Let me start by saying that our two sons spent a total of 11 years at DJ Montague. In all of those years we had few complaints and lots of praise for the teachers and staff at the school. We are a bit dismayed to see the new release from the school board informing current DJ Montague parents of their option to transfer if so desired.
Here is the condensed press release from JCC/ Williamsburg Schools
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Parents of students attending D.J. Montague Elementary School will have the option to keep their students in place at the school, or transfer them to either Norge Elementary School or James River Elementary School for the coming school year, in light of D.J. Montague’s "School Improvement" status for the second consecutive year. Under federal Department of Education (DOE) guidelines, public schools must meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals for at least two consecutive years to avoid Title I School Improvement status. While the school has shown marked improvement in academic performance in recent years and achieved AYP in 27 of the 28 possible categories, it missed achieving the AYP goal in 2009-10 in the Reading category by only five student test results. DOE rules state that a school in this situation must offer tutoring beyond the school day, as well as offer the opportunity for parents to have their students attend an alternate school. A letter has been sent to D.J. Montague families explaining the situation, and offering Norge Elementary and James River Elementary as options for D.J. students to attend. In the letter, WJCC Acting Superintendent Dr. Scott A. Burckbuchler encouraged parents to consider their options carefully before making any final decision. "Progress is clearly being made at D.J., and parents should consider the value of keeping children in their neighborhood school with their peers," he wrote. "D.J. Montague has a strong leadership team in place led by Principal Lynn Turner and excellent, caring faculty/staff members. Principal Turner, with her rich professional background, is an exceptional instructional leader. Consequently, I am confident that your children will continue to receive a quality education at D.J. Montague." If parents choose to transfer their students, they must fill out a "Public School Choice Transfer Request" form that accompanies the letter they receive, and return it to WJCC’s Central Office by Sept. 15. If a D.J. student transfers to another school, the Division would provide the necessary transportation. Parents will have the option to keep the student in that school through the end of fifth grade; however, if D.J. Montague’s Title I School Improvement status is removed, the Division will no longer provide transportation for the student to the alternate school. D.J. Montague has not achieved AYP goals in four out of seven years dating back to 2003-04. While narrowly missing the Reading requirement in 2009-10, D.J. has nonetheless seen marked improvement in the last two years among all categories and ethnicities (see chart below). D.J. Montague Standard of Learning (SOL) Summary of Test Results (2010 comparison to 2009) Reading Target: 81% Math Target: 79% 2010 2009 Difference 2010 2009 Difference "D.J. Montague has the resources necessary to meet this one last indicator for reading success," Burckbuchler said. "The school will be taking several steps to achieve this, including providing teachers with more professional development in reading, new reading materials, and instructional feedback and lesson planning from the School Improvement team." |
WJC will respond to all requests for transfer by Friday, Sept. 24, and busing will start the following Monday, Sept. 27.
A parent meeting about opting out will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at D.J. Montague. Tours of James River and Norge elementary schools will be given 4-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.
For information about Public School Choice, call Title I coordinator DeVeria Gore at 253- 6780.
Filed under: James City County Schools, williamsburg va |
Mr Williamsburg, Revolutionary ideas on real estate!Hampton Roads Virginia 
As I begin my ninth year teaching at D.J. Montague, I can offer a perspective I believe the Gazette missed.
First, it is not a fair representation to say that D.J. Montague has “fallen off the tightrope.” While there have been many ups and a few downs over the past years, overall D.J. has made significant progress in the education of our students.
In addition, the results of the school’s scores are anything but “dismal,” as reported by the Gazette. For 25 of the 26 different Annual Yearly Progress indicators on last year’s SOL tests, D.J. received passing scores. The school missed the cut by just five student results in one subject area! I believe that hardly qualifies a school as “dismal.”
From the perspective of a teacher who has been with D.J. through many great times and a few rough times, I can promise that the atmosphere is even more positive and the optimism even more pronounced than in previous years. We continue to be completely committed to excellence in the education of all students. It is for their sakes that we will not allow naysayers to deter us from this goal or allow them to define the teachers and the school as negatives to this community.
The education of our children is truly a community responsibility. As such, it follows that instead of name calling, placing blame, or commenting from afar, the community should rally around an excellent new administration and a staff of truly dedicated and talented teachers. It is my greatest hope that D.J. parents will choose for their students to remain at their home school and support the tireless efforts of a staff truly dedicated to the best education for every Montague mustang.
Casey Norment Bailey
D.J. Montague Kindergarten Teacher
On behalf of 20 other D.J. Montague teachers