Archive+2017-18

Note: this space will be open until the end of the 2017-18 school year. Wikispaces is closing and content is being ported to a new wiki host. Details about the new space will be provided after the conversion.

= Loudoun Education Alliance for Parents then and now = toc Once upon a time the LEAP alliance was established in 1989 in Loudoun County, VA as a forum for parents, teachers, students, school administrators, and the school board to exchange ideas and information. Meetings were held the second Wednesday of every month during the school year and they provided value to the community and improved the school system. Because Loudoun has grown exponentially since 1989, and there are many people new to the area who don't know about the educational resources we have, we thought it would be a good idea to create a wiki as a place to exchange information 24/7/365.Little did we know this would make some people upset.

In December 2017, we found out that the original independence of LEAP seemed to be cast aside within the interpretation of a new 2017-18 version of LEAP created by the superintendent's Parent Group Handbook. A variety of other events happened that have caused confusion and make it seem as if LEAP is no longer an independent citizen group. In order to be transparent, documents are on Dropbox and some are in this wiki. Review the folder here on Dropbox.


 * UPDATE: Read real information about what happened at this month's meeting below. **

You can join the wiki to post questions, comments, or additional documents.


 * ** 1989-2017 ** || ** NOW ** ||
 * ==Is LEAP independent?==

LEAP was an independent organization governed by bylaws, with elected committee members and a formal process for introducing changes to the governing documents and standing rules through voting delegates who represented each LCPS school.

As indicated in the bylaws, there used to be a bylaws subcommittee, but we have not had one for a couple of years. Per by the bylaws, the subcommittee chair has a seat on the executive committee and votes with them. This helps ensure understanding of the bylaws. || ==Why has delegate input been removed from the LCPS LEAP web site?== Each school can have two voting delegates, and alternates, so that each school can be represented in LEAP business meetings and monthly programs. Delegates can attend meetings and ask questions just like any other citizen, and also have a right designated in the bylaws to make motions, form subcommittees, complete projects, vote, etc. //References to these rights have been removed from the LCPS LEAP web site// and the documents posted there. This information was removed in November 2017 and members of the executive committee indicate they did not approve the changes or make them. We are aware of only one LEAP executive committee member having access to the website - the Secretary. Why would someone secretly modify a founding principle of LEAP that is documented in our bylaws?

The LCPS web site is supposed to be protected by a login ID and password provided by LCPS. As of May 2018, our request to LCPS to investigate who removed this information and share the findings with us has not been acted upon. The last request was sent to the Chief of Staff in March 2018.

Many people think the 1989 bylaws can easily be updated to reflect innovations such as the internet, webinars, conference calls, and other meeting and information sharing tools that are not currently in the bylaws. The VA PTA has an excellent example of how to update bylaws for this decade. To do this, a delegate would need to make a motion to form a subcommittee to recommend changes to the bylaws, which could then be voted on by the general assembly.

Because there was not a bylaws subcommittee, the elected president engaged a parliamentarian to advise the membership on the bylaws, attend meetings, and provide training to the executive committee. The president's ability to do this is explicit in the bylaws. A member of the 2017-18 executive committee opposed this and refused to recognize the expert opinion the parliamentarian provided or pay the invoice, which has been due since February 2018. There has been a claim that LCPS supports her position and may have advised executive committee members not to pay it, though what role LCPS would have in this is unclear. Two executive committee members resigned after this disagreement, leaving only the president and the two executive committee members who refused to pay the invoice on the board after this. Review the documents here


 * Private contributions have been obtained to pay the parliamentarian.** Those of you angry about why your dues didn't pay the invoice can take it up with the persons who blocked payment. ||
 * **Executive committee duties are part of the governing documents of LEAP and cannot be changed without a delegate majority vote.**

LEAP bylaws contain an overview of the functions performed by each elected executive committee officer. Further details about the duties and responsibilities of each officer are described in detail in the bylaw's Standing Rules. Before elections, the duties are distributed throughout the school system and interested parties share their interest in running for election to the LEAP nominating committee. They then fulfill those responsibilities for their term, which is one year. || Part of the documents that govern LEAP, called the standing rules, were changed //without notice and without the knowledge and agreement of the executive committee or the delegates//. The new position descriptions remove responsibilities that the bylaws have always reserved for the president and gives them to the secretary. Executive committee members were alerted to the change on the LCPS web site and asked the secretary to restore the correct version immediately. The secretary maintains that she was told to change them, but who has authority to tell LEAP to change these and why would one executive committee member defer to an external party?

What was changed? Where are the __correct__ position descriptions?

 * Here is a video showing the LCPS announcement that was sent out to the school division with the correct position descriptions that govern how LEAP is organized and conducts business.
 * This video with an email from the 2017-18 Nominating Committee chair, M. Leffler, to delegates who were interested in running for office for the 2017-18 school year contains the correct position descriptions, too.

Where are the false position descriptions?

 * Here is a video of the current set with the false explanation on the LCPS web site.


 * We have a record that the decision to modify these was **not** made by the executive committee, and - even if the executive committee wanted to change them mid-year - they could not do so. The required procedure is for changes of this nature to be introduced to the delegates and voted on. This did not happen. Who claims the authority to put unauthorized bylaws/standing rules on the LCPS web site and why has this not been addressed by LCPS as the LEAP executive committee requested?
 * Review the documents here
 * Executive committee members and delegate efforts to resolve this appear to have been ignored and the LCPS administration has not been responsive to requests for information or assurance that LCPS will ensure only authorized LEAP delegates will be permitted to change official LEAP documents and post them on the LCPS web site in the future.
 * At the May meeting, it was announced that a delegate has filed a law suit against the executive committee members he believes to be responsible. Additional documents are available on request. ||
 * **Delegates are selected by the parent groups at each school and a list of the delegates for each school is public information and is available at every meeting.**

Anyone could be a delegate on behalf of a school (not just parents and teachers) and make motions, introduce new ideas, form subcommittees, suggest guest speakers, and make recommendations for enhancing the educational experience of students and using tax dollars efficiently and transparently within the county. || The LCPS liason and a member of the LEAP executive committee responsible for maintaining the list of delegates have referred to unwritten rules for who can become a delegate and the process for doing so. These rules are not published or sanctioned by LEAP, but appear to have been used in 2018 to "disqualify" delegates, leave their names of the delegates list (even if they have paid dues), and remove their names from LEAP communications.

We have received complaints from delegates who paid dues that their names were once on the list of delegates and are there no longer, and that they are no longer receiving emails and other communications from LEAP. In at least one case, a LCPS administrator is accused of refusing to recognize a delegate. ||
 * **The LCPS LEAP Liason sent electronic communications provided by LEAP to each school to assist schools in signing up their delegates.**

At the start of the school year, LCPS included information about LEAP and LEAP delegate registration forms in each packet of information delivered to the school principals and parent organizations at the start of the year. LCPS also provided parent group organization email addresses for each school so that LEAP could invite schools to join and provide instructions for doing so. || At the start of the 2017-18 school year, the LCPS LEAP liason did not provide this information about LEAP to schools. LEAP requests for parent group organization emails were denied, citing privacy concerns. The LEAP email broadcast that had gone out through the LCPS public information office in previous years was rejected by LCPS because they allegedly did not approve of the wording in the announcement. Subsequently, some parent groups did not know how to register their delegates for LEAP and expressed a view that LCPS was thwarting their ability to be involved.

The president of LEAP said she met with Dr. Richards and Mr. Byard to discuss this, and was allegedly told Mr. Byard would send the email provided by LEAP to principals, PTOs, and PTAs right away. According to some parent groups, they did not receive it. There has not been one parent group who indicated they received it. This could have impacted the makeup of the organization and deprived citizens from being involved. ||
 * **LEAP announced and promoted their programs in many ways, including providing them to local newspapers, school groups, etc.**

At the start of the school year, the first vice president of communications obtained press contact information and invited the press to publish information about topics, priorities, and ways to get involved. Each school was provided with a LEAP information packet and information on how to get involved. || At the start of the 2017-18 school year, the LCPS LEAP liason emailed LEAP executive committee members that all press interaction was to go through the LCPS public information office only.

After the LEAP executive committee shared their recommendations and concerns with the Loudoun Times Mirror, the LEAP executive committee was called to the private office of a LCPS administrator and allegedly chastised for speaking to the press. The VP of communications resigned the next day. Subsequently, another VP of Communications was elected and was also told she was not allowed to perform her duties, including communicating with the press. She reportedly resigned, too. ||
 * Anyone who suspected LEAP bylaws or standing rules were broken or needed improvement brought these ideas to the executive committee and they were discussed in the general assembly and addressed. || LCPS is credited with having a catalogue of LEAP errors that they have not been willing to share with the LEAP president or executive committee. The VP of Programs claims that she wrote it, but has not been willing to share it with the president or other executive committee members. The secretary indicates in an email that she has seen it and that LCPS has it. Is it any wonder four executive committee members have resigned? FOIA requests for this information have not been answered (see the request here) and appeals to the superintendent have gone unanswered. Who benefits from this?

Read the assertions this person makes in her email to Wayde Byard and then decide for yourself if this is accurate based on the meeting notes and the discussion. Shortly after, the other committee members are reprimanded in email by Byard because a member feels "unheard".These are your tax dollars at work?

During the May 7 LEAP program, the VP of Programs revealed that she and the Secretary reported this meeting to the local NAACP because she was attacked during the meeting? Is this what you hear happening? Could this be a factor in why executive committee members resigned? ||
 * Exchange of information and ideas was positive and meetings were innovative || When tax payers ask LCPS administrators meeting questions and they are told, "We will get back to you" there is no mechanism in place for either getting back to them or sharing the information with everyone else who has the same question. This wiki was designed to contain information tax payers request, and vital information parents and students need that is not available elsewhere.

Many questions are still unanswered and now that the Q&A has been moved to the LCPS web site, some questions don't appear at all and others still haven't been answered. This is not what LEAP had in mind for sharing and collaboration. || sets the agenda to reflect them, allowing time for delegates to make motions and vote || In the November LEAP meeting, delegates voted to form a mental health and trauma subcommittee. Since then, LCPS revoked support of a subsequent meeting, and no meeting has taken place in 2018. The mental health subcommittee has received tremendous support from the community, the state, private companies, and mental health experts, but they are not on the agenda to share their recommendations in the final LEAP meeting of the year. Who would want to ignore their achievements and how does that help the students and families?
 * Citizens had an easy way to organize and make recommendations through LEAP, and the school district was respectful and responsive to their recommendations, even if they chose not to implement them. || Recommendations made by the 2017-18 LEAP executive committee in September 2017 were not welcomed by the LCPS Pupil Services team and were not incorporated into the new LCPS Return to Learn initiative. It appears that parental involvement and practical tax payer suggestions are not valued. ||
 * Delegates decided on the most important meeting topics and speakers and the president
 * Delegates decided on the most important meeting topics and speakers and the president

After delegates voted on 2018 meeting priorities, someone in the LCPS administrative office claimed that because the delegates hadn't paid dues yet, their votes weren't valid. (In fact, dues weren't even due yet when the voting took place.) The second Vice President (Programs) then allegedly changed the 2018 meeting topics to reflect a set more appealing to the LCPS liason, and the topics approved by the executive committee were killed in a private meeting hosted in the private office of a LCPS administrator - out of which a new 2018 program emerged. Topics like school choice, Monroe academy, and grading policies were taken off the January 2018 version created in the LCPS admin building. Meeting notes and documents related to this action are being organized and can be posted upon request. ||
 * Loudoun was smaller and many people knew each other. It was difficult to start a rumor about delegates that people would believe. || If you don't like the question, try to discredit the person who asked it. If an LCPS administrator says it, many people will believe it. LCPS claims the alleged interfering emails sent to LEAP executive committee members are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Some delegates allege they have been subjected to acts that seem like retaliation. ||
 * Relationships were mutually beneficial and we were all it in for the kids and the county. || LCPS reserves the right to accuse your parent group of doing many things wrong, and then can refuse to provide specifics so you can verify and adjust. See the letter from LCPS to LEAP executive committee on December 28, 2017 in Dropbox, the request for clarity written to the Superintendent on February 7, 2018 and then see the "explanation" received four months later here. If the explanation makes sense to you then please post your interpretation here.

LCPS reserves the right to tell your speakers they are not allowed to present, and your speakers will be asked to leave. See the apology for details. ||
 * If you couldn't attend the meeting, you could still learn what happened. || Requests to record meetings have been denied, citing lack of funding to audio record and stringent requirements for the quality of audio recording performed in the LCPS administration building. People unable to attend meetings for a variety of reasons, including disabilities that prevent attendance, are prevented from equal access. If you care to change this, make a motion that meetings should be held outside of the administrative building. If enough delegates agree, the meetings can be moved to alternate locations where audio recording, webinars, etc. are encouraged. ||
 * ** LEAP Bylaws were in effect: ** || ** LCPS Parent Group Handbook is in effect: ** ||
 * [[file:LEAP Alliance_bylaws.pdf]] || [[file:LCPS Parent Group Handbook.docx]]

|| ** New Roles that appeared on the LCPS LEAP web site in November 2017 rather mysteriously and without approval of the exec committee or the general assembly **
 * These are new requirements for groups that use LCPS space. These requirements differ from LEAP bylaws because in LEAP elected officers *can speak to the press - in fact, anyone can - though Byard emailed this years committee indicating they were no longer allowed to speak to the press, since that role is reserved for him. Is that what the administration had in mind?
 * The guide says topics for the 2018 school year will be decided in spring of 2017, before officers are elected. Failure to finalize the 2018 topics is cited by Byard as a reason LCPS could not support the January program.
 * This is very different from the 1989 - 2017 when newly elected delegates determined the meeting topics. This means that important topics that arise that were not on the schedule will not be put on the schedule. This includes Monroe Academies, restraint policies, grading policies, turf versus text books, etc. Can't you see how inconvenient it would be if your delegates wanted to discuss something timely?
 * Wayde Byard will review your meeting description and speakers and advise what to change. If you don't change it, well... we all know what happened at December's meeting?
 * LCPS reserves the right to withdraw resources for your meetings. See memo from Wayde Byard to LEAP Executive Committee, December 28, 2017. Reasons for withdrawing resources can be odd, especially considering they are made up rules no one has seen before and most aren't mentioned anywhere in the parent group handbook or anywhere else. You decide:
 * [[file:LCPS Message to the LEAP Executive Committee and LEAP response.pdf]] ||
 * ** LEAP Executive Committee Roles used during elections for 2017-18 officers **

Contrast them with the actual roles approved by the general assembly and distributed to citizens considering running for a position.

Notice how the responsibilities once given to the President and First VP are now taken over by the Secretary - who has access to updating the page? Contrast these with the actual responsibilities sent out prior to the elections for these positions. The Treasurer asked the secretary why they were changed, why, and who changed them. She never received an answer, and the remaining executive committee members wrote a formal motion demanding the originals be put back. ||

Confused because of all the rumors and misinformation about LEAP? So were we. Information provided by our LCPS liason allegedly conflicted with that provided by our former presidents and officers, so we hired a certified parliamentarian to clear things up. Read the facts here:

Why the confusion? In the May meeting, the president said she didn't resign. The secretary and second VP of Programs said she did, based on this email?

This is the email the secretary refers to as the president's resignation. When the president said she did not resign, the secretary quipped something like, "I have a resignation email from you right here. Moving right along..." Does this look like a resignation email to you? //**This email was part of a Freedom of Information Act Request. You can see all the documents obtained in the Dropbox.**// []

The top email was sent to the board the day after the January executive committee meeting when the LCPS PIO reportedly chaired a LEAP meeting in his private office in the LCPS administrative building. In this and later emails, it appears LCPS told the board that the president was not eligible to serve based on perceived mistakes that the past year's nominating committee made, such as a perceived failure to include her name in the first draft of the meeting minutes. These accusations were never proven and no information about the rules allegedly broken were distributed to the board. The president was sick and didn't attend the meeting, but called the LCPS PIO to find out if there was a meeting happening in his office (it had not been called with proper notice to the board or the delegates). She was reportedly put on speaker phone and after the meeting, she sent the email released here. It looks like she said IF it is true she was not eligible to be president, THEN she would resign. NO information indicating she was not eligible has been provided. Other records from the next day indicate she was told they did NOT want her to resign and didn't understand where LCPS PIO was getting these "rules".

In __this__ email weeks later, the secretary refers to her perception that the president offered to resign, but here you can read she was wrong. Is there a reasonable person who finds this confusing? What is confusing about this? []

The only thing I find confusing is why there were all these meetings in private LCPS offices when board meetings are supposed to be on the first Wednesday of every month and in public. What role has LCPS been playing exactly?

In case there is still any doubt about if the president resigned, this email from the former president and advisor to the board confirms the president did not resign and explains that the second VP of programs can't take over. Logical if you read the governing documents of the organization. []

The president didn't resign the way I read it. Confused about why some board members copy Wayde Byard from LCPS on all these internal board emails tho... Is he one of the advisors that Mead's email refers to? Don't see info about extensive consultations with LCPS liasons in the LCPS parent guide. Is this how our tax dollars are supposed to be used? Stop having meetings on LCPS property and free us of this bs.

Don't remember LCPS ever actively *advising LEAP like this in past. Do Mead and Leffler think Byard runs LEAP? and the rest of the board doesn't see it that way? No wonder there's a problem. This is supposed to be an INDEPENDENT organization folks. If someone felt pressure to work so closely with LCPS, why didn't they just resign and let the independent officers do the work they were elected to do? Why does Leffler write that LEAP will be disbanded by LCPS??? The superintendent's parent guide says LEAP can request a new liason to replace Byard - why don't we just do that? OR is that why this whole scenario of fake election rules being violated came up - were they going to ask for a new liason who respects LEAP independence??? Someone needs to demand the rules this group is accused of breaking.

** Who are the members of the LEAP Executive Committee? **
Meet the elected executive committee for the 2017-18 school year:


 * Stephanie Eskins-Gleason is our president.** Stephanie writes, "I'm a mom of two teens in Potomac Falls. Our house is near a large forest and we enjoy bird watching and other outdoor activities. I'm the most passionate gardener in the family, but we all love the outdoors and wildlife. I come from a large family of Virginians spread across the state - there are 63 of us now and that includes my very active 97 year old grandfather! I work as a Learning and Knowledge Exchange Consultant for the Smithsonian and the World Bank Group in DC. When I'm not working, spending time with my family, or volunteering with LEAP, I love to garden, read, learn, and cook.

Hello and good day to everyone. I am a single mother with a daughter in the Loudoun County Public School System. I live in Leesburg and have been a resident of Loudoun County since 2006 so my daughter has been growing up in LCPS. As a parent to a LCPS student, I've always been interested in being involved with her education and the school system but only recently began participating in the PTA just over a year ago. I work with Employ-R Solutions where I am in charge of making sure our marketing, communications and overall office functions are up to date and running smoothly. I love dogs and own one small Jack Russel mix, I used to work with animals for a living and I have a great passion for helping animals as I believe they help us remember what humanity and unconditional love is. I love to read, research history and socialize with friends. I'm always open for a good conversation.
 * Coryl Abrams was our First VP (Communications) until she resigned:**

Hi everyone, I have a son attending Potomac Falls High School. I am a management expert and specialize in data analysis, technology, audits and investigations for improved performance. When I am not working, volunteering with LEAP, or working on specials projects in support of the PTSO at my son's school, I am writing articles on school reform, fraud, mismanagement and abuse on my blog. I am excited about LEAP and can't wait to meet each and every one of you. Thanks for entrusting me with this board position. I am committed to doing my best for the parents and children of Loudoun County Public Schools.
 * Tonya Mead is our Second VP (Programs)**. Tonya's name was listed on the LCPS LEAP web site as president, which bypassed the bylaws and the First VP's rightful role of chairing meetings when the president could not preside. An executive committee member cannot take the role of president; there is no support for this action in the bylaws.


 * Jasmine Moser was our Treasurer until she resigned.**


 * Michele Leffler is our Secretary.**


 * Jeanee Layman was the chair of the Social Media Subcommittee until she upset the Secretary and was removed from email distribution lists.** Please share your ideas with her by contacting her on Facebook LCPS.LEAP or on our Twitter feed @LEAP4edu

You can read the full position descriptions that were used during the nomination process and elections for 2017-18 here: Or read the updated - in November 2017 version - on the LCPS website, which is just a bit different. It gives an LCPS part time employee (elementary school substitute teacher) the ability to set the agenda and update the web site, etc. - duties that delegates elected the president to perform. See for yourself: LCPS LEAP website with bogus position descriptions and the:

The website indicates these are the "same descriptions". These are not the roles and responsibilities that the nominating committee shared with 2017-18 candidates, nor are they the same as the ones sent out in all election-related emails. They are not the same ones that the executive committee reviewed as a team at the start of the year. They were added to this web site in November 2017 and all members of the executive committee claim they did not authorize them to be swapped out with this current version. Executive committee members cannot even authorize a change like this mid-year; the general assembly would have to vote on changing these. The following members asked the Second VP (Programs) - who claims the right to act as president - and the Secretary to change the position descriptions back: president, first vice president, treasurer, chair of social media subcommittee. They are still there, and this is disturbing.

Questions for LEAP and LCPS
This was the idea behind this page, "Have a question about LCPS that you haven't been able to find an answer to? Please post it here. One of our volunteers will do our best to find the answer, either by linking to a web page that has it or passing the question on to LCPS and posting the point of contact and their response. This can be an efficient way for LCPS and parents to share answers to frequently asked questions. Since we may periodically submit questions and ideas to LCPS to help us obtain information, please try to keep this area organized by creating a general topic for your question and listing your topic and question in alphabetical order."

And... what the heck is going on? Why is LEAP being attacked? LEAP has bylaws that govern how it operates and its legal rights. When these bylaws are not followed, the assembly must address them. According to the VP of Programs during the May 2018 meeting, there are accusations of bylaws that have been broken. She indicates she has a list of errors but has not shared it publically. Why? Robert's Rules require that this be public information to delegates and that an investigation be conducted.

We consulted with the National Association of Parliamentarians and obtained information about getting training on our bylaws and Robert's Rules (which are incorporated into our bylaws). Many assemblies use Robert's Rules because:


 * //"It is difficult to find another branch of knowledge where a small amount of study produces such great results in increased efficiency in a country where the people rule, as in parliamentary law." - Henry M. Robert//**

Wondering why there is so much confusion? The LEAP LCPS liason gets the credit for clarifying the rules and confusing everyone involved with LEAP, according to the LEAP secretary, Michelle Lefler. Read her view here:

You can read the letter the LCPS PIO sent to the LEAP Executive Committee on December 28, 2017 noting LCPS concerns about LEAP - and the LEAP president's response and request for more information in this file. As of February 15, 2018 the superintendent and Dr. Richards have not responded. Information requested from the superintendent and emails sent to LCPS admin, school board, board of supervisors, and delegates outline additional challenges. Some school board members are asking the same questions LEAP executive committee members have asked, and perhaps that will help resolve this. You can read more here:

Thanks to Jill Turgeon on the school board, the superintendent's new Parent Resource Guide is available for all parents to read. Anyone familiar with LEAP bylaws will notice that in order for LEAP to comply with these new rules, our bylaws and processes will need to change to grant LCPS more control over LEAP than has existed in the past. You can read the parent guide here:

Who benefits from this confusion? Each person who was elected at the May 2017 election - and each person who has been elected subsequently - has had their eligibility questioned. No one has been willing to put this in writing as required by our parliamentary procedures, but verbal allegations include: the 2016-17 Nominating Committee failed to do its duty before nominating officers; the meeting minutes from the May 2017 meeting were missing and so the election never happened; officers did not pay their dues as required in the bylaws and thus can't be members or officers unless the delegates make a motion to extend the deadline for dues; our secretary volunteered for a vacant position from the floor and the nominating committee process was bypassed; there are missing delegate registration forms; it is not clear how many delegates LEAP has and how many are able to make motions and vote; some LEAP delegates believe their dues were paid but there are no cashed checks for their dues, etc. Contrary to rumor, no member or officer has been removed.

A certified parliamentarian from the National Association of Parliamentarians has reviewed the LEAP bylaws and standing rules and clarified the rumors and misinformation being spread about rules. You can see the document here. Charting a path for moving forward will happen at our April meeting, and elections for new officers will happen in May.

Why does the LCPS LEAP website information list different officers and position descriptions than this wiki?
The LCPS LEAP website appears to have been altered without the permission of the LEAP executive committee or the delegates in the assembly. The executive committee was made aware of this issue and asked the LCPS employees who altered it to correct it in January. This has not happened, and the responsibility for posting false information rests with the people who replaced the correct information with false information.


 * //"Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty." - Henry M. Robert//**

=Hot Topics=

Bring Your Own Technology What devices are available in school and what is my family expected to provide so my child can participate fully? It seems the devices and technical specifications recommended change from school to school - true, or does LCPS set them? Do they change between elementary, intermediate and high school?

Why have the ipads, etc. our families purchased for our kids to use at schools not allowed any longer because their high school decided they need to have a device with an external keyboard? Why didn't they tell us this before the school started instead of half way through and how do they expect families to pay for MORE devices to use at school?

Course Withdrawal Policy for high school students Can someone please share the policy for when students in high school can drop courses without academic penalty? Is it true that every high school has discretion to change the district policy? This uncertainty puts a lot of stress on the kids.

Freedom of Information Act Why do some parents need to use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information they need about their school? What is the format of the letter and how long does it take to receive a response?

Technology and Universal Design for All There are hundreds of resources listed on the LCPS website for technology. How do I find out which ones, if any, might be useful for my child? What is an assistive technology evaluation and who can request one?

My daughter requested information about assistive technology and found out about some resources the district has and how to get them. My son is disabled and when we requested information for him, they told us he could only have it if the IEP team thought it was necessary. The IEP team said he doesn't need any universal design technology, but how can they be so sure if they won't ask someone from the assistive technology department? Right now he doesn't have anything, not even access to online textbooks or that software that reads texts to people that so many kids (even those without disabilities) seem to be able to use. Who can we appeal to about this? = = =Executive Committee Meeting Notes=

This was a page for the LEAP executive committee to plan, collaborate, and communicate. That meant that anyone could read what the executive committee was working on, but only executive committee members could update the page.

Agenda & Summary for Wednesday, December 5, 2017 conference call: 7-8:15 - Attendees Michelle, Jasmin, Stephanie Tonya is traveling and unable to participate and the VP Comms is vacant for now.

BACKGROUND: Jasmine and Stephanie talked after the meeting with Maura and Stephanie filled her in on what she learned. Jasmine was the treasurer last year and confirmed what Maura told us about tracking the delegates and following up with them, etc. Jasmine agreed that the plan to reach out directly to principals through Wayde is critical and also hoped we could reach out to the parent groups directly. I concur and will add this to our agenda for this Wednesday night.Jasmine picked up the checks and the attached file represents all the checks that have been received as of yesterday. Stephanie sent this to Wayde to share with the principals. Wayde met with principals on Tuesday.
 * Updates to delegate list:**
 * |||| ate 1, Academy Of Science, 1, Aldie ES, Nicole Lepper 1, Algonkian ES, Lacy Hurst, Y 1, Arcola ES 1, Ashburn ES 1, Ball’ s Bl... ||


 * DECISIONS AND NEXT STEPS **
 * 1) Jasmine will send an email out to the parent groups.
 * 2) Stephanie will forward Jasmine the updated principals list.
 * 3) Stephanie will ask Jeanee to use our FB to reach out to each school who doesn't have a delegate.

Coryl Abrams is an Executive Administrative Assistant for Employ-R Solutions, Inc. and a has a daughter in LCPS middle school in Leesburg. Coryl’s professional expertise is suited for the VP of Communications position -she performs responsibilities related to marketing and communications, human resources, and customer service support. Coral has a reputation for treating each person she encounters as humans with needs and emotions unique to themselves and works with them to achieve the best outcomes possible. Coryl is not afraid to laugh and share stories, breaking the ice and opening communication. Coryl knows that spending a few extra minutes on any one project means the difference between meeting the needs of others and exceeding the needs of others. She believes going the extra mile, no matter what the goal or project is, will open more opportunities for improvement and growth for those she partners with and herself. Coryl places high value in educating herself and others with knowledge and information that is not only necessary but advantageous for success. Coryl holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Ashford University. She plans on continuing her education to obtain a Master’s in Human Resources.
 * Communications VP **


 * DECISIONS AND NEXT STEPS **
 * 1) The nominating committee approves Jasmine's recommendation for a candidate in next week's election. Additional candidates will be accepted from the floor.
 * 2) Michele will add that we are having elections next Wednesday and will include that we are accepting nominations from the floor.

We have a leapnews.gmail account that the previous VP of Comms used. This is the only email account listed in the bylaws and it indicates it will be used for dues, taking questions and collaborating with delegates and the general public, etc. Right now it takes about an hour a week to check it and respond to questions, which are usually about the upcoming topic, when meeting minutes will be available, and dues. The VP of Comms forwards emails to the Secretary or Treasurer as appropriate (I was helping Sam with this). I created a new email account for the VP of Programs to use when inviting speakers, etc. and Tanya has access to it. No suggestions for improving this were offered during the meeting.
 * Communications with delegates and speakers**


 * December 13TH Meeting- Preparing for Success in the Digital Age** ( Academies of Loudoun, Coding, and STEAM)


 * DECISIONS AND NEXT STEPS **
 * 1) Jasmine to reach out to intermediate school (Byron Bell) and Michele to reach out to her principal. If available, both will discuss STEAM.
 * 2) Tonya is in the process of finalizing LCPS speakers with Wayde.
 * 3) Once speakers are finalized, Stephanie will write "pre-announcement" for distribution and create agenda. Announcement will go out on Friday.

Here is our announcement. The agenda is still being finalized as we wait to hear back from presenters that Jasmine, Michelle, and Stephanie invited. Beverly Prusina (theatre and drama) has confirmed she will participate also.


 * Meeting minutes for November.** Michelle is working on the meeting minutes and will let us know when she has a draft ready to share. Once that is done, she will update the web site with this year's information.


 * DECISIONS AND NEXT STEPS **
 * 1) Michele has not written the meeting notes yet. Stephanie passed her notes to Michelle.
 * 2) Michelle will post meeting notes and all the meeting handouts from the November meeting onto the web site.
 * 3) Michelle will be moving all the meeting summaries and related content (handouts, presentations) from Google Drive to the LCPS leap page. Once our web page is updated, we can stop relying on Google Drive to share information with delegates.

**January - School Board Member Perspectives**
 * DECISIONS AND NEXT STEPS **
 * 1) We discussed selecting individual members to invite but decided to invite all and keep it really on task with two topics. All speakers, and the agenda, will emphasize that each person will be "brief" and "on topic."
 * 2) Each member who participates will be invited to answer one question about either the greatest achievement of 2017 or their highest priority for the budget. If there is time after Q&A, they can answer the other question.
 * 3) A phone call is the best way to reach the school board members. We will ask Tonya to send an invitation from the LEAP Executive Committee email and will follow up with a courtesy phone call. Stephanie can help with the phone calls at Tonya's request.

Agenda & Summary for Sunday, December 17, 2017 conference call:

6:10-7 pm - Attendees Michelle, Jasmin, Stephanie, Tanya and Coryl

LEAP Meeting After Action Review Team reviewed our planning process and bylaws to clarify questions about obtaining approval on our speakers and agendas from LCPS staff. While we work closely with our LCPS liason to keep him informed, there is no documentation to indicate that LCPS will approve the topics, speakers or agendas.


 * DECISIONS AND NEXT STEPS **
 * 1) After the holidays, we will invite LCPS administrators to meet and we will also ensure delegates and parent groups that we are committed to our mission and bylaws.
 * 2) January will remain focused on the school budget and perspectives from delegates and audience members.
 * 3) We will finalize the Feb-May agenda after the holidays. Instead of meeting the first Wednesday of every month, someone on the team is going to propose an additional meeting date/time.


 * Proposed Program Topics and Schedule**

The current program goal was to invite delegates and school board members to share their views on the most important items for the fiscal year budget (which the Superintendent will present on January 9). The VP of Programs indicated we may be able to invite school board members to present because we have not met requirements for public notice. She is going to learn more. We discussed inviting them to attend and provide their perspective during Q&A, along with anyone else. Our idea is for LEAP delegates to bring their priorities to the meeting so that we can make recommendations to the budget on behalf of LEAP at the February Town Hall. Interested delegates may want to form a subcommittee to create recommendations.
 * January 10, 2018: Perspectives on the School Budget**

Our VP of Programs suggested changing the topic from the budget to school choice."//School Choice//: A introduction to the wide array of school choices offered to parents of students attending Loudoun County Public Schools. Representatives from Milddleburg and Hillsboro, the two LCPS public charter schools, the process for requesting special permission to attend public charters as well as an overview of the online k-12 course offerings provided by Virtual Loudoun will be presented."

After some discussion, the executive committee decided to offer both topics.

Our VP of Programs proposes the following topics for the remainder of the year. There was some discussion about the rationale from changing the topics from those discussed in November, but there was not time for the executive committee to make a decision. Some members felt that the grading policy is an important topic for our agenda this year, as well as the other ideas that delegates motioned to include at the November meeting. We will re-visit the proposed list after the holidays:


 * February 14, 2018**- //The School Budgeting Process//- The LCPS Superintendent, Dr. Eric Williams will open the session by discussing the budgeting process. He will then summarize his three funding objectives: (1) Teacher Salary Parity, (2) Full-Day Kindergarten, and (3) Hiring More Teachers. Parents may ask for specific details demonstrating ways in which these objectives are directly linked to higher quality teaching and better outcomes for their children. In support of these objectives, parents may want to know if teachers are interested in committing to extended school day, more time for targeted remediation and interventions and/or mandated student club sponsorship, as examples. Additionally these School Board Members will be invited: Ms. Jill Turgeon, Mr. Eric Hornberger, Mr. Jeff Morse, and Ms. Beth Huck. They are expected to present their (1) recommendations for the school budget (2) provide rationale to parents for selected recommendations, and to (3) obtain feedback from parents on resource allocations. We anticipate a lively discussion and would ask delegates to send their questions prior to the event so that the LCPS and the School Board members have time to reflect and prepare their answers which will be posted on this Wikispace.


 * March 14, 2018**. //School Resources//- Students of Loudoun County are provided with a plethora of resources lacking in surrounding counties. Representatives from the following areas will be invited to share with parents ways in which they enroll their child: ROTC, dual enrollment, new electives such as digital art for middle schoolers (Belmont Ridge, River Bend and Eagle Ridge), the gifted program and foreign languages.


 * April 11, 2018** //Communications- How to Build the Divide-// As with any school system across the country, parents are always interested in learning new communication strategies for exchanging and receiving information from their child's teachers. Additionally, Parent Resource Centers (PRC), PTSOs and PTAs express a need to seek out ways to better engage local parents. In this regard, experts in communication as well as principals, school administrators and exemplar PTA members will present their best tips and tactics to bridge the gap of communications, to lower parent:teacher misconceptions and to start building capacity of local PRC, PTSOs and PTAs.


 * May 9, 2018** //BYOT and Easing the Transition//- Confused about 'Bring Your Own Devices' policy. Not sure what the technical specifications are for your particular school or those recommended by Loudoun County? Come to this month's meeting to find out which devices to set aside funds in your household budget and the devices that are on hand in the school for use during the school day. Consistent with BYOT, parents will be provided with information on ways to ease their child's transition from pre-school to kindergarten, from kindergarten to elementary, from elementary to middle, from middle to high school, and from high school beyond. It is anticipated that the Number 1 School Professional Counselor in the USA will give a presentation on transitions as well as representatives from LCPS regarding BYOT policies.

Agenda & Summary for Wednesday, December 20, 2017 conference call:

4 - 4:30 pm - Attendees Jasmin, Coryl and Stephanie Michelle and Tonya unavailable We invited Jeanee Layman (social media) to join us at the end of the meeting to discuss supporting Coryl, but she was not available.

We discussed setting expectations with LCPS about LEAP processes and procedures, topics for the remainder of the year and communication ideas. We also invited Jeanee Layman who has been supporting social media to attend the end of the meeting but she was not available. Draft notes that Jasmin and Coryl will review/improve are here:

=January 2018 Meetings LEAP has been invited to attend=

Virginia PTA Conference in Richmond January 27-29, 2018
The Virginia PTA has a big Advocacy and Legislative conference Jan 27-29th where the Resolutions (that were due on Nov 27th) get adopted. The workshops provide an opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm with others across the state on issues that affect our kids and solidify a strong unified message. I know they are going to have a session on Mental Health, Food Security/Real Food for Kids, Staffing Standards of Quality (Guidance Counselors/Nurses etc). There is a fireside chat with legislators from across the state on Sunday night (Jan 28th) and then there are pre-scheduled meetings with each of the legislators on Monday the 29th that you can participate in.



National Institutes of Mental Health workshop on January 24, 2018
NIMH is hosting a workshop on the NIH campus on suicide prevention on January 24th from 8:30am -12:30pm. The workshop will include techniques for early detection and management of young people at risk. This workshop is open to school administrators, researchers, advocates, mental health clinicians, and the general public. We want to specifically extend the invitation to you and your organization to attend the workshop. Please feel free to share the workshop details with other colleagues as well. Please see the link below for event information. https://adolescentsuicideworkshop.eventbrite.com