The Virginian-Pilot
©
PORTSMOUTH
Over time, School Board Chairman James Bridgeford said, he's heard of Realtors telling clients considering Portsmouth that "you don't want to go there."
School officials want to curb that.
On Wednesday, they treated a few real estate professionals and military community liaisons to an afternoon of music, food and public relations aimed at turning that perception around and increasing the number of families moving into the city.
A video presentation featured the division's newest school building and students' waxing about why they liked school.
Superintendent David Stuckwisch trumpeted the full state accreditation of all of the schools and the division's meeting federal No Child Left Behind benchmarks.
"We have a thriving school system like everybody else," Bridgeford said in an interview. "We are trying to educate the Realtors because the Realtors are educating the people."
Minnie S. Mathias, managing broker for a Prudential Towne Realty, said that years back, families came in with a perception that Portsmouth wasn't a good place to live.
"That was the case before we even got to talk to them," Mathias said. "They were hearing it from families who lived in the area."
Sharon Black, a liaison between school divisions and military families, said she's heard the same thing. She said she knows Portsmouth is a gem, though, and she talks up its special programs and full state accreditation of all of the schools.
At the event, attendees received a packet with information speaking to, among other things, student achievement, specialty programs and 2009 graduation statistics. It showed the division's dropout rate as 5.4 percent.
In October, the Virginia Department of Education reported Portsmouth's dropout rate as 20.1 percent - the second-highest dropout rate in Virginia.
Derrick Nottingham, the Portsmouth division's director of research and evaluation, said the 5.4 percent rate is based on the state's "official dropout report." He said it assesses children in grades 7 to 12 who dropped out last school year.
It's a number that the state crunches, but it's not the official dropout rate, said Julie Grimes, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.
The dropout rate released by the state in October accounts for first-time freshmen who entered high school in 2005 and graduated within four years.
Joseph Wiggins, the division's director of communications, said 130 invitations to the luncheon were sent to real estate professionals and military personnel. Of the some 50 people who attended, 10 were in real estate or military community liaisons and just about everybody else was a division employee.
Wiggins called the event a success. Despite the turnout, he said, information packets will be sent to those who could not attend. School officials also can meet with them, he said.
"Our job is to sell the school division," Wiggins said.
When asked if they'll correct the dropout rate statistic in the information packet, Stuckwisch said, "Probably."
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
WOW
Everything our school board was trying to accomplish was just THROWN out the window. Our children attend public school here in Portsmouth. I was on the PTA and learned about the other PTAs in the city (Elementary) level and the PTA City Council as well. Great group of parents really trying to work with the children, teachers, and success. Although I haven't read "ALL" of the comments, I wanted to reflect on an article from last August. I believe our Superintendent announced a couple schools like 3 Elementary levels and maybe a middle school did not make the accreditation list. HOWEVER... what a large accomplishment even at a percentage. Our friends don't only reside in "Portsmouth", and we hear the same issues from them in; VA Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, etc... Before you move somewhere, walk the neighborhood, talk to the "new" neighbors, go to visit the school with or without your children, go to the local libraries, City & School board meetings, walk around the different business districts, what about the "new local" grocery, unless you "mingle" with the residents you won't know them. Go to a sports event. Yes the school budget is not looking good. Stop this b
Where we might not have enough teachers anymore???
So let me get this straight---we can afford to pay to woo realtors and others but can't afford to fund education in the city that we're supposedly luring them to??? Does anyone other than me find this a little weird, or are priorities WAY out of line???
"Do Something
"Do Something Positive
Submitted by DWVass on Fri, 12/18/2009 at 2:24 pm.
I moved to Portsmouth about 1 1/2 years ago. My family and I really enjoy it, my kids do great in Portsmouth Public Schools, and we have yet to deal with any criminal issues. Of course, we have taken precautions just in case. My solution to any of the problems is for people to GET OFF THE POT and do something about the problems you see. "
You have only lived in Portsmouth 18 months? Wait until you have lived there a wee bit longer to comment. I lived there 8 years. You CAN'T take "precautions" nor should you have to take precautions in case of violence in the school and especially at the elementary school level. My kids were on sports teams,scouts etc. Belonging to these activities does not prevent your child from being a victim of crime at school.
ediesinger, I think you
ediesinger,
I think you missed my point.
1st: A person can make an impact immediately upon moving to an area and they should strive to make a positive impact. I'm hoping that come this time next year I will be on the City Council.
2nd: To think you shouldn't have to take precautions against crime and violence is naive. Look around today's news and you will find at least 5 examples of reasons to protect yourself and family. It's an unfortunate side effect of the world we live in.
3rd: I think it's great your kids are/were in extracurricular activities. It helped keep them out of trouble, but what did you personally do to help make the city better. The Boy Scout slogan is "Do a Good Turn Daily" with my point being small things can make a big difference. Who here is a sports coach or Scout leader? Who picks up some trash when they see it? Who helps someone put their groceries in the car, or better, who lets the person with a couple of items in front of them when they have a cart full? Do you vote? These little things help and, in my humble opinion, give a person the right to complain because they tried rather than sit around and do nothing but complain.
UHHHHHHHHH WAIT
your out of line edie singer.....
I'm glad someone who's been here 18 months is standing up in his community....to say he needs to live here longer is simply a stupid coment....secondly DWVass is right....if more people got their kids involved in extra curricular activities we wouldnt have so many "troubled" kids.....
AND.....if more parents got involved we wouldnt hve so many issues.....we have far too many parents throwing their kids out the door and not giving 2 licks about what happens to them or how they conduct thereselves....
Ive been here 30+ years.....I'll bet you havent been here that long....my family has been here 60 years.....you dont hear me telling people that their opinion doesnt mater....
Do Something Positive
I moved to Portsmouth about 1 1/2 years ago. My family and I really enjoy it, my kids do great in Portsmouth Public Schools, and we have yet to deal with any criminal issues. Of course, we have taken precautions just in case. My solution to any of the problems is for people to GET OFF THE POT and do something about the problems you see.
Put your kids in positive activities such as organized sports, Scouting, and academic clubs. Get out and put a positive presence on the street, pick up some trash, adopt-a-spot, play with your kids in the FRONT yard, or just relax and talk outside with your neighbors. Gangs and drug dealers will go where people are scared of them.
Most importantly, unless you have personally done something to make the city better, SHUT UP! You have not earned the right to complain.
Amen!
Right behind you on that one!
right on DWVass!!!!......all
right on DWVass!!!!......all to many of our posters are happy to comment on the fire but nobody wants to pick up a hose?.....Portsmouth has come a long way in the last 5 years......I just thumbs down the arrogant non portsmouth residents.....ahahaha
Fully Accredited
So, over in Portsmouth, they're having a big celebration and asking people to move there just because they have finally met the minimum requirements. I have lived here my entire life, including 16 out of my 17 years in the Navy. I went to Va Beach schools. My parents went to Va Beach schools. My kids go to Va Beach schools. Besides knowing how great the schools and teachers in Va Beach are, the Navy has taught me (and hundreds of thousands of Sailors with me) that you never ever celebrate mediocrity and that meeting the bare minimum requirements is not something to be happy about either.
And that's just the school system. That's assuming your kids survive the crime in their neighborhoods while waiting for the school bus or walking home afterwards.
VB
Enough said.