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You are Here: Fairfax County Public Schools > Departments, Clusters > Superintendent's Office > Superintendent's Community Advisory Council > SCAC Minutes September 21, 2004
Superintendent's Community Advisory Council
SCAC Minutes
September 21, 2004
Chair Eileen Kugler noted that FCPS had a new Superintendent and asked Jack Dale to introduce himself. Dr. Dale provided some information about his background and noted that he is very committed to creating partnerships with all elements of the community and sees SCAC as an important link between him and many of those elements.
Kugler explained, for the benefit of new members, the purpose of SCAC and the process of developing meeting topics and agendas and holding meetings. She introduced Dick Reed, who had just returned from Baghdad where he had been working with the Coalition Provisional Authority. Reed had previously been on the Council and had been reappointed by the Superintendent.
Kugler asked Council members to introduce themselves. Following the self-introductions, Kugler called for nominations for Council chair for the 2004-05 year. Lynn Terhar was nominated and elected by acclamation. Terhar asked for nominations for vice chair; Mary Tycz was nominated and elected without opposition.
Kugler called on the Superintendent for updates. Dale noted that the School Board had amended the admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ). The new policy more strongly emphasizes TJ's focus on preparing students for further study and careers in science, math, and technology and calls for admissions decisions that select students with this focus. The policy also supports selection of a diverse student body and broadens the pool of students whose applications receive full consideration.
Ray Worley said he had spoken with former School Board member Gary Jones, who had told him that TJ had originally been conceived as a "trade school."
Dale said that an increase in the size of the TJ freshman class was being considered by the School Board. Ellen Oppenheim said that it would be difficult to house many more students at TJ because of size limitations. Brenda Greene asked if jurisdictions other than Fairfax County that have students at TJ would share in the newly created places if the School Board created them. Dale said they would. Jeff Fulton asked if resources follow students from their home schools to TJ. Dale said they do; the same per-pupil formulas apply whatever school a student is in.
Worley said he has noticed that an aptitude for wanting to learn is what distinguishes TJ students. Some of those who have this aptitude are not selected for TJ and are, therefore, "neglected."
Reed said that the Board has increased the pool beyond 800 but that only about half of the 800 have been admitted in the past. What about them?
Dale discussed his "high school of the future" proposals. These include magnet programs (e.g., in humanities or science and technology) in high schools in different parts of the county; these magnets would use AP or IB courses to focus on particular academic areas. Under this proposal, a given school might have multiple magnet programs. Another proposal is for students to be able to have dual enrollment in high school and college so that a student could have a college transcript when he or she graduates.
Karen Weaver said her experience in Georgia indicates there are some pitfalls to dual enrollment, including conflicts between AP and college courses and the funding formula for colleges to receive the cost of granting credits.
Ellen Oppenheim said her son has already taken a course at TJ that gives him college credit from GMU. Dale said his idea is to broaden this beyond TJ.
Kugler said magnet programs tend to draw top-achieving students from other schools and noted that many students bloom academically only once they are in high school and would not be well served by magnet programs.
Todd Rowley said it was important to note that the plan to offer college credit for courses taken in high school had not yet been vetted by the colleges.
Worley asked if it might not be easier to ask colleges to guarantee credit for certain score levels on AP exams.
Reed said he would be following the boundary process for the new south county high school.
Green distributed the Wingspread Declaration on the importance of non-academic factors to students' success.
Suzanne Levy mentioned that the Fairfax City School Board would have a bond issue on the city's ballot in November.
Eileen Filler-Corn raised the issue of schools scheduling exams and other important activities on or near religious holidays. Oppenheim acknowledged that the policy on this is good but said that the policy is not always implemented at the school level. Suzanne Levy said that students should not have school work due the very day they return from religious holidays.
The meeting was adjourned.