Dr. Patrick Murphy | ARLnow.com

Proposed School Budget Includes Pay Raise for Teachers

Published February 24, 2011 at 3:58PM | Updated February 25, 2011 at 9:20AM

The proposed FY 2012 budget includes a step increase for teachers and other school employees that was not granted last year amid a serious budget crunch. It does not, however, include a cost of living (COLA) increase. COLA increases used to be granted nearly every year until Arlington’s budget difficulties began two years ago.

Senior employees and employees at the top of the pay scale — who together make up about 33 percent of the work force — are not eligible for a step increase. Dr. Murphy is proposing a one-time payment of $1,000 to those employees. The total cost of all pay raises is estimated at ~~$16.4~~ $7.9 million. (The original $16.4 million figure included benefit and retirement increases.)

Schools

APS Appoints Interim Williamsburg Principal, Hires Lawyer

By ARLnow.com

Published February 9, 2011 at 9:14AM | Updated February 10, 2011 at 11:11AM

The brouhaha over the resignation of Williamsburg Middle School principal Kathy Francis continues.

Arlington Public Schools announced last night that it had approved the hiring of an outside legal counsel to ~~defend the school system against~~ review allegations made by Francis, who sent a lengthy resignation letter to parents last week. In the letter, Francis accused superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy of “discrimination” and harassment.

News

Superintendent Responds to Principal’s Letter to Parents

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 2:16PM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 3:33PM

Dr. Murphy’s letter to parents toned back some of the language used by the school system last night, when officials described the letter as “regrettable,” “unfortunate” and “very angry” in a statement to the Washington Post.

“We will continue to respond with a high level of professionalism and cannot discuss Ms. Francis’s actions now or in the future,” Dr. Murphy wrote. “However, we deny that there has been any discrimination.”

News

DEVELOPING — Middle School Principal Resigns, Sends Email to Parents Blaming Superintendent

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 5:53PM | Updated February 1, 2011 at 6:37PM

In a lengthy email to parents, Francis detailed what she describes as a “long struggle” to resolve a personnel matter with Dr. Murphy. Francis said her efforts, which allegedly upset Dr. Murphy, resulted in “an ongoing series of actions to harass me and mischaracterize my performance and professional reputation.”

Francis defended her record and said she went so far as to file a discrimination complaint.

Schools

Wakefield High Educator Named N. Va. Teacher of the Year

By ARLnow.com

Published September 15, 2010 at 4:31PM

Fraley learned of the honor today when APS superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy and Wakefield principal Dr. Christian Willmore made a surprise visit during her fourth period U.S. Government class. She was presented with flowers, a letter from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and a congratulatory certificate from the Department of Education.

Fraley, who has been with Arlington Public Schools for 10 years, will now be considered for the title of Virginia Teacher of the Year, which will be awarded at a banquet on Oct. 15 in Glen Allen, Va.

News

Arlington Students Kick Butt on the SATs

By ARLnow.com

Published September 14, 2010 at 7:34PM | Updated September 15, 2010 at 12:24AM

On a scale from 200 to 800 points, Arlington seniors scored an average of 555 points on the reading portion of the exam, up 14 points from a year prior and 54 points above the national average. Scores on the writing exam were up 17 points to 538, 46 points above the national average. The average of 564 points scored on the math exam was up 16 points from last year and was 48 points above the national average.

Every ethnic group performed better in every category this year. Asian students posted double digit gains in all three categories. Hispanic and Black students posted double digit gains in two categories. White students posted single digit gains in all three categories. There was no significant difference in gains by gender.

News

Students, Teachers Return to School

By ARLnow.com

Published September 7, 2010 at 7:50AM | Updated September 7, 2010 at 1:39PM

At 6:30 this morning, school buses were streaming out of a county facility near Shirlington, on their way to pick up students for the first day of school. It’s the start of a ritual that will continue every school day until the start of next summer.

In all, about 120 buses will pick up about 10,000 students county-wide this morning. Another 11,000 will walk or be driven to one of Arlington’s 34 public schools.

News

APS Students Returning to More Relocatable Classrooms

By ARLnow.com

Published September 3, 2010 at 9:36AM | Updated September 3, 2010 at 11:45AM

Relocatable classrooms — superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy prefers the term “learning cottages” — are here to stay in Arlington County. The school system, having determined that the portable units are ten times more cost-effective than physically building a new classroom, has started buying rather than leasing the “relocatables,” and has started buying them four at a time for a further cost savings.

This summer APS added four relocatables each to Glebe, Carlin Springs, and Barrett elementary schools. One relocatable was installed at Nottingham Elementary and H-B Woodlawn, according to APS spokesperson Frank Bellavia.

Schools

Superintendent to Hold Community Chat Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Published August 11, 2010 at 7:39AM

From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Dr. Murphy will talk about “a wide range of school-related topics,” and will answer questions from those in attendance.

The gathering, part of Dr. Murphy’s summer chat series, is being hosted by the African American Leadership Council of Arlington. Space is limited — call 703-228-2581 to RSVP.

Schools

Planetarium Fundraising Underway, But Goals Are Daunting

By ARLnow.com

Published June 21, 2010 at 10:58AM

Not bad for a grassroots community organization. But in order to meet the first fundraising goal set by superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy, the group will have to raise another $158,620 over the next 100 days. In order to meet the final goal, the group will need to raise another $400,000 over the next year.

The daunting goal is more than the group thinks it needs to raise to upgrade the 40-year-old planetarium. School officials have included a $162,000 dome replacement in the cost — an expense the group disagrees with. Instead of squabbling over the dome, however, organizer Raphael Perrino says the group has decided to focus on raising money.

Schools

School Budget Passed, Planetarium Saved

By ARLnow.com

Published April 30, 2010 at 7:51AM | Updated April 30, 2010 at 9:06AM

Notably, funding for the David M. Brown Planetarium was partially restored. Originally set to be closed and converted into classroom space for Washington-Lee High School, the planetarium will now be staffed part-time.

Instead of serving K-5 students five days a week, starting this fall the planetarium will serve K-2 students two days a week. There will also be some flexibility to hire a an hourly worker to open the planetarium on weekends.

Schools

Planetarium Supporters Prepare for Vote

By ARLnow.com

Published April 27, 2010 at 12:29PM | Updated April 27, 2010 at 2:40PM

On Thursday, the board will vote on the school system’s FY2011 budget, which would include any planetarium funding or lack thereof. Leaders of the “Friends of the Planetarium” group, who are actively representing more than 3,200 Facebook “fans” and 900 petition signers, say they are not sure which way the board will vote.

At this point, it’s also not clear which of three possible “scenarios” the board would be voting on. The scenarios range from retaining one full-time planetarium teacher for K-5 students and hiring hourly staff as needed on weekends, to using the planetarium as classroom space during the week and only hiring for weekend shows (while also funding K-2 field trips to the Einstein Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum).