ACPS SB RUSE - Plan to Stagger Elections to Avoid Accountability

[Anonymous]

https://www.alxnow.com/2022/12/14/alexandria-school-board-considering-staggered-terms-fewer-members-and-eliminating-districts/

Because they know strength is in numbers, they propose no accountability so they can represent their union clients or just avoid any accountability to any distinguishable constituency. It’s disgusting. Maybe the superintendent turnover is due to misguided priorities when selecting an EDUCATOR to lead a school system to EDUCATE students. When a ficus is on equity it is no wonder the equitable outcome is illiteracy for all.

[Anonymous]

Weird interpretation. People have been talking about staggering the elections for years. Alexandria is one of the only jurisdictions that doesn't do it. It actually lets you the voter laser-focus on the voting record of the specific board member up for election.
They need to make the city council elections staggered as well. Again, Alexandria is an outlier in the VA for not doing staggered.

[Anonymous]

As a PP wrote - if this aligns with the rest of the state, that's a good thing. Just like we should have wards to align with the rest of the state (and get rid of the systemically racist at large system we have now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a PP wrote - if this aligns with the rest of the state, that's a good thing. Just like we should have wards to align with the rest of the state (and get rid of the systemically racist at large system we have now).

NP here. But that’s what they’re proposing to change re school board elections, to remove the zones so that it is an at large school board election. Read the article. P

[Anonymous]

I'm generally critical of all things ACPS and school board, but I'm somewhat in favor of removing districts and staggering elections. For some reason District C hasn't had a competitive race in the past 2, maybe 3 cycles. And it's why we continue to have a school board member/chair that chooses to keep her kids out of a school district she oversees. I find that appalling, and would love to have a chance to voice that at the ballot box. Staggering the elections could get us more timely change of members, and let us see some sort of accountability for actions that are taken on a yearly basis, and not allow them to skate by when people have forgotten terrible decisions they made 2 or 3 years prior. It might also inspire better candidates to run based on timely issues, rather than just chance it every 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm generally critical of all things ACPS and school board, but I'm somewhat in favor of removing districts and staggering elections. For some reason District C hasn't had a competitive race in the past 2, maybe 3 cycles. And it's why we continue to have a school board member/chair that chooses to keep her kids out of a school district she oversees. I find that appalling, and would love to have a chance to voice that at the ballot box. Staggering the elections could get us more timely change of members, and let us see some sort of accountability for actions that are taken on a yearly basis, and not allow them to skate by when people have forgotten terrible decisions they made 2 or 3 years prior. It might also inspire better candidates to run based on timely issues, rather than just chance it every 3 years.

+1. I'm District A but feel the same.

[Anonymous]

So it’s racist to not have a ward system for city council but it isn’t racist to change the current ward system for the school board to at large elections.

got it. Makes perfect sense. Never change ACPS.

[Anonymous]

The only people clamoring for wards are geriatric Old Town republicans who are still ticked off that silberberg went up in flames. All a strict ward system does is make things even more provincial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only people clamoring for wards are geriatric Old Town republicans who are still ticked off that silberberg went up in flames. All a strict ward system does is make things even more provincial.

Huh? There are plenty of posts in the school and local politics forums re how it is systematically racist for the City of Alexandria NOT to have wards for their city council. I even remember someone recently going into the history of how wards were eliminated to prevent POC from getting elected.

You can’t have it both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people clamoring for wards are geriatric Old Town republicans who are still ticked off that silberberg went up in flames. All a strict ward system does is make things even more provincial.

Huh? There are plenty of posts in the school and local politics forums re how it is systematically racist for the City of Alexandria NOT to have wards for their city council. I even remember someone recently going into the history of how wards were eliminated to prevent POC from getting elected.

You can’t have it both ways.

The SB and school district must think that nobody on the West End will work with the ACLU to bring a temporary restraining order/seek to enjoin this move by claiming that it will have a discriminatory effect (no intent needed when trying to show disparate impact). Any favorable decision might also affect the wardless elections for council seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only people clamoring for wards are geriatric Old Town republicans who are still ticked off that silberberg went up in flames. All a strict ward system does is make things even more provincial.

Huh? There are plenty of posts in the school and local politics forums re how it is systematically racist for the City of Alexandria NOT to have wards for their city council. I even remember someone recently going into the history of how wards were eliminated to prevent POC from getting elected.

You can’t have it both ways.

The SB and school district must think that nobody on the West End will work with the ACLU to bring a temporary restraining order/seek to enjoin this move by claiming that it will have a discriminatory effect (no intent needed when trying to show disparate impact). Any favorable decision might also affect the wardless elections for council seats.

You raise a good point. I believe this idea was being floated last year but I wonder if it's back in force because the west end PTA Presidents stood up for their schools at the SB meetings. The Alexandria establishment hates dissent.

[Anonymous]

It is absolutely tethered to a fear that West End SB members will actually represent their constituency, despite those representatives currently in lock step with the horrifying status quo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is absolutely tethered to a fear that West End SB members will actually represent their constituency, despite those representatives currently in lock step with the horrifying status quo.

Absolutely. Any changes to elections that the SB, mayor and City Council support would be to shut down any dissent or opposition to the Alexandria political establishment. Made me sick to see Del Pepper honored so much when she left the CC after all the awful, ignorant things she said about the west end.

[Anonymous]

I'm all for getting rid of districts and having at large elections, but much of what they are saying with the staggering of elections makes no sense and works result in less voter participation. I agree they are trying to get away with less accountability.

[Anonymous]

Alexandria's at large election for council are rooted in racism and white supremacy. Why should we expand Alexandria's systemic racism further by going to at large for school board?

Going to wards for city council should be done. It won't change who gets elected and until the city goes to wards, you know that no one is serious about stamping out systemic racism in the city.