EAA Update - February 8, 2011

Dear EAA Membership,

I do not know about you, but February always seems to me like the longest month of the year! Perhaps it is the cold and early darkness.  Or, perhaps it is the million meetings that seem to fill my schedule.  The last couple of weeks have seen some interesting events.   I apologize for not giving you an update sooner.  Here is what we know and what you should know:

• The Meet and Confer team is meeting with Dr. Sherman and the executive staff today (February 9th) at 3pm.  We are hoping to have a respectful conversation about the expectations for proper compensation for the additional three teacher days and the proposed 30 minutes.  It is my hope to have the School Board and FY 2012 Budget Public Hearing meeting notes from this meeting posted on our website before the School Board meeting on Thursday night.  We will have a lot better idea what the next couple of School Board meetings may yield after we have our conversation with Dr. Sherman.
  
• Meetings!  Meetings!  And more meetings!  It will be critical for members, families and friends to attend the School Board meetings!  Your attendance at these meetings will turn the tide!  Please speak or at least come and hear what is said!  It does MATTER!  Here are the dates and times:
  
• February 10, 2011 (Thursday) 7:30pm - School Board and FY 2012 Budget Public Hearing 
• February 17, 2011 (Thursday) 7:00pm Work Session on Salary and Benefits                                                   Please come to this meeting on the 17th!
• February 24, 2011 (Thursday) 7:30pm - Fiscal Forecast Update and Public Hearing
• March 3, 2011 7:30pm - Add/Delete Work Session, Public Hearing & Adoption of the Waiver 
• March 10, 2011 7:30pm - School Board Meeting and Budget Adoption.
  
• Please take the survey on the extended day and the extended year.

• ACPS link: <http://www.acps.k12.va.us/news2011/nr2011020701.php>
• Alexandria News link:  <http:// www.alexandrianews.org >

Make your voice heard!

•  We have heard your requests to link our blog with “ACPS Underground.”   First, we have not been invited by the author of this blog to exchange links.  Any decision would have to be voted on by the Executive Committee.  If the Blog Owner would like to contact me, email me at GinaEAA@gmail.com 

• Please contact school board members! Send them your thoughts and concerns!
  They read email and your voice makes a difference!
  
• Yvonne Folkerts (Chair) yvonne.folkerts@acps.k12.va.us
• Sheryl Gorsuch (Vice-Chair) sheryl.gorsuch@acps.k12.va.us
• Ronnie Campbell ronnie.campbell@acps.k12.va.us
• Charles Wilson charles.wilson@acps.k12.va.us
• Helen Morris helen.morris@acps.k12.va.us
• Arthur Peabody arthur.peabody@acps.k12.va.us
• Mimi Carter mimi.carter@acps.k12.va.us
• Marc Williams marc.williams@acps.k12.va.us
• Blanche Maness blanche.maness@acps.k12.va.us

All my best to our outstanding staff!

Gina Miller

EAA President