees have been trained with another 700 employees to be trained by November. Of the current enrollments, 1,131 have already completed a class in SASI basics or VBCPS job specifics (Scheduling, Attendance, Discipline, SASI for Nurses, etc.). New classes in the Fall include SASI Query, CLASSROOM, and Grade input to SASI. SASI classes will also be training in ABACUS; the curriculum and assessment tool. The training effort for SASI is well underway and on target to ensure that staff has information needed for a smooth start in September.

Congratulations are in order—

Congratulations to Bayside High School for receiving the Virginia High School League 1999-2000 Wachovia Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award. The school will be presented with a banner and plaque for display.

According to information recently received from The College Board, recent First Colonial High graduate Elizabeth B. has been selected a National Merit Scholarship winner. Congratulations to Elizabeth, who plans to attend New York University in the Fall.

I’m pleased to report that The Virginia Council on Vocational Education has selected the partnership between Cox Business Services and the VBCPS Department of Technical and Career Education as their recipient of a state partnership award. This outstanding partnership was honored at an awards luncheon in Richmond this summer. The partnership is centered around the development of a telecommunications program of study, a reciprocal training facility, staff development, and student internships for the development of a skilled workforce for the industry. A telecommunications course has been taught at Ocean Lakes High School by teacher Rob Stover, who participated in a teacher externship at Cox through our Educator in the Workplace project. Cox Fibernet also donated $3,200 worth of materials for the start up of the telecommunications course at three sites. Students participating in the course have served as interns at Cox corporate sites. Congratulations to the Department of Technical and Career Education for their key role in developing this partnership and a special thanks to Cox Business Services for their support of public education.

The NASA CONNECT TV program – Geometry of Exploration: Water Below the Surface of Mars? – featuring Bayside and Brandon middle school students recently won a regional Emmy award in the category of Children’s Programming. The award was presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in Washington, DC. Brandon and Bayside middle students developed advertisements promoting the Mars Millennium project for the Geometry of Exploration: Water Below the Surface of Mars? program. Distance learning facilities were utilized that allowed the students to share ideas and collaborate on the final advertising designs. After completion, the designs were sent to NASA for consideration in the Mars Millennium project. Congratulations to Brandon science teacher Fran Shaneyfelt, Bayside science teacher Mary Agagas (Aw gaw gus), gifted resource teacher Judy Ruben, and computer resource teacher Pat Litz for their creativity and expertise in designing the classes especially for the project.

Woodstock Elementary School principal Perry Williams has announced that six outstanding teachers at Woodstock have been nominated for the Disney’s American Teacher Awards. The six teachers – Tracy Taylor, kindergarten; Susan Moreau, first grade; Lynnee (La nay) Fitch, third grade; Christie Petersen, fourth grade; Lisa Hutchinson, fourth grade; and Betty Oliver, fourth grade – were all nominated by former students or by community members. Since 1989, the Walt Disney company has sponsored the American Teacher Awards, a televised salute to outstanding members of the teaching profession. Congratulations to these Woodstock teachers. We wish them the best of luck.

I’m pleased to report that several Ocean Lakes High Magnet students were award winners at the recent Virginia Junior Academy of Science competition held at Radford University May 23, 24, and 25. More than 1,800 research papers were submitted and entered into competition. Of those, approximately 625 papers were selected for presentation at the VJAS meeting. Fifteen Ocean Lakes Magnet students were among those whose papers were selected. In addition, Ocean Lakes students garnered one first place award, two second place awards, two honorable mentions, and, one student won several special awards.

The following students were award winners:

Brian S. – Grade 12 – engineering

         Theodore T. – Grade 9 – engineering

Neurological Society Neuroscience Award and the Rowlett Award for the best research paper. Natalie was also invited to present her research to the Virginia Academy of Science Biomedical Engineering section.

Congratulations to these Ocean Lakes High School students for representing our school system so honorably.

Congratulations are in order for Parkway Elementary teachers Beth B. and Sue R.  who were awarded a $2,400 grant from The Virginia Power Partnership 2000 initiative. The grant entitled, Sharing Science for Success, is a K-5 "bubby-system" program designed to promote a hands-on approach to science learning and to raise the Standards of Learning test scores at Parkway. Each elementary class is paired with a primary class once a month to perform scientific investigations. Lesson plans, which focus on a specific SOL objective, and materials are provided for each teacher and class.

Hats off to Salem High School teacher Donald Krudop (Crew dop), who received a Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Career Achievement from Shenandoah University. Mr. Krudop is the Choral Director at Salem High School.

AAA of Tidewater recently recognized student safety patrols for their outstanding work during the 1999-2000 school year. VBCPS students inducted into the AAA Safety Patrol Hall of Fame include:

Mary K. and Jason H., ODC

Kimberly G. and Bradley D. (Dam its), White Oaks Elementary

Chet M., John B. Dey Elementary

Klea L. and Michelle E., Arrowhead Elementary

Terry P., New Castle Elementary

Congratulations to these outstanding safety patrols!

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my report for this evening.