I desperately want this entire school board voted out of office in November, but 11 out of 12 at this point in time are running unopposed. As a public school employee, I am not eligible to run, but I sure as heck would if I could.

If you or someone you know has the means to step up, and if you have great ideas on how to put an end to this budget nonsense (and the myriad other problems in this county), please put yourself out there.

Voters need choices at the ballot box!

I hope you are wrong. I heard that there were going to be candidates. I think the GOP has not endorsed yet.

The Democrats did have other candidates, but chose to endorse their incumbents.

I just did some googling. GOP has their endorsement meeting on June 15. If you know anyone interested in running, get them to fill out the forms. I don't think you have to be a Republican to get their endorsement (especially if there is not one running). You just need to be a non-incumbent!

I did read that the Dems did not have a candidate to oppose Schultz.

http://www.fairfaxdemocrats.org/2015/04/25/2015-elections/

Dem nominees--pretty much the same faces except for Dalia Palchik and the Sully nominee.

I Googled it as well and found only the one woman in Providence mentioned as an alternative candidate. If anybody else is running, they sure are keeping it a secret. I know it's early, but I'm so ready to sign up and start campaigning for somebody in the Braddock District.

Fair Grade. SLEEP. Restorative Justice. FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY. Everything Megan McLaughlin touches is a joke. I've never seen a bigger cry-baby when things don't go her way.

Before the present board, our schools were simply stagnant. Since this bunch came in -- NOSE DIVE.

I heard that candidates were coming out of the woodwork after the vote on the transgender issue.

I just hope that the candidates have more in their arsenal than that issue.

FCPS issues:

1) Transgender

2) Boosterthon

3) Lack of due diligence on sole source contracts

4) Karen Garza's housing allowance

5) Poor scores

6) Wasteful spending (e.g., instructional coaches)

7) Nonresponsive board, management

I really hope the school board election is about this:

1. Bogus, half-baked theories about "educational reform" that do nothing but dumb down the curriculum and inflate student grades. If Fairfax wants to be the leader in this nation that they say they are -- FIX THE CURRICULUM and QUIT FIXING THE GRADES.

2. Wasteful spending -- yes, instructional coaches and the endless consultants, but there is also this: paying for every student's AP exam and every athlete's sports fee; all day kindergarten when the research is inconclusive about its effectiveness; SLEEP buses; the World Language program that's a hot mess; remediation classes like READ 180 where kids put on head phones, listen to stories on the computer, and answer multiple choice questions with the hope they learn something; Blackboard with its site licenses costing the taxpayers millions of dollars with only a fraction of students/parents ever using it for what it's designed for. . .

I have followed the budget process for the entire ten years I've worked in FCPS, and I swear, every year, they continue to implement new programs and initiatives without EVER doing a cost-benefit analysis on any of them. And when they vote on them, they flat out KNOW and SAY they can't afford them but they vote yes anyway because it makes themselves feel better. Most of the crap we can't afford isn't even working!

We need candidates who have the guts to tell the truth about what's really wrong in Fairfax: The curriculum sucks, the over-stuffed bureaucrats writing the curriculum and training the teachers in all these trumped up "best practices" need to go, and tough, challenging teachers need to be supported when they hold students accountable with grades that actually reflect student performance. How in the world can over half a school be eligible for Honor Society, but half the kids in Honor Society barely pass a basic skills test at the end of the year?

Candidates, talk about education, please, in this election, not gender wars. This election cannot be about a bunch of special interest groups' pet causes. It needs to be about what is best for ALL kids -- LEARNING!

Wow, Desperate Voter.

Why don't you run for school board?

You hit the nail on the head with #2. And, if I hear the term "best practices" one more time..........

Stop torturing your children and be a parent. Homeschooling them or STFU! If you send your child to a public school you obviously don't give a shit about them.

1) The at large members don't respond to individuals. They tell you to talk to your regional representative. I would say ditch the at large members.

2) Too many of these "method of the day" consultants: Eric Jensen, Tara Brach, Flippen and the Buck Institute. I'm sure there are more.

3) If you go up the chain to Roger Ball with a contracting question he will refuse to answer it. He refers all questions to FCPS Outreach.

4) Angela Atwater does indeed send out letters saying "matter is closed" if she does not want to discuss.

5) Steve Lockard does indeed send out letters saying "I will only answer some of your questions" when you have some he does not want to answer.

6) Principals refer you to their administrators. See #4 #5. Fabio Zuluaga does not even respond.

7) Karen Garza does not take phone calls or return emails. Fire her, Atwater, Zuluaga, and Lockard.

If I could run, I would. I think about it all the time. Regulations prohibit school employees from being board members, and I can't afford quit my current job.

Given that Obama's popularity is lower than Bush's and seeing how Mark Warner nearly lost his Senate seat, the Republicans will go for both the school board and Board of Supervisors.

Even kicking that cunt Bulova off the BoS will make a big difference. The new chairman will tell Garza to go suck a rock.

Karen Garza has to work with the school board she's given. When the school board mandates this special program (SLEEP) and that special program (Transgender Equality) -- you name the special program -- she has no choice but to find the money somewhere to pay for it. Unfortunately, she's the one who then has to go to the BOS and beg them for money to pay for everything the board wants because they want to please all the special interest groups. I truly believe that if Garza were left to her own devices, she would slash the that budget to the bone, but her hands are tied because the board will never say no to anybody.

Again, I'd like to focus on candidates. If a candidate really cares to improve the schools, he/she will refuse to be the puppet and mouth-piece of any special interest group. If it were me running, my number one campaign pledge: NO MORE NEW PROGRAMS until we have cut the ones already in place:

Sorry parents, we are no longer subsidizing your child's freshman year of college by paying for five AP tests a year.

Sorry parents, we are no longer subsidizing your child's athletic career by outfitting him over three different sports seasons.

Don't know what your child's homework is? Ask your child. We don't have a computer program for that anymore. Oh, your child didn't write down the homework? I guess he'll get a zero and do better next time.

Need some more sleep? Take a nap.

Think you might be a boy? Well, that's special. We wish you the best in your journey. But we only have two types of bathrooms. You will have to use the one that your current parts are fit for. Please report the bullies.

I'm telling you -- no nonsense. People are fed up with everybody's special issues. School is for learning. School boards should be doing everything they can to direct the public's attention to what is going on the classroom. They should be demanding that our "specialists" train teachers to the highest standards, not treat them like a bunch of nitwits by asking them to read PICTURE BOOKS to 8th graders, for God's sake. Want to know why some 8th graders are still reading like 3rd graders in Fairfax County? Because those very expensive "coaches" think it's a "best practice" to fill a middle school library with picture books.

We need real instructional leaders in Fairfax, and a new school board needs to demand it from central office. I'm going to ask again that people focus in this election. Quit making this about someone who isn't answering your personal phone call. This election should be about one thing only -- putting every dollar behind exceptional instruction.

school board is a bunch of clowns. 7 years of budget shortfalls, class sizes going up and up, teacher salary stagnating, and we're facing a $100M budget shortfall after this coming school year, yet they voted themselves a 60% pay raise

it's expensive to run -- you need about $35k to mount a decent campaign. and it takes an assload of time. but yeah, i'll vote for any non-incumbent at this point whether or not i agree with their stances.

Ryan McLevin and Meg MacLaughlin need to stay. (Those 2 also voted not to get that raise. That Elizabth Schultz lady needs to go. Allowing transsexuals and teachings our kids how to be transsexual and gay at an impressionable age is outrageous. The others I don't really care as long as someone worse doesn't get elected. I really like what Meghan has done and advocated for with education and I am a Republican. She is one of the few Democrats I would ever vote for.

FairfaxVoter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ryan McLevin and Meg MacLaughlin need to stay.
> (Those 2 also voted not to get that raise. That
> Elizabth Schultz lady needs to go. Allowing
> transsexuals and teachings our kids how to be
> transsexual and gay at an impressionable age is
> outrageous. The others I don't really care as long
> as someone worse doesn't get elected. I really
> like what Meghan has done and advocated for with
> education and I am a Republican. She is one of the
> few Democrats I would ever vote for.

You are misinformed. McLevin pushed the transgender issue. Schultz was the lady wanting to delay pushing it through. She was the only one brave enough to oppose the vote.

And to think they doubled their pay this year and no one wants the job. Who would?

Huh . Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FairfaxVoter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Ryan McLevin and Meg MacLaughlin need to stay.
> > (Those 2 also voted not to get that raise. That
> > Elizabth Schultz lady needs to go. Allowing
> > transsexuals and teachings our kids how to be
> > transsexual and gay at an impressionable age is
> > outrageous. The others I don't really care as
> long
> > as someone worse doesn't get elected. I really
> > like what Meghan has done and advocated for
> with
> > education and I am a Republican. She is one of
> the
> > few Democrats I would ever vote for.
>
> You are misinformed. McLevin pushed the
> transgender issue. Schultz was the lady wanting to
> delay pushing it through. She was the only one
> brave enough to oppose the vote.

Yup, exactly this. Please actually watch/attend the board meetings to see what goes down.

Not only has *McLaughlin* advocated for the transsexuals, she has advocated for grade inflation (so her own children can get into college), a 4 million dollar transportation boondoggle (so her own children can sleep in), a remaking of the discipline code (so her own pot-smoking children don't get expelled). The woman is a self-serving fruitcake, and there is correlation between her involvement in Fairfax and its declining academic standards.

Let's see what the Republicans do. They might see an opportunity here.

Also, the superintendent serves at the board's pleasure. Even slight changes in the board might send Garza packing.

And, I'm telling you, McElveen needs to go. That high school prom incident is a clear sign there's something wrong with him. And he hangs around Marhsall High too much. Get rid of him before there's a scandal of some sort.

I always wanted a car with a running board.

After the board voted to change the discrimination policy, McElveen, McLaughlin, and Velkoff spoke and voted to hire another consultant to study the policy. Who studies a new policy after voting on it? Total incompetence. Let's see what this will cost.

Reed, the Republican-endorsed member who does have an announced opponent, abstained from both votes that night, even though she was clearly against it all based on her comments. Guess she didn't want anything on record voters in her liberal district would know where she stands.

you MacLaughlins kids are some of the smartest in FCPS they dont need help.

It seems that the dumbest kids of board members would be those not only of McLaughlin but also of Tammy Kaufax. Both are really dumb. Both are also quite annoying, but not so much as Ryan McElveen. One can only thank providence that McElveen has no children, as they would certainly be genetic anomalies.

I watched the trannie meeting Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After the board voted to change the discrimination
> policy, McElveen, McLaughlin, and Velkoff spoke
> and voted to hire another consultant to study the
> policy. Who studies a new policy after voting on
> it? Total incompetence. Let's see what this will
> cost.
>
> Reed, the Republican-endorsed member who does have
> an announced opponent, abstained from both votes
> that night, even though she was clearly against it
> all based on her comments. Guess she didn't want
> anything on record voters in her liberal district
> would know where she stands.

Reed abstained from the vote on the policy. Looking back on it, I think she was trying to say that she didn't have enough information to either approve or vote against the policy update. She voted yes to table the vote until the fall.

Special interest groups are organized to win. Hence - Fair Grade = McLaughlin, Skeep = Evans. The Dems are liberal to a fault and will finance their choices. Many new to the board take a long time to get the knowledge base they need to understand the budget. It is easier to take a stand on social issues such as gender equity, water bottles, Sleep, start times. The board is losing two vets this year and it will be interesting to see how they deal with the looming budget debacle.

It is a given, as pointed out above, that two longstanding school board members will leave.

Let's say, just for argument's sake, that one at-large member is not re-elected and one regional member is not re-elected.

That's going to be a pretty big change, especially if the new members are of a very different mindset than those who remain.

Garza's accomplishments may come under scrutiny, along with questionable practices in areas such as contracting.

If you combine this with some shifts in the Board of Supervisors, it could be the beginnings of major changes. If I were one of these "shoe in" consultants, I'd be looking for other districts to fleece.

I hate the Republican vs. Democrat part of this discussion.

I long for the good ole days when school boards were appointed, not elected.

Politics and education do not mix.

Who would appoint the school board?

Doesn't seem like a bad idea, who would appoint a deviant like McElween or an idiot like Kaufax?

Leave Out the Parties Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hate the Republican vs. Democrat part of this
> discussion.
>
> I long for the good ole days when school boards
> were appointed, not elected.
>
> Politics and education do not mix.


+1

Elizabeth asked for time to hear what a consultant would recommend after studying what the transgender thing would look like. Nope, they said.

She asked to speak to the angry crowd at the BOE meeting when the transgender vote came up. Nope, she was told...at first and no one could manage the crowd until they let her speak.

She asked that they all forfeit their own pay in support of finding full 1% pay raise for teachers. Nope, they said.

How about FCPS stop paying for IB and AP tests? At least draw data on who this would impact if the 5 MILLION dollars set aside for this annually was pulled? Nope, they said, because poor children might need it. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW? Plus it saved one board member's family $21,000 in college tuition. I'm guessing families could come up with the $90 a test or those sleeping through it and not trying would quit wasting FCPS money!

Why do we live here again? If high schools go to 6 classes and all extra programs are dropped? Add in poorly paid teachers and stupid curriculum like "Project Based Learning" and my house ain't worth shit all of a sudden.

Time to clean house and leave Elizabeth Schultz standing there to make it right.

Pretty soon, project based learning, catching kids' hearts (the Flip Flippen Fantasy), the Eric Jensen educational poverty method, Tara the Brach school of mindfulness and the Boosterthon fitness lessons will all be fighting for a smaller and smaller pool of money.

"Time to clean house and leave Elizabeth Schultz standing there to make it right."

Absolutely! And, as far as the AP thing goes, all they would have to do is say that if you are on free and reduced lunch, the county will pay. Or, at least reduce the amount.

Except for Schultz, there is NO common sense on this board. I don't agree with her on all issues, but she does listen to her constituents and tries to be reasonable.

I don't care what party you are, you need to vote Republican endorsed candidates in the next SB election.

As far as the woman running against Reed, she is cut from the same cloth as the others. Go read her website. "Global issues", etc. Teaches in an exclusive private school in DC--yet she is a liberal activist. Big Democrat activist.

McElveen just wants to go into politics and thinks this is a stepping stone. Enjoys being a celebrity.

http://www.ryanforschoolboard.com/blog/uva-administrators-stop-hiding-behind-tradition-and-student-governance-by-pat-hynes-and-ryan-mcelveen

Interesting piece by McElveen and Hynes. Wish they'd pay more attention to day to day operations at the school and less on social activism. Seems like they bought the Rolling Stones story.

many problems Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1) The at large members don't respond to
> individuals. They tell you to talk to your
> regional representative. I would say ditch the at
> large members.
>
> 2) Too many of these "method of the day"
> consultants: Eric Jensen, Tara Brach, Flippen and
> the Buck Institute. I'm sure there are more.
>
> 3) If you go up the chain to Roger Ball with a
> contracting question he will refuse to answer it.
> He refers all questions to FCPS Outreach.
>
> 4) Angela Atwater does indeed send out letters
> saying "matter is closed" if she does not want to
> discuss.
>
> 5) Steve Lockard does indeed send out letters
> saying "I will only answer some of your questions"
> when you have some he does not want to answer.
>
> 6) Principals refer you to their administrators.
> See #4 #5. Fabio Zuluaga does not even respond.
>
> 7) Karen Garza does not take phone calls or return
> emails. Fire her, Atwater, Zuluaga, and Lockard.

I will say Zuluaga needs to go. He skipped out on many meetings in region 2 this year where he was supposed to attend to discuss FCPS plans. He only shows up if it involves Glasgow or Stuart.

appointment question Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who would appoint the school board?
>
> Doesn't seem like a bad idea, who would appoint a
> deviant like McElween or an idiot like Kaufax?

The School Board used to be appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

They were no better back then and cut special deals with no accountability. Look at the little areas off Route 7 in Herndon, Reston and Vienna that go to Langley, not Herndon, South Lakes or Marshall. All because School Board members wanted their kids to go to Langley or did favors for people they knew.

Not so Nostalgic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Look at the little
> areas off Route 7 in Herndon, Reston and Vienna
> that go to Langley, not Herndon, South Lakes or
> Marshall. All because School Board members wanted
> their kids to go to Langley or did favors for
> people they knew.

Interesting. That's pretty obvious.
Attachments:

Desperate Voter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really hope the school board election is about
> this:
>
> 1. Bogus, half-baked theories about "educational
> reform" that do nothing but dumb down the
> curriculum and inflate student grades. If Fairfax
> wants to be the leader in this nation that they
> say they are -- FIX THE CURRICULUM and QUIT FIXING
> THE GRADES.
>
> 2. Wasteful spending -- yes, instructional coaches
> and the endless consultants, but there is also
> this: paying for every student's AP exam and every
> athlete's sports fee; all day kindergarten when
> the research is inconclusive about its
> effectiveness; SLEEP buses; the World Language
> program that's a hot mess; remediation classes
> like READ 180 where kids put on head phones,
> listen to stories on the computer, and answer
> multiple choice questions with the hope they learn
> something; Blackboard with its site licenses
> costing the taxpayers millions of dollars with
> only a fraction of students/parents ever using it
> for what it's designed for. . .
>
> I have followed the budget process for the entire
> ten years I've worked in FCPS, and I swear, every
> year, they continue to implement new programs and
> initiatives without EVER doing a cost-benefit
> analysis on any of them. And when they vote on
> them, they flat out KNOW and SAY they can't afford
> them but they vote yes anyway because it makes
> themselves feel better. Most of the crap we can't
> afford isn't even working!
>
> We need candidates who have the guts to tell the
> truth about what's really wrong in Fairfax: The
> curriculum sucks, the over-stuffed bureaucrats
> writing the curriculum and training the teachers
> in all these trumped up "best practices" need to
> go, and tough, challenging teachers need to be
> supported when they hold students accountable with
> grades that actually reflect student performance.
> How in the world can over half a school be
> eligible for Honor Society, but half the kids in
> Honor Society barely pass a basic skills test at
> the end of the year?
>
> Candidates, talk about education, please, in this
> election, not gender wars. This election cannot be
> about a bunch of special interest groups' pet
> causes. It needs to be about what is best for ALL
> kids -- LEARNING!v

That's exactly right. Well said.

interestingpoint Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not so Nostalgic Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Look at the little
> > areas off Route 7 in Herndon, Reston and Vienna
> > that go to Langley, not Herndon, South Lakes or
> > Marshall. All because School Board members
> wanted
> > their kids to go to Langley or did favors for
> > people they knew.
>
> Interesting. That's pretty obvious.

No more of this crap. Set the boundaries with a ruler. No exceptions.