Publications by Julia Stewart

Shenandoah University Teacher of the Year

Ten Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) teachers – five elementary school teachers, three middle school teachers and two high school teachers are nominees for the 2009 Shenandoah University – Northern Virginia Campus - Teacher of the Year Award.

Supervisors Adopt Resolution Regarding Shaw Road Alignment in Belfort Park

In a 7-0-2 vote, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution regarding the preferred location of the northern east-west section of Shaw Road in the Belfort Park area of Sterling between Church Road and Sterling Boulevard, adjacent to Route 28. Supervisors also agreed to forward the adopted resolution to the Loudoun County Planning Commission for consideration in the commission review of the draft 2009 Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP). Supervisors acted to assure planning commissioners are aware of the board’s desired alignment and vision for that segment of Shaw Road near the county owned Old Sterling Annex property.

Middle School Proposed in South Riding

“How certain are you the Board of Supervisors wants this site?” Sara Howard-O’Brien, Loudoun County Public School’s (LCPS) land management specialist, was asked by one of the citizens who attended the June 4 community information meeting on the proposed MS-5 middle school in South Riding.

LCPS Superintendent Ed Hatrick’s Evaluation Scheduled

Dr. Edgar Hatrick

The Loudoun County School Board’s annual “Evaluation of the Superintendent” is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11. School board members annually review and evaluate the performance of the school system’s chief operating office in closed session. While matters addressed in the evaluation discussions are not made public, the terms of the superintendent’s contract are public record. By its action to extend and/or renew the superintendent’s contract–and the terms of the contract, salary and benefits–a majority of the School Board signals its appraisal of the superintendent’s performance.

Site Meeting Scheduled for Dulles School Middle School

A community information meeting regarding the proposed Dulles South Middle School (MS-5) is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 4 at Mercer Middle School, 41249 Greenstone Drive in Aldie. MS-5 site, the subject of the June 4 meeting, has, unlike other recent proposed school sites, passed preliminary muster with a majority of the members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. However, required County land use permits and applications await necessary approvals, nor has the public yet weighed in on this site.

TOP LCPS SUBSTITUTES HONORED

The Substitute Awards

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) top substitute teachers were honored at the May 26 School Board meeting. LCPS Director of Recruiting and Staffing Larry Hopson presented the Substitute Recognition Awards.

Prepare for Graduation

Loudoun County Public schools announced the list of speakers for the 10 upcoming Loudoun County High School graduation ceremonies. Graduation ceremonies and the traditional All-Night Graduation celebrations are planned for more than 3,950 Loudoun high school seniors.

School Board Votes to Terminate Contracts for Wheatlands School Site

“Without funds to purchase the land in Wheatland for public school purposes, staff recommends that the School Board terminate the contracts with Mr. Cangiano and Mr. Burgess.” Such was the lone agenda item on the special meeting of the Loudoun County School Board held on June 1. It passed 9-0.

Supervisors Reject School Board Contract

The final official act of the months long–and now failed–effort by the Loudoun County School Board to secure a three-school site in western Loudoun on the Cangiano/Burgess property at Wheatlands will play out during a special School Board meeting on Monday, June 1, at 1:30 p.m. in the School Board Meeting Room at the School Administrative Offices, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn.

Top LCPS Substitutes Honored

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) top substitute teachers were honored at the May 26 School Board meeting.

New Principals Named for New High Schools

Woodgrove and Tuscarora were named Tuesday night at the Loudoun School Board meeting. Both appointments are effective July 2009 as both high schools are scheduled to open for the 2010-2011 school year.

Remembering the Sacrifice: Memorial Day 2009

Captain Jonathan Toland, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, of Sterling spoke at the 33rd annual Sterling Area Veterans Memorial Day ceremonies Monday May 25. The Breckenridge-Peters-Wood American Legion Post 150 of Sterling sponsored the annual event. Ann Kuo Commander of American Legion Post 150 officiated. Members of Boy Scout Troop 956 (above) led a crowd estimated at 350, gathered at the Veterans Memorial at Sterling Blvd and Holly Avenue in the pledge of allegiance. Scouts later assisted in the presentation of the wreath and in the raising of the colors. The Sterling United Methodist Church choir sang the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful” and a medley of patriotic songs. Two Park View High School Band members, Paul Rosenthal and Chris O' Dell performed Taps. Members of American Legion Post 150 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9478 provided the rifle salute.

School Board Adopted Elementary School Attendance Boundary Changes

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) operates and staffs 50 elementary schools, with the 51st–Kenneth Culbert Elementary–slated to open in Hamilton for the 2009-2010 school year. Currently, 28,842 of the 57,009 students enrolled in LCPS–more than half–are elementary students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.

School Sites – Who, What, Where and When?

Despite a considerable drop in the cost per acre of the 160-acre Cangiano tract for three western school sites near Lovettsville, supervisor support for the Wheatland contract has evidently eroded.

Wheatlands Survives To Fight Another Day

Shortly after midnight—after a staff preliminary presentation on two possible new Lovettsville area school sites followed by a closed session—the Loudoun County School Board voted 6-3 to keep the Wheatlands contract alive while amendments to the contracts are executed, new information is disseminated to the public and two new alternative sites in and around Lovettsville are examined.

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Contact Ms. Stewart at Julia@loudouni.com.