Since when do parents get to decide who their principal is??  I don’t recall it ever being an option.  We have 2 well qualified, liked principals, and personally, I think it is a great idea.

“Even knowing the reaction, we want to do the right thing.”

The RIGHT thing to do would have been to inform BOTH principals during the end of the school year and not summon them to Underwood’s office at 3:00pm the day prior to the School Board meeting to announce the switch.  How sad that all of the students how have known and loved these educators were left as collateral dammage.
Not to mention the fact that the School Board members, themselves unaware of this decision until less than 24 hours prior to their meeting, are now second-guessing their vote(s).

I’m sorry..since when has the superintendent done “the right thing”?????

And once again, poor little Byrd Elementary school is left out of any changes like a redheaded step child. That’s the school that needs to be pulled up by the boot straps and brought out of the dark ages. The difference between RES and BES are far to long to list and too sad to mention. No offence to Mr. Hopkins but they need non-Goochland mentality to turn that school around.

“We were right down to the wire with the meeting,” she said. “I wanted to talk to Gordon and Austin as soon as school was out, but unfortunately each of them took off for a week.”

Ummmm, you don’t know when your direct reporting employees are going on vacation?  Also, does she really refer to Ms Gordon and Mr Austin as “Gordon” and “Austin”? What are they, her pets?

My daughter just graduated from Randolph, she went there from Kindgergarten through 5th - and any parent that has a child in or has had a child in Randolph will say that Mr. Austin IS Randolph.  He is the best principal I have ever dealt with, the children love, respect and trust him.

I feel terribly sad for the children that are left at Randolph and will lose this man in their lives after having him as part of their educational process for however long they’ve been at Randolph.

I think it is unfair for the county to let this man build this school up to where it is and then “reward” him by pulling him out and putting him somewhere else.

To the person who commented “since when do parents get to decide who the principal is” - I pay taxes in the county, have had experience with this principal and have seen what the results of his efforts are.  By paying taxes in this county I thought we all had a say in decisions that are made, especially when it concerns the education of our children.

Change is a part of life, and our children need to get used to it.  PJ I don’t really see how putting a different principal that is well thought of and loved is damaging your child.  It means that they are fortunate enough to have known and loved two great educators…each offering different things to our schools.  To me it only means that they will be more rounded and our schools will be even better.  Shakin’ My Head you are sooooo right about Byrd.  If you’ve never been to the western part of our county, many of you would be surprised of the lower income families and kids that need a little extra help.  That school needs help also as it doesn’t have the parental support as our other schools. RES supporter, you do get a say by voting in who you think will make the right decisions.  If our school board wasn’t ready to vote they should have tabled the issue and had a special meeting later instead of second guessing their decision.  But what is done is done, and it is not a bad thing for either school or the children at either school.

Just curious if CH has a child in any of the schools in question????

And apparently parents did not have a say in this decision, nor did either of the parties involved - sounds like the Board just did it.

Now the children don’t even have an opportunity to say proper good byes to either principal, they will just come in on the first day to a completely new principal.

Yes, change is a part of life, but unnecessary change is still disturbing.  With life the way it is today, if we can spare our kids a few changes and keep things within their educational process consistent, then I think that is best - especially when the change is taking a very inspirational person away from them…..

If Dr. Underwood had indeed been planning this switch for a long time, doesn’t it seem a little curious that the fact that both Principals took a week’s holiday at the end of the school year somehow made it impossible to tell them any earlier? Surely that would suggest this decision was not made before that week!

Giving each Principal just 3 hour’s notice of the change before asking the School Board to vote on it does not come across as well-planned or professionally executed. If this was indeed planned in advance, then it shows a complete lack of respect for both of these principals, to deny both school communities the opportunity to give them a “send-off”, or to prepare any of the students for the fact they would have a new principal next year.

Yes, Dr. Underwood has the right to make these personnel decisions, and the budget decisions too. But the unbridled arrogance and lack of respect for people that she demonstrates over and again with her actions, do not, in my opinion, recommend her as a good leader for our County schools.

Jane.

Jane - Well Said!

RES Supporter both of my children went to GES, but are in high school now, and honestly, would have been thankful if my kids would have had either one of these principals, but they didn’t.  Both schools are still getting great people, it could be a lot worse.  I can’t imagine that Mr. Austin or Mrs. Gordon are as upset about this as everyone else is.  We need to stop with all the negativity about our schools, they have come a long way and we have a good school system.  We need to be involved and support our schools.  I’m sure I don’t agree with everything Dr. Underwood has done, but can’t imagine that Dr. Morgan would have thought so much of her if she was as bad as everyone makes her out to be.  I’ve heard her speak and was impressed.  I don’t recall all of this negativity about her until the school budget was cut and GEPA got up in arms about the gifted school being closed.  I think there are better ways to handle this than the continual negative comments being made.

I would beg to differ with you on whether the principals are upset about the change…being that I personally know Mr. Austin, his feelings about RES and have volunteered, been involved in RES activities for 6 years.

Not being negative - it just seems why upset the apple cart - if both schools are happy with the principals that they do have - why change things and so suddenly - without notice or warning.  It was quite a shock to read this in the paper.

I am attempting to be supportive of our schools - which is why I say why change something that is working well for all involved.

No one is making anyone out to be bad, or complaining about anyone - I will say it again - it’s all been working - why change it.

Children at the Elementary level like continuity - Mr. Austin has been the constant at RES, my daughter lists him as one of her heros.

So, I don’t understand where you are getting that negative comments are being made - we’re being supportive of what we know is right.  If you’ve never met either principal and have no experience with either, than you really should not make the sort of statements you are making either as your children are well past the Elementary school phase.

I have a neighbor that was soooo excited for her daughter to start kindergarten this coming school year at RES because she knew the principal was so fantastic - now she is devastated about the news….like I said things are different at an Elementary level and a High School level.

In the business world, there is this practice called “risk analysis”.  You evaluate the risks of decisions prior to making them, so you can fully analyze whether the risk is worth the potential reward.  So what is the potential risk and potential reward of this move?  Given the success of the two schools, it seems there is very little to be gained in this move.  Schools are moving along, results are excellent, relationship and chemistry between principals, kids, teachers, parents, former students, grandparents, etc is tremendous.  PTAs are boasting solid membership. How much better can the switch make things?  I mean, our elementary schools are the cornerstone of our education system right now.  They are the “rock”.

Now, what are the risks.  Let’s start with the fact that we now have two principals bringing different leadership styles to the schools.  It will take years for them to redevelop the level of trust and the working relationships they currently have across kids, teachers, and parents from K-5; as everyone essentially is now “kindergarden” status as it pertains to their relationships with the principals.  I assume Ms Gordon is probably close to retiring (just guessing based on age), so chances are, RES will be at this again in a few years.  And of course there is the other risk, the risk of dividing the community. 

Continuity is king in education.  You find a good leader, let them grow their business, and get out of their way.  Of course those same principals apply in business.  If you ran a business, you would never take your top sales personnel away from an account where relationships are strong and revenues are growing, and move them over to another similar set of accounts where another one of your top sales personnel is also knocking the cover off the ball.  If you were so misguided to do so, you’d at least have the courage to seek a meeting with the customers and explain yourself to them face to face. 

Given the other issues this school system is wrestling with, seems to me the priorities are misaligned.  We didn’t realign the middle school principal last year when we failed AYP?  Anyone want to explain that one?  Do you understand the seriousness of failing AYP? . What is the “real” reason behind this move?  Clearly everyone isn’t so gullible to believe it is best for everyone involved? 

Meanwhile, out of the mouths of our school board we received not one comment, not one question, and not one vote in dissent.

This move is clearly meant to send a message and to affirm power.  I have certainly not been an advocate of the Gifted Center or GEPA but kicking those who are while they are down is just plain wrong. 

Mrs. Gordon and Mr. Austin are both good Principals who have run successful schools for many years.  Moving them to fix things that aren’t broke makes absolutely no sense and smacks of a personal vendetta which has nothing to do with improving our school system.

Why now? Goochland has already faced major budget cuts and even downsizing the teaching staff. People are already upset about all these changes. Why add more? If this change MUST happen, why not at least wait a year to let things settle down and to let people get used to the changes that are already in place. I, for one, would like to sign the petition to keep Gordon and Austin where they are.

Since when did any decisions on personnel changes have to be cleared by the community at large?  In the 5 years I have lived in Goochland, the only time I have seen a MAJOR lack of community support has been this past year.  One of the things I loved about Goochland is the community respect and support for the school system.  Suddenly money becomes an issue, and everybody whoever WENT to school thinks he/she knows how to RUN one!  Let Dr. Underwood do her job the way she was TRAINED to do.  She has more experience running a school district that any one of us.

People your children are not gonna suffer because of this move . life is full of change chalk this up to expierences . stop babying your children and teach them what life really is . its not all roses and wine .
  i know Ms.Gordon will do an excellant job for Randolph . and i suspect Mr. Austin will be just as qualified .
    now i must wonder why the school that is in more need was not included in the equation . the western part of the county gets screwed again .
  remember this if the board can divide parents and get you to arguing amongst yourselves their job is easier . united we stand divided we fall . this move was made to divide ! dont let it work !

To all of you - there is NOTHING wrong with people/parents standing up for what they feel is right.

GoochGRL - any decision that the people that run our county is open to discussion and debate by the community at large - it’s called a democracy. 

I don’t think any of the people that are making comments or WENT to the schools think he/she is saying they know how to RUN as school - they are just saying that the two principals (whose jobs it is to run the schools) are doing a fine job where they are, with everything else going on, why disrupt it…..

Rick of SandyHook - we’re not babying our children by being concerned about major changes that pertain to their education - we’re being parents.  We are teaching our children a valuable lesson as well - stand up for what you believe in.

I’m glad to hear that so many people are making comments and standing up for what is going on….It would be unsettling if no one spoke up - it would mean that we were all just sitting around and letting the Board make decisions without any community input.

No one is saying Ms. Gordon will not do a good job - go back and read all of the posts - all anyone is saying is that this situation was handled improperly by the Board through and through.

The truth teller has it nailed. The fact that Underwood is totally unable/unwilling to provide *any* coherent explanation concerning this switch speaks volumes. Lateral, non-promotional moves such as this are designed to send a message. We should all be very lucky if Mr Austin chooses to remains in the county having had his school taken from him on a whim.

Mr Austin is an experienced, qualified, visionary, and committed leader and is well loved in the community by students and parents alike. It is crystal clear what his eventual position ought to be in our school system.

Like your comments GoochGRL, and would like to ad this comment as food for thought.  Imagine the last day/week of school with these kids knowing that Mr. Austin or Mrs. Gordon was leaving.  They would be upset and their minds would not be on what they need to be doing at school.  Whether you like it or agree or not, it is probably best for the kids that it was handled this way.

Yeah, well….try telling my children that…as they are very upset about it and are now worried about the start of the new year with all the changes that there will be….plus they didn’t get to “have a going-away” party for the principal - I know that seems really unimportant to you and I - but those sorts of things are important to this age of children.

No matter what all has been said her - the bottom line is this could have been handled in a much better fashion by the powers that be.

RES supporter - Does that mean the community at large should get the chance to interview and vote on the hiring of teachers, principals, etc? 

RES parent - I have never found Dr. Underwood to be unwilling or unable to explain any situation.  I think the problem is that no one wants to listen (not hear) the explanations because they are not what people want to hear.  This is a personnel issue.  Personnel issues are not for public consumption.

Truth Teller - Your conspiracy theories of personal vendetta?  I would agree with you but then we would both be wrong.

If some of the people who are so vocal would be willing to throw some more money into their taxes, Dr. Underwood would not have to be moving personnel, ending programs, laying off teachers, etc.  You cannot get a private school education on a public school budget especially in a county ranked near the top financially in the country with tax rates ranked near the bottom.

CH - Thanks for the support :)  I am 100% sure that Dr. Underwood has the best interests of children in mind at all times.

GoochGRL, first of all, although I don’t agree with your stance, I do respect you taking a stance and defending it.

With that, let me explain another side of the story.  If you’ve been paying attention this past year, you would have learned that a number of the human resources within the schools were mis-categorized in terms of their budget allocation.  Those engaged in the process from the outside drove more accountability into accurate budget categorizations.  In doing so, the group found our money spent in “Instruction” spending was misrepresented on the high side, and our costs in “Administration” was artificially deflated.

This group of outsiders conducted their own study on the school’s transportation and maintenance costs.  The transportation study showed that over the years, GCPS has amassed a flotilla of additional vehicles.  Did you know, not counting buses we have 61 additional vehicles in our school’s auto fleet (of which only a dozen are for student purposes), and we have 68 buses, of which 12 are spare (not 4, not 8, but 12 SPARE)?  The group also discovered that most other rural counties combine the maintenance of their school and county vehicles to save money, yet we haven’t been able to accomplish that in our county, and yet nobody could explain what the underlying business reasons are that prevent that from happening.  The group noticed that the number of miles reported to VDOE that GCPS buses drove in 2005-2006 was 397,000 and in 2007-2008 it was 588,000; an increase of 48%, while student growth was modest (this was over the years the new MS opened, which was supposed to save us 75,000 miles).  Nobody has provided detail necessary to explain these numbers.

The group noticed that our building maintenance costs in one year between 2007-2008 rose by $500,000 (21%) from the previous year and that was the year we vacated the old middle school and moved into the new one, which was supposed to save us money (no explanation).  The group recommended an RFP to ensure we were not overpaying….nothing was done.

Parents have asked for detailed organization charts,  a one pager was shown in one of the recent school board agendas, but that is hardly appropriate for a 400+ person organization that serves 2500 students. 

Parents have learned more about the “dogs are coming” video produced by the schools where a video starring high school students and teachers, was played on the high school TV that warned kids to ensure they didn’t have any illegal drugs in their book bags, lockers, or in the trunk of their cars in the parking lot because drug sniffing dogs were going to be deployed at the high school and anyone caught would be handled appropriately.  There is a list of socially related grievances I personally associate with this act, but I’ll just keep it at a financial basis for you.  I fund one arm of government to accomplish a mission through my taxes; I don’t need to fund another arm of government to subvert that mission.  Number 2, could the schools have been held liable if it could have been proven that the school leadership knowingly subverted an attempt to discover a child’s drug us, only to instead allow the kid to avoid detection and ultimately harm him/her self with the drugs he brought home? 

Did you not find it curious that little to no teacher input was provided to any of the potential budget cutting ideas, or where a citizen who worked for Dominion Power as an energy consultant was willing to provide an energy survey for free….but the school leaders declined, opting instead to pay a consultant.  You may also be unaware of the fact that recently our Director of Finance has resigned, and that would be our 3rd director of finance in the current Superintendent’s term. 

Hey, you want to place your full trust in the hands of a “title” and see where that ends up in a few years….that is your right.  While you are 100% sure of Dr Underwood’s intent, given the issues above, recognize others are a little less convinced and would like more transparency and appropriate governance. 

Building public trust to unite the community to help fund schooling is a central responsibility of any school superintendent.  She and the school board performed miserably at this last year.  This move of principals and unwillingness to explain herself will not serve her well going into what will be a difficult funding year.  This move is divisive and I’d argue that someone who had the best interest of the kids in mind could have put 1+1 together, and known better.

WARNING: GoochGRL is Dr. Underwood! 

Conspiracy theory or truth? 

Sometimes they are one in the same.

CH-
As for the last “day/week” of school…All my child did was watch movies each day.  How about yours?

CH-
I agree with mom in Sandy Hook, that last week was a “lost week” and ironically it was “Principal Appreciation Week”.