Dale visits Langley

Dale+visits+Langley

Dr. Jack Dale and Principal Ragone tour Langley on the first day.

On the first day of the 2011- 2012 school year, students arrived at Langley and were greeted by FCPS superintendent Dr. Jack Dale.

Dale spoke of changes students will see this school year to several reporters and camera crews trailing him around the building. Some of the changes included reforms to the Fairfax County Public Schools discipline policy. For years, a group of parents and other members of the community known as the “Zero Tolerance Reform Group” has been pushing for changes to discipline polices.

“There have been minor changes made to discipline policies but they only affect a small percent of students,” said Dale. “Kids who did really stupid things were out of school for long periods of time and we’ve made the system more streamlined to avoid that,” he said.

Students who were subject to involuntary transfers after drug related infractions were most commonly affected from the excess schooling missed during the disciplinary process. “The consequences need to fit the crime,” said Dale.

Other changes students will see this year include system-wide electronic text books in the social studies department. “We’re bringing in technology to match what students want to see in their classrooms,” said Dale.