March 2012 archive

Let’s Talk Budget

Yes, Virginia, it looks like we will have a budget this year – if the House and Senate budget conferees are able to come to a “meeting of the minds” and agree to compromise on differing solutions to balancing the state budget. Conferees on the part of the House are: Delegates Putney, Cox (of Colonial …

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Celebrate Assistant Principals Week 2012

NASSP has declared the week of April 16-April 20, 2012, as National Assistant Principals Week to honor and recognize the contributions of assistant principals to the success of students in schools across the United States. Assistant principals (APs) play a key role in today’s schools. National Assistant Principals Week is intended to highlight the many …

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Your Students and Prosecution Under Virginia Law

The idea or thought of students committing crimes is not a welcome topic to consider, but as a building administrator you may have been or will be confronted with the act of one or more of your students which will place them in the justice system in our commonwealth.  If this occurs, hopefully you will …

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Virginia High Performing Middle/High Schools 2012

Governor McDonnell Honors High-Performing Virginia Schools and School Divisions:2012 Virginia Index of Performance Awards Announced Governor Bob McDonnell and the Board of Education announced that 447 schools and two school divisions earned 2012 Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) awards for advanced learning and achievement. The incentive program recognizes schools and divisions that far exceed minimum …

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VRS Legislation Update

According to the VEA, the fiscal impact to instructional personnel of the legislative changes to VRS over the next 20 years could be as high as $3.8 Billion – that is $3.8 B less in benefits owing to the number of “offsets” the General Assembly is proposing in order to make VRS whole and to …

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SOL Practice Websites

The Virginia DOE has previously listed SOL Practice Items on their website and this blog is just a reminder for principals of these options to prepare for the mathematics assessments. There are three listed below that you should find helpful to share with your staff. The current round of assessments may be a cause for concern and frustration based …

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General Assembly Review

  The 2012 General Assembly Session ended amid a flurry of last minute voting on key legislation, amendments to a number of controversial bills and a decision to heed the Governor’s call for a special budget session. Members agreed to take a few days to “cool off” before returning to Richmond on March 21.   After …

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Potential Changes for Our VRS

Just when legislation outlining VRS retirement options seemed on the verge of failure, new amendments appeared on the last day of the 2012 Session. After consulting with key Republican leaders from the House and Senate money committees, the Governor sent down revisions to VRS bills. Some Democrats objected that few members had seen the amendments …

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HB 576 Still Has Not Passed

How often is a bill passed over without a vote for ten days? The answer: not often. But that is exactly what is happening with HB 576, the Governor’s contract bill, which moves the probationary period for teachers, principals and assistant principals from three years to five years and replaces continuing contract with a three-year …

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VASSP Opposition to HB 576 – Contract and Evaluation Policies Legislation

The Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals has made it clear that it does not support the implementation of HB 576 (the Teacher and Principal Contract and Evaluation Policies Bill) as it is written. This bill was developed without the opportunity of Virginia’s education organzations to provide input into the discussion and development of the …

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