Correction
A quote in last week's article about the possible elimination of the seven-period day by School Board member Jane Strauss (Dranesville) should have read, "If you look ahead to the 2004 budget, we could see another deficit of $60 million or more. We're in the same situation. We're going to have this problem again."
<sh>Monopole Contract
<bt>The Fairfax County School Board is set to approve a telecommunications leasing master agreement with Smartpole Inc. at its regular meeting Thursday, May 23, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road in Falls Church.
According to the terms of the contract, Smartpole assumes the responsibility for the construction and management of monopoles at Fairfax County Public Schools sites. In exchange for the exclusive right, Smartpole will pay a $25,000 site fee per site and return 40 percent of the rent paid by each carrier on the monopole to the school system. The agreement has an initial two-year term and an option to be extended an additional two years.
<sh>Second Round for School Census
<bt>Fairfax County Public Schools, in partnership with the City of Fairfax schools, will be sending out a second mailing in late May for the 2002 Triennial School Census. The second round of forms are being sent to those who did not respond to the March mailing of the census, which is used in making funding decisions for the schools.
All county and city households are asked to respond, whether they have children or not, in order to get an accurate count of school-age children and those who will reach school age within the next three years. The information is confidential.
Information about the census is available in English and Spanish on the schools' Web site at www.fcps.edu. Assistance is also available by phone at 703-329-7765. Language interpretation services are available at 703-385-1165 in Spanish at Ext. 2135, in Vietnamese at Ext. 2136, in Korean at Ext. at 2138 and in Urdu at Ext. 2137.
<sh>FCCPTA Elections
<bt>The nominating committee of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs (FCCPTA), in February, nominated the following people for the upcoming officer elections. The election is May 28, at the Annual Leadership Training Workshop, at Frost Middle School, 4101 Pickett Road in Fairfax:
* President: Diane Brody, the Council's current recording secretary; former president, Groveton Elementary School PTA; board member, Northern Virginia Communities in Schools; founder and coordinator, Special Needs Schools United Coalition; and 1999 recipient, National PTA Life Membership award;
* First vice president: Nell Hurley, the Council's current corresponding secretary; board member, District PTA; member, FCCPTA Budget Committee; member, School Board Advisory Committee on High School Opening Times;
* Second vice president: Connie Lorentzen, the Council's current Cluster IV representative; a four-year member, FCCPTA Executive Board; former PTA board member, Woodley Hills Elementary School; former PTSA board member, Mount Vernon High School; and FCCPTA pyramid coordinator and Area 1 coordinator;
* Third vice president: Chris Cole, currently the Longfellow Middle School PTA secretary; former PTA president, Haycock Elementary School; and member, Fairfax County Social Studies Curriculum Advisory Committee;
* Fourth vice president: Ralph Cooper, six-year member of the FCCPTA Executive Board and current second vice president; vice president, Lee High School PTSA; chairman, FCCPTA Human Relations Committee; chairman, FCCPTA Mentorship Program; and manages FCCPTA mini-grant program;
* Recording secretary: Michele Menapace, currently the FCCPTA Cluster V representative; president, Rose Hill Elementary School PTA; member, Lee District Facilities and Boundaries Committee; member, Superintendent's Advisory Council; and School Bond Committee;
* Corresponding secretary: Karen Banick, current vice president at Stone Middle and Bull Run Elementary schools; PTA president, Centre Ridge Elementary School;
* Treasurer: Dan Fawcett, current FCCPTA scholarship chair; treasurer, Hunt Valley Elementary School PTA; vice president, Hunt Valley PTA; and member, School Board Social Studies Advisory Committee.
<sh>Schools Events Calendar
<bt>Wednesday, May 22, 5:30 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools retirement reception. Fairfax High School, 3500 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax.
Thursday, May 23, 8:30 a.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools Professional Technical Studies Advisory Committee. Walnut Hill, 7423 Camp Alger Ave., Falls Church.
Thursday, May 23, 7:30 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board regular meeting, final budget adoption. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Friday, May 24.
Lee High School prom, Army Navy Country Club.
Saturday, May 25.
Langley High School prom, Westfield Marriott.
Monday, May 27.
Memorial Day holiday, all students and employees.
Monday, May 27.
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 age 4 years, 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.
Wednesday, May 29, 7 p.m.
Fairfax County School Board special meeting, teacher of the year. Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church.
Friday, May 31.
Oakton High School prom, Reston Hyatt.