2011 Fairfax School Board Elections

[JD984]

This recent article in the Post has been getting quite a bit of attention in my area:

GOP strategist Catherine Lorenze a key actor in Fairfax schools election - The Washington Post

It makes me cringe when another McLean resident complains that students from poor families are "making out like bandits" under current FCPS policies. I definitely hope the new School Board will find a way to reduce class sizes in our part of the county, but do so sensibly in a way that continues to recognize the needs of students from challenged backgrounds.

[hilsmom]

I don't live in a "rich" part of the county, and I find our class sizes rather outrageous.

I think the class size pain is spread throughout the county, except for the title I schools, but I wouldn't suggest taking away their resources to make my class sizes smaller.

I am new to the system - so I can't say much about the school board. It does seem like a pretty crazy bureacracy for FCPS, but it is really hard to administer a system as large as ours. I do wonder if breaking it into smaller districts would be helpful, but then you have the funding stream problem. We'd have to break the county up, too.

I just know I was thrilled with the FDK decision in May, as were many of my friends, including teachers in the FCPS system.

[Fern435]

How does a former political campaign assistant manage to get herself removed as room mom and sacked from her PTA volunteer position in a McLean elementary? Would thoroughly enjoy hearing that story.

[hilsmom]

Originally Posted by JEB77

The primary between Arlington residents Barbara Favola and Jaime Areizago-Soto for the state senate was quite ugly, and there's an amazing amount of mudslinging between some of the School Board candidates - particularly between McLean residents Janie Strauss and Louise Epstein here in Dranesville.

Thought some of you might have personal experience with some of the candidates that you'd be willing to share. I don't know any of the candidates personally, and am not actively campaigning for any of them.

I haven't seen her in many years, but I worked for barbara as an assistant for a couple years and she came to my wedding reception many moons ago. I didn't know she was running for senate - she's really a fantastic person if you ever meet her.

Guess I need to catch up on her campaign - as I said, it has been many years since I last saw her.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by Fern435

How does a former political campaign assistant manage to get herself removed as room mom and sacked from her PTA volunteer position in a McLean elementary? Would thoroughly enjoy hearing that story.

Not sure, but I'm guessing it involved something other than spiking the brownies on Teacher Appreciation Day.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by Fern435

How does a former political campaign assistant manage to get herself removed as room mom and sacked from her PTA volunteer position in a McLean elementary? Would thoroughly enjoy hearing that story.

You and me both!

[JD984]

Washington Post came out with its endorsements in this morning's paper:

The Post’s choices for Fairfax School Board - The Washington Post

They generally favor incumbents (including Janie Strauss over Louise Epstein) and candidates who were endorsed by the local Democrats.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by JEB77

Washington Post came out with its endorsements in this morning's paper:

The Post’s choices for Fairfax School Board - The Washington Post

They generally favor incumbents (including Janie Strauss over Louise Epstein) and candidates who were endorsed by the local Democrats.

Thanks for posting this. Not that their endorsements have changed my opinion at all, but I think I am close to finalizing who I am going to vote for in the At-Large race.

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

The "Lolita" signs are up everywhere where I am.
And, for the reasons the Post gave today FOR supporting her are exacting the reasons I WON'T be voting for her.