Correction
In last week's article in The Connection newspapers regarding the county School Board's failure to adopt all 10 of the proposed strategic targets, the quote by Louise Epstein should have read, "Children should be admitted to the programs based on their academic abilities, not the color of their skin."
<sh>Budget Hearings
<bt>The Fairfax County School Board is holding two more days of public hearings to discuss the proposed FY ‘03 budget. Some 180 citizens have already signed up to speak, and there is a waiting list for additional speakers should time permit.
The School Board is faced with cutting $39 million from its proposed $1.6 billion budget. A list of suggested cuts, based on two simultaneous town meetings and the superintendent's recommendations, includes eliminating the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program, phasing out the language immersion program, removing the student cap for first grade and secondary Standards of Learning classes, tabling the expansion of programs such as Project Excel, Focus and Success by 8, and cutting 80 administrative positions.
The hearings begin Monday, May 13, at 6 p.m., and continue Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m., both at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
The budget is slated to be adopted at the board's regular business meeting, Thursday, May 23, beginning at 7:30 p.m., also at Jackson Middle School.
To be placed on the waiting list, call the School Board office at 703-246-3646. The speakers' list opened three weeks prior to the public hearing and closes at 4:30 p.m. on the work day before the public hearing.
<sh>Students Win Merit Scholarships
<bt>Twenty-two high-school students from Fairfax County Public Schools have been awarded National Merit $2,500 Scholarships for 2002. The winners, listed below, were chosen from a pool of 15,000 eligible students.
Nii Armar, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) in Annandale; Jared Campbell, Woodson High in Fairfax; Shelley Chen, Lake Braddock Secondary in Burke; Kaia Dekker, TJHSST; Anyu Fang, McLean High; Peter Gardner, Oakton High; Theodore Gudmundsen, TJHSST; Lauren Hall, TJHSST; Brian Hedden, Woodson High; Elizabeth Horahan, Langley High in McLean; Mee-Jung Jang, TJHSST; Matthew Kelberg, Lake Braddock Secondary; Maureen Miller, TJHSST; Elizabeth Panarelli, TJHSST; Thomas Parnham, TJHSST; Gary Sivek, TJHSST; Steven Sivek, TJHSST; Brendan Smith, TJHSST; Karen Sosa, TJHSST; Stephen Spiller, TJHSST; Jason Strampe, West Springfield High; and William Yang, Centreville High.
<sh>Project Excellence Scholarships.
<bt>Nii Armar, Kendra Harris, Patrick Langford and Dalia Singleton from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Annandale; Brandon Parker from Woodson High in Fairfax; and Jordan Hamilton from West Springfield High have been awarded Project Excellence Scholarships for 2002.
Hamilton's scholarship covers tuition costs for his education at Florida Atlantic University. The other five recipients will each receive a $10,000 scholarship. The winners will be honored at a reception dinner Friday, May 10, at the Capital Hilton.
<sh>Schools Events Calendar
<bt>Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board special meeting, teacher leadership awards. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee. Walnut Hill Center, 7423 Camp Alger Ave., Falls Church.
Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities. Belle Willard Center, 10310 Layton Hall Drive, Fairfax.
Thursday, May 9, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board regular meeting. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Monday, May 13
Nurturing Parenting Program. Department of Family Services, Prevention, of Fairfax County is holding a Nurturing Parenting Program for Hispanic Families, for parents and their children up to 4-years-old, to teach nurturing skills and to reinforce strengths, values and culture. No cost, but registration is required. For more information, call 703-324-7405 or 703-324-7723. St. Anthony's Catholic Church.
Monday, May 13, 6 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board public hearing, budget. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Tuesday, May 14, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board public hearing, budget continued. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Tuesday, May 14
Fairfax High School prom. Westfield Marriott.
Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board special meeting, support employees of the year. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.