AND THEY’RE OFF: Football season began last week with Brentsville falling to Liberty. Sports, Page 7
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Jury selection for Hamilton trial stretches into a third week Attorneys screening about 300 potential panel members By Amanda Heincer Times Staff Writer
Jury selection in the trial of a Woodbridge man charged with killing his wife and a Prince William County police officer in 2016 entered its third week Monday and is expected to stretch into a fourth week, according to attorneys.
Ronald Hamilton, 34, pleaded not guilty earlier this month to multiple charges, including three counts of capital murder, for the shooting deaths of his wife, Crystal Hamilton, 29, and Officer Ashley Guindon, 28. Hamilton also pleaded not guilty to charges that he shot and injured two other police officers, who survived. Hamilton’s trial began Aug. 13 and is expected to last 12 weeks, ending in November. Jury selection was expected to wrap up this week, but prosecutors and defense attorneys now say the process may take a few more days than an-
ticipated, according to court transcripts of the jury selection process. About 300 potential jurors were summoned for the trial. Prosecutors say Hamilton shot his wife inside their home on the 13000 block of Lashmere Court in Woodbridge on Feb. 27, 2016, and then shot three police officers who responded to his wife’s 911 call for help. Guindon, the police officer who was fatally shot, was working her first day as a Prince William County police officer. She had been sworn in the day before. Crystal Hamilton, who worked
for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment, was found dead in a bedroom in the house, police said. According to court records, Hamilton spoke to police after the shooting and made statements indicating that he shot the officers. In the first week of jury selection, large groups of jurors were called in to complete screening questionnaires. A few dozen jurors were excused based on their answers to those questions, court records indicate. See HAMILTON TRIAL, Page 2
Independence Nontraditional School opens to students By Karen Chaffraix Times Staff Writer
At Joplin and Aden roads in rural mid-Prince William County sits a new enterprise in nontraditional education. The first of its kind in the state, the Independence Nontraditional School is designed for kindergarten through high schoolers who have not thrived in other schools, pioneering an approach gaining devotees across the country. “It was pie in the sky,” Principal Robert L. “Bob” Eichorn said, describing the proposal he handed Superintendent Steven Walts a decade ago. “It took a county full of willing stakeholders to make this a reality.” Eichorn, who grew up in Northern Virginia and was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 while teaching in Fairfax, has worked in special education for 28 years, the last 10 with alternative education programs in Prince William. Independence Nontraditional replaces and builds upon county programs formerly at New Dominion, New Directions and PACE East. The philosophy behind its unique approach is called the “equity” model, which can be replicated at any kind of school, according to Eichorn. “And it can be scaled based on the needs of a district.” The program’s graduation rate has been 90 percent, he said.
What is a nontraditional student?
“We got away from using the word ‘alternative’ in naming the new school because it is associated with ‘the bad kids,’” Eichorn said during a recent tour through the new school. “The kids [who come into this program] aren’t bad,” he said. They suffer from any number of conditions that require a different approach to educating them. There may be a problem in the family. They might struggle with mental illness or have behavioral or physical challenges. They might be young mothers. They might be homeless. We assess the needs of each child, and we build bonds with them so they feel secure, and supported, and listened to. “It’s not about [tests]. It’s about relationships,” he said. According to no few of those who have experienced Eichorn’s version of the equity model, not
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/KAREN CHAFFRAIX
Independence Nontraditional School Principal Robert L. (Bob) Eichorn stands in the school cafeteria on ribbon-cutting day, Aug. 23. The cafeteria art illustrates the virtues of the wolf pack, the school mascot. This day the chairs are arranged for viewing the stage, which opens on the other side to the gym. Classes began on Monday. only does it work, it is a godsend. Unified in one building, with added programs, staff and services, Independence Nontraditional is the county’s best version yet of Eichorn’s vision, putting into practice a philosophy and methods encouraged by the National Alternative Education Association. Eichorn calls Independence a one-stop shop for best practices in nontraditional education. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Aug. 23, Walts called it “equity-cubed.” Earlier in the day, a school secretary sat in a donut-shaped welcome area, in what reminded one of Captain Kirk’s perch on the Star Trek Enterprise. She buzzed visitors in as she fielded phone calls. The school’s goal and vision was posted prominently behind her. The school has three floors and houses three
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sub-schools: elementary, middle and high school. Eichorn’s office opens to a cheerful gymnasium at the back of which sits a stage that also opens to the cafeteria. It cost $36 million to build. The school has a psychologist and a social worker, two registered nurses and two school security officers. Its staff numbers around 100. With lots of glass, the edifice is bright and airy, its myriad details the result of hours of meetings with architects. There is a science lab, a computer lab, a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. “If a child is homeless, no one has to know. We just quietly show them the washer and dryer and invite them to use it.” See NEW SCHOOL, Page 2
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Gainesville / Prince William Times | www.princewilliamtimes.com | August 29, 2018
Jury selection for Hamilton trial stretches into a third week HAMILTON TRIAL, from Page 1 Last week, jurors were called back to the court in groups and asked two questions to determine, first, if the expected length of the trial would present a hardship for them, and, second, if they might have been influenced by any pre-trial publicity they have read or heard. Jurors who raised their hands to answer “yes” to either of those questions were then called in to the court room one at a time to answer more questions. Court records and transcripts filed in Prince William Circuit Court show that more than 150 jurors were
excused through that process. Jurors excused for hardship included those who demonstrated the length of the trial could affect their jobs or their ability to care for children or others who depend on them, or those who had preplanned vacations or medical appointments that could not be moved. Jurors were also excused if they said they could not set aside information they heard about the case prior to the trial from media accounts or from other sources. Some jurors said they heard about the case in television news reports but had not pre-determined whether
or not Hamilton was guilty. Others said they did not think they could set aside what they had already heard or opinions they had already formed. “When it was shown on TV, it looked like he was guilty,” said one potential juror, who was excused, according to court transcripts. Another excused juror said she was not sure that she could set aside her opinions. “I would probably be a little worried about not being able to set that aside,” the potential juror said, according to a court transcript. Another potential juror who re-
mained in the pool after questioning said she had not formed an opinion about the case. “Not an opinion, just sadness that it happened,” she said. Another said he did not get enough information from media coverage to form an opinion. “Knowing just a little bit of information, it would be impossible to really come to any conclusion,” the potential juror said, according to court records. Jury selection is expected to continue into next week. If convicted of capital murder, Hamilton could be sentenced to death or to life in prison. Reach Amanda Heincer at aheincer@fauquier.com.
Prince William opens state-of-the-art school for nontraditional students NEW SCHOOL, from Page 1 The library is sectioned into areas for little students and bigger students, and class spaces for each. The mural painter, still on his ladder on Thursday, had finished his portrait of beloved program collaborator Renee Lacey, who passed away unexpectedly in 2016. The center is dedicated to her. The area is carpeted, colorful and inviting. Every hall and every wall, in fact, is colorfully animated with art, many relaying teachings of the “wolfpack,” a mascot Eichorn’s former students chose, and a theme he uses to instill the values of caring and community.
Three types of bathrooms are available on each floor: male, female and unisex. For the teachers, too. “They should have the same kind of privacy we offer the students,” Eichorn said, referring to gender identity issues.
What is the equity model?
Traditionally, U.S. schools have used the “disciplinary” model of education, and 70 percent still do when creating nontraditional programs, Eichorn explained. “The equity model in education is marshalling human and fiscal resources to meet the individual needs of each student to support their academic and social-emotional development,” Eichorn said. “Unlike a one-size-fitsall model, educational services are
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tailored for each student’s strengths, areas of growth and goals.” In other words, with respect for the dignity of the individual at its core, the “equity” model takes a holistic approach to the young person’s development. It seeks to build on strengths, mend what is broken, engender self-esteem and provide healthy tools for coping with life’s difficulties. The teacher-to-student ratio is one to 15. Students’ schedules are designed by a team familiar with the child’s full situation. Each student is provided a computer. Admission is year-round, with variable entry times that include an evening component. Free busing brings students in from every corner of the county, which was not formerly available for students in programs now housed at the school. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and soon – dinners – are free for all students. Trips are offered to all of the Virginia colleges. The school offers a full art program (with two kilns). The age-out maximum is 22 “or by principal discretion.” “Lives have been saved in many emergent situations,” School nurse Debra J. Riley Ruppert emailed. Describing her work under Eichorn as “unique and profound,” she added: “Teen moms have found support and encouragement; substance abuse is addressed and health intervention found; depression is battled through referral to community providers; families are welcomed and communicated with in their primary lan-
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guages. Lives are changed under Mr. Eichorn’s stellar, fair and unwavering leadership.” Science and CTE teacher Matt Grimsley weighed in, calling the program “world class.” “At Independence, the students will not only be educated, but also obtain the skills needed to handle day-to-day real life. We now have tools, machines, a greenhouse; the list goes on. We hope to ultimately develop an apprenticeship program and partnerships with local businesses,” he added. Independence had no problem filling its vacancies, Eichorn said. “Inquiries about working here have been coming in from all over the country.”
Parents, students praise approach
Parents of two daughters in the program, Anastacia and Ricardo Guevara, recounted being so impressed with the support and personal attention afforded their eldest daughter, who is autistic, they decided to move her younger sister to the same school. That second child, despite suffering from anxiety, depression and bullying, graduated a valedictorian. Both parents took full time jobs at the school. “I’ll never forget one comment Ms. Jones, the school counselor, made,” Anastacia Guevara wrote. “She said, I think this place is the best kept secret in Prince William County!” Reach Karen Chaffraix at kchaffraix@fauquier.com
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Prince William passing rates dip on statewide tests Schools beat statewide scores in some subjects, but lag behind Fairfax, Loudoun Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
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Prince William County schools posted slightly lower passing rates on state tests in reading, math and history in 2018 and continue to lag behind schools in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. But local schools exceeded the performance of their peers statewide in writing, history and science, according to reports issued by the Virginia Department of Education this week. Across Prince William’s 95 schools, passing rates on reading tests dipped one point, from 80 percent to 79 percent in 2018. Passing rates were down two points in history and social sciences, from 89 to 87 percent, and three points in math, from 79 to 76 percent. Divisionwide passing rates were up 1 point in writing, from 79 percent to 80 percent, and were unchanged in science at 82 percent. The local passing rates reflected a statewide dip in student performance on the annual “Standards of Learning” tests. James Lane, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, said the state’s tests have become more rigorous over the years. “Virginia has challenging standards and assessments, and students are performing at a much higher level today than when the state raised expectations six years ago,” Lane said in a press release.
90
School division passing rates on 2018 state tests
80 70 60
Seven of the county’s 62 elementary schools posted passing rates above 90 percent in 5th grade science, including: Alvey (94 percent), Porter (92), Minnieville (95), Mountain View (90), Pennington (94), Rosa Parks (90) and Marshall (97).
Rates lag behind Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington
50 81 86 79 79
85 89 80 78
Reading
Writing
Fairfax
Loudoun
88 91 87 84
81 83 76 77
84 88 82 81
History/Social Math Science Sciences Prince William Virginia
Here’s how local school divisions fared in the five subject areas tested: reading, writing, history and social science, math and science. Source: Virginia Department of Education.
Bright spots: black students’ passing rates, fifth-grade science
Despite the dip, Prince William County school division officials saw bright spots in the 2018 testing results, including the fact that local African-American students posted passing rates as much as 10 points higher than their counterparts across the state. Indeed, 76 percent of Prince William County’s black students passed their reading tests, compared to 67 percent statewide; while 74 percent passed their writing tests, compared to 64 percent statewide; and 83 percent passed history and social sciences tests, compared to 73 percent statewide. On math tests, 69 percent of Prince William’s black students passed compared to 64 percent statewide. On sci-
ence tests, 76 percent of students passed compared to 67 percent statewide. School division officials also noted improvement in the passing rates on fifth-grade science tests, which have been especially challenging for local elementary schools since the thirdgrade science test was eliminated from the testing regimen in 2014. A focus on hands-on science instruction helped boost the 2018 scores, according to a school division press release. Divisionwide, 81 percent of fifth-graders passed the science test in 2017, compared to 79 percent in 2017. Individual schools’ passing rates on the fifth-grade science test ranged from 53 to 95 percent in 2017 but rose to 68 to 97 percent in 2018.
Prince William County’s passing rates continue to lag behind those posted by school divisions in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Of the four counties, Loudoun County schools posted the highest passing rates, with 91 percent of students passing history and social sciences tests; 89 passing writing tests; 88 passing math tests; 86 percent passing reading tests and 83 percent passing math tests. Arlington County was next with passing rates of 86 percent in writing, history and social sciences; 84 percent in reading and science an 83 percent in math. Fairfax County was next, posting an 88 percent passing rate in history and social sciences tests, beating Prince William County by one point; 85 percent passing writing tests, beating Prince William by five points; 84 percent passing science tests, beating Prince William schools by two points; and 81 percent passing reading and math tests, beating Prince William schools by two points and four points, respectively.
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