The Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate differs from the Federal Graduation Indicator (FGI) which is used in calculating Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) ratings. The Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate recognizes all Board of Education-approved diplomas while the FGI includes only Standard and Advanced Studies diplomas. In addition, the FGI does not include special education or GED credentials which results in students earning such credentials being classified as dropouts. According to the information released today by the VDOE, 91 percent of all students in Frederick County’s 2011 cohort have earned either a diploma or a GED. In addition, 92 percent of all students in the 2010 cohort have done the same. Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Peter Vernimb says, “Each high school cohort is different, but we are pleased that our on-time graduation rate for the Class or 2011 is slightly higher than the rate for the Class of 2010. We also are pleased to see that the five-year cohort graduation rate has increased since being reported for the first time last year. That indicates that although some students didn’t graduate with their peers after four years in high school, they continued their high school coursework and went on to earn a diploma.” Vernimb adds, “It’s important to recognize that a school or school division’s dropout rate is not the inverse of the Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate.

According to the Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate formula, an on-time Virginia public school graduate is a student who earns one of five Board of Education recognized diplomas — Advanced, Standard, Modified Standard, Special or General Diploma — within four years of the first time he or she entered the ninth grade. Students earning a GED or a Certificate of Completion are not dropouts, but are not counted as on-time graduates when calculating the Virginia On-Time Graduation Rate.” The VDOE also released information on dropout rates today. The dropout rate for Frederick County Public Schools’ 2011 cohort is 6.8 percent compared to the statewide rate of 7.2 percent. That figure represents all students in the cohort who have not graduated, completed a credential or have discontinued school. Frederick County’s dropout rate for the 2010 cohort is 7.3 percent. Vernimb says, “When considering cohort dropout rates, one must recognize that they are a cumulative figure covering four or five years depending on the cohort. The 2011 cohort dropout rate is equivalent to an average annual rate of 1.7 percent. The average annual rate for the 2010 cohort is 1.8 percent. Reducing the dropout rate continues to be an area of focus and we have increased students support services and academic interventions to help students be successful. We have made some progress. In 2000, the school division’s dropout rate was approximately three percent each year and to date, we have nearly cut that in half.” Schools Superintendent David Sovine says, “As is the case with any data, the information released today by the state Department of Education highlights areas of success and opportunities for growth. One of the keys to improving the on-time graduation rate and reducing the number of dropouts is engaging students in learning each day. Our teachers and administrators are continuing to focus student engagement and the needs of each individual student in order to help

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Older cars are receiving extra TLC as their owners try to keep them operating, rather than buying new ones, mechanics say. But other cars are being neglected because their owners can’t afford maintenance.

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When budgets get tight, many people are tempted to cut back on their regular car maintenance. But that can lead to serious repair problems and even larger bills down the road. Drivers can save a lot of money on maintenance simply by shopping around.

CR’s experts called dozens of dealers and repair shops throughout the country to get quotes for regular maintenance service on three popular models. In the case of the 2004 Ford Explorer, they asked for the cost of a 60,000-mile checkup and found prices varied by as much as $252, even among Ford dealers in the same general area.

In addition, they found that dealers often wanted to charge for extra work that the automaker doesn’t require. CR discovered this when they compared the service items included in quotes with the maintenance lists in the owner’s manuals. They also found that quotes from independent shops that included all the items in the manual were sometimes $150 below the cheapest dealer.

“Consumers are feeling the pinch these days, but with a little detective work, they can save hundreds, while still taking proper care of their vehicles,” said Rik Paul, Automotive Editor, Consumer Reports.

Read full press release here: Consumer Reports: Save Hundreds on Auto Maintenance by Shopping Around.

Proper vehicle maintenance may increase traction and visibility during a rain storm, but good driving behaviors, like slowing down and using caution, are also very important. Although the rain will go away, it will come again another day — be prepared.

Read full article: Don’t Tread Water This National Car Care Month : Car Maintenance.

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The Allen family became entrepreneurs in 1986 to be their own boss. Before beginning their automotive maintenance business, Robert Allen worked at J.C. Penney’s garage. Jimmy Allen was with Goodyear in the early 1980s. They began in a partnership on Kingston Road, and when a parts shop on the opposite corner put their place up for sale, they opened as an independent family operation in 2004.

Harry Allen, the senior member of this family business, gives credit to his wife, Billie Allen, for “bankrolling their opening business.”

The loyalty of their customers is obvious. “We saw them move from car seat to driver’s seat,” Harry Allen said.

Gary Lindsay, owner of Gary Lindsay Auto Sales on Wallace Lake Road, stated that he refers not only customers, but any friends to Affordable Automotive for repair and maintenance of vehicles. “They are dependable, honest and trustworthy,” he said.

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AskPatty.com Partners with Parenthood.com to Provide Automotive Advice for Moms.

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Originally located in an airplane hangar near Larsons gym, the shop and was moved in 2006, to Building 2080 between the Pruitt Hall Building and Motor-T.

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“While repairing major vehicle components such as the transmission or engine can run upwards of $2,000 or more,” says Craig Horsley, director, Automotive Services for AAA East Tennessee. “the repair is often cheaper than getting another car.”

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A lot teeming with cars, trucks and SUVs is something car dealerships dread and repair shops pine for. And so it goes in early 2009 for the automotive industry.

“For big repair shops that specialize in major repairs, they do extremely well during this type of downturn because people can’t do it for themselves, and they have to do it to keep their cars going,” Humphreys said. “This is particularly true during this recession, where consumers are having trouble getting credit, at least on the easy terms they were used to. It’s difficult perhaps to buy a new or used cars – both used and new car sales are down.”

The negative aspect, Humphreys added, is that some people are doing a lot of preventative upkeep themselves, which can have a deleterious effect on smaller repair centers.

Read full article…Economy helping accelerate business at some service shops | Correspondent.

Auto dealers and garage owners say they are seeing drivers pay more attention to regular maintenance and be more willing to spring for costly major repairs now that they are reluctant to trade in their junkers. “People are hanging on to them right now, and they’ve got to keep them running,” says Tim Smith of Bob Smith BMW/Mini in Calabasas, Calif.

• Repair shops. Some 60% of the independent mechanics responding to a survey by Automotive Service Association reported sales up last year over the previous year. Only 14% reported a decline. This year, 76% say they expect more work.

Shop owners say, “It’s common these days to hear from motorists, ‘I don’t want to buy a new car right now so … should I spend the money and fix this one?’ ” says ASA spokeswoman Angie Wilson.

Read full story here:…In recession, many fix old autos instead of trading in – USATODAY.com.

In addition, the Car Care Council has launched a digital version of its popular Car Care Guide that can also be easily accessed through the council’s Web site.

“With National Car Care Month quickly approaching, now is the time to order copies of the Car Care Guide for your customers. The guide is a popular consumer give-away at repair shops and retail stores,” says Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “You can also send your customers to our Web site to view the digital version of the Car Care Guide. It serves as a quick, online reference for them to find preventive maintenance information.”

Read full article here… Automotive News.

The young Marlin Good rebuilt the engine of a 1987 Nissan pickup when he was a teenager, and his brother Loren got his first taste of driving heavy farming and construction equipment more than a decade ago. The two brothers grew up in rural communities in Oregon and Minnesota, where their father carved out a career in woodworking, and learned how to fine-tune an engine at an early age.

It was the kind of upbringing that encouraged hard work, integrity and the kind of character you hope to find when you go looking for an auto mechanic after driving 50,000 miles with the “Check Engine” light on, or having ignored that thumping noise coming from under the hood until your car ends up being towed to the shop.

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