Schools

State to Intervene in Jefferson-Houston School

Gov. Bob McDonnell signs legislation creating the Opportunity Educational Institution designed to aid the state's chronically failing schools.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell officially will allow the state to intervene in its chronically failing schools, such as Jefferson-Houston School in Alexandria.

Virginia will establish a statewide Opportunity Educational Institution Board on July 1. Starting in the 2014-15 school year, the board will begin supervising the turnaround of schools that have been denied accreditation.

“This game-changing legislation will ensure all students have the best opportunity to learn,” said a statement from the governor’s office. “If a school is chronically failing the institution will provide much needed intervention.”

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The legislation, which the governor amended before signing, follows a blueprint that he said has been successful in Tennessee and “clearly explains how schools can enter and exit the supervision of the OEI board,” according to the governor’s office.

The vagaries of the oversight board’s authority have been a prime concern of Alexandria’s school community and its state delegate, Rob Krupicka (D-45th). Krupicka is also a former member of the state Board of Education and an Alexandria resident whose two children attend its public school system.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • See Jefferson-Houston Closer to State Takeover
  • See Krupicka: State Bills Could Spell Trouble for Jefferson-Houston

“I think the proposed changes create more options for how a takeover could work and leave room for more coordination with the local schools. That is a good thing. And they provide more certainty that a school can return to the community,” Krupicka told Patch.

Currently there are six such schools marked chronically failing in the state. The state budget adopted last month includes $150,000 for the new institution—less than the $600,000 requested by McDonnell.

There are many details that are not clear in regards to the state intervention at Jefferson-Houston, including how it may impact the school’s new $44 million building and its related community use.

  • See New Jefferson-Houston School Project Receives Approval

Krupicka said: “It is still too vague about how the new entity would take over control of a school-owned building and whether the community would have any use of that space. I'm told this can be worked out in regulations, but the lack of certainty as we prepare to build a new school is concerning. The lack of input from the Board of Education and lack of clear community and parent involvement are still big issues."

He expressed concern that the new board will meet much less frequently than the ACPS School Board, which has vociferously opposed the governor's plans.

  • See ACPS School Board Opposes Legislation in Letter to Governor
  • See Graf: School Control Bill Could Merit Legal Action

That “means a lot fewer chances for parents to express concerns. I am going to work closely with the schools to evaluate options to provide the best services to our students,” he said.

The board will have nine members with one citizen member who will be required to have experience with non-traditional schools.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here