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“ I am glad mental health is identified as a strategy in Goal 2 as well as social-emotional learning. For our society to thrive, we must teach students with clear expectations and language how to interact, how their brain works, coping skills, executive functioning skills, and more, not just academics! I am concerned with the potential indicators especially in Goal 2, which seem to overlook the seriousness and abundance of mental health concerns in our schools currently. We should be looking at suicidality rates, self-harm concerns, number of student hospitalized, etc. whenever those numbers are available. We also need to address the need to have more mental health support in school (school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists). What about assessing this through counselor ratios or the time a student has access to see a school counselor yearly? Extracurricular activities can be a great measure, as students do find more positive meaning when they're connected outside of the internet, but to be accurate of that intent, we would want to ensure we're accounting for students whose extracurricular activities may be through a travel, club, or community organization, not just schools. I also think we need to reflect the time students need to see a mental health professional in the excused absence policy more clearly. Many students can only access counseling appointments during the school day and parents are repeatedly told that those are not excused reasons (at least in high school) or that they may still fail depending on the waiver process (which drastically varies by school), which would directly mean that your measure of attendance as an indicator could directly conflict with students getting the mental health (not to mention also physical health) appointments and care they need! Those are some of the concerns related to Goal 2 that should be discussed. We need to streamline communication so there aren't an excessive number of apps and sign ups required for parents to get all of the needed alerts, information, classroom details, etc. There are several options at the division level, more for the school level, more by class, and it's too easy for things to fall through the cracks (not to mention run out of space on the phone). I echo some other parents' concerns that there is a lack of consistent timelines to expect teachers to grade work. I know they are busy, but if we're expected (and we are) to rely on parent portal for most grading information, there need to be clear standards for inputting grades (perhaps 2 weeks after the due date). If we want student ownership over work and grades, we need to ensure that teachers are modeling that behavior. ”

“ We need to place more emphasis on providing vocational and technical training for students, by exploring partnerships with industry and business. Apprentice programs should be explored and encouraged for students as alternatives to college for post high school. ”

“ How about we start supporting our teachers? And I'm not talking about more meetings and giving them a gold sticker. I'm talking about actually backing them up with unruly students, giving them more power to discipline, etc. More funding for classroom basics, instead if it coming out of their pockets. More support for developing their classrooms the way THEY want. You hired them....now trust them to do their jobs and stop overseeing every single move they make. My kid comes home EVERY DAY and tells me of at *least* one unruly student that the teacher had to handle, and that takes away from the other kids. She's busy handling little Bobby who doesn't have any home training, and it's taking away valuable instruction time from the rest of the kids. And then dimes to dollars she gets yelled at by the parents because their kid is a "little angel" and instead of backing up the teacher, the city just keeps using 'progressive' language in oversized plans outlining change that doesn't change anything. Please, from a mother who trusts the city schools with her child every day, please start giving our teachers better than what they're getting. They deserve it. Classrooms are just getting worse and becoming veritable battlefields, if you will, and the real soldiers are out in the field bleeding out while the government talks about and plans the best way to stop the hemorrhaging. STAND UP FOR OUR TEACHERS!! ”

“ "Provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment that is conducive to student learning."- I feel like this has fallen to the wayside. There are so many disruptive behaviors found today in the classroom that weren't there 5 years ago. The environment of how our children are being raised is changing and the expectations that they are learning "appropriate behaviors" at home may not be happening. Especially in Kindergarten, I have seen in the past 3 years where Kindergarten students are destroying the classroom with outbursts. More expectations are being put on the teacher and this is not fair to them or the students. Something needs to change!!!! ”

“ The plan appears comprehensive and well layed out, however I wonder how it will be implemented. Teachers are already asked to take on too many roles and do not have the time to be creative in the classroom, which is what is needed to accomplish your goals. A few thoughts that I see 1. early education is key, especially in the underperforming schools. 2. Technology is important, however I believe it is being used at too young of an age in our schools. Students should learn from non technology related sources in the early elementary years. 3. There are a number of exceptional teachers who have been in the VB school system for many years and I see them being pushed out. We should be mining their experience and knowledge on a division wide basis. One such teacher I know taught all 3 of my boys and she is exceptinal. However, her knowleged is not being utilized. 4. I belive that the addition of apprenticeships would be a huge benefit to many high school students, as not all students want to or are able to attend post secondary schools. 5. And lastly, the school systme needs to review the breakfasts served inthe schools. These meals are overprocessed and sugar laden. The amount of sugar in these meals is detrimental to the growing brain of the children effecting memory centers, the ability to attend and physical health of the child. New menus should be planned for breakfasts that reduce the amount of sugar and increase protein as the division expands its scratch cooking program. Thank you for your interest in the community input. ”

“ I echo Ruth's comments. Technology is important, however an emphasis on the fundamentals of reading, writing, and mathematics is essential. I have three kids in elementary school. One is soon to be leaving elementary school. In the past couple of years, I cannot count on one hand how many of his papers he writes in school, I have gotten to see. I feel that parent involvement is touted, yet measures or even inaction result in trying to keep us at bay. An example is going homework free in school, but not informing or barely informing parents of what kids are learning. Whereas before, parents had the opportunity through homework to have both knowledge and the ability to reinforce learning with their kids and in support of teachers, now we are left just wondering and hoping for the best. At the very least, without homework, there should be an across-the-board elementary school guideline of parents receiving a weekly or even monthly newsletters of what their child is learning, as well as some tangible feedback in the form of written papers, graded assignments etc. I hear so much how things have changed and while I accept much of it, the one thing that scares me the most is that kids no longer receive text books. Books and the gift of books are priceless. There are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners, but we are doing away with books? Online learning is huge, but how many learners are we leaving behind by not providing texts they can touch, read, highlight, review what the teacher said etc. The point of teaching kids digital well-being: yes, kids should be taught the responsibility of using the Internet in appropriate ways, however if you are putting "weapons" in the hands of babes (elementary) then where does the school system's responsibility fall? My child and other children shouldn't have to be exposed to pornography in school, walking by classmates before the age of 10 because of the new, individual Chromebooks handed out last year that don't have enough security filters. That is traumatic for a kid and parents. What is the school system doing to mitigate the risks they place into our young kid's hands? Where is their responsibility to my kid's psychological well-being and safety? Last, guidance counselor ratio should match the amount of students in the school. I agree that as a former VBS student and daughter to a retired VBS teacher that teachers have super difficult jobs and cannot play principal, counselor etc to deal with the ongoing behavioral distractions and outbursts I see and hear about in schools. Teaching, like counseling, and other helping fields are underpaid, but many don't mind because they love what they do. They need extra support though. Likewise, the well-behaved children, ready-to-learn, need recognized vs more attention being paid to those who are distractions. Those distracting the class need extra emotional support from in school or out of school counseling. The framework speaks in colors and I seek more fundamentals and pragmatic clearly defined goals. Maybe there should be less goals that clearly speak to core issues. Having said that, I do believe we are doing great in many ways. ”

“ I have reviewed the draft strategic framework and feel that it is a good start. However, my comments are to numerous to list here. I am happy to volunteer some time to visit your planning team and provide feedback. Feel free to contact me. ”

“ The one thing that seems to be missing is the communication and ongoing development aspect. There should be a platform that would be used by all schools that encompasses all aspects of the education. Right now if you have multiple kids you may be expected to download and communicate in many different apps and formats. Keeping up with that is a full time job. Also, in that should be goals for each child, whether set by parents and/or teachers and building in ways for the child to get to those goals. If their goal is to be a plumber later in life, what resources would they need to get them there (links to things should be built in and possibly automated based on age and area they are interested in)? If they want to be a teacher, what are some camps, or things that they can explore to see if this in fact what they want to do later in life. If we know their interests early on, how do we help them explore those interests to identify resources for each child to put them on a path of growth? ”

“ Although the strategic framework is well written and strives to improve and support students and teachers, it still seems to have every student on track to a career based on college degree attainment. I believe that students should attend college based on their career need(s). Not all students need college to have a successful career. For those that will not be attending college we need to do more. As such, we need to update ourselves on today's need for technical career skills and focus on meeting some of those needs. The need for engineers has been identified but the need for technicians has been overlooked and that need is massive. Our workforce needs to be replenished and in today's society we need skilled technicians. ”

“ Very indepth information for the student and well thought out planning. However, I feel some BASICS are being missed such as communication skills between staff, student, and parents. Other missed skills not being practiced are organization and planning. Examples such as accurate and timely updates for inputs of student's school work by some teachers into the Parent Portal. My experience with over 8 years has ended up with photo copying homework to prove its completion, keeping a date log of when it was turned in, and constantly asking staff 2 weeks prior to the end of the quarter to update the portal. I as a parent will do my part and determine where the issue is. It is difficult to support a grand movement moving forward if I am trying to explain to my child that the same teacher implementing this fabulous and exciting way forward is the same person that cannot, is not, or doesn't have the time to timely and accurately review their work. while I know this is not 100 percent across the board, I also know, it is more of the norm as I truly wonder how many students have not been fortunate in being able to accurately check the parent portal and their grades / GPAs have been hurt because of it. While I commend always striving to reach higher levels and challenging people, let's not forget the BASICS along the way in achieving success and lead by example. Many fine teachers spend careers mentoring and nuturing students as mine did. I can after 45+ years recall every teacher name that I had and their impact on me, can your student/child/(you) do the same? Let's hope we are moving in that direction with this new and exciting initiative that we can all say a resounding YES! In addition, shouldn't safety, emergency training, and other awareness actions be included in the plan? ”

“ HI Lisa, Please add the word retention to Goal 4 number 3. Support intentional, focused, and innovating recruitment and retention efforts to increase the diversity and quality of various applicant pools. Respectfully, Kelly Walker ”

“ A very politically correct framework, utilizing a plethora of social-justice buzzwords, focusing less on learning and more on achieving the superintendent's personal goal of "equity," ignoring whether or not the school system is producing competent, responsible and capable students. Discipline be damned. Programs abound to assist minority and female students, yet this "compass" has as its goal an even more aggressive pursuit of social justice. VBCPS currently ignores high performers except to tout them as their own success, and even has as its goal reallocating resources to those who cannot/do not perform as highly. I write this knowing it will likely be edited out of the comment board. ”

“ The Framework is comprehensive and well laid out but it may be too aggressive given the multiple goals. I hope it is achievable. Regarding the technology push, I think it should not be used so heavily during K to 4 and a strong focus on reading and writing is necessary. We moved from NJ when my daughter was in the middle of 3rd grade and she arrived to VA Beach w/ a strong writing foundation and was an early reader since 3 years old. That allowed her to excel in VB's excellent gifted and MYP/IB program. My younger son did not get that strong writing foundation in VB elementary even though he too was an early reader. I also would like to see the middle school teachers use the online books so students have reference and know where to find it. My middle school son did not know how these online books existed nor how to find them. I attended a digital resource parent session at PMS which is how I knew about them. Every teacher should be taking a couple of minutes to walk thru the online books and where their daily reference for HW and studying is located. This should be part of the Schoology requirement for teachers and students. Given the focus on reading is goal #1, students should be assigned reading and review for exams, reference for hw, etc. ”

“ I like how Goal 1 includes "acceleration" as a possibility for SRT. It made me wonder if we as a division will look at how we define gifted and how that might evolve from how it is currently defined. I am glad mental health is identified as a strategy in Goal 2. I also love the idea of "digital wellness." I love that terminology. Is there a place to update discipline guidelines? I wonder sometimes with the emphasis on student ownership, inquiry, etc. versus insubordination. We are teaching them to question, but then punishing them when they question authority. There are times it is not appropriate to question authority, but we need to teach that alongside student ownership and inquiry if we expect to continue to punish it. But it does make me wonder what the punishment should be. I like the addition of Goal 6. I think that gets to a new idea we have not had clearly spelled out in the last two strategic frameworks that is one that is necessary for continued growth and becoming premier. ”

“ Goals are in line with the political correctness of society today; however, the assumption that any and all problems are because of inequity? You?re wrong. The basics have been usurped. Teach AND REQUIRE proof of knowledge. Why are so many adults unable to spell? Unable to complete a simple multiplication problem? Because work arounds are taught and because it?s ?discrimination? to ask students to use capitalization or show the way they worked a problem. When my 3rd grader brings home a ?graded? paper (which is really just some markings - not a ?grade? - only a few of the mistakes are ?corrected? which indicating the correctness doesn?t matter, or that the educator is lazy or doesn?t care. Require engagement from the students AND the educators. Sensitivity should not be the focus of education. ”